Windows: What terms you need to know before you shop

Cladding:  This is the vinyl or metal material that covers the outside of the wood frame.  They’re designed to be easy to maintain and never require painting, although some manufacturers make paintable versions. Rosie recommends that Arizona residents avoid vinyl because they can deteriorate faster than metal under the hot desert sun.

• Clad windows have wood frames on the interior side and either vinyl or aluminum cladding over the wood on the exterior. You can paint the inside any color you like, but you never have to paint the outside. Rosie’s ideal window: aluminum-clad wood.

Glazing: This isn’t the glaze or paint that you put on the window; it’s the number of panes of glass the window has. You have three choices:

•  Single-glazed. This is one pane of glass, and it’s the most energy-inefficient choice. Especially in a severe hot or cold climate, a single pane of glass will do little to keep the weather outside and the air-conditioned or heated air inside.

•  Double-glazed. The smartest buy for Arizona homeowners, double-glazed windows have two panes of glass with a small air space in between. The air acts as an insulator to keep hot outdoor air from getting indoors and cool air-conditioned air from escaping to the outdoors. Some window manufacturers fill that air space with Argon gas, which serves as an even more efficient insulator.

• Triple-glazed. These super-efficient windows have three panes of glass (or two glass panes and a plastic one inside) with two air spaces in between. They’re great at keeping the noise out, but they’re expensive. In fact, the payback in energy savings can take more than 10 years.  

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Can I replace the broken glass in an aluminum frame window?

Yes! To replace the broken glass in an aluminum frame window, you’ll need a rubber mallet and a Phillips-head screwdriver, or a large flat-head screwdriver or a pry bar.

Many homes in Phoenix have “single-hung” aluminum-frame windows, with one fixed panel or “sash” and another one that slides up and down.

Here’s how to replace the broken glass in a single-hung aluminum window frame, in five easy steps:

1. Remove the sliding panel by lifting the frame up and swinging the bottom out of the track. If you need to remove the fixed panel, use your Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the screws at the top and bottom.
   
   
2. Once you remove the broken window, disassemble the frame by removing the four Phillips-head screws in the four corners of the frame.

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How can I give my home’s exterior a quick “facelift?”

Just as crown molding and chair rails can dress up a room inside your home, decorative brick or stone veneer can put a fancy finishing touch on the exterior of the house.

Adding architectural details like contrasting trim around windows and doors can add value and curb appeal to your home during a time when you might not be in the mood to spend a lot of money to completely change its look.

Veneer is thinner—half an inch to an inch thick compared with around four inches for standard brick—and lighter-weight than full brick or stone, so it can be easier for the do-it-yourselfer to work with.

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The best Queen of Clean solutions for cleaning windows

For Outdoor Windows

• 2 Quarts Warm Water
  


• 1/2 cup Cornstarch

Mix it in a bucket. Use a sponge to clean, then buff dry

For Indoor Windows

• 50% water


• 50% rubbing alcohol

Put in a labeled spray bottle. If using on mirrors, spray paper towel with mixture, then buff dry with a cloth.

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For more tips on cleaning or any question you may have about your home, house, castle or cabin...Visit our website at http://www.rosieonthehouse.com/