Fenestration: Time for Replacement
Survey Shows Reasons for Homeowners to Replace Their Windows
by Shawn Hardy, Executive Vice President, Alside
The beginning of the new year is a popular time of year for planning window replacement. A brand of Associated Materials, Alside® commissioned a national survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll®, to learn the most common reasons house, apartment, and condo owners would consider replacing their windows, along with other valuable insights into the window purchasing experience. The survey polled more than 1,300 house, apartment, and condo owners across the United States.
Topping the list of reasons they would consider replacing windows is to enhance energy efficiency at 36%, followed by damage at 29%, moisture mitigation or leakage at 12%, part of a larger home renovation at 9%, alleviate ongoing maintenance needs at 6%, and aesthetics at 5%. House, apartment, and condo owners only had a slight difference of opinions among the four regions of the United States, Northeast, South, Midwest, and West.
Enhancing energy efficiency was the top contender that homeowners selected to save costs and reduce their carbon footprint. However, one age group did not agree with the majority, nearly half, 45%, of 18- to 34-year-olds said damage was the number one reason they would consider replacing windows.
“Window replacement continues to be a popular home improvement project, and it’s not hard to see why,” said Adam Copel, Windows Business Director for Associated Materials. “Not only does replacing windows enhance a home’s energy efficiency and curb appeal, it also can increase its overall value. We expect to see continued growth in this sector as homeowners seek to save on energy costs and invest in their properties. Consumers have a lot of options, including any kind of windows that are designed to help homeowners improve energy efficiency of their homes with several configurations that meet stringent ENERGY STAR® requirements.”
The survey also asked house, apartment, and condo owners how they would choose a contractor if they were considering replacing windows. Word-of-mouth and family or friend recommendation and best price was tied for the top spot at 28% each, followed by high rating online at 22%, product selection or brands available to them at 14%, and advertisements or other promotions at 4%. Males and females, however, did not agree on the top quality that drives their contractor choice, females lean more toward word-of-mouth recommendation at 33%, while the best price drives males’ purchasing decision at 27%.
Finally, Alside wanted to know if house, apartment, and condo owners know how long their windows should last. Nearly a third, 32%, think windows should last more than 20 years before needing replacement. By selecting the right window for the climate and with proper care, windows can not only meet but exceed homeowners expectations. Additionally, many window manufacturers add peace-of-mind by backing windows with a lifetime limited warranty.
The survey results offer valuable insights to homeowners and industry professionals alike, helping them better understand the reasons behind window replacement and make more informed decisions when it comes to home improvements. “Not only does this align with our mission and vision, but it also supports our continued focus to provide homeowners with energy-efficient solutions for their homes,” Copel said.
