We get this a lot. Normally, if your windows are about 15 years old or older they might be showing signs that they need to be replaced. Some common signs that it might be time is that your current windows are hard to open or close, you can feel the drafts in the windows, you have higher than normal power bills, the seals are gone and they’re fogging up. If you’re sick of looking at them that could be a sign too.

Ah. We love this one. At Durante we focus on delivering extreme value and high levels of QUALITY. If you are looking for the bargain brand- don’t call us. BUT, If you want knock-your-socks-off-man-you-guys-are-amazing- type of service, and if you want expert installation by certified, factory trained and experienced professional people, and if you want ironclad-to-the-max-we-mean-it type warranties, and if you want the maximum value possible for your money, than we are the company for you and would love to hear from you.

Low E is a non-visible, microscopic layer of silver coating added to glass for greater energy efficiency and increased comfort. Low E stands for “low emissivity”, which is the action of reflecting light passing through glass. By reflecting part of the light spectrum (the part that transmits heat), we reduce a window’s U-Value and increase its R-Value.

U-Values represent the amount of heat that escapes through a wall, window, roof or other surface. The lower the U-Value, the more energy efficient a material is. R-Values are the direct opposite. These measure an object’s resistance to heat flow. The higher a material’s R-Value, the lower its U-Value, and the less energy it will lose. An R-Value depends on the number of layers of glass in a window, what type of gas is between those layers, and whether one or more of those layers of glazing have been treated with a Low E coating.

Using a low-emissivity glass in your new windows or doors can filter out a tremendous amount of the damaging UV light.

Yes. All windows and doors reduce noise to some degree.

Depending on region and personal style, single-hung, double-hung, casement, awning, slide-by, bay and bow windows are the most frequently used. A number of other style windows are frequently employed as accent windows.

A bay window is a series of usually three windows assembled in a polygon shape that projects outward from the side of a house. It helps to enlarge the room and creates an attractive design feature.

Bow windows are very similar to bays, in that they also project from the side of a house. However, they are usually composed of a series of five window units assembled in an arc, rather than a polygon.

A casement window is a window unit hinged at the side that swings outward, operated by a cranking mechanism.

Modern window technology permits an inert gas, usually argon, to be sealed between the panes of glass in a window instead of air. The gas is a far better insulator that just air, thus further increasing the thermal value of a window.

Technically, there are two or more panes of glass separated by insulation at the edges and air in the center to provide greater thermal efficiency to a window.

For air to insulate well, it needs to be as still as possible because moving air carries energy. Argon is heavier than air-so it’s less prone to convection or thermal movement. The bottom line is that heavier-than-air gases offer a higher level of insulation. Argon is found naturally in the air you breathe and is completely harmless.