Most folks are very surprised that a small homebuilder like Antares installs vinyl windows in every home. Usually, you won’t find that feature unless you are in the price range of $300,000 and up in our local market. A few years back, we made the change after extensively researching the benefits.
In the North Texas area we don’t have very much of a Winter and we fight the blistering heat every Summer. Just imagine that you are sitting outside on a scorching hot day inTexas. You touch two objects that have been sitting in the sun. One is metal, the other is vinyl. Which do you think will burn your hand? Simply put, metal absorbs, retains and transfers heat. With aluminum windows, that heat ends up in your home. Limiting the amount of ‘thermal transfer’ through the home’s exterior is important to maximizing energy efficiency.
Science and Technology have brought so much innovation to what we can offer. Homeowners’ concerns for increased comfort and performance, along with the rising cost of energy makes this issue even more important. Dual paned windows allow for “insulation” between two panes of glass which minimizes heat transfer. This type of window is now used in 95% of all new homes built in the United States. However, Antares has taken it a step further by using vinyl windows that have Low-E glass instead of aluminum windows. The window companies determine the efficiency of windows by the measurement of the rate of heat transfer through a product (U-factor). The lower the U-factor, the better the glass is at insulating a building. In general, window ratings are from .25 to 1.25. Our dual paned vinyl windows feature a LOW-E coating on our glass which has a U-factor of .32. That’s more than the minimum you’d expect from a new home! The coating on the glass has a slightly reflective tint that lets in light, yet gives privacy.
We’ve always known that people like to see the natural light inside their home, yet they still want energy efficiency. We’ve never designed plans around small standard size windows. You can see by the front facades of all of our plans that we build a better looking home than our competition. We don’t try to “economize it” on the outside. We put the right size windows on the home. It’s just not okay to cut costs at the expense of the look of a home. But don’t worry, using these oversized windows is not at the expense of your home’s energy efficiency!
Now, let’s move on to some really cool things about these vinyl-frame windows.
- You NEVER have to paint them.
- You can clean them from the inside of your home. The windows have a tilt sash feature that is awesome. If you are living in a 2 story home, this is a priceless feature. Some builders charge thousands for this feature.
- Vinyl windows are resistant to corrosion, chipping and rusting. They don’t require maintenance
- Vinyl windows are much greener. Vinyl windows emit less gas in production than aluminum.
- They provide lower utility bills
- They add resale value to the home. Ask anyTexasRealtor. You will love that at resale time.
By using vinyl windows, Antares Homes has chosen to go above and beyond…..For you, our customers.
-Nancy Scott
Graduate Master Builder
