Replacing old windows or installing new windows is an investment in your home. An investment of this size means that you should consider all of your options carefully. Looking for the best Texas replacement windows for your home? Then look no further than American Window Systems™ (A Window Inc.).
For value-conscious homeowners with an eye for both quality and good looks, AWS windows by A Window Inc. are the perfect choice. A technologically advanced and visually appealing design is increasingly in demand with homeowners everywhere. When choosing to replace your old windows or installing new windows with our windows you can rest assured your windows will be made to fit precisely. Our strong, secure windows also offer optimum energy efficiency and easy cleaning features with tilt-in sashes.
Accessing your homes energy efficiency
How to find Energy Star Windows
Window Installation Instructions
The first step in purchasing new windows or replacing your existing windows is deciding what window style you need or prefer. We offer several options including awning, bay, bow, casement, double-hung, garden, fixed, single-hung, sliding, and tilt and turn windows.
Awning Windows - Awning windows are compatible with a variety of architectural styles offering homeowners flexibility in their window options. They are hinged at the top and open out from the bottom in an upward swing. Typically, awning windows are shorter compared to other windows and are wider. Because of the window’s outward opening homeowners are able to enjoy fresh air even when it rains. Awning windows are opened using a manual hand crank.
Bay Windows - A bay window consists of three individual window units. The center unit is parallel to your home’s exterior wall. The left- and right-side (flanking) units are aligned at 30- or 45-degree angles. Usually the center window unit is the largest of the three. Because of the way the bay windows are installed, they project out from your home’s exterior wall. Not only will a bay window give you a large, unobstructed view, the outward projection of the window may make the room feel larger than it is.
Window Map is 2021 – Map zones are changing in 2023
Bow Windows - Bow windows are very similar to bay windows. However, they are usually larger than bay windows and have a more curved appearance than the bay window’s angular appearance. Bow windows extend outward to create the illusion of a rounded (arched) wall. A bow window consists of four or more (commonly five) adjoining windows that are installed on a radius from the wall of the building. Each of the windows is the same size creating a smooth line. However, one thing to keep in mind if you choose to purchase a bow window is that it will require a larger amount of hardware at installation. The larger amount of hardware creates the potential of not having an unobstructed view.
Casement Windows - A casement window is hinged on the left or right side. The window opens outward with a manual hand crank. These windows tend to be taller, but not as wide compared to other windows. Think of a casement window like a narrow version of a picture window. Casements deliver the most unobstructed viewing areas and ventilation of any operating window.
Single-Hung Windows - A single-hung window features a stationary top sash and a bottom sash that slides upward vertically. Single-hung windows are available with a tilt or side-load removable sash for easy cleaning. These windows tend to be the usual choice for office buildings, apartment complexes, and new construction homes because of their lower cost compared to other window options.
Double-Hung Windows – Double hung window is similar to a single hung window, except that both sashes are able to slide vertically past each other in the window frame. Both sashes also tilt inward for easy cleaning. Double hung windows provide the room with more ventilation because the sashes can be moved vertically or inward depending on the weather and the homeowners’ preferences.
Sliding Windows - A sliding window has one stationary sash and one sash that can move to the right or left in grooves or on tracks. It may also be referred to as a roller or glider window. Sliding windows can be thought of as single hung window placed on its side. Sliding windows are great for spaces that don’t have a lot of vertical height, but have plenty of room horizontally.
Tilt and Turn Windows - Inspired by European trends, the tilt and turn window delivers the functionality of a casement window and the ventilation of a hopper window. When you choose to tilt the window you, the window moves inward. If you choose to use the turning function the window acts like a casement window allowing you to open the window outward. Tilt and turn windows give you two windows in one. Also, tilt and turn windows are great in emergency situations such as a house fire providing you an exit if needed.
Garden Windows – Flowers and other indoor plants bring life and cheer to any room. With a garden window, you can have a small greenhouse in your home. Garden windows are great in a kitchen for people who enjoy growing their own herbs and spices. Garden windows have three sides and project outward. They also have on center shelf, a glass top, and single-hung windows on each side for maximum air circulation.
Aluminum – Aluminum is a lightweight and strong material that is a cost effective alternative to wood. This material is corrosion-resistant and performs well in most climates providing homeowners with a long product life. Aluminum windows are great for customers on a strict budget because they require little maintenance and have a lower cost compared to other window material options.
Vinyl – Vinyl is a strong plastic material that is used for its durability, energy efficiency, and ability to stand up to the elements. This material will never fade in color, flake, peel, or rot making your windows virtually maintenance free. Vinyl windows are energy efficient because they do not conduct energy unlike some other window materials.
Wood - Wood windows are constructed from trees that grow in a variety of species including fir, pine, mahogany or alder. Each species has a range of characteristics, like grain, color and sap content, which contributes to its unique appearance. Not only are wood windows unique in visual appeal they also last for years and provide your home with a natural insulation increasing energy efficiency.
Clad-Wood - Like a coat of armor, cladding is a strong layer of metal (usually aluminum) placed over wood windows. This provides your windows with extra protection from varying weather conditions. Clad wood windows provide the low maintenance benefits of metal windows. Homeowners also no longer required to occasionally repaint their windows unlike their solid wood counterparts.
Fixed Windows - Fixed windows are better known as picture windows. They are available in a wide variety of shapes with either curved or straight frames. They can be used as freestanding units or in combination with other styles providing you with several installation options. Fixed windows are stationary windows that provide an unobstructed view and brighten a room with natural light, but cannot be opened.
We understand that each homeowner has a different financial budget. In order to provide the best products for our customers we have a wide selection of window options to fit any budget. However, please keep in mind when you choose your product, the dollar sign is only an indicator of the general price of a particular product. The dollar sign ratings do not necessarily reflect all the options or services that might be available for each product. Also, some options or services may not be available in every location or for every product with a particular dollar sign rating.
$ – These products focus are for the budget conscious customer. These products meet the basic requirements for your project, while offering moderate aesthetic enhancements.
$$ – These products distinguish themselves with additional options, features and benefits. There is a noticeable upgrade in terms of customizability and selection.
$$$ – These are our top of the line windows with extraordinary efficiency capabilities as well as many options and features. They can be a standard design or an original masterpiece with that features upscale options, exceptional craftmanship and meticulous detail.
Here are selected independent internet sources that may help you as you learn more about the features and benefits of installing quality replacement windows. At American Window Systems™, we want you to make the most informed buying decision you can make. We are here to help you along the way!
The Efficient Windows Collaborative offers generic technical comparisons between the different technologies available in windows today.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy offers little specific information relating to windows, but it does afford a glimpse at the importance of making an effort to fight the waste of energy, which is a key buying appeal of high-performance replacement windows like you can buy from Soft-Lite.
The National Fenestration Rating Council lists all certified results of every manufactured window it tests for Thermal Performance. This includes U-factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, and Visible Transmittance.
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association verifies different classifications of product certifications, with Gold Label the highest designation. This link explains the differences. Go to Home and learn more about this influential industry agency.
The Alliance to Save Energy is another energy-specific site that offers insight to the benefits of replacement windows and other home improvement decisions that can reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources.
Home Energy Saver is the first web-based do-it-yourself energy audit tool.
Air Chambers
Small honeycomb spaces within the sash and frame which help to insulate and strengthen the window
Air Infiltration
The amount of air that passes between a window sash and frame. In windows it is measured in terms of cubic feet or air per minute, per square foot of area. The lower the number, the less air the window lets pass through.
Angled Exterior
A sloped extension from the frame that adds an aesthetically-pleasing dimension to the exterior of the window.
Argon gas
Argon is a safe, odorless, colorless, non-toxic, non-flammable inert gas that is commonly used in place of air between the glass panes of an insulated Low-E glass unit to reduce temperature transfer.
Awning window
A window unit in which the bottom of the sash swings outward for ventilation.
Balance System
Device for holding vertically sliding sash in any desired position through the use of a spring or weight to counterbalance the weight of the sash.
Bay window
A composite of three windows, usually made up of a large center fixed unit and two flanking units at 30-,45- or 90- degree angles to the wall.
Beveled Exterior
An angled extension from the frame that adds an aesthetically-pleasing dimension to the exterior of the window.
Bow window
A composite of four or more window units in a radial or bow formation.
Brickmold
A type of external casing which frames windows and doors.
Butyl
A rubber material that seals the glass to the spacer, creating an airtight and watertight IG unit. Butyl has the lowest gas permeability of all rubbers.
Cam Lock and Keeper
The mechanisms which pull the sash together when placed in the locked position.
Casement window
A window unit in which the single sash cranks outward, to the right or left.
Casing
Molding of various widths, thickness and shapes applied to the framework of window and door units.
Center of Glass U- and R-values
The U- and R-values measured from the center of the glass to 2-1/2" from the frame.
Circletop
A generic term referring to any of a variety of window units with one or more curved frame members, often used over another window or door opening.
Cladding
Any material locked to the outside faces of doors and windows to provide a durable, low-maintenance exterior surface.
Clerestory window
A venting or fixed window above other windows or doors on an upper outside wall of a room.
Condensation Resistance Factor
A measure of the effectiveness of a window or glazing system to reduce the potential for condensation. The higher the condensation resistance factor, the more efficient the window and glazing system.
Conduction
Energy transfer from one material to another by direct contact.
Convection
Heat transfer by currents that flow from a warm surface to a colder one.
Dormer
A space which protrudes from the roof of a house, usually including one or more windows.
Double-hung window
A window unit that has two operable sashes which move vertically in the frame.
Drip cap
A molding placed on the top of the head brickmold or casing of a window frame.
Double or dual pane glazing
Use of two panes of glass in a window to increase energy efficiency and provide other performance benefits.
Fixed window
Non-venting or non-operable window. Also known as picture window.
Foam Spacer
Foam material placed in the airspace of the insulating glass in a window to enhance the appearance and improve the performance of the window.
Frame
The enclosure in which window sash or door panels are mounted.
French sliding door
A sliding door which has wider panel members around the glass, giving the appearance of a French hinged door.
Glazing
Glass in a window or door; the act or process of fitting with glass.
Glazing bead
A plastic or wood strip applied to the window sash around the perimeter of the glass.
Glazing stop
The part of the sash or door panel which holds the glass in place.
Grille
A term referring to windowpane dividers or muntins, usually a type of assembly which may be detached for cleaning.
Insulating glass (IG)
A combination of two or more panes of glass with a hermetically sealed air space between the panes of glass. This space may or may not be filled with an inert gas, such as argon.
Light or lite
Glazing framed by muntins and/or sash in a window or door.
Low-E glass
A common term used to refer to glass which has low emissivity due to a film or metallic coating on the glass or suspended between the two lights of glass to restrict the passage of radiant heat.
Mullion
A wood or metal part used to structurally join two window or door units.
Muntin
Applies to any short or light bar, either vertical or horizontal, used to separate glass in a sash into multiple lights. Also called a windowpane divider or a grille.
Muntin Bar
Any small bar that divides a windows glass. Also called a grille or windowpane divider.
Nail-fin
Windows with nail-on frames are for new construction.
National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)
This organization conducts tests for energy efficiency based on the entire product and is required to be posted by label on every window.
Palladian window
A large, arch-top window flanked by smaller windows on each side.
Picture
Non-venting or non-operable window. Also know as a fixed window.
Rail
The top and bottom horizontal members of the framework of a window sash.
Rough opening
The framed opening in a wall into which a window or door unit is to be installed.
R-Value
Resistance to thermal transfer or heat flow. Higher R-value numbers indicate greater insulating value.
Pane
A framed sheet of glass within a window.
Sash
A single assembly of stiles and rails made into a frame for holding glass.
Sash balance
A system of weights, cords and/or coiled springs which assist in raising double-hung sash and tend to keep the sash in any placed position by counterbalancing the weight of the sash.
Sash lift
A protruding handle screwed to the inside bottom rail of the lower sash on a double-hung window.
Seat board
A flat board cut to fit the contour of a bow or bay window and installed between the sills and the flat wall surface, providing a seat or shelf space.
Security Latch
Latch mechanism on the interior face of the sash that retains the window in a partially open position for ventilation.
Sill
The main horizontal member forming the bottom of the frame of a window or door.
Simulated divided light
A method of constructing windows in which muntins are affixed to the inside and outside of a panel of insulating glass to simulate the look of true divided light.
Single glazing
Use of single panes of glass in a window. Not as energy-efficient as double glazing.
Single-hung
A double-hung type of window in which the top sash is fixed or inoperable.
Sloped Sill Adapter
Used to cover the gap between the old sloped sill window and the new block frame window. It adapts a new window to the existing sloping sill.
Solar gain
The process of providing a net heat gain within a structure, over and above the normal heat loss, by passive collection of the sun's heat through windows and other glazed areas.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
The ability to block heat generated by sunlight. The greater the blockage the lower the SHGC number.
Tempered glass
Glass manufactured to withstand greater than normal forces on its surface. When it breaks, it shatters into small pieces to reduce hazard. Standard on all doors and large fixed windows.
Thermal break
The addition of a thermal insulating material between two thermally conductive materials.
Transom
A small window that fits over the top of a door or window, primarily for additional light and aesthetic value.
True divided light
A term which refers to windows in which multiple individual panes of glass or lights are assembled in the sash using muntins.
U-value or U-factor
Rate of heat flow-value through the complete heat barrier, from room air to outside air. The lower the U-value, the better the insulating value.
Unison lock
A casement locking system which secures the window at two locking points by operation of one handle.
Vapor barrier
A watertight material used to prevent the passage of moisture into or through floors, walls and ceilings.
Vent Unit
A window or door unit that opens or operates.
Vinyl
A plastic material used for cladding or entire window units.
Weatherstripping
A material or device used to seal the openings, gaps or cracks of venting window and door units to prevent water and air infiltration.
Windload
Force exerted on a surface by moving air.
Purchasing new windows or replacing your old ones is a large financial commitment. Saving money on big projects is always helpful. While considering all of your options, think about highly energy efficient windows. Not only will your home’s energy bill decrease, but homeowners may also claim a tax credit for the purchase of energy star qualified windows, doors, and skylights.
However, keep in mind there is a limit to the tax credit. Homeowners may receive no more than $1200 total for a combination of qualified windows and doors.
Homeowners may receive a tax credit equal to 30% of the product cost (installation costs may NOT be included) up to:
$600 for eligible windows and skylights
$500 for eligible doors
If you claimed an energy efficiency credit in a previous taxable year, please consult a tax professional or visit www.irs.gov to determine your remaining eligibility for this credit.
At American Window Systems™, we want you to make the most informed buying decision you can make. If you have any questions about your future purchase feel free to call us for answers. We are here to help you along the way!
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