Why Your Window Choice is Too Important to Leave to a General Contractor

The decision of who installs your new windows is as important as the windows themselves. It’s a choice between a jack-of-all-trades and an exclusive master of one. For homeowners from the sweltering Texas Triangle to the freezing peaks of Colorado and the coastal humidity of New England, the need for specialized, certified installation is a matter of long-term home security and energy performance.

Window replacement is a significant investment that directly impacts your home's comfort, efficiency, and value. While a general contractor (GC) offers broad project management, a specialized window company like Renewal by Andersen provides a deep, localized expertise that ensures precision and value where it matters most.

The Multi-Regional Challenge: Why One-Size-Fits-All Fails

General contractors manage complexity across various trades. They coordinate subcontractors for various jobs, including roofing, siding, and, finally, windows. While convenient for large renovations, this "multi-trade approach" dilutes focus on the critical details of window performance, especially in extreme climates where stakes are highest.

• Potential Limitation: General contractors often subcontract window installation, adding layers of communication and quality control issues, ultimately complicating accountability and warranty claims.
• The Renewal by Andersen Difference: Renewal by Andersen's Signature Service means one-company accountability, owning the process from consultation through installation and long-term service. We eliminate the "finger-pointing" common with subcontracting models.

Renewal by Andersen tailors their specialized installation services to address the dominant climatic challenges in each region, ensuring optimal home performance.

In the Hot/Arid Southwest (including Arizona and Las Vegas), the dominant climatic challenge is extreme UV exposure and intense dry heat. This requires highly specialized installation focused on precise sealing against air infiltration to keep cool air within the home, along with carefully selecting the optimal glass packages, which generally means prioritizing a high Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC).

For the Texas Triangle (Texas and Oklahoma), the key challenges are hail, high humidity, and U-Factor extremes. The installation strategy here emphasizes proper flashing and meticulous sealing to prevent moisture infiltration and rot, which is particularly crucial around patio doors.

The New England Coastal region (Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut) must contend with wind, salt, moisture, and a high U-Factor in winter. To meet this, the specialization involves installing products with superior material integrity (since Fibrex® resists peeling and corrosion from salt spray) and optimizing the windows for low U-Factor ratings for maximum interior heat retention.

Finally, in the Rocky Mountain areas (Colorado and Nevada), the challenge is high-altitude UV and dramatic temperature swings. Specialized installation in these areas focuses on ensuring durable, warp-resistant frames are installed correctly and that the windows utilize the appropriate gas blends (like Argon or Krypton) in the glass for high-altitude performance.

The Expertise Advantage: Certified Master Installers

A specialized window company like Renewal by Andersen focuses solely on window and door replacement, leading to a deep reservoir of product knowledge, installation techniques, and superior materials science.

Unmatched Training and Precision

Our Certified Master Installers are rigorously trained in all aspects of construction materials, building codes, and exclusive installation methods. They are full-time Renewal by Andersen employees—not unknown third-party subcontractors—ensuring unparalleled quality control.

• Quality First: We reject the industry term "labor costs," prioritizing "installation" to convey the precise, specialized work required to achieve peak energy performance.
• Problem-Solving: Having encountered nearly every structural issue—from rot around a patio door to unique architectural challenges—our teams are uniquely qualified to manage unforeseen complications during installation.

Exclusive Fibrex®$ Material: Engineered for Every Climate

General contractors may suggest aluminum frames (rare and discouraged) or easily accessible vinyl, which are typically the most economical, yet least durable, choice. Renewal by Andersen exclusively uses Fibrex® material, a proprietary composite that is critical for long-term performance across all regions.

• In the Hot/Arid Southwest: Fibrex® resists warping and bowing and blocks thermal transfer nearly 700 times better than aluminum, keeping the interior cooler and reducing energy bills. It also holds dark exterior colors not typically available on other vinyl windows, perfect for modern AZ and CO aesthetics.
• In New England & Rocky Mountain Regions: Its low thermal transmittance greatly limits heat loss in cold climates , while its strength—two times that of vinyl—ensures weathertight seals stay tight despite wind, snow, and freeze/thaw cycles.
• Zero-Maintenance Promise: Unlike wood frames (which are expensive and require high maintenance) or vinyl (which flakes or cracks), Fibrex® material won't flake, rust, blister, peel, crack, pit, or corrode, ensuring homeowners in humid TX and salty Cape Cod never need to scrape or paint their new windows.

Renewal by Andersen does not try to compete on initial price because our focus is entirely on delivering comprehensive, long-term value.

We believe in making the process easy for the homeowner, removing the guesswork by providing a start-to-finish process handled by one, single company.

The True Cost of Window Replacement: Why Price is Only Part of the Value Conversation

The drawback that some homeowners experience with certain grille designs is that they can lead to high maintenance due to dust, dirt, and debris accumulation. Renewal by Andersen solves this by offering Grilles Between-the-Glass, which are permanently installed between the panes of glass. The primary benefit is low maintenance, as the homeowner only needs to clean a smooth glass surface, saving significant time and effort.

Another challenge is view obstruction, where traditional grilles can fragment large, scenic vistas. The recommended solution here is Simulated Divided Lights, which use grilles applied to the interior and exterior of the glass but maintain a continuous piece of glass. This provides an authentic look with a better view compared to true divided lights.

When selecting a grille pattern, homeowners should know that the highest quality solution for minimal upkeep is often the between-the-glass grille, a key offering from Renewal by Andersen, which completely eliminates the need for exterior grille cleaning.

Why Every Component of Your New Window Matters: From SHGC to U-Factor

The world of window replacement often focuses on just one element: the price. However, for a homeowner looking to invest in their property, the true conversation must shift to value and how specialized components protect that investment against local climate challenges. Renewal by Andersen understands that selecting the right features ensures optimal performance.

Here is a breakdown of the critical factors our on-site design consultants evaluate to ensure you get the right value and performance for your home:

1. Frame Material: The Foundation of Durability

The frame material is the foundation of your window's integrity, but the wrong material can quickly fail under local stress.

• Avoid Aluminum: Aluminum frames are prone to thermal transfer and are rare; we recommend staying away from them.
• The Problem with Vinyl: While vinyl is often the most economical choice initially, it is only half as strong as Fibrex® material and can be prone to warping or bowing, compromising energy efficiency and security.
• Fibrex® Material for Durability and Efficiency: Renewal by Andersen's exclusive Fibrex® composite material is twice as strong as vinyl and resists warping, cracking, pitting, and corrosion. This superior material integrity is essential for maintaining a weathertight seal and the integrity of the locking system, maximizing the security and performance of your window for decades.

2. Specialized Glass Packages: Fighting Your Local Climate

Every window manufacturer may source glass from the same place (Cardinal) , but performance depends entirely on how the glass is requested and engineered for the final product. This specialized engineering is critical for balancing thermal performance factors.

• Hot/Arid Climates (e.g., Phoenix, Las Vegas, inland Texas): The priority is blocking intense solar heat. Our specialized glass, such as SmartSun™ glass, significantly reduces how much solar heat enters your home. SmartSun™ glass blocks up to 95% of harmful UV rays, dramatically reducing cooling costs.
• Cold/Coastal Climates (e.g., New England, Mid-Atlantic): The primary focus is retaining interior heat. These regions require low U-Factor performance for superior insulation, keeping your home warm when the temperatures drop.
• High-Altitude & Extreme Swings (e.g., Colorado, Flagstaff): We utilize Argon and Nitrogen gas blends for insulation, which competitors often choose not to include due to the associated costs. These gas blends, combined with high-performance Low-E coatings, are designed for energy efficiency and reduced thermal transfer.

3. Installation: The Key to Value

Even the world’s best window is only as good as its installation. At Renewal by Andersen, we do not use the term “labor costs,” preferring "Installation" because it refers to a comprehensive, non-negotiable part of the total value proposition.

• The Risk of the Wrong People: Choosing the wrong people increases the risk of complications, and you may find yourself dealing with issues like rot, which happens more frequently for doors but is still a concern.
• Certified Master Installer Difference: Our Certified Master Installers are rigorously trained , ensuring precision installation regardless of the complexity of your unique home. They have encountered just about every scenario and know how to deal with complex installations.
• The Comprehensive Warranty: Renewal by Andersen manages the process from consultation to installation , providing one-company accountability and the Nation's Best Warranty Coverage —fully transferable and covering the entire window and the installation itself.

When you choose Renewal by Andersen, you are not buying a window; you are investing in a complete, start-to-finish experience that guarantees the right components are expertly installed in your home for decades of worry-free performance.

Making the Final Choice: Trust Your Home to the Masters

If your project is complex, architecturally unique, or if long-term performance and maximum energy efficiency are your priority, the deep specialization offered by Renewal by Andersen will provide superior outcomes.

When evaluating your options, remember that most homeowners do not plan or budget for new windows. You are an "investor in the home", and the most valuable component of that investment is expertise and accountability—attributes only a dedicated, specialized company can guarantee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does Renewal by Andersen insist on an in-home consultation?

A: An in-home visit is essential because replacement cost is influenced by factors only visible on-site, such as the condition of the opening, existing structural issues, and precise measurements. It ensures your final quote is comprehensive and accurate.

Q: Will selecting a less expensive contractor save me money in the long run?

A: Not typically. While a cheaper upfront cost might be appealing, choosing the wrong materials or poor installation often results in higher long-term costs from air leaks, reduced energy efficiency, and premature window failure.

Q: How does Fibrex® material perform in the Colorado and Arizona extremes?

A: Fibrex® material excels due to its low thermal expansion, ensuring weathertight seals hold tight against extreme heat and cold. Its low thermal transfer drastically reduces the heat loss or gain characteristic of metal or aluminum frames.

Q: What is included in the Nation's Best Warranty?

A: Our fully transferable limited warranty is one of the strongest in the industry, covering the entire job: the Fibrex® material, the glass, the hardware, and the installation itself.