Professional Remodeling Group is a Northern Virginia based Home Improvement Company. According to Professional Remodeling Group’s window contractors………Vinyl window replacements have become increasingly popular in terms of home improvements. Their benefits include reduction in noise and energy use while increasing the value and curb appeal of the property. In addition, vinyl windows improve the general aesthetics of your home, and are a quick and affordable improvement to make. In terms of energy efficiency, vinyl windows are mostly double-pane and therefore offer more sun protection than single-pane windows. A low e-coating will also decrease the allowance of UV rays which not only saves energy but protects your home and everything inside it from sun damage. A “low e-coating” means a low emittence of energy. This is in the form of a metallic layer which is essentially invisible but reduces the flow of heat. Professional Remodeling Group advises that when choosing vinyl windows, energy efficiency ratings are very important. The U-factor tells you how quickly heat can escape through the window, therefore a lower U-Factor number is generally better. The R-Value measures the window’s insulation so a higher R-Value number is important. The SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) shows the window’s capability to block the sun’s heat and ratings should be between 0 being the best rating, and 1 being the worst rating. Finally, ensure that the AL (Air Leakage) rating is low. Vinyl windows also offer significant noise reduction. The double-pane provides a barrier form noisy traffic and other street noises. They are also sturdier than single-pane windows and more resistant to breakage. Finally, vinyl window replacements are aesthetically pleasing. Companies offer many styles and finishes to choose from so you can customize your windows to match your house in particular with colors, grid options, capping options, etc….. The resale value of your house will also increase due to this aesthetic change and can add anywhere between $20,000 to $30,000 to your resale value of a typical northern Virginia home. Although vinyl window replacements come with many benefits, this is still a home improvement which must be looked into carefully. The first consideration to make is whether you should replace your home’s windows with new construction windows or retrofit windows. With new construction windows, the original window frame is completely removed. With retrofit windows, the window is installed on top of the original window frame. This option is faster, and less expensive. The next step in vinyl window replacements is to gather estimates. This can be a lengthy process. Gathering estimates are important as you will see each company varies in costs. The most important things to remember are: read the warranty, ensure you see a sample window before committing, call up a list of references, and check the companies track record with various agencies. Once you have received an estimate you are comfortable with, you may proceed to choose from the variety of styles and finishes available. Despite the process of home improvement and vinyl window replacement, you will find that this addition to your home is well worth it. The investment is worth the final increase on returned value, energy savings, and improves the aesthetics to your home.