Dan's Papers - June 5, 2009

Given the current housing market and the difficulty in obtaining mortgages, many homeowners are opting to renovate their homes rather than move. One of the most popular as well as potentially money saving improvements is window replacement. It's also a good strategy for making your home more energy efficient.

Although many thought energy bills might be decreasing, it appears that they are on the rise; the best we can hope for is to slow the increase. Michael Philbrick, Manager of Infinity Windows of Long Island, added, "By switching to energy-saving windows, homeowners can also take advantage of a $1,500 tax credit."

There are many design options available for replacement windows that would match the look of your home, so you would not only be undergoing a "green" makeover, but also an aesthetic one.

The typical options are vinyl or wood for window replacements. The color choices for vinyl are generally limited to white. Wood can be painted or stained virtually any color, but it requires regular repainting and can rot or warp, causing difficulty in opening a window. Infinity Windows of Long Island offers another option - Ultrex windows, that come in a wider color variety than vinyl and, according to Philbrick, "can also be stained or painted just like wood and are almost maintenance free." Ultrex windows also have a more traditional window profile than most replacement windows, which can look flat, and they're available with different grill inset designs to further define Traditional, Prairie or other architectural styles.