Window replacement is a sensible idea for home-improvement. This is especially true if you choose well-made high-performance replacement windows. They will save you money because your home heating and cooling bills will be lower-and your home will be much more comfortable to live in. New windows will increase your home’s value and provide numerous benefits like enhanced levels of safety and security, greater beauty, low maintenance and ease of operation.

Reports that the construction or housing industry are down typically refer to new home construction. In truth, the recovery of this segment of building may take some time. Conversely, the home-improvement business is slated to recover much sooner (before the end of 2009). Homeowners not planning to build new homes anytime soon may decide to fix up their present homes. A savvy home-improvement idea is to replace windows and doors. New windows add to the home’s value. A January 2009 issue of Remodeling magazine reported that 77.2% (national average) of the window replacement cost is gained back once the home has been sold. Moreover, premium-quality replacement windows and doors save homeowners money due to lowered home heating and cooling bills. Window replacement contributes to a cleaner environment and reduces our nation’s dependency on foreign oil.

New 2010 building code changes have taken effect March 15 2012. Although these changes have been enforced differently in each municipality there is a movement in Tallahassee to get these changes enforced absolutely across all construction, new construction and remodeling. These changes represent an additional cost of approximately 30% additional to all newly installed windows and doors to meet the new requirements. While this battle is being fought out it is every one that is considering window and door replacement this work be done sooner than later as it will eventually cost more due to new cde requirements. A new code is being drafted for issuance in 2015 and this will without question increase the price of replacing windows and doors.

There are many factors that might influence your choice to replace existing windows. Your energy bills are high-and continue to increase.Your home feels drafty in cold weather or too warm from heat penetrating your windows and doors in warmer weather. You’re concerned about the safety of your windows and doors. Your windows and doors are difficult or impossible to operate. Your home’s existing windows and doors are faded, making your home look old and outdated. The glass of your windows and doors is cracked, damaged or the operating hardware is failing. You’re looking to add “ curb appeal” to sell your home. Your old windows and doors are in constant disrepair, requiring anything from puttying, painting, replacing parts, adjusting and waterproofing. You want to decrease your home’s high insurance rate.

Glass and glazing license for residential installations 3 floors and below. State licensed general contractors license for taller structures. The owner should request a copy of their "Certified General Contractor license". Sterling Construction possess both with our owner as a our qualifier. Beware contractors that have outside qualifiers. Beware contractors performing work their license does not permit them to do!

YES For the owners protection they should be issued a certificate of insurance with the owners name This will assure the insurance is paid to date and active. Any other questions then can be directed to the insurance company on the certificate. Sterling Construction CARRIES WORKERS COMPENSATION AND GENERAL LIABILITY OF $1,000,000.00 General Liability with a $ 2,000,000 General Aggregate Policy and a $3,000,000.00. Beware contractors being under insured, who have expired insurance due to non payment, or insurance that does not cover the work they are contracting to perform.

NO, they can be subcontractors. However again check if this is the case that the persons actually performing the work be licensed for work being performed and have the appropriate insurance. It is suggested you receive proof of both prior to commencement of work. Sterling Construction installers are employees of the company. For us this allows us control of quality and scheduling of work being performed. Our name and reputation is the most valuable thing we have. To assure this integrity we see no better way than to have our company represented by employees directly employed by us.

All code approvals are not identical. Code approvals can be for many different products and based on several different factors including property location and product use. When comparing code approvals, make sure all products are specifically approved for impact by a reputable governing agency such as Miami-Dade County. http://www.MiamiDade.Gov/Building/Search Or The Florida Building Code https://www.FloridaBuilding.Org

This is a significant investment, so take your time to do your research prior to purchasing. Some important criteria to look for when making a decision are building code approvals, design pressure, glass criteria, installation techniques, and warranty.

The answer to this question might be surprising to you, but different studies have found that impact-resistant windows and doors can be less expensive than other hurricane protection alternatives. A new study published by Ducker Research, a Bloomfield Hill, Minnesota-based research company, compared prices of aluminum double-hung windows and the results were as follows: Non-impact window with storm panel: price $378 Impact-resistant laminated window: price $572 Non-impact window with storm shutters: price $717 Non-impact with electronic roll down shutters: price $1,437 Based on the numbers above, the impact-resistant window can cost only $134 more than a non impact with a storm panel. If the costs of pre-storm preparation are factored in over a busy hurricane season, then impact-resistant windows will prove more economical. In addition, if we consider other important features provided by impact-resistant windows, such as passive protection, noise reduction, UV blocking and increased security, we find that having impact-resistant glass is a much more beneficial option.

Above are the benefits of new windows however the biggest benefit is with just installing shutters you are still left with the old windows and doors. Most are deteriorated and not acting as originally designed.

Contact your insurance company for a Storm Mitigation Application. This form must be completed by an approved professional. Once the product is in A: In order to obtain the discounts or credits, all of the house openings must be protected. Homeowners with questions about mitigation should contact their insurance agents to make sure they are receiving proper credit for any steps taken to strengthen their home. Citizen offerspremium discounts to those policyholders who show proof of risk mitigation alternatives. You can access additional information at the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation website or you can download the form, here. Florida statute 627.0629 (regarding residential property insurance) requires all insurance companies, providing homeowner’s insurance to Florida residents, to offer some type of discount for dwellings equipped with an effective windstorm protective system. The first paragraph of the statute reads: Effective June 1, 2002, a rate filing for residential property insurance must include actuarially reasonable discounts, credits, or other rate differentials, or appropriate reductions in deductibles, for properties on which fixtures or construction techniques demonstrated to reduce the amount of loss in a windstorm have been installed or implemented. The fixtures or construction techniques shall include, but not be limited to, fixtures or construction techniques which enhance roof strength, roof covering performance, roof-to-wall strength, wall-to-floor-to-foundation strength, opening protection, and window, door, and skylight strength. Credits, discounts, or other rate differentials for fixtures and construction techniques which meet the minimum requirements of the Florida Building Code must be included in the rate filing. All insurance companies must make a rate filing which includes the credits, discounts, or other rate differentials by February 28, 2003. By July 1, 2007, the office shall re-evaluate the discounts, credits, other rate differentials, and appropriate reductions in deductibles for fixtures and construction techniques that meet the minimum requirements of the Florida Building Code, based upon actual experience or any other loss relativity studies available to the office. The office shall determine the discounts, credits, other rate differentials, and appropriate reductions in deductibles that reflect the full actuarial value of such revaluation, which may be used by insurers in rate filings.

The U-Factor is a measure of how well the window or door keeps heat inside the structure or home.

The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) represents the amount of heat going into a house. The lower the number, the less heat penetrates the house. When a home is primarily air conditioned, the SHGC value is the correct rating to inquire about. Hurricane impact-resistant windows or doors with clear glass feature a SHGC of 0.72, while Bronze and Gray glass hold a 0.55 and 0.56 SHGC value, respectively.

Ultra-Violet (UV) beams, a portion of the solar spectrum not visible to the human eye, causes fabric to fade over time. When comparing UV readings, it is important to know that the lower the percentage, the more UV is being blocked. For example, a 0% U-V value means 100% blocking. Clear, gray and bronze impact-resistant windows and doors provide 100% protection, that is, 0% U-V penetration.

Under no circumstance should you enter into an agreement to have products installed without a building permit being issued.

Upon signature of a contract a customer must sign a permit application, this application along with the product approvals will be sent to the city for approval. City approval is based on the proper products being specified for the location of your property. Upon city review and approval a permit will be issued for your property. Prior to the installation, the permit must be posted on your job site, upon completion of the installation the municipality will be notified and a final inspection will take place.

The turn-around time varies between municipalities. Once we submit the necessary paperwork, it takes us about 2 to 6 weeks to obtain a building permit approval. At times, the process can take longer if permit reviewers have comments about a drastic change in style between the existing windows and the proposed new windows. Each municipality has its own turn-around time and its specific workflow process.

YES. A licensed engineer will be employed by us on your behalf. He will review the product we are providing for your home and certify it meets or exceeds the wind speed and impact resistance that is required by the municipality where you reside. This document is required to be signed and sealed by a licensed engineer and submitted to the city for review along with all documentation of product approvals, drawings of field conditions