Whether you need windows for a new construction project or replacement windows to update your present home, you have a lot of decisions to make. If you want to improve the look of your home, increase ventilation and/or save money on energy bills, you must determine which style, hardware and material will best suit your needs.

Magazines and Web sites are a great resource for researching the different options available. To save time, you also can visit the Web site of a window manufacturer like AMSCO Windows. AMSCO’s Web site is designed to equip you with the basic information you need to choose the window style that works best for your home.

“We’ve noticed a significant number of homeowners needing information on selecting quality windows for their new construction projects and choosing the right replacement windows for their current homes,” says Steve Sullivan, AMSCO Windows’ director of marketing. “To make this process easier for homeowners, we’ve added a basic design section and detailed window specifications to our Web site.”

After you determine the right window style for your home, you must then choose from the variety of available window materials, including traditional wood, vinyl, and more recently, composite windows, which combine the beauty of wood with the durability and ease of vinyl.

AMSCO, an innovator in the window industry for more than 50 years, was the first in its area to launch vinyl windows and recently was the first in its area to launch a new composite line.

Sullivan says AMSCO’s revolutionary Renaissance Series Composite Window combines the aesthetics of wood with the low maintenance and durability of vinyl.

Renaissance Composite Windows are made with an alloy of four resins and wood fiber that will not warp, peel, rot or absorb water. The exterior of the composite window is an acrylic based alloy with a medium gloss finish and is co-extruded, which makes it less likely to fade, chip or scratch off like paint. Renaissance Composite Windows are available in six colors: White, Almond, Taupe, Sierra, Bronze and Evergreen. Priced approximately 10 to 15 percent less than wood windows, composite windows provide a high quality alternative to wood. Renaissance Series Composite Windows offer a lifetime warranty for service and parts and are environmentally friendly. The manufacturing process allows AMSCO to create custom shapes and sizes with a one-week turnaround.

“We believe that the Renaissance Series Composite Windows are revolutionizing the window industry,” says Sullivan. “We expect that in a short period of time, composites will gain a market share in the industry that will be as significant as wood and vinyl because of its broad appeal and the solutions it offers to basic problems in the industry, not to mention the price point compared to wood.”

Whether you are satisfied with any new window depends largely on the contractor who installs them. AMSCO offers a few tips to help you select a contractor that will help you get the most out of your windows:

* Ask the contractor if they possess all the required city, county or regional business licenses.

* Be sure they are bonded and insured. This will protect you in the event of an accident.

* Contact your city’s planning commission and determine who is responsible for obtaining any necessary permits. If it's your contractor's responsibility, make certain that they are aware of this. It's also possible that separate permits may be necessary for windows and doors.

* Ask for customer referrals.

* Set a timeline for completion of your project and have the contractor put it in writing.

* Communicate regularly and frankly with your contractor. This person or group of people will be spending quite a bit of time in your home, so it's important that they are willing to take your concerns into consideration.

Courtesy of ARA Content