While the current weather conditions are at their peak, TGroup Windows and doors will provide you with the best options for keeping the heat and cold out of your home while letting natural light in. 

1. Proper ventilation can provide your home with fresh air. A properly placed casement window can funnel breezes directly into your rooms cooling your entire home.
2. For a French patio door, be sure to consider how you want to use the interior space near it. If your use of this space would conflict with an in-swinging door, consider an out-swinging French patio door or a French-style sliding door.
3. Folding Doors are a great choice to allow daylight to penetrate deep into your space, offering clear views, while providing security and protection from weather 
4. A Slide and Fold Door will open up any space and bring the outdoors indoors and make any room seem larger.
5. For a kitchen window over the sink, an ideal solution is the sliding horizontal window to provide ideal lighting and ease of opening.
6. Awning window are a perfect solution for ventilation in rainy climates. The windows open outward to provide a shielding for the open window.
7. Properly ventilating your bathroom will cut down on moisture buildup and will cut down the possibility of mold. Consider having at least one operable window to circulate fresh air in and moisture out.
8. If your home gets a lot of sun exposure it is important to consider the type of glass installed in the windows. High efficiency forms of Low-E insulated glass will provide maximum protection from the sun’s damaging rays.
9. Windows facing south will get low-angle sun in the spring, fall, and winter. Windows facing east and west will get low-angle sun in the mornings and the evenings. Consider high efficiency forms of Low-E insulated glass on these windows.

Whether you are an owner, a contractor, an architect or a property management company, please call and let our professionals help you choose the right folding doors, sliding doors and windows for your project. For more info visit our website at  www.FoldingDoorsandWindows.com.

www.foldingdoorsandwindows.com

1. What Warranty and Price Guarantee Comes With Your Estimate?

• Do you provide a price guarantee in writing?
• Do you have warranty on your installation?

2. What building permits will be required?
Home windows are subject to California State building code requirements. Every city in California requires a building permit for window changes. All reputable licensed window contractors know this. However, it is ALWAYS the homeowner's responsibility to obtain a permit, and the homeowner is held liable if there is no permit. So a contractor who tells you otherwise should demand your urgent suspicion.

To comply with construction and safety codes, require expert advice from window contractors and/or engineers that will specify windows for your building application, and streamline the process. In addition to structural requirements, window size, style and color need to be agreed upon. Once this is established, a cost estimate can be determined and discussed.

3. Will you provide a breakdown of the window installation process?

• Who will be supervising my project?
• Have measurements, specifications, and applications explained.

4. What Kind and Style of Windows Are You Proposing?

- Vinyl or PVC Windows-one of the most popular window choices, vinyl or PVC windows are highly durable and don’t require regular painting like other material types.  Some vinyl window frame products also offer insulated cavities, which can greatly increase a home’s energy efficiency.

• Aluminum or Metal Frame Windows.
• Fiberglass Windows.
• Clad Wood Windows
• Wood Windows

Styles of Windows can be:

• Horizontal slider or glider windows.
• Double Hung
• Awning Windows
• Hopper Windows
• Bay Windows
• Fixed Windows
• Casement Windows
• Bay or Bow Windows

            
5. What is the Energy Efficiency Quality of the Windows In Your Quote?

How do you compare the energy efficiency among differing window products? Look at the labels.

Windows that feature an Energy Star label have passed standards tests that prove that the products meet minimum criteria for energy efficiency. Energy Star-rated windows often cost more than other windows, but also offer great energy savings in reduced utility bills.

Another energy efficiency indicator on new window products is a label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The NFRC  independently assesses and issues energy ratings for window products.

Also get to understand these window energy efficient terms when speaking with the window contractor:

• The "U-factor." This number tells you whether the window you are looking at is suitable for either residential or commercial use. A U-factor rating of "AA," is suitable for residential use; while a "BB," or "commercial," window is more appropriate for a commercial setting.
• The "U-value." The U-value measures the amount of heat that transfers through the glass window. The lower the U-value, the lower your corresponding heating costs will be. When comparing two windows of the same size, choose the one with the lower U-value, if you are concerned about heating and cooling costs.
• Check the "Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC).The SHGC is the amount of solar heat that passes through the window-it is valued as a number between 0 and 1. Like the U-value, the lower this number, the less solar heat is allowed to pass through the glass. A lower SHGC means lower energy costs.
• The "VT" rating. This number (referring to "Visible Transmittance"), between 0 and 1, measures the amount of visible light that passes through the window. The higher the number, the more visible light is allowed to pass through, leading to faster fading of furniture and draperies.
• The Energy Star logo and rating. The Energy Star program, begun in 1992 by the EPA, indicates whether your selected window meets EPA energy efficiency standards.

6. What is the Window Company/Contractor's rating with the BBB and California Licensing Board?

You can evaluate the quality of the Window Company/Contractor by asking for their references and their previous window replacement projects.

• Check their license with the state of California. (Here is our CA license).
• Who are your references? Check the quality of their window installations. (as noted in this residential window video).
• See if they have completed any window installations in your neighborhood.
• Check their Better Business Bureau rating.
• Ask for warranties, and window replacement issues.
• How many replacement windows do you install each year?
• Do you provide any other home contracting services?
• Are you certified by any manufacturers in window installation?

Whether you are a homeowner in San Diego, Carlsbad, Oceanside, or anywhere in San Diego County, let T Group Windows and Doors an A+ rated, Licensed and Insured Contractor help you with all your window and door needs.

Choosing to install energy-efficient windows in your new home, or replacing existing windows in your home with newly designed energy saving windows, will give you more benefit than just savings on energy bills. Below is a list of benefits of these efficient windows. (as seen on efficientwindows.org):

• Energy & Cost Savings

Cooling Season Savings

Solar Heat Gain in Southern California climates climates that mainly require cooling (such as Palm Springs, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, and parts of Orange County and San Diego County), windows have represented a major source of unwanted heat gain. In recent years, low-E coatings that reject solar heat without darkening the glass have undergone a technological revolution.

It is now possible to significantly reduce solar heat gain and improve comfort while providing clear views and daylight. The savings in cooling season costs associated with improved windows for a house in a cooling-dominated climate can save you anywhere from 7% to 35%.  That means if your cooling bill is $150 a month, energy saving windows can reduce your bill from $150 to $630 annually-just in cooling costs. Depending on the condition of the old windows in an existing home, the savings can be higher, if window replacement leads to long-term air leakage reduction.

Heating Season Savings

In Southern California climates with a significant heating season (such as San Diego North County Coastal, Los Angeles County Coastal regions, Big Bear and other higher altitude areas), windows have represented a major source of unwanted heat loss, discomfort, and condensation problems.

Home windows have undergone a technological revolution to have lower heat loss, less air leakage, and warmer window surfaces-all to improve comfort and minimize condensation. The savings in typical heating season costs associated with improved windows for a house in the winter climates can save you anywhere from 11% to 28%.  That means if your heating bill is $200 a month during winter season, energy saving windows can reduce your bill from $110 to $280 from November to March (typical winter season)-just in furnace costs. As with air elak loss in the summer,  the savings can be even higher compared to old windows in an existing home, if window replacement leads to long-term air leakage reduction.

• Improved Comfort

Solar Heat Gain: In Southern California climates that mainly require cooling, windows have represented a major source of unwanted heat gain. Windows with Low-E (emissivity) coatings that reject solar heat without darkening the glass have undergone a technological revolution. It is now possible to significantly reduce solar heat gain and improve comfort while providing clear views and daylight.

Solar Heat Loss: An older window with a lower glass temperature feels colder because more heat is radiated from a person's body to the window. Cold glass can also create uncomfortable drafts as air next to the window is cooled and drops to the floor. This sets up an air movement pattern that feels drafty and accelerates heat loss. High performance windows with lower U-factors will result in a higher interior window temperature in winter and thus greater comfort. Proper installation along with weatherstripping designed to seal tightly (for operable windows) will also improve comfort by reducing the cold air leakage.

• Less Condensation

High performance windows with new glazing technologies not only reduce energy costs but make homes more comfortable as well.

High-performance windows create warmer interior glass surfaces, reducing frost and condensation. High-performance windows with warm edge technology and insulating frames have such a warm interior surface that condensation on any interior surfaces is significantly reduced under all conditions.

• Increased Light & View-without the added cost of Window Tinting

Daylight and view are two of the fundamental attributes of a window. Unfortunately, windows can also be the source of significant solar heat gain during times when it is unwanted. Traditional solutions to reducing solar heat gain such as tinted glazing or shades mean that the amount of light is reduced as well. The new Low-E coatings on windows can provide better solar heat gain reduction than tinted glass, with a minimal loss of visible light. This also means that views can be clearer and unobstructed.

• Reduced Fading-without the added cost of Window Tinting

Many furnishings in your home-such as carpet, fabrics, paper, artwork, paints, and wood-may fade upon exposure to sunlight. Window selection can influence the type and intensity of transmitted radiation. The most harmful radiation in sunlight are the ultraviolet (UV) rays, which are the most energetic and thus most likely to break chemical bonds, leading to fading and degradation.

Coatings on newly designed window glass can reduce the UV transmitted by up to 75 percent. UV absorbers can be incorporated into thin plastic films in multilayer windows, or as an interlayer in laminated glass. In both cases, the UV transmission can be reduced to less than 1 percent. Using Low-E coated glass, or windows incorporating plastic layers rather than clear uncoated glass, will reduce fading for many modern interior furnishings.

• Lower HVAC Costs

The savings on heating and cooling costs are not just limited to monthly energy bills. The total cost of heating and cooling appliances can be reduced, when the home is equipped with energy saving windows.

High-performance windows reduce the peak heating and cooling loads as well. The peak load for a building is the maximum requirement for heating or cooling at one time. These loads determine the size of the furnace, heat pump, air conditioner, and fans that must be installed.

Reducing peak load may allow homeowners to install a smaller heating or cooling system. Smaller HVAC systems cost less and as such can offset some of the cost of the efficient windows.

In warmer Southern California climate regions, using low-solar-gain low-E windows may allow cooling equipment to be two tons smaller than with single-pane windows and at least one ton smaller than with clear double-pane windows. Even in the cooler climates of Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties, window choices can impact cooling equipment size by up to a ton.

We  offer, install and service a complete range of sliding glass doors and window products to meet  the varying demands of new construction and remodel or window replacement projects for Homeowners, Contractors, Property Managers and Investment Groups. Our professional team is here to assist you with all your window and door needs, whether you are a homeowner replacing one window, a contractor ordering many, or an architect specifying someone's dream home. Call us today at 760-806-6830, for a free consultation and estimate on your energy saving window installation project.