What to Look for in a San Diego Replacement Window Company: Upgrade Options

This post is one in a series titled “What to Look for in a Replacement Window Company.” Not all San Diego replacement window companies are the same, so we wanted to do a series that would inform homeowners about what they should be looking for in a company when they decide it’s time to replace their home’s windows and doors.

At BM Windows, we’ve always made it a priority to give our San Diego replacement window customers exactly what they’re looking for in new windows and patio doors. This means offering a lot of options. Other San Diego replacement window companies offer few options, choosing instead to sell builder grade windows that are more bare bones.

We understand that some customers don’t like to be overwhelmed by a lot of upgrade options, and for those customers, we are happy to make suggestions about what we feel will be the best options based on their stated needs. We also have a good idea about what upgrades San Diego homeowners appreciate the most, and which ones they can usually do without. But other customers want to be able to completely customize their replacement windows and doors. They want to know about all the options and pick and choose which ones they want.

Our knowledgeable and helpful sales team is always happy to explain all of the options available and help our customers select the perfect windows for their San Diego homes. Below, we’ll discuss some of the more popular options for the replacement windows and doors we sell, so you can get a good idea of what’s available even before you schedule your in-home consultation.

Window Grids

Many of the options we have available aren’t readily noticeable. An exception to this is window grids. These are vinyl strips that visually divide the panes of glass. They are placed in between the two panes of glass in dual pane windows, and are designed to mimic the look of the windows found in vintage homes. The grids in vintage windows actually held smaller panes of glass in place, but today’s grids are for looks only.

Window grids are often used in the windows installed in homes with more classic architecture. The most popular pattern is the Colonial pattern, which divides the window pane visually into even portions—typically six or eight sections. The Perimeter pattern and the Queen Anne pattern are two other grid pattern options. You can read more about window grids in this blog post. You also have the option to completely customize the grid patterns in the replacement windows you purchase.

Glazing Options

The glazing options for your replacement windows can be a little bit difficult to sort through. Almost every brand of replacement windows has its own patented glazing system designed to make their windows more energy efficient. For example, one of our recommended brands of windows, Anlin, comes with their Infinit-e Plus glazing system, but customers can upgrade to Anlin’s QuadraTherm system.

A replacement window specialist from BM Windows can explain the difference between the two systems, but you can also compare the effectiveness of systems by looking at their U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) numbers. These are industry-standard measurements. U-Factor refers to the window’s resistance to heat transfer, while SHGC indicates a window’s ability to keep heat from entering your home through the window.

As a good rule of thumb, San Diego homeowners should look for a U-Factor number under 0.35 and a SHGC number under 0.25.

Security Options

All of the windows we sell at BM Windows are extremely secure, and meet or exceed industry safety standards, but if you want a little extra security, you have the option to upgrade the hardware on your replacement windows and doors. For example, on sliding windows, you can add a stainless steel dead bolt, or you can choose a locking system that locks automatically whenever the window is closed. You can also upgrade the locking hardware on our patio doors.

Frame Colors and Styles

More than 90% of the replacement windows we sell in San Diego have white window frames, but San Diego homeowners do have the option of choosing a frame color other than white to give their home a customized look. If you like the farmhouse look, black window frames are a great choice, but we also offer colors like gray, red, tan, and forest green.

In addition to frame color, San Diego homeowners can also choose from several different frame styles—from simple to more elaborate.

These aren’t all of the options available—you can also upgrade your windows with things like sound suppression technology or coatings that make your windows stay clean longer, but the upgrades listed above are some of the most popular ones chosen by our San Diego customers.

We want to help you choose the perfect windows for your home! Contact us today to schedule an in-home consultation where we can go over all of your options and give you a quote on new windows.