How to Integrate a Window into a Water Resistive Barrier

The building science community talks a lot about control layers.  I’ve written on the topic several times, basic overview of these principles which can be found at: A Crash Course on the Four Control Layers.  Let’s take a deeper look at water resistive barriers (WRB) and how windows and doors need to be integrated into the WRB.

Continue reading “How to Integrate a Window into a Water Resistive Barrier”

How a Window Manufacturer Tests Thier Products

As builders and homeowners, we are interested in how a window or door performs, their longevity and durability, and how easily they install, and of course the cost.  Have you ever given thought to how a window or door is tested by the manufacturer?

I recently had the opportunity to tour Andersen Windows and Doors research and development department, a place called the Garofalo Center for Research, Development and Innovation.  This is the facility where, in the words of Andersen, they “test to failure”.  Stated in another way, they don’t test to see if a product simply passes a required testing standard, Andersen wants to know at what point their products fail. Continue reading “How a Window Manufacturer Tests Thier Products”

What’s the Difference Between R-Value and U-Factor?

This post first appeared on the Andersen Windows and Door Website.

We were taught in junior high that hot air rises, the key to that phrase is air.  Heat itself moves from someplace warm to someplace cool.  A good example of this happens often in cold climates.  When standing in front of an old window on a cold night, you feel a chill.  This chill is the result of heat leaving your body and moving towards the colder surface of the window glass, heat moving from hot to cold.  To slow this movement of heat, we use insulation, by putting on another layer of clothes, we reduce or resist the movement of heat, we have added R-value.

Continue reading “What’s the Difference Between R-Value and U-Factor?”

Five Tips on How to Successfully Install Windows

This post originally appeared on the Andersen Windows and Doors blog. ProViews | Andersen Windows

I write a lot about the four control layers every building envelope has. There is an order of importance:

  1. Water control layer
  2. Air control layer
  3. Vapor control layer
  4. Thermal control layer

A window needs to be able to perform the functions of all four control layers in order to be successful. Window manufacturers design their units to be effective at controlling the movement of water, air, vapor, and heat through good product design and manufacturing techniques, but where they lose control is in the installation of the window. Often the success or failure of a window will come down to the installation, but there are ways to limit risk from water and avoid some of the window installation failures I’ve come across.

Continue reading “Five Tips on How to Successfully Install Windows”

Construction Design-Windows-Climate Matters

This post originally appeared on the Andersen Windows website.

Where do you live?  Is it cold or hot, wet or dry, or something in between?  I live in an area that is considered cold and moist, Northern Minnesota.  My climate is much different than Tucson, Arizona or Kansas City, Missouri.  Because of the climate differences, some of my choices in building materials will be different than if I were located in one of those other areas.

Figure N1101.7 (R301.1) Climate Zones-2021 International Residential Code (IRC)

This climate zone map is published by the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and is included in the International Residential Code, Chapter 11, Energy Efficiency.  ASHRAE’s purpose is to create standards of how an engineer or HVAC professional calculates and designs heating, cooling, and ventilations systems to match the insulation, air sealing, and moisture profile of a building.  When designing these often-complicated systems, where the structure is located becomes key, this is the reason the map was created. Continue reading “Construction Design-Windows-Climate Matters”

Construction Materials-Window Performance Labels

This post first appeared at Professional Resources for Andersen Windows & Doors| Andersen Windows.

I’ve heard it said, if we didn’t have to put windows in houses, we could build one heck of an efficient home.  But who wants to live in a house where you cannot see outside or let daylight and fresh air in.  Windows are an important part of every home.  When choosing a window, do you understand what that sticker stuck to the window glass is telling you?  You should have at least a basic understanding of the information.

Continue reading “Construction Materials-Window Performance Labels”

Window R-Values

This blog post originally appeared on the Alpen Window’s website.  https://thinkalpen.com/.  I had the opportunity to tour the Alpen plant recently and was very impressed with the windows they make.  There will be more content featuring Alpen Windows in the near future.

Heat is a funny thing; it wants to move from someplace warm to someplace cold, (the opposite of being a snowbird) and it’ll continue to move until it has reached equilibrium.  In the heat of the summer or cold of winter, that means if we can’t slow the movement of heat, the temperature of the outside will be the same as the temperature of the inside.  This might be 110°F or -25°F, neither is appealing.  Of course, we heat and cool our buildings to maintain comfort, but these systems work best when we’re able to slow this constant march of heat leaving or entering the building, we do this with insulation.

Continue reading “Window R-Values”

Construction Design-The Effect of Windows on Wall R-Values

I’m about to start a remodel project of the family room in my home.  Not your normal fresh paint and new floor covering update, but a complete gut down to the stud renovation.  New electrical, new drywall and no more popcorn ceiling.  I’m curious as to what my effective R-value of the exterior walls will be when I’m done with the space.  This includes the windows.  I figured I’d share my calculations with you.  This post is math heavy, if you’d like to skip the math, read the final five paragraphs.

Progress picture of the exterior work on my small cape from 2019.

Continue reading “Construction Design-The Effect of Windows on Wall R-Values”

Construction Design-Air Sealing Windows

I often hear during energy audits, complaints about windows.  Many homeowners feel the windows are cheaply made and replacement will result in substantial energy savings and an increase in comfort for the home.  Sometimes the windows are a major cause of comfort problems, more often, the window installation is the issue.  This blog post is about three different ways we air seal windows today.

Continue reading “Construction Design-Air Sealing Windows”