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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was passed and signed into law in February of 2009. Homeowners are now generously rewarded with a tax rebate incentive of up to $1,500.00 if they make qualifying environmentally-friendly improvements to their homes by the December 31, 2010 deadline. The proverbial legislative ink had barely dried, as window manufacturers far and wide seemingly materialized out of obscurity. Suddenly, everybody and their uncle was now nobly boarding the energy-savings bandwagon, offering window deals of a lifetime. Promises were made, guaranteed to slash fuel bills, while rescuing Mother Earth from a certain impending doom.

Naturally, our green inner child aspires to accomplish our fair share in preserving our environment... not forgetting our wallets. Saving a bundle on utility costs and receiving a bundle back from THE GOVERNMENT seemed like a delightful no-brainer for many thousands. For them, wasting precious time and money by putting off needed home improvements was simply no longer an option. A large number of others, however, remained skeptical and so are still putting off the inevitable. Perhaps they just aren't convinced that their windows actually need replacing. Or maybe, they just have no idea which window company to trust and even where to begin. If you fall into this latter category, then keep tuned in.

Saving money, saving the surroundings, and collecting an impressive $1,500.00 reward are good stuff; very good things. That said, there are always a plethora of potential pitfalls lurking on the horizon if we consider energy-efficiency while neglecting the rest. Therefore, I've listed what I regard as the top 10 10 most important things to consider BEFORE choosing the replacement window. I encourage homeowners to use this short article as a checklist prior to getting an estimate on replacement windows.

1. REPUTATION OF COMPANY/PROBLEMS WITH START-UP COMPANIES

Though there are many fine reputable window manufacturers to select from, homeowners also need to beware of start-up companies. Needless to say, all companies were start-up companies at once. Nevertheless, new figures from InsolvencyJournal.ie reveal that four companies a day went belly up in the first seven months of 2010, up 22% from once in '09 2009. We've seen window companies walk out business, change their names, and reopen. We've seen companies like Republic and Kensington declare themselves bankrupt, potentially leaving customers holding the bag with worthless warranties and un-serviced windows. We've seen no less than 17 major window manufacturing corporations apply for Chapter 11 within the last 3 years.

A word to the wise: Have a look at a company's reputation BEFORE spending your hard-earned cash. Exercise caution BEFORE purchasing from a highly leveraged impersonal company or perhaps a start-up company.

2. HOW LONG WILL A WINDOW LAST BEFORE YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE IT?

The next thing to take into account is how long a window can last. All windows aren't created equal. Windows have huge variations, from the quality of the glass package to the grade of the framing system. Buying replacement windows for your home should only be done once. Most windows are only made to last 10 to 20 years. Some cheap windows that go for $150 to $200 may only last for three to five 5 years. Some manufacturers declare that their windows will last for 50 years or even a lifetime, but they are often unwilling to back those claims on paper.

3. WINDOW WARRANTIES: READ THE FINE PRINT

Some manufacturers not only claim that their windows will last a lifetime, but they even back it up with a so-called "Lifetime Warranty." Before you obtain too impressed, you'd be well-advised to read the fine print. Many so-called lifetime warranties are misleading. Many lifetime warranties refer to the lifetime of the window, not the duration of a homeowner. Such a guarantee is virtually meaningless. It's like saying, "I guarantee you that you'll stay alive up until your day that you die." Double-talk. Have get more info on the net and appearance up "Lifetime Warranty Definition." You'll see what I mean.

4. DO NOT GET "FRAMED" WITH FAULTY FRAMES

There are a wide selection of window frames from which to choose: wood frames, vinyl frames, fiberglass frames, aluminum frames, wood frames covered with aluminum or vinyl, and composite frames.Decisions! Decisions! In the event that you wait until a window salesperson finds your doorstep to figure out which frame is most beneficial, guess which frame the salesperson will recommend? Naturally, the one his company sells.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each choice. Get all of the facts BEFORE you buy.

Wood frames

Because many homeowners just like the look of wood, wood frames are still a popular choice. One advantage of wood is that wood is energy-efficient. Wood is really a non-thermal conductor, so it won't lose heat or draw heat in from the outside. The downside is the constant maintenance required to keep wood looking decent. If you enjoy painting, staining, scraping, and sanding, then you should, be my guest. But understand that wood may also shrink, rot, and warp, this means you'll probably have to replace your windows over and over. This is good for the manufacturer, but bad for you.

Of course, some companies treat wood in an attempt to preserve it. However, treated wood may contain toxic chemicals. Also, wood is expensive. Other framing options are much more economical. So when we stop to consider the cost and hassle of maintaining wood frames, the price of replacing windows, and the chance of toxic chemicals, wood windows might not be the best choice. Instead, a homeowner could be better advised to consider alternatives that will save time, money, and a tree.

Aluminum or vinyl-clad wood frames

Next, consider aluminum or vinyl-clad wood frames. Like frames made entirely of wood, clad wood frames additionally require maintenance, though not quite as much. Aluminum-clad wood frames are more energy efficient than aluminum window frames, though they are much less energy-efficient as wood frames without aluminum. And clad frames have already been recognized to hide water infiltration, leading to costly deterioration hidden under the cladding. There were lawsuits involving this very issue recently, involving well-known companies. Your very best bet would be to avoid this technology.

Fiberglass or Composite frames

Some say fiberglass is the wave of the future. That remains to be seen. There are some advantages of fiberglass frames. Fiberglass is strong when going against the grain. Since Fiberglass extrusions are made by a Pultrusion process, which is the binding of small glass fiber as well as glue. This is similar to the process used to produce particle board (gluing of wood fibers). The result is that when fiberglass is hit across the grain it cracks just like a hot knife through butter. Remember the major damage on Corvettes if they were involved in "minor" fender benders.

Fiberglass needs to be screwed together, leading to weak joints in the movable sashes. Fiberglass and composite window frames also cost more than other types of frames. Plus, since they have to be painted or top-coated at the factory, some colors have a tendency to fade.

Since fiberglass windows are relatively new on the scene, only a few companies currently make sure they are. Therefore, read more -term performance continues to be uncertain. Fiberglass window frames also cost a lot more than other types of frames. Fiberglass extrusions should be painted because the sun/UV rays will degrades the glue, making the extrusion fragile and vunerable to cracking.