The following industry standard benchmarks will help you to compare windows.

U-Value. A unit of measure that records the overall heat transfer of a window, lower values provide better insulation.  Look for a value of 0.33 or less.

Visual Transmission (VT). Windows with a high VT are easy to see through and admit lots of natural light, reducing your need for artificial light.  Some tints and coatings can reduce visible light and will have lower VT ratings.  For most people, VT ratings above 60% look clear.  VT ratings at or below 50% begin to look dark or reflective.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). SHGC calculates the available amount of solar heat that passes through a window.  It uses a scale of 0, for none, to 1 for 100% available sunlight.  In cold climates, consider windows with a SHGC of 0.40 to 0.55.  In warm climates, windows should have a SHGC rating of less than 0.40.

Air Leakage. Properly constructed and installed windows should allow very little air to pass through them—when closed of course.  Air leakage is measured in cubic feet per minute per square foot of surface area.  Only consider windows with a value of less than 0.30 cfm/ft2.

New windows are a great way to lower your heating and cooling bills by improving the energy efficiency of your home.  You can choose from a variety of glass options that hold up to Minnesota weather, including insulating glass and double- and triple-paned windows.  Talk to your Minnesota window contractor to help you with your new or replacement window decisions.

Energy efficient windows are a great way to save the environment and the cash in your wallet.  Find out how to choose the best energy efficient windows for your home.

Shopping for windows has become significantly easier with the advent of Energy Star certification.  Energy Star labeling is provided by the US Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.  An Energy Star labeled window has been tested by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) and meets minimum requirements for efficiency and cost savings.

Compare Windows For Your Zone
Energy Star labeled windows are designed for specific climates.  You will want to look at windows that are labeled for your geographic area (called a climate zone).  The three climate zones are:

1. N North zone
2. C Central zone
3. S South zone

You can find your zone at the Energy Star web site

Lower energy bills
New windows are a great way to lower your heating and cooling bills by improving the energy efficiency of your home.  You can choose from a variety of glass options that hold up to Minnesota weather, including insulating glass and double- and triple-paned windows.  Most Pella® windows with Low-E insulating glass meet or exceed ENERGY STAR standards in the U.S.

$1500 tax credit
There’s never been a better time to replace your windows and doors.  Now through December 2010, you could get up to a $1,500 tax credit for installing qualifying Energy Star products.  Talk to your window contractor to see if your new windows qualify for the $1,500 tax credit

NOTE: The criteria for ENERGY STAR Residential Windows Door and  Skylights has been revised effective January 4, 2010: View the new specification (206KB)

When looking at windows, doors or skylights, whether you are replacing old ones in your current home or buying ones for your new home, there are some factors you will want to take into consideration.  These are called fenestration factors.

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NRFC) has developed a rating system for you to compare the performance of different fenestration products. NFRC is a third party, non-profit organization that sponsors certified rating and labeling programs to help consumers compare the energy and performance features of windows, doors, and skylights.  NFRC’s programs do not distinguish between “good” and “bad” products, set minimum performance standards, or mandate performance levels.  This is where ENERGY STAR comes in. ENERGY STAR enables consumers to easily identify NFRC-certified products with superior energy performance.

Let’s look at the NRFC label and see what it tells us.

There are five (5) characteristics to consider when looking at a fenestration product.

1. U-Factor - This measures how well the product prevents heat from escaping your building envelope. The rate of heat loss generally falls between 0.20 and 1.25. The lower the U-Value, the greater the product’s resistance to heat flow, and the better its insulating value.  The U-Factor is particularly important during the winter heating season.
2. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) – The SHGC measures how well the heat caused by sunlight is blocked.  It is expressed as a number between 0 and 1.  The lower the number, the less solar heat is transmitted into your home.  A typical range is 0.25 to 0.80.  Blocking solar heat gain is particularly important during the summer cooling season.
3. Visible Transmittance (VT) - This is expressed in a number between 0 and1, and is a measure of how much light comes through your fenestration product.  The higher the VT, the higher the potential there is for daylighting.  Generally, products range from 0.20 to 0.80.
4. Air Leakage (AL) -Any air which filters through cracks in the product’s assembly results in heat loss and gain.  AL is measured in cubic feet of air passing through one square foot of window area per minute (cfm/ft^2.).  The lower the AL value, the less air is leaked.  Most industry standards and building codes require a minimum AL of 0.3 cfm/ft².  The AL rating is optional and manufacturers can choose not to include it in their labels.
5. Condensation Resistance (CR) -This measures the ability of the product to resist the formation of condensation on its interior surface. The higher the CR rating, the better the product is at resisting the formation of condensation.  The CR rating is optional and manufacturers can choose not to include it in their labels.  The CR does not predict condensation but rather measures the potential for its formation.

So, when you look for windows, doors or skylights, take these characteristics into consideration.  The better NFRC ratings will result in increased energy savings and great comfort for you and your family.  Be sure to talk with your local window contractor to see which window products are best for you.

Besides installing gutters, your siding and roofing contractor can help you to be sure that your gutters are maintained.  Properly maintained gutter systems last for years and add value to your home.

• Keep Gutters Clean — Gutters should be inspected and cleaned every spring and autumn.  If you have trees around your home, even if they are some distance away, you may need to use leaf screens and clean your gutters more frequently.  Clogged gutters can become heavy and pull away from the roof.
• Check Physical Integrity — Look for chipped paint, rust, holes, and other problems.  If you detect a problem call your gutter installer right away, so that it can be repaired before it gets out of hand.
• Remember The Downspouts — Remember to check and maintain downspouts, too.  If they become clogged, your gutters will retain water instead of draining completely. This is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and can accelerate gutter damage.

Here in Minnesota, rain gutters are an important part of your home’s structure.  They might not be the prettiest part of your house, but they take care of sending all that water to the right place, instead of letting it drip and ruin landscaping and the sides of your home.

Gutters in Minnesota are made from either aluminum, steel, copper or vinyl.  Each material has its strengths and weaknesses.  We suggest paying a little bit more for quality gutters made from quality material so that you do not have to replace them in five years.  If you get an experienced professional to install them you will not have to worry about them for twenty years or more.

Many elements of your home exist for the sake of one fundamental goal – keeping water out.  Your roof, siding, windows, doors, drain tile, sump pump…they all function to keep the rain and snow-melt moving away.  While these elements all function well when installed properly, they can perform even better with a little help.  There is a simple and inexpensive solution – gutters.

Here in Minnesota, rain gutters are an important part of your home’s structure.  They might not be the prettiest part of your house, but they take care of sending all that water to the right place, instead of letting it drip and ruin landscaping and the sides of your home.

Types of Gutters

Gutters are made up of two major components — channels and downspouts.  Channels go along the sides of the roof, and downspouts bring the accumulated water down to a specific place.  They all come in different sizes and shapes, and can be made of various materials.

• Size — Channels come in 4, 5, and 6 inch width.  Downspouts come in three sizes, from small to large.  Though the larger sizes are more expensive, they are less likely to become clogged since they will allow material to pass rather than accumulate.
• Shape — Gutters come in “U” and “K” shape.  Your gutter contractor can explain how each shape functions.
• Material — Gutters can be made of wood, which looks nice but is not as weather resistant as the other types.  Galvanized steel, vinyl, and aluminum gutters are commonly available, too.

A siding contractor who specializes in gutter installation can help you to decide what type of gutters you need, as well as what type of gutter components will be necessary.

Choosing the right siding that is right for your home is like selecting a jacket that will keep you protected from wind, rain and drastic temperatures.  Siding is also an important component in the design of your home.  When selecting siding, certain things must be considered.

• Understanding the architectural design of your home
• Energy efficiency
• Characteristics of materials
• The local weather
• Lifestyle choices

Climate plays a serious role in home siding.  Minnesota residents face severe temperature extremes.  From blistering hot and humid summers to bitter cold winters.  These differences are very crucial to selecting the proper siding.

Auben Residential will work with you to look at the full product range and make a choice based on your taste, budget and needs.  We install only the highest quality products to ensure your siding stays beautiful and maintenance free for years to come.  Siding options include James Hardie, LP Smart siding, and cedar siding/shakes, with a variety of trim options to choose from.

Exterior house siding is available in a wide variety of styles, materials and colors making it possible to create a very specific look and feel to your home.  While the variations of siding seem almost endless most siding can be broken down into one of 4 specific styles.

Horizontal Siding ~
One of the most common and popular siding styles, horizontal siding, uses individual boards (or the appearance of such) which typically overlap each other to protect against wind and rain infiltrating joints in the siding.   Horizontal siding is attached to the home by nailing through the sheathing and directly into the studs of the house frame.

Vertical Siding ~
Vertical siding is usually nailed to strips of wood, which are attached across the wall studs of the home.  This siding may require installing wooden strips over the joints (board and batten) or chalking the joints to ensure there is no leaking.

Siding Sheets ~
Siding sheets are available in several materials but are most commonly plywood (t1-11) or metal used on in-expensive buildings as it is typically the least expensive option available.  This siding is also nailed directly to the wall studs of the home.

Siding Shingles ~
Siding shingles are fixed to either the house sheathing or to wooden strips, which cross the wall studs of the home.   Siding shingles are installed overlapping each other and offsetting different layers. Particular attention must be paid to the installation on outside corners to eliminate water infiltration where one row meets another.
Whatever your style suites your taste or budget, make sure you contact a reliable roofing contractor to deliver the finest products and services available, for all your remodeling and new construction needs.

What’s an energy-efficient window?  Most will have at a minimum:

• Double-pane insulated glass
• Heat-resistant (Low-E) glass coating
• Airtight frames
• ENERGY STAR® rating

  Three Dimensions of Energy Efficient Window Design—an energy-efficient window is a synergy of its components.  This is called the “three dimensions of energy efficient window design.”  Here is what you should look for in each of the three dimensions: glass, spacer and frame.

Frame – One of the important considerations you need to make is frame material.  Two of the more energy efficient frame materials are vinyl and fiberglass.  They do a particularly good job of reducing heat transfer and contributing to insulation value.  Your ultimate decision on which of these to use may be based on aesthetics and cost.  In making your selection, be sure to look for vinyl or fiberglass frames that have been specifically engineered for performance.  For instance, both can be designed with chambers within the frame that enhance strength, noise reduction and insulation value.

Glass – Dual-pane designs use an air- or gas-filled space between two panes of glass.  This insulates much better than a single pane.  Special Low-E coating on the glass blocks infrared light to keep heat inside in the winter and outside in the summer.  It also filters damaging ultraviolet light (UV) to help protect interior furnishings from fading.

Spacer – A spacer keeps a window’s dual glass panes the correct distance apart for optimal airflow between panes.  Too much or too little airflow can affect the insulating glass efficiency.  The design and material of the spacer also can make a big difference in the ability to handle expansion and contraction to reduce condensation.