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Vinyl Windows Vs. Wood Windows

  In the last 25 years or so, wood windows dropped from almost half of all windows sold to less than 20%.  Guess which material took wood’s place?  Vinyl.  That doesn’t necessarily mean that wood windows are lower quality than vinyl or more difficult to deal with.  Both wood and vinyl have strong points.  Wood

Window Replacement: 5 Questions Before You Buy

5 Questions Before You Buy: What kind of windows am I getting? This may seem like an easy one, but there are a lot of products out there!  Make sure the window you are being quoted is not only the one you want, but the one that will best suit all your needs.  Choosing the

Is it OK to install windows when it’s cold outside?

Even in a mild New Mexico winter, many homeowners see the highest energy bills of the year, due to drafty old windows. Because we understand that there is a special need for replacement windows in the coldest seasons, Glass-Rite installs beautiful new replacement windows year-round. Our Energy Quest vinyl windows are energy efficient, and will

Condensation on New Windows?

Every year we get calls from a customer or two asking why they have condensation on the outside of their brand-new windows.  Their old windows didn’t do this, so the new ones must be defective!  Not at all!  In fact, the new windows are performing better than ever before.  It is not unusual to have

How to Keep Cool in the Warm Months

  We’re in the middle of a long hot New Mexico summer and it’s hard not to keep that AC going full blast.  The ongoing debate is whether or not to shut your windows and blinds when you’re not home to keep hot air out, or to have them open.  What achieves a cooler house? 

Vinyl Windows and VOC’s

  VOC’s, (Volatile Organic Compounds), are invisible products that result from the off-gassing of a variety of materials in your home from paint to carpet to plastics. In most cases products that have high VOC’s also have strong smells. New carpet, linoleum, and fresh paint are good examples of this. Occasionally we get questions about

Testing for Lead Paint: It’s the Law!

In April of 2010 The Environmental Protection Agency issued new regulations that require any contractor that disrupts more than 6 square feet of surface on a home built before 1978 be licensed and trained to comply with the new lead paint regulations that minimize dust. To learn more specifics about these regulations go to EPA.gov

What is SHGC?

What is SHGC and why do I care? Before buying new windows for your home you should check out the NFRC label. The NFRC, or National Fenestration Registration Council, is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to provide uniform, accurate information about the energy performance of windows. The easiest way to compare windows on a

Modifying and Creating New Openings for Windows

Let it shine on in…or not When a home is built, the contractor and architect choose the window location and size for a room based on a variety of factors like symmetry from the exterior, and the purpose a room is being used for. Preferences change though; I like having light from more than one

How to replace a balance

Replacing a channel balance or “block & tackle” balance on a single-hung window Our new Energy Quest vinyl windows use a constant force steel coil balance that never needs replacement.  But what if you’ve already replaced your windows a few years ago? Sometimes they just need a little TLC to get them working like new