The ABC's of Windows

Windows are an important component of a home. In addition to enhancing the esthetic beauty of the house, windows can provide fresh air and ventilation to the home, allow daylighting to brighten interior spaces and keep out harsh outdoor elements (wind, rain, snow).

Buying new windows can be a daunting task, especially for the uninitiated. Knowing the type of window best suited for your home and geographic location can help you choose a window that reduces direct drafts from air leakage and the potential for damage from water leaks. It's important to understand how windows perform with respect to these factors. Equally important, knowing what to look for in a window can help you avoid buying something you don't need.

Learn more about the ABC's of WINDOWS at the Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation's website.

 
All About PVC Windows

 


With today's energy prices skyrocketing, our homes are becoming more and more difficult to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Vinyl windows are not only manufactured to be the most energy efficient window available, they also required much less maintenance than other portions of your home: a pressure washer a few times a year is enough to keep your windows looking great and performing well.

Below are some of the features of vinyl windows. For more information regarding the benefits you can get from installing PVC windows in your home, contact an MCM representative today for your no-obligation consultation.

 

 

 

 
Polyvinylchloride (PVC)

Known also as "vinyl", many building materials are manufactured using PVC. The PVC comes in pellet form and is melted and reformed into extrusions which make up the window frames and sashes that compose your new window. 

PVC is extremely durable and resistant to weather. Our window manufacturers use only the highest quality PVC to ensure the best finished product. Lifetime warranties are offered from most manufacturers on cracking, splitting or other deformations of frame material.

 


The PVC frames are moulded into extrusions, which are welded (melted) together to form the frames and sashes for your windows.

The airspaces between the different layers of vinyl help to insulate your home from the elements. They create a pocket of dead air, preventing a thermal bridge from the outside to the inside. Built in weatherstripping reduces the amount of air that infiltrates into- and out of- your home.

 

 

 
"Low E" Insulated Glass (IG)

Glass is the weakest portion of your window. It is a challenge to make the glass thin enough to see through yet make it thin enough that you don't lose precious energy to the outdoors.

Insulated glass units help to combat this but creating a hermetically sealed unit. The two panes of glass protect against the elements, while the airspace between (filled with an inert gas such as argon) provides valuable insulating qualities.

 

 

Warm in the Winter

Titanium coating on the inside of the sealed unit prevents energy from your furnace from escaping; reflecting it back into your home where it belongs.

 

Cool in the Summer

The same coating reflects the energy of the sun away from the house. Helps to save your interior from harmful UV rays, and keeps your rooms more comfortable to stay in.