Primary Seal Windows and Doors

Tough competition and increasingly demanding standards of energy efficiency force window manufacturers to constantly upgrade and re-design their windows. While the outward appearance, at least to the untrained eye, remains unchanged, the inner workings and fine details of the window and glass change regularly. Manufacturers such as us are under pressure from dealers, the government and other manufacturers. This means that every winter, when business slows, we go back to the drawing board and work on the new model of window to come out to market in the spring. Some years the changes may be as small as a single seal or component. However, for the most part, the changes are numerous and significant. For example, the profile (inner structure) of the window may be changed in order to make our product better and more competitive. This requires a change in the die (metal shape) which makes the window extrusions (straight vinyl pieces shaped by the die). This is a difficult process as the window may now have to be retested for water leakage and wind resistance etc.

How does this benefit you? Well for one, every year in the spring we are able to produce a better and more performant window that is as close to state of the art as possible. Secondly, it means that our constant research and development provides you with a better value for your dollar as more technology and experience is packed into each one of our products with every passing season.

You see, no product and any competitive industry is unchanged unless it becomes discontinued. Otherwise, any good manufacturer of any product, is constantly trying to make their product better. This is why in many ways it is worth every penny to buy windows from a reputable dealer that supplies their windows from a manufacturer which is on the cutting edge, rather than buying cheaper windows from dealers which supply their windows from low-cost manufacturers that only change their windows if government regulation forces them to, or if they find a way to make the same window with less cost.

In any field of business there are the leaders who push the field forward and the companies who pick up the scraps and sell for a discount. I am not certain where we stand as a company in terms of being on the very cutting edge, but, by no means have we ever relied on others’ scraps and obsolete technology. With patented, proprietary technology and a close relationship with all our suppliers and dealers, we work together, year after year, to provide you with the best product possible.

If you need additional information, do not hesistate to contact us on the web at www.primaryseal.ca

Harry Energy Efficiency, Windows die, Energy Efficiency, extrusion, research and development, Windows

The cost of gas and electricity are always on the rise and with what is predicted to be a more ‘traditional’ Canadian winter around the corner, it is important to try and reduce the amout of energy your home wastes. Also, you want to make the most of the free energy from the sun, whenever it is available. New glass technology makes this possible by trapping the solar heat in your home but reducing the amount of radiated heat lost in the winter. You can look up my previous article on Low-E glass for more in-depth information. Even if you have newer windows made of aluminum or vinyl, if they do not have Low-E+Argon glass, you may be missing out on substantial energy gains. Did you know that most newer windows have something called a dry glazing bead/glazing stop which allows the glass units to be serviced or replaced without having to remove the window from the wall or damage the interior of your home? For a fraction of the price of getting new windows, you can replace your glass units and have them properly sealed with silicone, affording you a quick and easy way to significantly improve your comfort and energy efficiency. How do you know if your window has such a feature? Just take one picture of the overall window and one photo of the corner of the window where the glass unit meets the frame and then send it to us at info@primaryseal.com and we will be able to tell you if the glass can be replaced.

If changing your windows is not in your budget, you should still do all you can to prevent heat loss. There are many products available at Home Depot for you to seal up old windows and get them to last through the winter until you can afford to change them next summer. We of course offer financing options that would allow you to get your windows now and pay for them next year with as low as 1.5% interest.

Finally, do not forget your doors. Most doors that I see on existing houses are in very poor shape when it comes to air sealing. You see a builder standard door that most houses have does a good job of insulating from the cold, however, if the weatherstripping or the bottom sweep are damaged or broken, air will stream in - cold air - and negate all the good insulation IN the door as the cold is going AROUND it. Silicone, weatherstripping, caulking and sweeps are all available at Rona, Home Depot, Lowes etc. Do yourself a favor and make sure that the door is sealing well. Also, doors often need their hinges to be adjusted as they have sagged over time. This should be done by a professional, but, in most cases it just involves drilling a couple of screws and it can go a long way toward making the door seal and close properly.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any of your door or window concerns as our highly knowledgeable staff is always looking to help. Better yet, drop by our factory showroom. As always I look forward to your comments and questions.

Harry Doors, Energy Efficiency, Windows argon gas, door installation, Doors, Energy Efficiency, low-e, Low-E Glass, toronto windows and doors, window installation, Windows

You would think that with taxes going up from 5% to 13% the price of replacing your doors and windows would increase. I disagree. Maybe in the very short term the prices will be higher by 8%, but most companies already try to discount their products to give you prices that are as close to pre-HST as possible. However, the real savings comes from the fact that businesses can now write off many items that were not allowed before, meaning that their bottom line will improve, allowing for prices to eventually stabilise very close to what they would have been without the HST, taking into account inflation etc. Also, remember that in the case of renovations, most companies, including Primary Seal Windows are willing to negotiate the prices, and, given the decreased demand due to the HST, I am sure that you, the buyer, would have the upper had in those negotiations. While most people think otherwise, I assure you there is no better time to buy than when companies are struggling to get business. To stay afloat, many companies are willing to slash their bottom line and those savings would benefit you, the consumer.

The summer is not usually the time to get a good deal on windows and doors. As I have stated in previous articles the winter is the best time for deals. Nevertheless, we go back to the same point. The reason you get a better deal in the winter is because no-one is buying anything in the winter and the companies are on a starvation diet of customers.

In any economic downturn the people with the right vision and money still left in their bank accounts can become richer than ever. Going against the grain and buying windows and doors when few others are, puts you in the driver’s seat.

For more window and door information you may contact us through the phone or web.

Harry Doors, Windows HST, inexpensive windows and doors, low price, savings, Windows, windows and doors

Well, you probably won’t get one. You see, most window and door companies say that they are giving you a professional installer but the truth is, only one in five installers is really a pro and even then, they may cheap out on product such as caulking or insulation, which you will only be able to tell years later but by then, they are long gone.

Some people even make the mistake to hire a separate contractor to put in the windows, and often not only does that contractor not install windows regularly enough to be a real pro, but if they do a poor job, the window company may no longer give you the same warranty on their windows if they deem that the reason the windows are having problems is largely due to a improper installation which was not done by them.

So how do you get a professional installation? The answer is… by asking questions. The first question should be, is the installer a contractor or is he employed directly by your company? If the installer is not employed by the company, should anything go wrong the company will blame the installer, the installer will blame the company and you will be left in the middle with little legal recourse. The second question should be, do you or your company have a licence to perform renovations (which window installation is under)? If they don’t have a licence then you should steer clear. Finally, ask if the installer uses his own truck and supplies or if the company provides him with a truck and supplies. This may not be a deal breaker either way but it will tell you a lot about whether they were telling the truth on the first question. Often if an installer uses his own truck and supplies he is just under contract but does not actually work full time for the company. There are exceptions, but you should poke and probe to look for inconsistencies. Companies that are professional and have good quality products and good installers are proud of it and will advertise it, while fly-by-night operations will try to avoid those type of questions. If the sales guy raves about installation and is quick to offer you a tour of the factory or referrals of their installer’s work, you can rest assured they are at least selling windows for a reputable company.

Remember this one idea: when getting estimates for a job, be less concerned with price and more concerned with who is doing the job, as a few thousand dollars when compared to the cost of a home or a period of twenty years are almost meaningless, but, the cost of a poor product and installation, no matter how cheap it was to start, will far outweigh what you would pay for a proper job and a high quality product.

If you have any questions about windows and doors feel free to contact us via our website, call us or even just walk in to our showroom.

Harry Doors, Energy Efficiency, Windows gta windows and doors, installation, professional installation, renovation, toronto windows and doors, Windows

Taxes weigh heavily on any business or individual. We would like for you to be able to afford superior windows and not have to settle for lower quality windows only for the fact that the new HST will add a considerable amount to the cost of your windows. We will continue to give our customers the best prices and products even after the HST but the best way to beat the HST is by placing your order immediately.

The HST or Harmonized Sales Tax is comming July 1st, and any orders that we process and install after the deadline will be subject to a 13% tax, as opposed to the 5% tax that we currently charge on our factory-direct installations.

Even on an average size job the savings can be substantial. We will do our utmost to continue offering industry leading service, installation, products and prices as we have done until today regardless of the HST. However, you are in control before the July 1st deadline and can help us help you by placing your order as soon as possible. By ordering today we can still guarantee you one of our pre-July 1st installation dates. Any orders that cannot be installed before July 1st will be subject to HST, which we would let you know at the time you place the order.

For more details feel free to call us at 416-739-9545 or visit our website www.primaryseal.ca

Harry Windows Harmonized Sales Tax, HST, Windows

I know what you are thinking. Everybody knows that the spring, summer and fall are the best times to get new windows and doors installed. Everyone that is, except those of us who want to renovate on a budget. The best part of a January or February installation is the price you will pay. You see, statistically speaking, most retail and renovation businesses have the slowest months in January and February because everyone is broke from Christmas and New Year’s and not to mention the less than pleasant Canadian weather we experience during those months. As such, many companies including Primary Seal, are willing to introduce incentives to attract customers as well as they are more flexible at the negotiating table. In June, when we are already booked up until August, is not the time to negotiate.

However, most of you are questioning how we can do a job in such cold temperatures without turning your house into an ice palace and having all our materials freeze and no longer perform properly. Well let’s address one issue at a time.

How do we manage to take out an old window or door and put a new one in without having your home exposed to the cold for a prolonged period of time? The answer is custom sizing. The windows or doors that we make for your home come already assembled from the factory and ready to install. Not only that but they are custom fitted to the size and shape of your existing opening in the wall, meaning that after removing the old window or door, the new one can go into the rough opening within a couple of minutes. In fact the process of taking a window (of average size) out and putting the new one into the opening takes about ten to fifteen minutes. The window can then be quickly sealed with insulating foam and heat will no longer escape. The bulk of the time required to install a window is taken up by the finishing, both interior and exterior. It is the same case with a door. While the door is more complex to adjust and takes a longer time, it can also be sealed within a reasonable timeframe and as such the amount of heat loss is not catastrophic. We also use a little trick and close all the doors to all the rooms which makes it harder for the heat to escape quickly, as well as we work on one opening at a time, which also reduces the heat loss.
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Harry Doors, Windows Doors, window installation, Windows, winter installation

While we are enjoying a run of great weather, and it still feels more like summer than fall, we all know (but refuse to admit for the moment) that the cooler weather is just around the corner.

A window which may seem perfectly fine during the summer may soon turn into a drafty, leaky, frosted mess when the temperatures dip. In fact, it is common during the fall to have mild days and freezing nights.

Now, most people will argue that changing the windows and doors in a house costs a bundle, and it does. Also they will argue that the money they save in heating and cooling costs will take years if not decades to pay for the cost of the windows. Again, they are right. However, there is one small but important flaw in that line of thinking: the idea that changing the windows and doors in a house is a one-time, all or nothing project.

What if it were possible to pay half of the money you have been or will be quoted for the entire house and enjoy energy savings and increased comfort in most of your home? Funny enough, consumers will approach their window and door job from the most expensive items to the least expensive almost without exception, while if they started from the other end, they would find that their money would go a much longer way.

Let me give you an example:

An average house with three bedrooms usually has the following window and door items: front door, side or patio door, three bedroom windows, a window in the bathroom, one in the kitchen, one living room and one dining room window, as well as four basement windows. Let’s say the homeowner of this imaginary home decides to replace his windows and doors. Which two window and door items will make up the better part of the cost of this job? The answer is the front door and the living room window or the window which usually faces the front of the house. Why you ask? Well because the decorative glass in the front door as well as because the window facing the front of the house is usually tall and wide. Windows are priced according to surface area, and a very large and complex window will cost far more than a small bedroom window.
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Harry Doors, Energy Efficiency, Windows energy savings, energy-efficient home, replacement windows, Windows

If you step in any window dealer or manufacturer showroom, including Primary Seal,  you would hear about high efficiency windows with glass units that have Low-E + Argon. However, if you begin asking about the details of how this technology works, you may hear a variety of explanations followed by pictographic attempts at illustrating how this technology works. In my experience, both salespersons and clients alike use these terms often but understand little about the inner workings of Low-E technology.

So, let us shed some light on this magical Low-E glass.

As usual, something that appears magical either involves a trick or can be eventually described using physics. Since Low-E glass is no trick, we move on to the physics. Now, I will keep the detail to a minimum but try and stick with me for a moment. Low-E stands for low emissivity or emittance. Low Emittance glass radiates or emits low levels of radiant energy. Any object that has been heated either by the sun or another heat source will radiate heat. Radiated heat is also known as long-wave radiation, and, it is this type of radiation that the Low-E glass is designed to repel. Direct sunlight provides a different type of energy known as short-wave radiation which the Low-E glass allows to pass through in a certain proportion depending on the climate for which it was designed. When short-wave radiation hits an object, that object becomes heated and then proceeds to radiate heat in the form of long-wave radiation.

Keeping the above in mind, let’s look at a couple of examples:

The Winter - It is cold outside and hot inside. Your entire home is heated by your furnace and all the objects in your home are radiating heat. Heat hits the pane of Low-E glass as it tries to escape from your home, but only a part of it escapes while a part of it is reflected back into your home. Along with this, during the day, the sun’s radiation will pass through the windows in some amount and heat the objects in your house which then radiate heat … and this becomes a repetitive cycle.

The Summer - It is hot outside and cold inside. Your air conditioner is working overtime to cool off your home but the heat from the outside keeps wanting to come in. As pavement, sidewalks, and the earth itself radiate the heat of the sun, the Low-E glass reflects a significant portion of this radiation back outside. The sun does penetrate the windows somewhat, and it will slightly heat the objects in your home. However, less short-wave solar radiation enters your home when compared with clear glass and the winter heat gains are more important in our climate.

A bonus feature of Low-E glass is that it repels harmful UV radiation which damages furniture, hardwood floors, and carpet.

Low-E glass is described generally by two variables: solar heat gain (SHG in percent) and light transmission. For example, the glass that Weather Seal Windows uses is called ClimaGuard 75/68, meaning it has 75% light transmission and 68% solar heat gain. A high solar heat gain is ideal for our climate as we spend more money on heating and much less on cooling as we have a short summer. To give you a comparison, a hot climate like New Mexico or Arizona would use ClimaGuard 55/27. It is also important to see that windows designed for cooler climates allow more light to pass through, making for a brighter home and an acceptable decrease in lighting when compared to clear glass.

So how is Low-E glass made you ask?

Well that part is mostly due to high-tech manufacturing and sadly not very magical. Low-E glass is made by applying a thin, almost invisible layer of a metallic compound (usually tin or silver) to the surface of the glass. There are two ways to apply this coat. The first is called a “hard” coat and is a process which is performed while the glass sheet is still hot. While this process is very resilient because the metal is virtually fused with the glass - hence, the term “hard” -  it is not as energy efficient as the “soft” coat, a process which is applied after the glass is cooled. The way in which they apply the “soft” coat involves splattering little metallic droplets in a vacuum on a sheet of glass in an electrically charged chamber. The “soft” coat process is very delicate however, and Low-E glass made with this process must be sealed in a glass unit, as the metal particles cannot be exposed to moisture, abrasion, or air. Weather Seal Windows only uses “soft” coat Low-E glass as the energy performance is far superior to the “hard” coat Low-E.

What about the Argon?

The argon gas inside most insulated glass units today is there for two reasons: to increase energy efficiency and protect the Low-E coating from oxidation. Argon gas does increase the energy efficiency of the glass unit by a small percentage, however its main purpose is to protect the Low-E coating. Oxidation or rusting of any metal will occur if air and moisture are present. It is for that reason that an inert (unreactive) gas like argon is pumped into insulated glass units in order to prevent unwanted oxidation.

Low-E glass is becoming an industry standard as more and more companies - including Weather Seal Windows - are certified as part of the Energy Star program. This program tests the energy efficiency of windows to meet certain baseline standards in order that consumers are able to identify a window as highly efficient when it bears the Energy Star logo sticker.

If you have any questions or comments we would love to hear from you.

Harry Energy Efficiency, Windows argon gas, energy star, hard coat low-e, low-e, lowe glass, replacement windows, soft coat low-e, solar heat gain, Windows

When purchasing new Weather Seal windows from Primary Seal most clients will say that they would like their windows installed by us before the winter months as they associate new windows with having a warmer and more comfortable home. Also, since heating a home is expensive, the potential energy savings associated with high efficiency Energy Star windows become a deciding factor in their choice to retrofit their home.

However, the summer months can take a financial toll as well, due to the high cost of cooling your home. Air conditioners consume large amounts of electricity. As you may have heard Ontario is introducing higher electricity prices during peak times. It is at these peak times, such as the early afternoon, when it is hottest outside and your air conditioner would have to work the hardest to keep your home cool.

According to the Ontario Energy Board, effective May 1st of this year, on-peak electricity usage (11am – 5pm) will cost 9.1 cents per kWh for consumers using Smart Meters. Consumers with a Regulated Price Plan will pay 6.6 cents per kWh all the time. This means that the cost of cooling a home has increased significantly since 2004 when consumers paid as little as 4.7 cents a kWh under Government regulation.
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Harry Windows energy savings, energy star, low-e, Windows