Do New Windows Save Money?
It’s common knowledge that cutting down on your energy consumption will translate into lower bills each month. Heating and cooling costs are among the most significant monthly expenses for most households. You’ll want to ensure that your hot or cold air stays inside your home to minimize costs. Somewhere around 30% of a home’s heated or cooled air escapes through...
The Importance of a Contractor Labor Warranty
To understand why a contractor labor warranty is important when undertaking a home improvement project, it’s best to define what a warranty is: any representation made by one party that another can and will rely on. Simply put, it’s a promise that a job will be performed a certain way. Some common warranties found in home improvement and construction contracts...
How the Chicago Weather Affects Your Home’s Windows and Doors
How the Chicago Weather Affects Your Home’s Windows and Doors You may have heard it before, but it bears repeating: Your home’s windows and doors are a major line of defense against the weather. In the Chicago area, known for its long, freezing winters and extreme temperature variations, properly sealed windows and doors are critical for both protecting the interior...
Reasons to Hire an Andersen Certified Contractor
The Andersen Certified Contractor program trains home improvement professionals in the proper procedures for installing the highly regarded products made by Andersen Windows & Doors. For more than a century, Andersen has ranked among the industry leaders in innovation, using a selection of durable materials to design and craft long-lasting, easy-maintenance products that deliver best-in-class performance. But given that proper...
Window Performance Ratings Explained
You’ve probably seen a label on your windows or replacement windows you’re considering and wondered what all the numbers and codes on the label mean. Designed by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), this label can be found on all ENERGY STAR® qualified windows as a guide for contractors and homeowners when choosing windows. Because the climates in different parts...
Deciding Between Fiberglass, Wood, Composite & Vinyl Windows
Deciding Between Fiberglass, Wood, Composite & Vinyl Windows Nowadays, homeowners have an abundance of choices in materials for replacement windows. It all comes down to which advantages you’re prioritizing for your project. Each of the four most popular window materials on the market—fiberglass, wood, composite, and vinyl—has specific advantages in terms of looks, cost, and energy efficiency. If you’re uncertain...
How to Prepare for Your Front Door Replacement
A new front door is an investment that offers a wealth of benefits for the home, from boosting curb appeal to improving safety and security. Reputable remodeling companies understand this, so they take special care to ensure that every aspect of their door replacement process is performed with keen attention to detail. As any do-it-yourselfer who has installed a door...
Why Fiberglass Windows Are Ideal for Homes in the Chicago Area
At some point in your window replacement plans, you’ll need to finalize your decisions. No doubt, as you considered the vast number of window frame options out there, you were told about the advantages of fiberglass windows. In the interest of providing an education toward smarter, more cost-effective replacement window purchases, we offer the following as a handy guide to...
Why Opal Enterprises Is the Preferred Window & Door Company Serving Chicago-Area Residents
Why Opal Enterprises Is the Preferred Window & Door Company Serving Chicago-Area Residents Let’s be honest. We all want as much as we can get for our home improvement dollar. The problem is that the world doesn’t always cooperate. Sometimes the products and services of home improvement contractors disappoint us. Sometimes, sad but true, we look at our newly installed...
Front Door Design Options for Your Illinois Home
Front Door Design Options for Your Illinois Home Your front door is a great place to make a design statement because it’s the first and last part of your house that visitors see. While your front door is more than a decorative feature and there are practical matters like material and cost to consider when selecting a new door, door...
Questions for Window Replacement Contractors
From planning to installation, window replacement projects include aspects that many people are unfamiliar with. For instance, you may be aware of the cost-saving benefits of energy-efficient windows, but you may not know just how many different options exist for boosting efficiency. This is one major reason choosing a reputable, professional window replacement contractor is so vital. Contractors are home...
Signs That You Need a Front Door Replacement
Homeowners tend to pay more attention to their windows than their front door. It’s not surprising. Today’s home improvement market is filled with ads touting the importance of energy-efficient windows. So, while we’re quite aware that we ought to replace our single-pane, non-energy efficient windows with better options, we seldom consider our front doors with any urgency. But front doors...
Are Replacement Windows Worth the Cost?
Are Replacement Windows Worth the Cost? Like other worthwhile investments in your home, replacement windows can be costly. While today’s market is full of budget-friendly options that can make your window installation project more affordable, try to avoid a purchasing decision based solely on cost. Window quality should always be a main concern. After all, inferior windows won’t reliably deliver...
How Do I Prepare for Window Replacement?
You’ve done all the research necessary to select replacement windows that meet all of your standards for aesthetics, functionality, energy efficiency. Now, with the installation just days away, you might be wondering what you can do to prepare your home so that the process runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible. After all, having remodeling work done in the home...
Should You Replace All Windows at Once?
Every year, thousands of homeowners across Illinois invest in window replacement projects. Their reasons for doing so may vary. Some want to replace broken or damaged windows that are negatively affecting comfort, privacy, and security. For many who want to replace old and outdated windows, it’s more a matter of improving curb appeal. So, like a lot of things in...
Visit a Showroom Near You!
Stop by anytime during our office hours to browse, or schedule an appointment for a guided tour and expert assistance!