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When you go to the grocery store, you try to buy the healthiest items, which means reading the labels. Grocery labels can be confusing enough, but at least you’re used to looking at them and you know what ingredients to avoid. But when you look at Sacramento, CA replacement windows? You have to start all over again. What do you want on a window and what do you want to avoid? Getting new windows isn’t something you’ve likely ever done before. Most homeowners only have to do it once, maybe twice. So, when you start to look over the labels, it can be very overwhelming. Use this guide to take some guesswork out of the process.

The U-Factor

One of the first things you will notice and want to look for is the U-Factor on a window. Ratings will range from 0.20 to 1.20 and the lower the rating is, the better the window is at insulating. In California, this rating is very important and will help your energy bills quite a bit if you choose wisely.

The SHGC or Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

This rating is also important for this sunny area of the country because it will show you how well your windows reduce solar heat from entering your home. You also want a low number here and a rating of 0.25 or less will help you reduce costs when you are cooling your home.

The AL or Air Leakage

No windows are absolutely perfect, and this rating will show you how much heat you might gain or lose based on the cracks in the window assembly or frame. The measurements are in cubic feet per square foot and range from 0.1 to 0.3. The lower numbers will seal things in and out much better, but this rating is not always required to be on the label.

The VT or Visible Transmittance

This won’t help you with efficiency, but it does help you understand how much light will come in through their windows. If you like a lot of natural light, you’ll want a higher number. If you want light to be more muted in a TV room, the lower numbers are good. Ratings range from 0.3 to 0.7 on this reading.

Certifications

Understanding these numbers can help you out quite a bit, but you should always look for the Energy Star Certification first. Energy Star labeled windows will meet certain standards in your area of the country. You can trust that they are quality windows.

When you are ready to read through the labels, you don’t have to go through it alone. Contact the professionals at California Craftsman by calling (530) 887-1857 and we’ll help you weed through the labels bit by bit. We understand the ratings thoroughly and it’s okay if you forget what VT is or AL might mean. We’re here to fill in the details on any Sacramento, CA replacement windows that interest you. Stop by and ask questions right here in our showroom at 13555 Bowman Rd Ste 405 Auburn, CA 95603.

You’ve probably heard that natural light can make any room look larger, even if it remains the same size. And perhaps you’re dying to add even what looks like more room to a particular space in your house, like the kitchen or a bathroom. How can you pull it off? Consider Auburn, CA replacement windows to add the light you want and need in any room of your house. How do replacement windows add natural light? Here are a few ways.

More Glass Space

When you are putting in replacement windows, it’s your time to make any changes you want to the type of windows you place in your home. You can change a group of windows into one large, picture window, for example. You can make any window larger or you can switch double hung windows out for casement windows, which allows for more uninterrupted glass. Not only that, but even if you stick with the same window style, you’ll likely have more glass space. Window frames are getting more energy efficient with technology, but also thinner. Your old windows might have thick frames and less glass whereas newer windows will have larger glass space and less frame area.

Lighter Options

You know that certain colors reflect light better and older windows may not have those colors. If you have wood windows, you can paint them whatever color you want, but it’s hard to keep wood in shape as the years go by. When you get replacement windows, you can choose a light color option that goes well with your home, but also reflects the light better. White is the most popular, but you can get beige, off-white, or even a light pastel if you truly want to customize.

Coatings

There are also a number of things you can do within the replacement window options to allow in more light. Things get pretty hot in California so while you might want more light, you definitely don’t want more heat. You can have both with low-E coatings. Just have the inside of your glass panes coated with this invisible material and you will reflect heat back outside of your home in the summer (and inside in the winter) while still allowing in plenty of light. You don’t have to worry about combatting heat, even though you are getting more light.

If you’re ready for the extra light that Auburn, CA replacement windows can bring into a home, look into more details with the experts from California Craftsman/ Give us a call at

(530) 887-1857 and we’ll gladly come to your home and take a look at what you have to work with. With a few small changes and your perfect replacement windows, you might feel that certain rooms of your house are larger and more open than you thought possible. Stop by our showroom and look at some of the options in person at 13555 Bowman Rd Ste 405 Auburn, CA 95603. We’ll work to get you as much light as possible in every room you want it.