If your old windows aren’t in working condition any longer, it’s time to get replacement windows in Dallas, TX. And while you know that any window you get is going to look and function better, it’s important to think of this project as an opportunity. Not only is it a chance to get windows that look nicer and operate efficiently, but you can also make any changes you want to the configuration of your windows. For the most part, in today’s homes, the larger the windows, the better. If you have a bank of windows, you can combine them into a larger window. If you have small windows, you can make them bigger, and so on. Here are a few benefits of having larger windows in your house:

More Natural Light

Natural light can work wonders in a home in a variety of ways. First, when you let more light in, the rooms look larger, more open, and more welcoming. Light can help a room you thought was too small and cramped look just right. Letting more light also helps you to feel better all the way around. You might sleep better and feel more productive. But the Dallas sun can get hot and having too much light might concern you. Erase that concern when you upgrade to low-E glass. That way, the light comes in, but not the heat from the sun. Problem solved.

Better Home Value

Getting new windows is a big investment and it’s smart of you to think into the future and add to the value of your home. Even if you aren’t selling any time soon, new windows will increase the value and what you can do to them can help things even further. Consider, for example, larger windows like bow or bay windows that give you a great view and raise the value of the home even more.

Home Ventilation Options

One of the main goals of any window (other than picture windows that don’t open) is to allow you to ventilate your home. When you get bigger windows, like large casement windows that swing out, they can bring in more fresh air on a nice day. You can let the stale air out of your house and start over with nice, fresh air.

Bring In The View

If you have a nice view outside of your home, you deserve to see it, even on a hot day when you don’t want to stand outside. Larger windows can bring in much more of that view and allow you an unobstructed vision of the world around you.

There are plenty of other things you can do with replacement windows in Dallas, TX outside of making the current windows larger. You can put windows where there aren’t any now, change the style, change the color, and any number of other things. The professionals at Southwest Door & Window are here to help you decide what you want to do and what is better off left the same.

Growing up, were you a dreamer? Did you have a list of goals for yourself? Even if it was just in your mind? Perhaps you wanted to be married by a certain age, have kids at another stage in your life, and have a certain career by a certain time. There are plenty of goals you might have for life in general, but when your home needs replacement windows in Dallas, TX, you should have goals for that project as well.

Energy Efficiency Levels

The first thing you will want to think about is how efficient you want the new windows to be. Keep in mind that any replacement window, even the standards, is likely going to be more efficient than what you have in your home now. Perhaps that’s all you want. But if you’d like to go above and beyond that, maybe make it a goal to only look at Energy Star Certified windows. Those windows have been tested and approved to have a certain level of efficiency. You can also start comparing rating labels to get even more efficient after the Energy Star labels are viewed. Decide just how efficient you want to go and make that a high-level goal.

Appearance Wants

Beyond efficiency, you also want your new windows to look nice. Again, any new window you get will look fresh and new and bring a certain level of style to your home. But there are things you can do to take it further. You get to choose the window styles, colors, hardware, and other things. You can also add things that have to do with the appearance, like grids and so on. Decide what you want from the appearance and whether you have extra in the budget to get what you’d like. Otherwise, you might have to sacrifice in this area to afford the energy efficiency you want for your home.

These are two of the most important things to have on the list, but you will need sub-lists under them. Wanting a high level of energy efficiency is a good start, but how will you get that? Will you add upgrades? Get certain styles that work better for efficiency. And what is it you want in the appearance department? Something that stands out? Something that blends in? There are a lot of things you could write under each category to go further with your goals.

The professionals at Southwest Door & Window are here to help you meet and exceed your goals. If you’d like help, give us a call and we can start to talk about what might be best for your home. If you have yet to make goals, that’s okay. We’re here to help you figure out the best direction to take. Most homeowners have never gotten replacement windows in Dallas, TX before and we are here to talk you through the process to make sure you don’t make mistakes that you will regret once the installation is complete.

There are so many choices to make when you are getting replacement windows in Dallas, TX. One of the problems you may run into is that you have a limited budget. You can’t afford absolutely everything possible on a window. You may have to make some sacrifices. When you do have to make choices, you’re always going to be better off choosing higher-quality windows over windows that have aesthetic details on them. The best part is, that high-quality windows are going to be nice-looking. There’s no getting around that. You just might not be able to add aesthetic details you would have liked because of budget constraints. As you look into quality windows, keep these elements in mind.

The Details Are Important

To get quality in your windows, efficiency is key. You will want to have highly efficient windows. You can tell the differences in the rating labels and that will help you decipher quality and efficiency. Keep in mind that on any window you choose you get to pick the color, style, hardware, and other details. There are always going to be aesthetics involved and you can have an impact on that avenue. You can get windows that look great and are high in quality.

Keep Resale At The Top

While you might not be looking to sell your home any time soon, remember the resale value as you make choices on your windows. You want windows that will hold up well and raise the resale value of your home. Those are the quality windows on the market. Any new window is going to raise the value of a house, but the more efficient and the higher in quality, the larger that difference in resale price will go.

Choose To Put Money Into Quality

When you have a limited budget for your windows, and most people do, you have to pick and choose where you put your money. Windows that have a lot of appearance frills may not be as quality-driven. You will want to put your money into your quality features first and save the rest for aesthetic upgrades if you have funds left over. Always put your money into quality first since that’s what will make the windows last. You want performance first. If you just have nice-looking windows without performance to back them up, it will be something you will regret.

When you get replacement windows in Dallas, TX, it’s important to have your priorities lined up. There might be lots of things that you will want in those windows. Quality is important and should be the first on the list. You can get that and more from the professionals at Southwest Door & Window. We’re here to help you figure out what your home needs so you can get the results you want. Quality is important, but keep in mind that any new window you get will help the appearance of your home as well. We’ll help you get both ends lined up just right.

Living in Texas means the winters are mostly minded. But the summers, on the other hand, can be brutally hot and humid. Those changes have an effect on many things in your life—and in your home. You might find that you need replacement windows in Dallas, TX and it could be because of what the weather elements have done to your old windows over time. Here are some things that overly hot or cold weather can do to windows as they age:

Cause Drafts

When the temperatures are mild over the winters and in the fall and spring, air leaks aren’t as big of a concern. But when the summer months hit and your home is surrounded by hot air at all times, you want it to stay out of your house. However, that same hot air can cause your windows to warp—especially when the humidity gets onto the wood frames. It can also cause windows to crack and too much moisture could even cause the old wood to rot. When the window frames bend, crack, and rot, there are going to be more drafts in the home than ever before. When those drafts contain hot, humid air, it can be very uncomfortable in the home very quickly.

Transfer Heat From Outside To In

Similar to air leaks, when your windows don’t keep the hot air out, or even the heat from the sun’s rays, it’s important to get replacement windows. Older windows don’t have low-E coatings, which means you have to keep shades closed in order to keep the natural heat from the sun out. You might want the light, but you can’t stand the heat. Plus, the hot air can go right through the glass and come into your home. When you get new windows, that hot air stays out and you can get that low-E coating on the glass, which allows you to get the sun’s light through, but not the heat.

Allow Condensation

The heat in this area of the country can cause things to get very humid. When that humidity forms on the inside of the glass, or even the outside, that’s okay. However, condensation can occur between the panes of glass when it gets through the seals on the windows. That’s never a good sign and can happen after time goes by and your windows age.

When you use these things happening, the hot weather in this area of the country could be the cause. But windows age and they don’t last forever. If you are ready for replacement windows in Dallas, TX, there are plenty of options to consider. Contact the professionals at Southwest Door & Window and we’re here to walk you through the process from start to finish. We can help you read rating labels and find the best options for your home. We want you to love the results for decades into the future. It’s important to your comfort, your energy bills, and your home’s appearance.

If you have decided that your home needs replacement windows in Dallas, TX because you are spending a lot more time at home right now than you ever have before, you may feel stuck and like there’s nothing you can do about the project. However, it never hurts to be prepared. There are lots of things you can do from the comfort of your own home to advance your interests. Then, when things get up and running again across the country, you’ll be ready to jump on the project. Here are a few ways you can plan from your home:

Inspect Your Windows For Likes And Dislikes

If your windows came with your home, you didn’t pick them. There might be things you like about them and things you don’t like about them. But have you ever really thought about it? Take the extra time in your home to figure out what you like and don’t like. Perhaps you like that you can tilt the double-hung windows into your house to clean them rather than trying to do it outside. But you might not like that a casement window swings out over the deck and gets in the way. The more you know about what you like and don’t like, the easier it will be to make decisions once you get ready to move forward.

Think About Colors

What color are your current windows? Is that working for you or are you ready for a change? You will want to make sure whatever color you get looks good with what you have on your home now, but will also still look good in the future. White is the most popular color because of that. However, black is also a common and popular choice today because it contrasts with any light-colored home. You can also get something that blends into the house or is the same color, but in a darker tone to get a contrast going. The more you think about the colors, the more ready you will be to make that decision as well.

Research Online

You may be spending more time on the computer than ever before since you are more cooped up at home. But that’s not a bad thing for research purposes. You can find out what rating labels mean so you are able to read them once you go to the window store to look at windows in person. That online research can come in very handy and help you figure out efficiency and many other details when you get to that point.

Once you are about to move forward with replacement windows in Dallas, TX, it’s important to work with professionals in the field. The experts at Southwest Door & Window are here for you every step of the way. You can call us whenever you’d like and once you stop by our showroom, we can help you figure out what steps to take to make your house everything you want it to be.

When you decide to get replacement windows in Dallas, TX, it’s always best to go the extra mile and have the professionals from the window store install your windows for you. They were trained by the manufacturer and they know what they’re doing. Plus, their company comes with insurance and guarantees that back up their job. They have installed windows dozens of times in the past and they simply know what they’re doing. But if you have windows installed by someone else, it’s good to know what signs to watch for in case the window installation doesn’t go as planned. Here are a few signs that your windows aren’t installed quite right:

1-They’re Hard To Open

New windows should glide open and close without effort. If yours are hard to open, they might not be installed right. Windows that don’t function correctly could be a safety hazard if there’s ever an emergency. Plus, they’re brand new! They should open like a dream, not worse than your old windows did.

2-You Can Feel Drafts

Perhaps you got rid of your old windows because they were drafty. Having those air leaks in your homemade house is uncomfortable. Plus, they raised your energy bills. That’s a big reason to get new windows. You expect much better energy efficiency. If the new windows also leak air, they likely weren’t installed right and you’re back where you started on efficiency.

3-The Caulking Is A Mess

Once the new windows go in, the installer will caulk around them outside. If they don’t do that or if the caulk, they install is a mess, it could lead to more air leaks. Check out the caulking and if you see gaps, the windows aren’t going to work well for you. Caulking is something that can be redone, but if the windows aren’t put in well, it won’t matter that much anyway.

4-Condensation Between Window Panes

Condensation happens inside the windows and even outside at times, but if you see it between the panes of glass, you’re in trouble. That’s something that happens to older windows when the seal breaks. It’s certainly not something that should happen on brand-new windows. But it does if they aren’t installed properly.

5-Leaking Water

Windows are to hold their seals tight and not let anything through. That includes air and, of course, water. When you see water coming through the windows, that’s not a good thing at all. The installation wasn’t done right, and you need to get an inspection and repairs.

When you get replacement windows in Dallas, TX, it’s a big investment into your home. You want to get the right windows to do a good job for your house, but you also want to get something installed properly so the windows will perform as they promise on their labels. The professionals at Southwest Door & Window can help you choose the right windows, but we can also install them for you, so you don’t have to worry about having them done improperly.

There’s a time when you’re close to needing replacement windows in Dallas, TX and then there’s a time when you really need them. Which of those two scenarios best describes your situation? If you are just starting to see signs that you need new windows, you can take your time with the process, investigate what you want, and then get the windows put in before the old models get too bad. But if you already really need the windows, you’ll want to have the replacements put in as soon as possible. Here are a few signs that show you that new windows are highly necessary for your home.

Sign 1: Air Flows Through The Window Like It’s Open—Even When It’s Not

Your windows should give you good airflow when it’s open. It’s nice to get fresh air flowing through the house on a nice day. But when the windows are closed, they are supposed to block the air out of your home. If you notice that you can feel the drafts coming from your windows easily when you are standing by them, even when they are closed, that’s a huge sign that you need new windows—and fast. Airflow kills your energy efficiency and makes your energy bills go from bad to worse in no time flat.

Sign 2: Visibly Damaged Window Frames

If your frames look mostly okay, except for maybe a little peeling paint, perhaps they need to be replaced eventually. But if you can see the frames rotting and warping or if you see cracks in their materials, you need new windows right away. Not only does the appearance of your home suffer, but you have huge energy efficiency issues inside your home because of that damage.

Sign 3: Condensation Appears Between Glass Panes

Condensation can happen on a glass. It’s just the way nature works. But if you see it on the inside of your glass or the outside of your glass, that’s okay. However, if you see it pop up between your panes of glass, the seal has broken on the window and you can’t fix that. You’ll have to get new windows faster than you would have otherwise.

Sign 4: Creeping High Energy Bills

When energy bills go higher on a regular basis, you know that energy prices aren’t rising that fast. It’s best to look into why your home is lacking energy efficiency. You can invite the window professionals over and see what they say. Getting new windows can help you figure out how to stop those bills from climbing and, instead, reduce them instead.

If you would like to get rid of these signs and be left with replacement windows in Dallas, TX that are new and fresh and leave your home with so many benefits it’s hard to list them all, the professionals at Southwest Door & Window are here to help. We can evaluate your home and give you suggestions that can help you figure out the right fit. We want you to have what your home needs.

Window shopping and window shopping are two different things. They sound the same, but one means that you walk by stores and just look in the windows while the other means actually shopping for replacement windows in Dallas, TX. If you are shopping for windows, it’s an important task. It’s not something you’ve likely done before so you may not really know how to do it effectively. Use these tips and you’ll get through the shopping process and the installation and love the results on the other side.

#1: Remember Differences You Can’t See

When you look at windows, there may be two side by side that look exactly the same. But while looks might be important in shirts and dresses, on windows, appearance isn’t everything. You also have to think about the fact that there are likely differences between those two windows that you can’t see. The differences could be inefficiency, for example. One might have a double pane glass while the other has a triple pane. One might have a superior lock to the other, even if they look similar, and so on. Don’t choose windows based on what you see alone. You need to get into the details and compare the differences you can’t see.

#2: Labels Are Everything

While you can tell some of your preferences in windows just by looking, you will also need to recognize that the labels on the windows tell you everything else you need to know. When you read the labels, you get the information you need on how that window will perform. You’ll know how much air it lets come through the glass in comparison to another window and how much heat comes in from the sun. There are lots of important numbers on the labels so learn what they mean, or be willing to ask window professionals about them.

#3: Installation Is The Second Half Of Important

While the windows you get need to be right for your home in every way, they won’t perform as they promise if they aren’t installed properly. How do you ensure they are installed properly? You hire professional installers with the right licensing, insurance, experience, and knowledge. Once you have reputable installers, you know you are on the right track to getting the windows you need into place in your home,

When you are ready to shop for windows and not just go window shopping by looking through storefronts, the professionals in the replacement window industry in Dallas, TX are here to help. Visit the experts at Southwest Door & Window by calling (214) 341-2212. We can not only help you figure out what windows are best for your situation, but we can also help you with the installation process. From start to finish, we’ll make sure your home gets what it needs. You can visit our showroom at 10255 Miller Rd., Dallas, TX 75238 and we’re happy to show you around and help in any way we can.