Hallmark Certified NWWDA Wood Window Manufacturers

There are a minimum of 67 wood window manufacturers in the United States. That is how many I have been able to identify over the years. Would you believe that of these 67 manufacturers only 10 of them (at the time this was authored) have taken the initiative to have all and/or a portion of their product line certified under the new NWWDA Hallmark Certification program!

In fact, when you review the list below of the 10 manufacturers who have gone the extra mile, you will be shocked at some of the big name manufacturers who are missing from the list! My take on this is that they manufactures feel the certification is not worth it or the power of their brand will get them through a sales presentation. They may be right, but as time goes on, more and more people demand quality.

Windows and doors are probably one of the most important aspects of your home when it comes to comfort, energy savings, and performance. You should absolutely invest as much money as possible in your windows and doors.

You want ones that will save you money over time. I recommend that you check out the windows made by the companies below. If you aren't satisfied and you decide to go with a company that is not listed, don't blame me if you have a problem at a later date.

• Andersen Corporation

• Eagle Windows/Doors
• Kolbe & Kolbe
• Malta Windows
• Marvin Windows/Doors
• Norco Windows
• Sealrite Windows
• SNE Enterprises
• Sun Windows Inc.

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100 ... Oooooops! I Meant 1,000 Plus Certified Wood Windows

I was aiming to deliver to you 100 wood windows that carry the NWWDA Hallmark Certification. Guess what? There are actually well over 1,000 available and more will be available each month as more manufacturers see that they must participate in this program to remain competitive.

Some of the manufacturers only have a portion of their windows certified. Others have their entire product line certified. For example, BiltBest has only one portion of its line certified. It is the Spirit Clad and Wood Casement Windows Product category. There are a total of 91 windows in different sizes just from this single manufacturer.

Certain manufacturers - believe it or not - did not respond to my requests for a listing of their products that are certified. I hope you don't run into the same difficulties when you call them!

Here is a partial list of NWWDA Hallmark Certified Wood Windows:

Andersen Corporation

Their marketing manager called me and said that every single wood window in their product line carries the certification. I opened my most recent Andersen Window catalog and lost count at 314 windows...... I know there are more! You can call Andersen for a full line catalog or visit one of the hundreds of distributors across the nation.

BiltBest Windows

At this time, just the Spirit Clad and Wood Casement Windows are certified. These include roundtop units and transom windows. There are a total of 91 windows with this manufacturer.

Eagle Windows & Doors

Several of Eagle's product lines are certified. they are as follows:

I was not able to get a quantity count, but I suspect that they have a minimum of 125 wood window products in these combined lines.

Kolbe & Kolbe

These people supplied me with information that stated that a portion of their product line is certified. Here is what they told me:

• Clad Magnum Casements
• Wood Magnum Casements
• Clad Magnum Double Hungs
• Wood Magnum Double Hungs
• Wood Magnum Tilt-Turn
• Wood Magnum Hopper
• Casement Single Sash
• Traditional Double Hung
• Royal Double Hung

Marvin Windows

I was told by a Marvin executive that a majority of their entire wood window product line is Hallmark certified. This represents possibly well over 500-750 wood window products. If you operate under the assumption that they will incorporate the same quality in their custom made windows - then they offer an infinite amount of certified products! Marvin will make any window you want. They have made many custom window units for me.

Here is a listing of the Marvin Window categories that are certified:

• Wood Casemaster
• Wood Awning
• Wood Double Hung
• Wood Glider
• Wood Round Top
• Wood Polygon
• Clad Casemaster
• Clad Awning
• Clad Double Hung
• Clad Glider
• Clad Round Top
• Clad Polygon
• Wood Magnum Double Hung
• Wood Magnum Historical Double Hung
• Wood Magnum Single Hung
• Wood Magnum Tilt-Turn
• Wood Magnum Hopper
• Clad Magnum Double Hung
• Clad Magnum Tilt Turn
• Clad Magnum Hopper

Sun Windows

Sun Windows offers a huge variety of certified products. They are located in western Kentucky and distribute all over the nation. The following lines are certified:

• Clad Wood Double Hungs
• Clad Wood Casements
• Clad Stationary Units

The Clad Stationary Unit category includes hundreds of windows - fixed picture windows, circle tops, octagons, etc.

Malta, Norco, Sealrite, and SNE did not respond to my request for certified products.

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Vinyl Windows - Buy Quality

Cold drafts in the winter from windows are really an uncomfortable feeling. The drafts can be direct air leaks caused by inferior weather-stripping and/or old technology glass. Believe it or not, you can buy brand new vinyl windows today in your town that have both! The sales presentations are often slick and some of the claims made by the salespeople are not always the complete truth. So how do you buy a quality vinyl window? It is not as hard as you may think.

Ingredients are Important

Every part of a vinyl window contributes to its performance. If you want the actual vinyl to not fade and crack, then you better get vinyl that has the best titanium dioxide in it. This chemical blocks and absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Glass is glass, right? No way! Insulated glass has come light years from its inception. First we had standard insulated glass, then hard coat Low E, then soft coat Low E, and now Low E with invisible heat films.

The two pieces of glass are actually separated with a spacer that can directly affect inner glass temperatures. Old spacers were made with aluminum. Aluminum quickly conducts heat and cold. This is bad. New steel and plastic glass spacers slow down energy transfer. This is good!

The actual vinyl window frame and sash components vary in type and efficiency. Some windows have minimal chambers, others have lots of individual chambers. Some are hollow, others are foam filled.

How do you keep all of these parts straight in your mind? How will you know if you are getting a bad deal?

Vinyl Windows - Independent Testing

There are always good manufacturers in every product category. These are the ones who want to make a good product and strive for perfection and supplying great value to us, the consumer.

The vinyl window industry is no different. Because quality can vary from very poor to excellent, the good manufacturers banded together years ago to develop testing standards that allow high quality to be quantitatively measured.

There are three testing organizations. All of the testing standards are very technical - so much so that the average person can't begin to understand the testing methods and raw numbers that result from the test procedures. That is what engineers go to school for. Once the test data is refined and charted, it begins to make sense to us common folk.

The three testing organizations are: AAMA - NWWDA (American Architectural Manufacturers Association - Window & Door Manufacturers Association), NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) and Energy Star. If a vinyl window company goes to the effort to get tested by any one of these organizations, it is "trying harder." If it passes the tests, it is a great accomplishment. Suffice it to say that if you can find a vinyl window company that sells windows that have passed any or all of these standards,you have a great product. If you are looking for windows that save the most energy, then look for windows that are NFRC or Energy Star certified.

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Quality Window Installation

Who is going to install your windows? I hope you don't plan to do it. If they are replacement windows, you can have a difficult time if you are not experienced. The final fit and finish of the windows and their performance is directly related to expert installation.

All too often rookies or weekend warriors forget important steps regarding air infiltration or insulation. Caulking is also very important. Sometimes an inexperienced installer can install too much insulation, use the wrong spray-foam insulation or make a horrible mess with a caulk gun.

So who should you have do it? I vote that the window company installs them. Not only that, I want an actual employee of the window company and NOT a sub-contractor.

You need to ask about this because the use of sub-contractors can be appealing to a window company. Using sub-contractors can save a window company money because they have cost control. They pay the sub a fixed sum to install the job. This is good for the window company but bad for you. Why? What happens if your job is exceptionally difficult? The sub may cut corners so he makes more money or doesn't lose money.

Insurance issues are cloudy with sub-contractors. What happens if the sub gets hurt on your job? I know of one job where a sub-contractor severely cut his hand while removing an old window. Fortunately, the sub-contractor had Worker's Compensation coverage. The sub on your job may not have this coverage. Who pays for his medical bills and lost work wages? You do!

Employees of window companies know their product very well. They know the best tools to use, the best insulation, the best caulking and the best techniques. They get paid by the hour so they are under no pressure to "rush" your installation. Be sure that the window company you select proves they have insurance coverage. Ask for copies of the certificates. Get all promises in writing.

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Energy Star Vinyl Window Manufacturers

I've convinced you that it is important to buy a certified vinyl window. But it is still a little confusing. There are three certification programs. One is the AAMA-NWWDA program. The other is the NFRC. And the third is the Energy Star window and door certification program. Which one is better? Well, that is hard to say because they certify different aspects of the window. The AAMA-NWWDA program looks primarily at the material aspects of the window while the NFRC and Energy Star certification tests take a close look at the thermal performance of the glass.

The glass is very important. Glass used to be the weakest link in the energy shield of your home. Vast improvements have pushed the insulating factor of the window to new levels. Invisible heat films that are sandwiched between panes of insulating glass are allowing window manufacturers to build better and more energy efficient windows. The invisible films are absolutely on the cutting edge of technology. If you can get windows that have this Low E film, do so.

Go to the Energy Star web site to find a current list of manufacturers which meet the Energy Star certification standards. If you don't find a manufacturer in your town or city, don't panic! Many of these manufacturers make windows that might be distributed by another company in your area. If you don't see a familiar name, simply call your local companies. Look for the Energy Star blue/green semi-circle global logo on the windows!

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Window Glass Performance Comparisons

Your upcoming window purchase is important. You need to spend as much money as you can afford on the glass. If you spend wisely, you will get long-term benefits. The charts below illustrate this clearly. Look at the following chart. It is the Winter Performance Chart.

The insulating values of windows are measured in U-values. Low U-values mean BIG energy savings. The Low E glass that contains the invisible heat films simply work the best. If you sit or work near windows during cold winter months, you need windows that have the lowest U-value you can buy. The inner pane of glass in these windows will be warmer to the touch and as such will produce fewer cold convection drafts.

Summer heat gain is also a big concern. The sun's infrared heat streams in through regular dual pane insulated glass. Old technology hard-coat Low E glass doesn't help too much in blocking solar heat gain. Look at the following chart.

It clearly shows that once again windows that contain the invisible heat film do the best at blocking the solar heat gain from entering your home. Invisible heat films are a must if your home contains lots of windows that face west, southwest, south and southeast. Heat gain from these exposures can be massive in the summer months. If you run central air conditioning in your home, windows that contain the invisible heat films will help you lower your cooling costs.

If the window sales people look confused when you mention U-values and Solar Heat Gain Coefficients, go elsewhere! The two charts are courtesy of Gilkey Windows in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Remember, when comparing SHGCs, lower numbers are better. For example, a window with a SHGC of .19 is a better window than one with a rating of .34. Another tip is to be very careful of verbal promises. If a window salesperson promises you something, make sure the exact wording is in the contract. Never accept verbal promises or excuses. Remember, excuses are reasons for failure.

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We have a couple of very cool restaurants here in Cincinnati where you can go to get double-decker and triple-decker sandwiches. The combinations seem endless. You can get a turkey and roast beef double-decker with Swiss cheese on wheat bread. How about a ham, egg and ham triple-decker on white bread with lettuce, tomato and mayo? It is yours, if you order it. When you look at the menu, your eyes glaze over. It is the same feeling you get when you listen to the window film sales pitch. There are so many choices!

Different Films for Different Rooms

If you are thinking of buying window films, you need to make a list. Go room by room. List in order of importance what you want to accomplish in each room. Perhaps heat gain is really important in a west facing family room followed by privacy. The most important concerns in your living room might be fabric fade followed by heat loss in the winter time.

Once you have this list made up, it will be an easy chore to meet with the window film sales person. Without this list, things can get confusing very quickly.

Source of Confusion

Each of the window films you look at has been tested with respect to their effectiveness (expressed as a percentage) to prevent the following:

• Total Solar Transmittance
• Total Solar Reflectance
• Total Solar Absorption
• Visible Light Transmittance
• Visible Light Reflectance
• Ultraviolet Transmittance
• Total Solar Energy Reflected

Different films will have wildly different values in each of the categories. They simply are made to do different things. The values help you to judge which film will work best for you in each room.

A Company called CP Films makes a window film line called LLumar. I have one of their film sample swatches. For each film there is a card that shows the values for each of the listed categories. It is very helpful when looking at different films. Try to get one of these handy tools when you begin to look at films.

Removing Existing Films

As soon as my column on window films appeared, many people contacted me who had existing films. They wanted to know how to remove them.

The trick to removing existing window films is a combination of patience, numerous single edge sharp razor blades, and ammonia based window cleaners.

Start by slicing through the film about 3 inches from a corner. Cut at a 45 degree angle. Try to slide the razor under the film to peel it up. Pull at the same time you scrape. Change blades when they become clogged with adhesive. Remove the old adhesive with a combination of 409 and Windex or a strong solution of ammonia and water.

Warranties and Life Spans

Pay attention to the warranties that come with the window films you intend to buy. Some of them are impressive. Full lifetime warranties for labor and material are out there!

High quality window films can last indefinitely if they are cared for. The biggest problem comes from improper cleaning. If you goof up or are careless when you wash window films, you can begin to scratch them. Although the films are scratch resistant, they are by no means scratch-proof.

Lightly brush/dust or blow away large dust particles on window films. Never clean windows covered with film using a dry technique. You need to introduce a window cleaning solution to lubricate the film as it is being cleaned.

The best advice is to make sure you obtain and follow the written cleaning instructions from the window film manufacturer. If you are dealing with a first class installer, they will give these to you before they leave your home. You say you are going to install the films yourself? Well, I wish you the best of luck and hope that your new nickname isn't Mr. Bubble, Mr. Crease, or Mr. Blister!

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Window Film Comparisons and Types

When the window film salesperson visits your house, make sure you have a clear head. This subject can get complicated in a hurry. You will hear terms like neutrals, dual reflectives, Low-E, spectrally selective, clear or dyed non-reflective, etc. These are all descriptive terms that tell what a window film can or can't do.

The Basics

The least complicated window film is one that is a Clear or Dyed / Non Reflective. The clear films in this category are commonly used for just safety, security or modest fade control. If you desire some glare control on the glass or privacy, then you will use a dyed product. Because they do not have a metallic component they are non-reflective - meaning they reflect little solar energy.

Triple Decker

The next group of window film incorporates an additional layer of polyester film that contains a special metallic reflective coating. These films are either available in Clear or Dyed Reflective. The metallic surface needs the additional layer of polyester film so that it is not exposed to corrosive liquids or vapors in the atmosphere in and around the glass.

The films in this group that are sold or represented as clear actually appear to have a silver, bronze, or gray tint. This coloration is created by the ultra-thin layer of metal that is being used to reflect the solar radiation. If you choose a dyed reflective film, the polyester film closest to the glass is dyed to the color you choose.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will window films stop fading?

No. They will retard or slow it. 40 percent of fading is caused by ultraviolet light, 25 percent by visible light, 25 percent by heat, and 10 percent miscellaneous causes. To stop fading you must stop all of these from happening.

Do window films hurt plants?

Certain high performance films may cause some plants to suffer slight growth retardation or possibly stop flowering. Others may go into a temporary state of shock while they adjust to the new film. For the most part, there will be little harm done to common house plants.

How do you clean window films?

Obtain a care guide from the film manufacturer and follow it. Use common sense. Apply standard window cleaners to the film and use clean, soft cotton rags. Avoid using cheap paper towels as recycled paper content can contain micro-abrasives.

The above Questions and Answers are courtesy of AIMCAL Energy Management Program Window Film Training Guide

Companion Articles:  Window Film,  Window Films,  Window Film - It Works Well, Window Film Companies

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