Buying New Windows for Older Vancouver Homes – From your Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Buying New Windows for Older Vancouver Homes – From your Friendly Vancouver Mortgage Broker

As a Vancouver mortgage broker we can tell you that if you have an older home, one of the better home renovation projects you might consider is replacing your old windows.

This renovation project can not only give you a good ROI on your investment but can save you a ton of money down the road. Most older homes have windows and frames which are very energy inefficient because of the materials used. Frames made of wood rot and deteriorate no matter how often they’re painted. Older windows often tend to be single paned which means a huge loss of energy.

What do you need to know about buying windows? Here are some tips to find the best selections. Also, you don’t have to compromise on the window style for your home as windows can be custom made to suit how your home was designed and reflect the time period.

There are two parts to consider when replacing you windows because its not just the windows and frames you have to consider, but how they are rated. Window construction is much more technologically advanced than it was back in the olden days.

The manner in how windows are rated has its own terminology which you need to understand to get the best product your budget allows. By understanding how windows are rated, you can mix up the window technology to install windows which allow more heat on the east side of your home and do the reverse for the west side for example.

Window and Frame Rating Terminology

·        The U Factor – This term denotes how the window and frame is rated according to how it conducts non-solar heat flow. The U-Factor usually refers to the glazing efficiency alone. A more comprehensive rating which reflects the energy efficiency of both the glass/glazing and frame combined is called the NFRC U- Factor rating. The lower the rating of either means the window/frame is more energy efficient.

·        Solar Heat Gain Coefficient – Also known as SHGC. This describes how much solar energy is admitted through the window and is absorbed as heat into your home. It is denoted as a fraction. A lower rating means more shading.

·        Air Leakage – This measurement illustrates how much air is moving around the frame. A window which has a lower rating means the construction is much tighter and has a lower flow of air which denotes the loss or escape of heat or air conditioning.

The manner in how sunlight is transmitted into your home also has its own terminology. Here is how windows are rated for the effects of sunlight.

·        Visible Transmittance – Also known as VT. This is described as a fraction and refers to the visible spectrum of light seen by the human eye which passes through the window glazing. A higher VT rating means more light is coming through the window. If, for example, you have a room which has too much glare, you can install a window which has glazing with a lower VT.

·        Light to Solar Gain – This rating is a ratio between the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGE) and the Visible Transmittance (VT). This ratio simply describes the overall efficiency of the different types of window glass or glazing you can choose. Simply put, a higher number means more light is admitted while blocking actual heat gains so you can admit more light without actually feeling the effects of accompanying heat. However, this rating is not found on all window model types.

Take it from you friendly Vancouver mortgage broker that it’s worthwhile to take the time to investigate what’s available in today’s new window technology especially if you have an older Vancouver home. You will not only make your home more appealing to buyers, but can save a lot of money and be more comfortable as the seasons change.