If you own a home in Oklahoma long enough, eventually you’re probably going to have a conversation about windows.
Maybe you’ve noticed condensation between the panes. Maybe one room gets considerably hotter than the rest of the house every afternoon. Maybe your windows are difficult to open, you can feel air around them in the winter, or you’re simply tired of looking at old aluminum or wood windows that have been there for decades.
Then you start researching replacement windows and discover something pretty quickly: there are a lot of opinions about windows.
One company says you need triple-pane glass. Another tells you their frame material is the only one worth buying. Someone advertises 40% off. Another company offers “free installation.” Then there are window ratings, Low-E coatings, argon gas, U-factors, warranties and enough technical terms to make a relatively straightforward home improvement project feel complicated.
After working with homeowners around Tulsa and Northeast Oklahoma, I’ve found that most people really want answers to a few basic questions:
Am I buying a good window? Is it right for Oklahoma? Is it going to be installed correctly? And am I paying a fair price?
Those are the questions I’d concentrate on.
A replacement window that works well in one part of the country isn’t necessarily the best choice for an Oklahoma home.
We deal with extremely hot summer days, cold winter temperatures, strong winds, thunderstorms, hail and some pretty dramatic temperature swings. A window can spend an afternoon baking in direct western sunlight and then deal with a major weather change hours later.
That’s why I wouldn’t choose replacement windows based solely on appearance or brand recognition.
For homes in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Jenks, Owasso, Claremore and the surrounding area, you want to pay attention to the entire window system: the frame, glass package, weatherstripping, reinforcement, locks and—most importantly—how the window will be installed.
A premium window installed poorly can still give you problems.
A quality window that’s properly sized, insulated, sealed and installed can perform very well for years.
Old doesn’t automatically mean bad.
I’ve seen older windows that are still doing their job, and I’ve seen much newer windows that already have problems.
There are some warning signs worth paying attention to.
If you have fog or moisture trapped between the glass panes, the insulated glass seal may have failed. Once that moisture is between the panes, cleaning the inside and outside of the window isn’t going to remove it.
Drafts are another common complaint. Sometimes the window itself is responsible. Other times air is entering around the frame because of the way the original window was installed or sealed.
You may also notice windows that won’t stay open, won’t lock correctly, are difficult to operate, have deteriorating frames or allow noticeably more heat into a room.
Then there’s comfort.
If your living room feels dramatically hotter in the afternoon because of a wall of west-facing windows, that’s something worth looking at even if the windows aren’t visibly damaged.
The point is that you shouldn’t replace windows simply because somebody tells you they’re old.
Figure out what problem you’re trying to solve first.
There isn’t one window that’s perfect for every house.
For many Oklahoma homeowners, a quality vinyl replacement window offers a good combination of performance, maintenance, appearance and price.
But not all vinyl windows are built the same.
Frame construction matters. The quality of the vinyl matters. Reinforcement matters. Weatherstripping matters. The glass package matters.
This is one reason I don’t like reducing window shopping to a brand name.
Two windows sitting next to each other can look nearly identical to a homeowner and have very different construction.
When you’re comparing replacement windows, look at the whole product instead of simply asking, “What’s your best window?”
The better question is:
What’s the right window for my house, my budget and the problems I’m trying to fix?
Triple pane sounds better because three panes must be better than two, right?
Not necessarily.
Triple-pane windows can offer benefits, but that doesn’t automatically make them the best value for every homeowner in Tulsa.
A properly built double-pane energy-efficient window with the appropriate Low-E glass package can make a lot of sense in our climate.
The important thing is to compare the actual performance ratings and cost difference rather than buying based on the number of pieces of glass.
If you’re paying considerably more for an upgrade, ask what you’re gaining from it.
I would rather see a homeowner invest in a good window and excellent installation than stretch the budget for a feature that may not provide enough additional benefit for that particular home.
You’ll hear “Low-E” constantly when shopping for energy-efficient replacement windows.
Low-E stands for low emissivity.
It’s a very thin coating designed to affect how heat moves through the glass. In Oklahoma, where summer heat and solar gain are major concerns, the right glass package can make a noticeable difference in how a window performs.
That’s especially important on windows receiving heavy afternoon sun.
But don’t assume every Low-E window is identical.
Different coatings and glass packages have different performance characteristics. That’s why window ratings are more useful than simply seeing “Low-E” printed on a brochure.
These two numbers are worth understanding.
U-factor relates to how well the window resists heat transfer. Generally, a lower U-factor indicates better insulating performance.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) deals with how much solar heat passes through the window.
For Oklahoma homeowners trying to reduce summer heat coming through their windows, SHGC can be particularly relevant.
You don’t need to become an engineer to buy replacement windows.
You should, however, be able to ask the person selling them:
“Can you explain these ratings and why this glass package makes sense for my house?”
If the answer is nothing more than “this is our best window,” I’d ask more questions.
This is one of the most common questions in window replacement.
New energy-efficient windows can help reduce heat transfer and air leakage, particularly when they’re replacing inefficient single-pane windows, damaged windows or poorly sealed older units.
But I don’t like promising homeowners some enormous guaranteed reduction in their utility bill.
There are too many other variables.
Insulation, HVAC efficiency, ductwork, attic ventilation, thermostat settings, home orientation, shade and even personal habits affect energy usage.
Replacement windows are one part of the home’s overall envelope.
I think a better way to look at it is comfort and efficiency together.
A properly selected and installed replacement window can help with drafts, unwanted heat gain, air leakage and overall comfort. Those improvements can also reduce the workload on your heating and cooling system.
That’s a much more realistic conversation than promising that windows will magically cut an electric bill in half.
This might be the most important part of this entire article.
You aren’t simply buying a window.
You’re buying a window and an installation.
The opening has to be measured correctly. The existing window has to be removed without creating unnecessary damage. The new unit needs to sit properly in the opening. It needs to be level, square, insulated, sealed and finished correctly.
If those things aren’t done correctly, buying a more expensive window won’t save the installation.
This is also why two quotes for what appear to be similar replacement windows can be very different.
Ask what’s included.
These aren’t exciting questions, but they’re considerably more important than a flashy discount.
This is something homeowners don’t always know about until the old window comes out.
Water can get behind trim or into an opening without creating an obvious problem inside the house.
When the window is removed, you may discover soft or deteriorated wood around the sill or framing.
A new window shouldn’t simply be installed over a bad opening.
The damaged area needs to be evaluated so the new window has a solid opening and the underlying problem isn’t simply hidden behind a new frame.
When you’re getting a window replacement quote in Tulsa, ask about this ahead of time.
You want to know how unexpected conditions are handled before installation day.
These terms confuse a lot of homeowners.
An insert or replacement-style installation generally allows the new window to use portions of the existing window structure when conditions allow.
A full-frame replacement involves removing considerably more of the existing window assembly.
One isn’t automatically superior to the other.
The correct approach depends on the existing window, frame condition, construction of the house and what you’re trying to accomplish.
This is especially relevant around Northeast Oklahoma because we work on homes with older wood windows, aluminum windows and previous generations of replacement windows.
Ask your window contractor how the new window will actually be installed in your existing opening.
That’s far more useful than simply asking which installation method is “best.”
They can, depending on what you’re replacing and what you’re installing.
Here’s something that’s easy to overlook:
The overall dimensions of two windows can be identical while the amount of visible glass area is different.
Thicker frames and sashes take up more space.
That may not be noticeable on a large picture window, but it can matter on smaller bedroom, bathroom or kitchen windows.
If natural light is important to you, look at the actual window construction and sightlines.
Don’t choose a replacement window based entirely on a small corner sample.
Black windows have become extremely popular.
On the right home, they look fantastic.
But Oklahoma heat should be part of the discussion.
Dark exterior surfaces absorb more solar energy than lighter colors, so homeowners should pay attention to the manufacturer’s construction, finish, specifications and warranty.
I’d also think about the long-term design of the house.
Trends change. Windows stay in a home for a long time.
If you love black windows and they complement the architecture, they can completely transform the appearance of a home. Just make sure you’re selecting a product designed for the application and our climate rather than choosing solely from a picture online.
There are advantages to completing a whole-home window replacement at one time. Everything matches, the work is completed together and you only go through installation once.
But that doesn’t mean every homeowner needs to do it that way.
If you have twelve windows and four are causing the majority of your problems, it may make sense to start with those four.
Maybe the west side of your house gets extremely hot.
Maybe several windows have failed seals.
Maybe you’re remodeling one section of the house.
A reputable window company should be able to discuss priorities instead of automatically insisting that every window needs to be replaced immediately.
Certain locations can require safety glazing, which is one reason two similarly sized windows aren’t always identical orders.
Windows near certain doors, walking surfaces, tubs, showers and other locations may have different glazing requirements.
That’s another reason a proper window estimate involves more than walking around a house counting windows.
The location and configuration of each opening matter.
If one window quote includes tempered glass in a particular location and another doesn’t, ask the contractors why.
Homeowners sometimes receive three estimates and wonder how everybody could have looked at the same house and produced three completely different prices.
There are several reasons.
You’re comparing the window itself, glass options, installation method, labor, trim work, warranties, overhead and sometimes very different sales models.
Then there’s marketing.
Large home improvement companies can spend enormous amounts of money generating appointments, operating call centers and paying commissioned salespeople. Those expenses have to be paid somehow.
At Green Country Windows, we’ve chosen a different model.
We don’t believe homeowners should have to sit through a high-pressure three-hour presentation just to find out what their windows cost.
And I would be careful about getting too distracted by enormous advertised discounts.
“Buy one, get one free,” “40% off” and similar promotions sound impressive, but what matters is the final installed price and what you’re actually receiving for it.
A percentage discount doesn’t tell you whether you’re getting a good deal if you don’t know how the original price was established.
Compare the bottom line.
Then compare the product and installation behind that number.
Don’t stop at the words “lifetime warranty.”
Ask what that actually means.
Does it cover the window frame?
What about insulated glass failure?
Hardware?
Labor?
Installation?
Is it transferable if you sell the home?
Who handles the warranty claim?
A warranty is only useful if you understand what’s covered and there’s somebody available to honor it.
That’s one reason I think homeowners should consider who they’re buying from—not just what they’re buying.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with a large national company.
But there are advantages to working with a local window company in Tulsa.
The people working on your home understand Oklahoma weather and local housing styles. You’re dealing with a business whose reputation depends heavily on the same communities it serves.
For us, that includes homeowners throughout Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Jenks, Bixby, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Claremore, Collinsville, Skiatook and surrounding Northeast Oklahoma communities.
Local doesn’t mean you shouldn’t compare products, warranties or prices.
You absolutely should.
It means you have another factor to consider when deciding who you trust with your home.
If I were getting estimates for my own house, I wouldn’t start by asking who has the biggest discount.
I’d ask:
A company that knows its product and installation process should be comfortable answering those questions.
This is probably the biggest thing I’d like Oklahoma homeowners to take away from this guide.
You don’t need the cheapest replacement window you can find.
You also don’t necessarily need the most expensive one.
You need a quality window that’s appropriate for your home, installed correctly and sold at a fair price.
Window replacement doesn’t need to involve complicated pricing, fake urgency or a salesperson repeatedly leaving your kitchen table to “call the manager” for another discount.
Do your research. Compare the actual products. Look at installation. Read reviews. Understand the warranty. Then compare the final installed price.
That’s how I’d want someone in my family to buy windows, and it’s how we try to approach the process at Green Country Windows.
We provide residential window replacement and professional window installation throughout the Tulsa area and Northeast Oklahoma. If you’re dealing with old, drafty, inefficient or failing windows—or you’re simply trying to determine whether replacement makes sense—we’re happy to take a look and give you an upfront quote.
Green Country Windows
Quality Windows. Priced Right.
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