Not all high-quality windows have the same characteristics, nor are they all equally right for you. So, how can you decide which manufacturers and models are appropriate for you?

When we talk about the quality of windows, we refer to the window’s energy efficiency but that is not the only characteristic necessary for a great window product. Choosing the best models for you requires careful consideration of all these factors.

What Are High-Quality Windows?

One of the first factors that most consumers think of when they hear this phrase is price. After all, you get what you pay for, right?

Yes, the better the quality of the product, the higher the cost is likely to be. However, when we talk about windows, higher quality truly means increased energy efficiency, exceptional durability and minimal maintenance requirements.

Some products excel at saving energy. You can evaluate the ratings provided by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), found on a sticker affixed to the glass.

Some manufacturers focus on interior appearance and exterior curb appeal. Others boast hundreds or thousands of different finish choices, allowing you to choose exactly the look you want. Still others focus on minimizing or virtually eliminating the need for maintenance.

Some manufacturers manage to achieve some of all of these goals – and those are the products that have the highest quality of all.

Do You Need High-Quality Windows?

Whether you are building a new home or if you plan to renovate your existing home, the answer to this question depends on your goals.

If you’re building a new custom home, you will have to choose your window package. Depending on your budget and your energy savings goals, you will want to choose the best quality windows you can afford. But whether you look first for energy efficiency, low maintenance requirements or appearance is up to you.

If you purchased your home from a builder, you likely have builder-grade windows in your home (unless you paid to have them upgraded during construction). Installing new, high-quality windows can save you hundreds of dollars every year in energy costs. But, more important, you will recover a significant portion of your investment when you sell your house, through an increase in property value.

The National Association of Realtors 2017 Remodeling Impact Report lists replacement windows as the second most valuable exterior improvement, after roof replacement. The report estimates that you will recover 79 percent of your investment at sale if you install new vinyl windows, for example. Remodeling magazine estimates that, in the Mountain region of the U.S., you will recover almost 75 percent of your investment in new vinyl or wood windows.

How Do You Select Your New Windows?

You start by determining what is most important for you and your home.

Whether your priorities are keeping energy use to a minimum, improving the appearance of your home or keeping costs as low as possible, your priorities will help you identify the best products for you.

In Utah, certain types of windows qualify for incentives and rebates, which can reduce the cost of high-quality windows significantly. Incentives are available from local utility companies, and various levels of the government. You can search for all available rebates and incentives in Utah on the ENERGY STAR site.

If you let a local window contractor like Rocky Mountain Window & Door assist you, you can rest assured that you will get the products that best meet your needs, at the most affordable price possible. In Utah, contact us today to learn more about adding high-quality windows to your home.

If you’re getting new doors for your home, you have many choices to make.

For the exterior of your home, you will have the ability to choose between wood, fiberglass, aluminum clad and composite doors. You will be able to choose the style, color and finish that you like, as well as the hardware style and finish.

The final choice you must make is which direction your new doors will swing: inward or outward.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Inswing Doors?

Doors that swing inward – into the home – require adequate space to operate. If the door is a 36-inch door, you need at least that much space in the room.

Although inswing designs offer some security because the hinges are on the inside; however, they are easier to force open with a shoulder or solid kick. They are also more difficult to operate, thanks to the friction of the weatherproof materials necessary to help seal out the elements.

Inswing designs are more vulnerable to wind and rain; however, they are preferable for snowy weather, when accumulation and drifting may make it impossible to open the door outward.

If you choose an inswing design, it may be preferable to avoid doors with a wood exterior, as they could be more susceptible to weather-related degradation and increased maintenance demands.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Outswing Doors?

Outward swinging doors are more weatherproof and easier to operate. They do require sufficient space on the outside to operate freely, which means your porch, patio or landing must be large enough to accommodate this need.

They are also much harder to force open. However, because the hinges are on the outside, criminals may try to access your home by removing the hinge pins. Fortunately, you can choose hinge designs that do not have removable pins or other security features to discourage would-be intruders.

Finally, although you may have a hard time opening an outswing door if snow is piled up outside, the design makes it harder for wind and rain to get inside your home.

Which Swing Should You Choose for Your New Doors?

In some cases, especially if you are adding replacement doors to your home, you may have to go with the same orientation you already have. This is especially true if you do not plan to replace the door frames or casings.

In some parts of Utah, you may also be bound by municipal building codes or the constraints imposed by your homeowners’ association.

The best way to decide on designs, materials, finishes and hardware for your new doors is to consult with a local contractor. Rocky Mountain Window & Door represents a wide variety manufacturers, to provide you with the options and choices you demand. We can visit your home, personally measure each opening, and help you select the styles and designs that fit your budget and provide you with the look and features you seek.

In Utah, contact us today to schedule your consultation and customized estimate for your new doors.

If you’re considering exterior door replacement, consider using fiberglass doors for your project.

Fiberglass exterior doors are the right choice for many homeowners, because they provide a highly desirable package of features and amenities at a strikingly affordable cost.

Before you decide to more forward with a Utah replacement door project, however, consider whether you actually need new doors at this time, as well as how they might benefit you and your family.

Do You Need Exterior Door Replacement?

If your home’s doors are tired-looking, worn, leaky or of poor quality, the chances are good that you do need to replacement them. Here’s why.

From an aesthetic perspective, faded, worn out or dated doors can degrade the curb appeal – and, hence, the value – of your home. They can even have a negative psychological effect on your and your family (and on any potential buyers, should you plan to sell your home). When exterior elements of your home are not well-maintained, it sends a subconscious message of neglect and diminished value.

From an energy perspective, replacement doors can save you significantly on heating and cooling bills, especially as compared to leaky, saggy old doors that allow all of your heating and AC to seep out of the house.

Older models also do not provide an acceptable level of security, to protect your family and possessions from would-be intruders.

Why Use Fiberglass for Your Exterior Doors?

If you decide to move forward, your next consideration will be material for your replacement doors. You can choose from wood, steel, fiberglass and a variety of composite options.

So why choose fiberglass for your door replacement project?

Fiberglass has insulating properties that are very similar to steel. And, with today’s advanced technology, they can be fabricated to replicate the beauty of natural wood. Fiberglass is the most durable materials used for door fabrication, which means they require virtually no maintenance.

The durability of this material is also striking. You can expect your new doors to withstand the elements and keep a like-new appearance for decades.

Planning Your Utah Exterior Door Replacement

At Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors, exterior doors are one of our specialties.

We represent many of the country’s best manufacturers, including JeldWen, ThermaTru and Simpson. You can choose virtually any design, finish and color, to enhance both curb appeal and the value of your home.

We are a locally owned and operated contractor, serving customers throughout Northern Utah. We also provide new construction and replacement windows, skylights and new construction doors. We take the time to help our customers make the right choices to fit their needs and cost constraints.

Contact us today to request your detailed estimate for fiberglass exterior door replacement.

If you’re considering window replacement for your Utah home, chances are you’ve thought about looking in energy-efficient windows.

Unfortunately, this topic can be confusing for Utah homeowners.

What, exactly, is an energy-efficient window? To help with your decision, we’ve assembled some basic information on the energy efficiency of windows, so that you can make an informed decision about your home’s window replacement options.

What Are Energy-Efficient Windows?

Testing and certification for window efficiency are conducted by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). You can look for the NFRC label and use this information to compare different manufacturers and designs.

The primary metrics analyzed by the NFRC have to do with heat gain, or how much solar radiation is released as heat into the home. Testing also considers how much conditioned air (heated or cooled) can escape the home.

The most energy-efficient replacement windows minimize the direct gain and loss that occurs by conduction through the glass and frame, the radiation of heat coming in and how it affects people and possessions inside and air seepage through and around the window.

Do You Need Energy-Efficient Replacement Windows in Utah?

The Northern Utah weather runs the gamut of climate extremes, from frigid winter temperatures to the harsh heat of summer. Energy-efficient replacement windows can offer a variety of measurable benefits.

Depending on how much you increase the energy efficiency, your replacement windows may easily pay for themselves over a period of only a few years – based on the money you save on heating and cooling bills.

You will also be more comfortable inside your home and your furnishings will suffer less fading and sun damage.

Perhaps most influential, replacing your windows will significantly improve the value of your home. Remodeling Magazine reports that homeowners recover, on average, almost 75 percent of the cost of their new windows upon sale of the home. The National Association of Realtors places that figure at over 78 percent.

This means that, on average, replacing the windows of your Utah home will increase its value by about $10,000. As a bonus, it will improve the salability of your home due to the improved curb appeal. And you could easily cut your monthly heating and cooling bills by 35 percent or more, depending on the efficiency of your current windows.

Planning a Utah Window Replacement Project

Window replacement in Utah is easy when you work with a local expert like Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors.

We represent some of the most reputable and well-known manufacturers, so you will have plenty of options to choose from, depending on your objectives and budget. We personally measure every opening, so your windows will be individually fabricated for a perfect fit.

We also offer new construction and replacement interior and exterior door packages, skylights and specialty items such as interior barn doors. Contact us today to request your personalized estimate for energy-efficient replacement windows.

Wood clad windows, sometimes known as just clad windows, provide the best of all worlds for the homeowner.

These products allow you to enjoy the best aspects of wood windows while minimizing their disadvantages. Here at Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors, we are proud to represent some of the finest manufacturers, including Jeld-Wen and Lincoln.

Our extensive line of product offerings allows us to provide our Utah customers with the high-quality products they seek at a price that won’t blow your budget.

What Are Wood Clad Windows?

These versatile, affordable window designs feature frames that are constructed of the finest wood species. The outsides of the frames are then covered – clad – in another material. Options for cladding typically include vinyl, aluminum and fiberglass.

This allows you to enjoy the natural splendor of wood frames inside the home. Meanwhile, outdoors, you have no worries about weather damage, rotting, fading, warping – or any regular maintenance to speak of.

Depending on how you choose to customize your products, you can have the level of insulation and energy efficiency you prefer, the exterior and interior finish options that best meet your aesthetic needs and the low maintenance finishes you seek.

Lincoln Wood Clad Windows

Lincoln products include aluminum- and vinyl-clad designs as well as a hybrid design.

The Lincoln aluminum-clad products, including both windows and patio doors, have amazing versatility, particularly with finish options. Vinyl-clad designs have outstanding energy-efficiency and increased resistance to harsh weather conditions.

The Lincoln hybrid product features the best aspects of all the options to create a highly durable, energy-efficient, low maintenance window with exceptional style and architectural appeal.

Lincoln boasts an infinite number of options for exterior finish, including standard colors, featured colors, anodized finish options and a full palette of custom colors.

Jeld-Wen Wood Clad Windows

The Jeld-Wen line of clad windows also offers a virtually limitless range of choice and options.

The EpicVue series provides expansive sight lines, thanks to a low-profile frame. This series features aluminum cladding over Jeld-Wen’s patented AuraLast wood. The Siteline series is also fabricated with AuraLast, and designed for durability and low maintenance.

Jeld-Wen also offers custom wood windows with your choice of cladding options. This provides you with the opportunity to design a new or replacement window and door package that meets your every need for function as well as design.

And, with countless exterior finish and hardware choices, you can rest assured that these products will mesh perfectly with your home’s exterior design and color palette.

Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors, serving customers throughout Utah, is proud to offer a full line of new and replacement residential doors and windows, as well as skylights. We personally measure for your project by hand, and every door and window is fabricated specifically for your home.

Contact our office today to learn more, or to schedule a personal consultation and estimate for wood clad windows.

If your home was built recently, replacement windows are probably not on your list for potential home renovation projects.

The idea of replacing newer windows isn’t as crazy as it sounds, however. Production home builders often use inexpensive builder-grade windows, doors and skylights to increase their profit margin. If you’re battling with energy costs and comfort issues in your newer home, you may want to consider replacing those low-quality windows sooner rather than later.

What Are Builder-Grade Windows?

This term typically refers to the lower-quality products that home builders include as the standard (included in the price) in their new home communities.

In most cases, production builders use a stripped-down, inexpensive window line. This helps reduce building costs by thousands of dollars for every home, but it costs the homeowner easily that much – or more – in heating and cooling costs over the life of the home.

Cutting costs in this way helps builders remain competitive in the industry. And, since most buyers can’t tell the difference between a high-quality window and a poor one, this practice is likely to continue.

If your new home included granite countertops or a backyard landscaping allowance, that money had to come from somewhere. Chances are, it came from your window and door quality.

When Should You Consider Replacement Windows?

If you purchased your home from the builder, you were likely given the option to upgrade your windows at that time. But, because new home buyers tend to focus on upgrading their flooring, cabinetry and other interior finishes, you may have declined the window upgrade option.

If you bought a newer home on the resale market, it’s a safe bet that the original owner declined the window upgrade as well. If your heating and cooling bills are higher than they should be, or if you struggle to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, this is a likely culprit.

If you have low-quality windows, consider replacing them as soon as possible. Experts recommend that you replace the original builder-grade products in the first ten years of the home’s life.

Why You Should Choose Professional-Grade Replacement Windows

Professional-grade replacement windows offer a variety of advantages over the bare-bones, builder-grade alternatives. High-quality windows offer many desirable features, including easy-clean options and a myriad of operational choices. Improved aesthetics will increase your home’s curb appeal and architectural integrity. And, perhaps most important, higher quality windows provide exceptional comfort and energy efficiency.

Financially, you almost can’t help but benefit by replacing builder-grade windows with energy-efficient replacement windows.

Upon selling your home, you will recoup a significant portion of the investment and increase your home’s appeal to potential buyers. In the meantime, you can cut your energy consumption (and bills) significantly while improving the comfort level of your home.

Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors is Utah’s locally owned window and door expert. We provide sales, installation and service for the finest window and door lines available today. Contact us to schedule your complimentary consultation to learn more about all of your cost-saving replacement window options.

In a world intent on becoming more energy-efficient, windows are often the subject of confusion.

Windows are one of the most effective ways to improve your home’s insulation. Choosing energy-efficient windows will help reduce your energy use, both heating and cooling. And, as a result, they can help reduce your electric bill significantly.

Understanding the insulating properties of different types of glass and frame materials will help you select the best energy-efficient windows for your home.

Energy-Efficient Windows and the U-Factor

The u-factor rating addresses thermal conductivity, which is the window’s ability to retain heat during the colder months of the year. This rating ranges from 0.20 to 1.20. The lower the number, the better the product is at keeping heat inside your home.

Products with the best (lowest) u-factor include wood and vinyl frames with multiple panes of Low-E coated reflective glass.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient Ratings

The solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) rating refers to how much heat an energy-efficient window allows in. This rating applies to the summer months and how much excessive heat is allowed to penetrate the interior of your home.

The SHGC rating ranges from 0.0 to 1.0. The lower the rating, the better the product is at keeping heat out of your home.

Logic tells us that you want to minimize the heat coming into your home during the summer, so that your cooling bills can be reduced. Keep in mind, however, that this will prevent the sun from warming your home during the winter months, resulting in higher heating costs.

Visible Transmittance and Air Leakage Ratings

Visible transmittance (VT) ratings tell you how much light can permeate the glass to light your home, a process known as daylighting. Visible sunlight is rated on a scale of 0.0 to 1.0.

Air leakage (AL) refers to how much air can move around (not through) the window under a specific level of pressure. The most energy-conscious windows allow the least amount of AL. This rating spans from 0.1 to 0.3. The lower the rating, the better the window is at reducing air leakage. Not all manufacturers list this rating on their products, however.

Look for the Energy-Efficiency Label

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), a non-profit agency that provides performance labeling for new windows, doors and skylights, lists the u-factor, SHGC and air-leakage ratings on their labels. The NFRC also provides fact sheets to manufacturers and industry professionals to help them educate their customers.

Keep in mind the best energy efficiency values for a Utah home are different than those in other geographic locations. The best way to determine which factors are best for you is to talk with a local professional window contractor.

In Utah, the experienced team at Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors understands all the important details. We can assist you in selecting the most energy-efficient windows for your home and budget.

If glass block windows remind you of the worst design trends of the 1980s, you’re not alone.

Today, however, this versatile material is back and it can add a stunning design element to any home. Manufacturing methods and technology have advanced significantly over the last three decades, making this striking design element much more durable, reliable and easy to work with.

Here are three of the hottest design trends we’re seeing today, that incorporate glass and acrylic block windows.

Glass Block Window Backsplash

If you have exterior kitchen walls, consider using glass or acrylic block for your backsplash.

This design trend is incredibly popular with professional designers today. It is not only cost effective but incredibly low maintenance. It also allows a striking level of filtered light to infuse your kitchen, creating a soft, ethereal atmosphere.

If you’re planning a new home, this design element is simple to incorporate. If you plan to remodel your existing home, adding these unique windows is as simple as adding any type of window or door opening.

Interior Glass Block Accent Walls

Inside the home, glass block has finally stepped out of the bath and into the main living areas.

Glass block interior walls are perfect for creating separation between living areas without closing off the space too much. You can choose from a variety of patterns, each allowing a different degree of light to flow through.

Architects are also incorporating glass and acrylic block as creative accents in wall openings and pass-throughs. Adding block insets high on a wall provides a contemporary look while visually expanding the space.

Operable Glass Block Windows

Imagine being able to open your glass or acrylic block windows. Today, this functionality is not only possible but easy to achieve.

Operable windows with this design use acrylic block rather than traditional heavy glass. However, the manufacturing process is so effective today that you’ll never know the difference unless you tap on the blocks.

First-generation designs had to be installed block-by-block, anchored in place with materials similar to brick mortar. Today, windows are pre-fabricated at the factory, already contained in a frame. This allows the windows to be mounted in a fixed or an operable configuration.

One last advantage of today’s designs, as compared to the older styles, concerns their stability. Because older designs were installed directly into a wall opening – without benefit of a frame – the blocks often cracked or broke if the house experienced settling. Today, however, high-tech frames carry this load, removing the majority of risk for future structural issues.

Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors is the designated Utah representative for both Hy-Lite and Pacific Windows, the premier manufacturers in the United States today. Contact us today to learn more, and to request a complimentary quote for your glass block windows.

Selecting high quality doors for your front entry is truly an investment in your home, but also in your security and peace of mind.

Upgraded doors bring style and beauty to your home’s exterior. It provides exceptional security for your family. And you can rest assured that your doors will maintain their beauty and durability for many years, requiring little in the way of maintenance or repair.

The Value of Adding a High Quality Front Door

When you compare the appearance of a high quality door to a lesser option, the visual differences can be striking. But investing in an entry system of exceptional quality provides a variety of other valuable benefits.

For example, superior entry systems are fabricated using high standards of precision for a superior fit. A well-fitting door not only looks better from both inside and outside, but also provides a much higher level of insulation.

Upgraded doors are more durable, and they maintain a brand new appearance for decades. Primer and UV protective coatings further protect the exterior surface, increasing moisture resistance and decreasing the chance warpage.

Quality, durability, style and architectural design values create an overwhelming justification for selecting an upgraded product, especially when your options are surprisingly affordable.

Affordable High Quality Door Options

Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors represents many superior quality entry and exterior product lines and manufacturers.

You can select from a variety of materials. Fiberglass, for example, outperforms both steel and wood for durability, weather resistance and energy efficiency. Steel requires very little maintenance and an exceptional insulating value. Wood provides unsurpassed beauty, warmth and elegance.

You can choose from almost every wood species imaginable, including knotty alder, hickory, cherry, bamboo and walnut. You can select models with or without sidelights or integral glass.

Whatever detail, material and design you envision, we have an option to meet your needs. If not, we can also facilitate the design and fabrication of a custom entry system for your entryway.

Cost-Effective Custom Options for High Quality Doors

If you can’t find your perfect entry system within one of our high quality product lines, we can provide custom options based on your design and specification.

To design your custom entry package, we start by identifying the size and swing needed. Then we work with you to determine the style and material you envision, the finish and color, molding options, panels, glass and hardware.

It really is that simple to order custom doors. And we think you will be pleasantly surprised how by affordable this approach can be. Several of our exclusive manufacturers will work with us to fabricate your custom entry design.

Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors, based in Orem, Utah, is committed to providing our customers with the perfect windows, doors and skylights. Whether you need a new entry door or a replacement, we can help you compare features and advantages to determine the ideal choice for you.

Contact us today to learn more about our exclusive lines of high quality doors.

If you aren’t familiar with venting skylights, it’s time to introduce yourself. Trust us, these are not your grandmother’s skylights.

Although they’ve been used since Roman times, skylights were first introduced commercially in the 1950s and 60s. They became a fixture in homes built through the 70s and 80s, but fell out of favor because of their reputation for problems.

Fast forward to 2016 and we’ve come a long way, baby. The Velux Fresh Air line of venting skylights are like nothing you’ve ever seen before, but they’re available – and affordable – today.

The Technological Marvels of Venting Skylights

Skylights have a reputation for leaking and heating up the room, but those issues have long since been resolved.

The Velux line of venting skylights is guaranteed not to leak and they can – in fact – control heat exchange better than many roofing products. They even have a new name: roof windows.

Another common problem with old plastic skylights was keeping them clean. Water spots and accumulated dirt made them appear dingy and unpleasant, and they scratched easily when you tried to clean them. Today’s models are made from high-tech Neat® glass, designed to sheet water – and dirt – off the surface.

The result is a spot-free, shiny venting skylight surface that lets nature’s light shine through.

If you’re worried about noise, rest assured that’s not a concern either. In fact, these technological marvels filter up to 25 percent more outdoor noise than double-pane windows.

Choose From Manual, Electric or Solar Powered Vented Skylights

You can choose from Velux venting skylight models that open manually, just like a window, or that work via remote control.

If electrical wiring is readily available, you can choose the hard-wired option to power your vented skylights. Or, if wiring isn’t feasible, you can select solar-powered models.

Both automatic options include a sleek, small and intuitive video remote control module for easy operation. And, just in case you leave home and forget to close your skylights, they have an inclement weather sensor to handle that for you.

Speaking of weather, the laminated, tempered glass Velux products include a ten-year hail breakage warranty.

Each Velux venting skylight also offers an optional room-darkening or light filtering double pleated blind. These blinds are insulating as well, and are available for manual, electric and solar operation, just like the windows.

The Significant Economic Benefits of Having Skylights that Open

You have windows for light and air, so you might wonder why you should pay extra money for skylights that open. You might be surprised to know just how much money you can save with venting skylights.

The first answer lies with a phenomenon called the stack effect, or chimney effect.

When you open a window to let fresh air in, warm air rises and becomes trapped against the ceiling, or upstairs if you have a two-story home. That air becomes stale and it continues warm. As a result, your home becomes uncomfortable and you’re forced to turn on the air conditioner.

When you open a venting skylight, the warm air is sucked out and additional fresh air is pulled in through the windows below. This effect and the constant movement of fresh air results in what’s known as passive air conditioning.

Customers who have installed venting skylights report a dramatic difference. Imagine coming home on the warmest day of the year, touching a button on your Velux remote control, and having your house cool down in a matter of moments.

The cooling, cleaning, and energy-saving effects that venting skylights deliver to a home define the value of the upgrade.

Check out this video to see how the stack effect works!

But Wait. We Have More Good News about Saving Money.

Most of the Velux vented skylights products are ENERGY STAR® certified, which means they meet the EPA’s stringent standards for energy efficiency. This means you’ll save on your electric bills and, in some cases, be eligible for rebates or incentives from your local utility company.

Even better, both the solar roof windows and solar-powered blinds are eligible for the 30 percent federal solar tax credit. Between the tax credit and the energy savings these beautiful products offer, your Fresh Air skylights and roof windows may well pay for themselves!

Rocky Mountain Window and Door is proud to represent the Velux line of products for residential and commercial installation in Northern Utah.

Contact us today to for all of your window and door installation or replacement needs, or to learn more about the Velux line of venting skylights.