Window and door energy ratings are not totally understood by consumers, but they are critical to making a sound choice when considering which product to install.  Let's face it, the average person may replace windows one time in their life and it is a lot to learn.

The National Fenestration Rating Council is actively making the process easier by educating consumers through brochures and a new website with "down to earth" language and in ways that everyone can understand.

The program is not new, but it is being pushed a lot more since it was developed in 2009.  Understading the label and the various test results will help homeowner's make well informed decisions when investing in new windows and doors.



A = U-Factor (also referred to as U-Value) measures the amount of heat that escapes through the product.

B = Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how well a product blocks heat caused by sunlight. C = Visible Transmittance (VT) measures how much light comes through a product. D = Air Leakage (AL) is indicated by an air leakage rating, expressed as the equivalent cubic feet of air passing through a square foot of window area. E = Condensation Resistance (CR) measures the ability of a product to resist the formation of condensation on the interior surface of that product.

News Release
Contact: Eric L. Gans
eric@homevisionsinc.com
301-937-4663

                   Beltsville, MD – Home Visions Inc., a local leader in the sale of top-quality replacement windows and patio doors, now offers Asure™ windows and doors by Simonton Windows^®. Available in Double Hung, Picture, Slider, Half-round and other popular styles, Asure windows are solidly constructed and custom-made for the needs of an individual homeowner.

“The new Asure product line offers a variety of the features homeowners request most in their replacement windows,” says Josh Spence, Project Manager, Home Visions Inc. of Beltsville. “These durable vinyl windows provide a large viewing area, allowing more natural daylight into the home. This permits homeowners to connect more with nature and ‘bring the outdoors inside’ their homes.”

Featuring a stepped sill design, Asure windows are built to resist water and air infiltration while providing increased thermal performance for homeowners in the DC, Northern VA and MD area. The patented Lap-Lok^® Meeting Rail and fin seal weatherstripping help ensure a tight seal against wind and rain. The sill “chambers” are uniquely constructed for added strength and durability, providing peace-of-mind to homeowners investing in these replacement windows.

“From the exterior, Asure windows complement a home’s design,” says Spence. “The appealing frame face of the window provides enhanced curb appeal and an attractive architectural ‘finished’ look to the home. Clean corner welds and a smooth exterior construction complete the exterior styling of these impressive windows.”

On the interior of the home, the affordable Asure windows incorporate a constant force balance system, requiring minimal lift effort to operate the sash. Backed by a Double-Lifetime Limited Warranty, the constant force balance has tested to 4,000 cycles and meets ASTM and AAMA Gold standards. Asure can also be ordered to meet ENERGY STAR^® criteria in all areas of the country.

For more details on the Asure product line and other Simonton products available from Home Visions Inc., visit www.homevisionsinc.com or call 301-937-4663. For additional information about Simonton Windows, visit www.simonton.com.

From DCI Products (maker of SmartVent roofing ventilation solutions)

Roof ventilation, or lack thereof, is the leading cause of premature roof failures.
These failures include problems with dry rot, mold, mildew, condensation, warped decking, curling shingles, cracking shingles and structural failures. The proper and complete attic ventilation solutions are the answer when building new homes, remodeling existing homes and making improvements to commercial buildings.

Intake Ventilation
The patented SmartVent creates roof top, continuous intake airflow when soffit vents are inadequate or non-existent. The SmartVent can be used at the eaves edge, slightly up the roof and many other locations such as an exhaust vent on a shed roof or off-peak for firewall protection. The SmartVent can be used virtually anywhere on the roof and may be the only vent product the roofer ever needs. SmartVent has been field tested and approved since 1999 and creates an energy efficient roof system when proper exhaust vents are installed. At 9 NFA SmartVent provides a total of 18 NFA when installed at both eaves. This matches or exceeds all ridge vents.

Exhaust Ventilation
Topping the roof is DCI’s patented SmartRidge I and SmartRidge II. The 100% energy efficient design of SmartRidge I literally sucks attic air out like a straw and is the lowest profile ridge vent with a no street-side lift on one side. Due to this one side having no lift, 100% of the hot moist attic air is siphoned out instead of the short circuit that can occur on most double-sided ridge vents. SmartRidge II provides superior weather protection for ridge and hip ventilation.

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) was formed in December 1989 as a non-profit/private collaboration of manufactures, builders, designers, code officials, consumers, utilities and regulators that will establish a national energy performance rating system for fenestration products (windows, doors, skylights). The mission of the NFRC is to establish a fair, accurate and credible energy performance rating system for fenestration products.

How are the windows tested for Thermal Performance?

The NFRC’s rating system is based on whole product performance. It allows for accurate accounts of the energy related effects of all a product’s components parts and prevents misleading comparisons of a single components to whole product properties.

The rating system is a procedure for determining the thermal transmittance (U-factor) of a product. The U-factor is measuring the transfer of heat flow thru a product.

To find out more about Home Visions Inc.'s windows and our NFRC ratings contact us online today or call toll free 866-616-7864.

What is AAMA?

The American Architectural Manufactures Association (AAMA) is a trade association of firms engaged in the manufacture and sale of building fenestration components and related products.  Tracing its origins back over 60 years, AAMA is active in its role as the “Technical Information Center” for industry’s products such as windows, glass doors, storm windows and related fenestration products.

How are windows tested for structural performance?

AAMA is a third party certification agency with whom manufacturers must certify structural performance for all its products. Recently, AAMA and the NWWDA (National Wood Window & Door Association) have worked together and approved a new combined test specification called AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S.2-97. It allows vinyl, aluminum and wood products to be tested to the same criteria so consumers can compare products more uniformly and accurately.

Do all windows participate with AAMA programs and testing?

No.  Due to the very tough guidelines and increased costs, not all window manufacturers participate in the AAMA testing program.

Does Home Visions carry windows that are AAMA certified?

Yes.  Home Visions Inc. is proud to offer Simonton Windows as one of our preferred window solutions.  All Simonton windows carry the gold AAMA label which is the highest level of certification a product can receive.

                                             

Home Visions Inc. is proud to offer Simonton Windows.  With a vinyl extrusion plant, vinyl welding plant, a window fabrication location and a dedicated product development center - all located in West Virginia, USA - this replacement window manufacturer knows how to deliver a high quality, error free product each and every time and their recognition proves it!

For two years in a row, Simonton Windows ranks "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Windows and Patio Doors," according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Windows and Patio Doors Satisfaction Study.  The study measures consumer perceptions of their experience in six factors (in order of importance): Ordering and Delivery; Operational Performance and Durability; Price Paid for Products and Services Received; Appearance and Design Features; Warranty; and Repair and Replacement.

The Simonton window packaged with the professional installers at HVI are a great combination to our ensure our customer's long term overall satisfaction with their investment.

Get an estimate from Home Visions Inc. in Maryland, Northern Virginia or Washington, DC today!

A systems approach to roofing combines high-performance components - underlayments, shingles, accessory products and ventilation - to make the Integrity Roof System a complete roofing solution.  When you choose an Integrity Roofing System, you gain the advantage of having CertainTeed as you shingle manufacturing source to stand behind its roof system components.




Hip & Ridge Accessories
Accessory shingles are used to finish the hips and ridges of the roof and are designed to complement the appearance of CertainTeed shingles.

CertainTeed Shingles
High-quality shingles available in a wide variety of styles and colors, covered by the strongest warranty in the business.  Flintastic roll roofing products are also available for flat roof areas.

Roofer's Select or Diamond Deck
High-performance underlayment provides a protective water-resistant layer over the roof deck and a secondary barrier against leaks.

Winterguard
Waterproofing shingle underlayment prevents leaks from wind-driven rain and ice dams in vulnerable areas.

Starter Shingles
Starter shingles are designed to work specifically with each different type of CertainTeed shingle for maximum performance.


 

Press Release – SELECT CertainTeed ShingleMaster Status Achieved January 2012 – Residential/Commercial Asphalt Roofing

Home Visions Inc. is proud to announce certification by CertainTeed  as a SELECT ShingleMaster for roofing installations allowing the company to offer exclusive warranty coverage.  HVI has partnered with CertainTeed for eight years and the relationship has driven continuing education and manufacturer training for all departments within the company.  There are several requirements to obtain SELECT status including production and installation team training, consistent use of responsible business practices, proper insurance coverage and the company has been in business at least five years.

This accreditation will give all of our current and potential customers the confidence that they are dealing with top notch roofing installers and insures that all HVI installers and employees are up to date on the latest details for CertainTeed roofing systems and products.

Continuing education is very important to Home Visions Inc. and along with similar efforts in other branches of the company HVI continues learning in order to stay up to date with state of the art installations.

Thank you to CertainTeed and all HVI employees who put the hard work in through the years to make this possible.

New vinyl replacement windows not only help save you on heating and cooling costs, improve your view, lessen the amount of outside noise and raise your home's "curb appeal" but they also will brighten your day and make the interior of your home more elegant and bring out the interior colors of your home.  Take a look for youself...




 

You remember the song your leg bone is connected to your thigh bone and your thigh bone is connected to your hip bone, right?  Well, this song translates nicely to the exterior of your home because the windows are connected to the siding and the siding is connected to the gutters and the gutters are connected to the soffit and the soffit is connected to the roof.  And, guess what - like any fully functional human body - all of these things need to be in tandem with one another for them to provide maximum performance.

Let's take for example, the soffit.  In order to provide the best air flow system for your roof, the overhangs (soffit) of your home should be vented.  Some homes require the need to create air intake slots prior to installing the soffit.  If soffit is on the radar, there are other factors to consider as well concerning the fascia board and the gutters.

Another good example is the siding.  Deciding to replace vinyl siding prior to replacing the windows could be a mistake for several reasons.  Sill trim, j-channel and caulking is used during a siding project around windows and doors.  Installing a new window in new siding will undoubtedly cause the need to disrupt these features designed to seal the areas.

All of these items are connected to one another and although you can absolutely do exterior projects in stages it is best to make wise choices about the order in which you do them.

Home Visions Inc.