THE 6 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN COMPARING WOOD WINDOWS

1) START INSIDE:

You’re looking at a wood window, so let’s begin with the most appropriate section...the wood interior. Most wood window manufacturers use a variation of pine as their standard species. Pine is a light-colored wood that accepts stain and paint well. Optional wood species are usually available but pine is by far the most popular.

If you truly are interested in buying a wood window, don’t settle for a window that is made up of mostly aluminum or fiberglass with mere wood slats applied to the interior for a wood window effect. Ask to see a cross-section of the window(s) you’re viewing so you can really see the amount of wood contained in the window. This will be the tell-tale indicator of how faithful the manufacturer is to making a window out of wood.

2) GO OUTSIDE

There are 3 options to wood window exteriors. They are: Aluminum cladding, Vinyl Cladding, Bare Wood (No cladding)

1. Aluminum Cladding: An aluminum clad exterior has many assets. It’s virtually maintenance-free, it can be painted any color you want, and it offers extremely sturdy protection to the exterior of your window. But you have to be careful what type of aluminum you’re getting. Extruded aluminum is much thicker, more solid and usually a bit more expensive than roll-form aluminum, which is thinner, flimsier and usually priced less. If you’re looking at cross-sections, the difference between extruded aluminum and roll-form is easy to see. The disparity in strength would be similar to the difference between a metal pipe and an aluminum can. There is a drawback with aluminum cladding in that it is slightly more conductive than vinyl cladding, thus making it faintly less energy-efficient. 
2. Vinyl Cladding: Vinyl cladding’s assets include the fore-mentioned fact that it’s performs better thermally. For many years, one of its biggest drawbacks was that it was limited in color options but advances in paint made specifically for vinyl are allowing for more exterior colors for vinyl cladding. However, not many companies offer this option. Vinyl cladding is also not as solid and rigid as aluminum. 
3. No Cladding: Wood windows with no cladding on the exterior are very popular for historic homes and neighborhoods where historical replication is king. These type of windows can obviously be painted any color because you’re applying it directly to a wood surface. The biggest drawback is that over time, Mother Nature plays havoc with the exterior and you will have to continually maintain them. Depending on where you live, what type of weather you incur, and the strictness of your local building or home association codes, you may have to re-paint the exterior as often as every 2-3 years to protect the wood from aging and maintain the look required. 

3) LET THE LABEL DO THE TALKING: 

It’s quite easy to compare energy-efficiency thanks to the National Fenestration Ratings Council® (NFRC). See left.

The NFRC is a non-profit organization created by the window, door and skylight industry. Its primary goal is to provide accurate information to measure and compare the energy performance of window & door products. While the NFRC does NOT distinguish between a "good" window and a "bad" window, set minimum performance standards or mandate performance levels, it has directed window & door manufacturers to display their product’s performance by implementing the use of stickers on residential windows and doors.

A typical “NFRC” sticker looks like this. See right.



           It allows you to easily compare the performance levels of competing windows. An NFRC sticker contains 4 categories and corresponding test values. While each category has an official definition, here are the laymen’s descriptions.

1. U-Factor: This is also known as the U-Value. The U-Value measures how well a window or door prevents heat from escaping. Remember: Lower is better when comparing U-Values.
2. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): SHGC measures how well a window or door blocks heat caused by sunlight. SHGC is expressed as a value between 0 and 1. Remember: Lower is better when comparing SHGC.
3. Visible Light Transmittance (VT): The VT measures how much light comes through a window or door. VT is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The higher the VT, the more light being transmitted.
4. Condensation Resistance (CR): CR measures the ability of a window or door to resist the formation of condensation on the interior surface of that product. CR is expressed as a number between 0 and 100. Remember: the higher the CR rating, the better.

It’s important that when you use the NFRC sticker to evaluate windows, that it’s a true “apples-to-apples” comparison. Don’t compare wood windows with vinyl windows. Don’t compare windows with doors. Most importantly, don’t compare a window with standard glass to a window that has specialty or Low-E glass. Different glass types can make a huge difference in the values shown on the sticker and can skew the comparison. Always check the NFRC sticker. It will tell you the glass make-up of the product you’re assessing. If you’re not sure, ask.

4) LOOK FOR THE STAR:

If energy-efficiency is your top priority, look for products that carry the Energy Star® label.

Energy Star® is a government-backed program helping individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Two categories make up Energy Star® window and door requirements; U-Value and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC).

Energy Star® divides the United States into 4 different climate zones. Those zones and their respective requirements are as follows:

As you can see, Energy Star® levels vary depending on where you live so make sure you know the zone in which you are located. Also keep in mind that some areas of the country require Energy Star® status so you will probably want to check your local building codes.

5) WHAT’S THE WARRANTY:

Warranties are different so make sure you fully understand the coverage being offered to you. These are the questions you should ask:

1. What kind of warranty is it? Window warranties are presented in a couple ways. (a) Broken down by window component (glass, paint, hardware, etc. (b) Given as “whole window”, meaning everything from top to bottom receives the same coverage.
2. How many years are the coverage?
3. Is it a “non-pro-rated” (manufacturer’s liabilities remain constant throughout the life of the warranty) or is it “pro-rated” (manufacturer’s liabilities gradually decrease during the life of the warranty)?
4. If you sell your home, is it transferable to the next homeowner(s)?
5. Some wood window manufacturers offer painted interiors. If this is a product you’ll be purchasing, ask how long the painted finish is covered.

6) DON’T LOOK AT PRICE ALONE:

The old adage “You get what you pay for” is usually very true when it comes to wood windows. There are many wood window manufacturers and pricing on seemingly similar windows from two different manufacturers can fluctuate quite a bit. There’s usually a reason for this price variation. When all is said and done, make sure you don’t short-change yourself by basing your choice solely on who has the lowest price.





Credits:
National Fenestration Ratings Council® www.nfrc.org
Energy Star® www.energystar.gov
American Architectural Manufacturers Association www.aamanet.org

The 6 Most Important Things to Remember When Comparing Vinyl Windows

1) UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ALL VINYL IS THE SAME: 

Vinyl is either newly-made (a.k.a. Virgin vinyl) or re-ground (a.k.a. recycled). Both are virtually maintenance-free. But the make-up of the vinyl is not as important as the thickness of the vinyl. Vinyl thickness is a good gauge of quality. If cross-sections of the competing windows are available, take a look at the frames. Measure the vinyl thicknesses if possible. Thicker and heavier is almost always better but realize that it may cost a little more too. If you think you’ll need windows of larger stature, ask about the use of metal reinforcements inserted inside the window’s frame to improve its strength and rigidity.

2) GO TO THE CORNERS:

The corners of vinyl windows can tell a huge story. Many vinyl window manufacturers use a technology called fusion-welding, which basically fuses the corners together to form a nearly unbreakable and impenetrable joint. Other vinyl manufacturers have corners which are screwed together or chemically welded, which functional but could possible leak over time. 

3) LET THE LABEL DO THE TALKING:

It’s quite easy to compare energy-efficiency thanks to the National Fenestration Ratings Council® (NFRC). See right.

The NFRC is a non-profit organization created by the window, door and skylight industry. Its primary goal is to provide accurate information to measure and compare the energy performance of window & door products. While the NFRC does NOT distinguish between a "good" window and a "bad" window, set minimum performance standards or mandate performance levels, it has directed window & door manufacturers to display their product’s performance by implementing the use of stickers on residential windows and doors. 

A typical NFRC label looks like this. See right.

It allows you to easily compare the performance levels of competing windows. An NFRC label contains 4 categories and corresponding test values. While each category has an official definition, here are the laymen’s descriptions. 

1. U-Factor: This is also known as the U-Value. The U-Value measures how well a window or door prevents heat from escaping. Remember: Lower is better when comparing U-Values. 
2. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): SHGC measures how well a window or door blocks heat caused by sunlight. SHGC is expressed as a value between 0 and 1. Remember: Lower is better when comparing SHGC. 
3. Visible Light Transmittance (VT): The VT measures how much light comes through a window or door. VT is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The higher the VT, the more light being transmitted 
4. Condensation Resistance (CR): CR measures the ability of a window or door to resist the formation of condensation on the interior surface of that product. CR is expressed as a number between 0 and 100. Remember: the higher the CR rating, the better.

It’s important that when you use the NFRC sticker to evaluate windows, that it’s a true “apples-to-apples” comparison. Don’t compare vinyl windows with wood windows. Don’t compare windows with doors. Most importantly, don’t compare a window with standard glass to a window that has specialty or Low-E glass. Different glass types can make a huge difference in the values shown on the sticker and can skew the comparison. Always check the NFRC sticker. It will tell you the glass make-up of the product you’re assessing. If you’re not sure, ask.

4) LOOK FOR THE STAR:

If energy-efficiency is your top priority, look for products that carry the Energy Star® label.

Energy Star® is a government-backed program helping individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Two categories make up Energy Star® window and door requirements; U-Value and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. 

Energy Star® divides the United States into 4 different climate zones. Those zones and their respective requirements are as follows:

As you can see, Energy Star® levels vary depending on where you live so make sure you know the zone in which you are located. Also keep in mind that some areas of the country require Energy Star® status so you will probably want to check your local building codes. 

5) WHAT’S THE WARRANTY:

Warranties are different so make sure you fully understand the coverages being offered to you. These are the questions you should ask:

1. What kind of warranty is it? Window warranties are presented in a couple ways. (a) Broken down by window component (glass, vinyl, hardware, etc. ) (b) Given as “whole window”, meaning everything from top to bottom receives the same coverage. 
2. How many years are the coverages? 
3. Is it a “non-pro-rated” (manufacturer’s liabilities remain constant throughout the life of the warranty) or is it “pro-rated” (manufacturer’s liabilities gradually decrease during the life of the warranty)? 
4. If you sell your home, is it transferable to the next homeowner(s)? 
5. Some vinyl window manufacturers offer painted exteriors. If this is a product you’ll be purchasing, ask how long the painted finish is covered. 

6) DON’T LOOK AT PRICE ALONE:

The old adage “You get what you pay for” is usually very true when it comes to vinyl windows. There are many vinyl window manufacturers and pricing on similar windows from two different manufacturers can fluctuate by as much as 25%. There’s usually a reason for this price variation. When all is said and done, make sure you don’t short-change yourself by basing your choice solely on who has the lowest price.

Credits:
National Fenestration Ratings Council® www.nfrc.org
Energy Star® www.energystar.gov
American Architectural Manufacturers Association www.aamanet.org

Quaker Management Pondering Expansion

 



Quaker Window Products Co. shareholders Judy Knoll Stone, Pam Knoll, Ken Knoll and Lottie Kaesik Knoll met last week with long-time employee, Kevin Blansett, second from right, who was recently appoited general manager and executive vice-president of the company. Blansett will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company while Ken Knoll was elected to the position of president of the company.





For the Knoll family, Quaker Windows & Doors is not just a business; it is a passion, a culture and most importantly a vision for the future that is the Quaker Window community.

As President Kenneth Knoll, the second son of Bud and Marge Knoll - the co-founders of Quaker Windows & Doors, to take a leadership role in the business said this past Wednesday, "This is not just our family, this is our home and our community and we are here to stay. We're not going anywhere," We are planning to grow and invest in our people, as well as the business. We hope to continue to serve the community and the surrounding areas for generations to come."

That sentiment was resoundingly seconded by fellow family board members Judy Knoll Stone, Lottie Knoll Kaesik and Pam Knoll in an interview last week. Each of the four holds equal shares of stock in the family business. The fifth shareholder, Marge Knoll, passed away two weeks ago and gifted her shares of stock back to the business. The knoll family intends to continue building and expanding Quaker and looks forward to a third generation of the family to continue the legacy of growth and success started by Bud and Marge Knoll over sixty years ago.

Ken Knoll said, Quaker is not only his future and that of his children's, but also the future of so many dedicated employees and their families. He said the company would remain in this community and in the hands of the Knoll family for years to come. "I want this company to be able to give people in this area not only a job, but also pride in the products we manufacture," he said.

Pam Knoll, the widow of former Quaekr general manager Mike Knoll, agreed. "It was Mike's dream that the company go on. He loved this company and put his heart and sould into it," she said, nothing that Mike never worked anywhere else. "He came here right out of school."

Judy Knoll Stone, who lives with her family in Connecticut, said she remembers when her brother, Mike Knoll, started work at Quaker as a teenager. She said he gave his first paycheck, a total of $56 for two weeks of work, to her for a wedding shower present. She said he just laid the check in front of her and said, "Here. It is that generosity that is one of the cornerstones of the Quaker organization.

Realizing that the plant was expanding and growing rapidly, the Knoll family put together a management team in 2004 that would effectively lead Quaker as it evolved and adapted to an ever changing market, while still maintaining the core values and vision that has always been the cornerstone of the Knoll family ownership.

Kevin Blansett, who has been with the company for almost 20 years, as well as Curtis Weavers, Tom Stegeman and Chris Dickneite have all stepped into leadership positions within the organization.

Blansett, who worked closely with Mike Knoll right up until his untimely passing this past December, was selected by ownership to take over as General Manager and Executive Vice President of Quaker. Working closely with the family, Mr. Blansett is now responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the company. He is supported by a seasoned management team with Weavers heading up the engineering, Stegeman leading manufacturing operations and Dickneite guiding sales.

Quaekr, even though it has grown tremendously since its inception in 1949 as the Quaker Venetian Blind Co., has always been a family business. Most of the nine Knoll children had window and door products named after them.

Ken Knoll's son, Eric, works in purchasing and has worked for the business for 4 years. Two of Kaesik's sons, Jonathan and Michael, also work in the business. John has worked at Quaker for 12 years and works on the service crew while brother, Michael, who has worked there for nearly 3 years, works in sales.

Ken Knoll says he remembers counting screws for the business at eight years of age. "I had to put 12 screws in each bag and I made 50 cents a day. That probably violated some type of child labor laws even at that time," he quipped. Knoll said after he finished high school he joined the Air Force. After completing his term of duty he had a job lined up at TWA. "But Dad said I needed to come to work here. He said I might be running this place some day. So, I came here. I never asked about my wages and they paid me less than the Air Force paid me, much less what TWA would have paid me. So I brought that to his attention one day and I got a raise. He matched what the Air Force paid me," Knoll chuckled.

Knoll said he and brother Mike started their careers at Quaker working in the basement making cultured marble. "Vanity tops, window sills, stuff like that." Then he said he was moved to the storm window room and later became foreman there. Later, he said, he was moved to the office to replace a long-time employee who was retiring.

Ken Knoll said his Mom, Marge Knoll, oversaw the company's purchasing of materials. "At one time she actually set the value of glass. She set the price for the entire industry for glass. She told the glass companies what they could sell the glass to her for and that was it. And everyone else in the industry set the price they would pay according to what Marge Knoll was paying."

Knoll said at one time Quaker was the largest window manufacturer west of the Mississippi. "More of them have built up, but Quaker is still one of the top 100 window manufacturers in the country," he said, hinting that further expansion might be in the cards for the company.

Blansett added there were 1,600 window companies in the country a couple of years ago. "Now that number is less than 900 and this offers even more opportunity for growth and expansion. We are always strategically evaluating how to best position Quaker to meet demand and future growth opportunities. Quaker is well positioned with its vinyl, wood and aluminum product lines to become a major player in the window and door market," he said.

Blansett noted the company employed 520 people and at the present time had just less than 1 million square feet, or 22 acres, under roof.

The new general manager of Quaker said the company has had record sales in seven of the last eight months and has a backlog of 12,000 windows and doors. He said the backlog this year is 50 percent higher than it was last year at this time.

"Quaker, unlike many companies positioned itself to weather the downturn in the economy back in 2007. We didn't cut any benefits. We didn't compromise our tenured long-termed employees. We didn't hire school kids one summer, but we're positioned now to bring in those school kids for this summer as we've done in the past. The great thing is that we've been able to support the community and our employees even during the economic downturn," Blansett said.

Pam Knoll, who inherited her husband's shares, said she would like to see Quaker be a national name. "It's out there, but I think it can be bigger and better. I think that's the goal. That's what Mike always wanted," she said.

Blansett agreed that was, in fact, Mike Knoll's vision. "He always said, ' We grow or we die.' It's that constant improvement that we're always after," he said. "We're always looking for ways to innovate and improve our systems, while adding more product lines to meet customer needs. We are fast approaching a point where we are going to need more space to meet demand and our overall growth plans. We've done some reorganization and building the last new powder paint building freed up about 45,000 square feet. But, we're still expanding into new product areas and are looking at another facility in the future. We would be considering expansion because of the growth in the company," he said.

Blansett said the Knoll family was very conscious of the community and both Stone and Kaesik said the company has always looked to give back to the community that has supported their family for so many years. Kaesik cited the company's effort to help various local organizations, schools and churches while Stone said she thought the scholarship fund set up by the company to help employees' children was a wonderful thing. "I expect that fund will continue to grow and will help even more children," she said. Pam Knoll, who inherited her share upon the death of her husband in December,2012, said she intends to leave those shares to her son, Alex. "It will stay in the family," she said.





Used with the permission of Jerry Voss at the Unterrified Democrat.