Things to Look Out for When Choosing a Window and Door Manufacturer

• (Photo : Things to Look Out for When Choosing a Window and Door Manufacturer)

Whether you're a home owner or a professional home builder, you need to be careful about where you decide to buy your windows and doors from. After all, a home's windows and doors aren't just there for show - they serve multiple essential functions, meaning that they need to be reliable.

Your windows and doors are responsible for:

• Allowing air in and out of the home and thus have a huge role to play in air circulation

• Prevent outside elements from entering the home

• Regulate inside temperatures

• Protect the home from intruders

• Give you access to and a view of the outdoors

Choosing the wrong window and door manufacturer could mean that you end up with low quality window and door units that fail to do their job properly. Possible results include air or water leaks, mould development, wood rot, or unsecured units that can be easily broken into.

How to Choose the Best Window and Door Company

Choosing the right manufacturer for the job can be a challenge, especially with so many to choose from in the area. Here are some tips you should keep in mind when conducting your search.

1. Don't Cheap Out

As already noted, windows and doors play a huge role in the overall health and comfort of a home. Units that allow for air and water leaks aren't very energy-efficient, and will bring up the owners' energy bills as well as make their home harder to warm and cool.

Lack of energy-efficiency can also devalue a home as most buyers are looking for ENERGY STAR® rated products when house hunting. While quality, ENERGY STAR windows and doors may be more expensive than a standard unit they are definitely worth the money in the long run, especially considering they will last longer.

2. Designed and Manufactured Locally

One way to ensure quality is to purchase locally. Not only will you be supporting local business owners but you also can feel comfortable in knowing that they are following local window and door manufacturing regulations.

There's another advantage to purchasing locally: if ever there are any issues, you can easily get in touch with them. Purchasing from a non-local manufacturer puts you at risk if any problems arise, because if they decide to avoid your calls and emails, you have no other means of contacting them.

3. Comprehensive Warranties

If a manufacturer can back up their product with a detailed warranty, then you can be more confident when working with them. Warranties should have a decent life span and cover a number of possible issues. For example, there should be coverage for things like:

• Insulated glass

• Materials and workmanship

• Factory finishing

Be sure to carefully read the warranty before agreeing to work with a window and door company.

Do Your Research

Although it can take extra time, don't be afraid to do your research by checking out a manufacturer's website and even their online reviews. Windows and doors are a big investment that should be taken seriously.