Windows

The weather extremes in Idaho are no secret, so it’s also no secret that no matter where you live in Idaho, your windows matter. They’re one of the keys to your home’s energy efficiency. Your windows determine whether heat will remain inside in cold, damp winters—like the ones in Coeur d’Alene or Lewiston. Windows are also responsible for keeping heat outside in the summer, and while the season may be short in places like Boise, Meridian, and Twin Falls, constant swings between temperature highs and lows mean continual contraction and expansion for every window and all its components.

Windows are also an important part of the look, design, and curb appeal of your home. Inside, they’re a vital part of the atmosphere and style and have an often-understated responsibility for security. They can enhance the view of Thompson Peak, let in the fresh scent of Coeur d’Alene’s forests, or bar bad weather and unwanted intruders.

“Windows matter” is Ply Gem’s motto, and the company manufactures complete lines of both new-construction and replacement windows with qualities tailored for energy efficiency, durability, and long-lasting beauty. With multichamber PVC vinyl construction that’s maintenance-free, they come in a variety of styles to suit any architecture or style in premium, pro, and builders series:

Double Hung Windows

Both the upper and lower sashes open, and ergonomically designed tilt latches allow easy cleaning.

Single Hung Windows

More traditional, the bottom sash is side-loaded and removable.

Casement and Awning Windows

Crank handles let you open windows to a full 90 degrees or any angle in between. Casement and awning windows come in single, triple, and quad mulled—or attached—units, allowing easy installation for banks of windows.

Sliding Windows

Ply Gem takes pride in its narrow frame profiles, which allow the greatest area possible to be devoted to glass. Smooth sliding tracks are designed with energy efficiency as a priority.

• Double-hung Window: Both the upper and lower sashes open, and ergonomically designed tilt latches allow easy cleaning.
• Single-hung Window: More traditional, the bottom sash is side-loaded and removable.
• Casement and Awning Windows: Crank handles let you open windows to a full 90 degrees or any angle in between. Casement and awning windows come in single, triple, and quad mulled—or attached—units, allowing easy installation for banks of windows.
• Sliding Window: Ply Gem takes pride in its narrow frame profiles, which allow the greatest area possible to be devoted to glass. Smooth sliding tracks are designed with energy efficiency as a priority.

Whether you’re selecting a window for new construction or need to replace a houseful, what often differentiates the quality of one window from another is the technology that a manufacturer has incorporated into its series. Frames and sashes may be more energy-efficient thanks to R-Core insulation or honeycomb designs that create extra, buffering airspace. Frames and sashes may be designed for extra strength from fusion-welded corners or fiberglass-reinforced rails.

However, some of the most surprising options are the vast assortment of glass packages you may want to consider. Most of us understand that double-pane glass is more energy friendly than single and that triple-pane is even better. Ply Gem uses Warm Edge spacers to help with maintaining desirable indoor temperatures, but that’s just the start.

• Low-E glass uses special coatings that reflect infrared light to ensure heat stays inside in winter but outside in summer. It can also reflect UV light to keep home interiors and occupants safe from sun damage. Double- and triple-pane glass can adopt a number of configurations to address seasons with extreme heat or cold.
• HP and HPMAX glass packages are what Ply Gem uses to combine low-E glass with argon gas fills to offer insulation properties superior to plain air fills. Colorless, odorless, and safe, argon is denser than air, forming a barrier against heat loss. The HPMAX package uses triple-pane low-E glass combinations, with both chambers insulated with argon fill.

For cold climates, the dream window is an R-5—a high-performance window that insulates with a whole-window R-Value of 5. These types of windows can reduce heat loss by as much as 30 percent. Most professional series windows can be configured to qualify as R-5 windows.

If it’s time for some replacement windows or you’re planning on building a new home or addition, take a look at Ply Gem. Builders FirstSouce has local suppliers near you, serving the areas of Boise, Meridian, McCall, Twin Falls, and Post Falls near Coeur d’Alene.