Navigating the Replacement Window Marketplace
In 2020, an estimated 36 million replacement windows will be sold in the U.S. according to Principia Consulting, the Pennsylvania-based building materials and construction industry’s preeminent research and consulting firm. It’s no wonder that homeowners often feel overwhelmed when it’s time to select replacement windows for their home. While the life expectancy of your home’s windows is difficult to predict, their longevity typically depends on a variety of factors, including their age, brand, and proper maintenance. When it’s time to replace some or all of your home’s windows, you may discover that your decision will be complicated by competing claims from dozens of window manufacturers and rival installation companies.
You will likely find yourself asking: Which window is the most energy efficient? Which window will deliver the greatest longevity? Which window offers the best warranty? Equally important are the answers to other questions you need to ask yourself, such as: How long has your window contractor been in business? What has their customers’ experiences been like? Do they employ the best industry practices when installing your new windows?
Wendy Hughes and Chris Moon, sister and brother and owners of Knoxville-based Window Works, have earned a reputation for honesty, integrity, and quality craftsmanship that they learned from early childhood from their parents, Tom and Kay Moon. Tom and Kay launched and operated several home improvement companies over three decades. Their focus was to offer the highest quality home improvement products available combined with a customer service level that exceeded the expectations of their clients.
Today’s replacement window marketplace offers homeowners a large array of new, cutting-edge technologies and enhanced window designs, as well as exciting new options and features. But one thing that has not changed is the reputation that Window Works has earned for integrity and honesty that is the hallmark of their success that was instilled in Wendy and Chris as children by Tom and Kay.
In this issue of Everything Knoxville, we are pleased to share with you this interview with Wendy and Chris, which was designed to assist area homeowners who may be contemplating replacing their home’s windows.
EK: I’m not sure if my home’s windows require replacement. How can I be sure?
Wendy: There are a variety of factors to consider, including the age of your windows, the feeling of cold or hot air or drafts coming from your windows, and whether your windows are operating properly. Our team of product specialists put their talents to work daily, assisting homeowners in evaluating their home’s windows. They are invaluable in helping homeowners in their decision as to whether replacing their windows is a wise choice and, if so, presenting them with a range of options to consider.
EK: What replacement window is the right choice for my home?
Chris: Choosing the best replacement window for your home can be a daunting task. Homeowners might only make this decision once or twice in their lifetime, and the rapid technological advancements in the replacement window marketplace can create even more confusion. Perhaps the best place to begin is by selecting a replacement window contractor you know you can trust. A great replacement window is no substitute for a poorly performing contractor. If you’re uncomfortable or feel that you’re being pressured, trust your instincts. You’re going to have to live with your decision for many years to come.
EK: How is Window Works unique in the replacement window marketplace?
Wendy: Our customers routinely express just how comfortable they are in working with us. I think that because it is our nature to interact with them on such a personal level, they experience a level of confidence and trust that is increasingly more difficult to find today.
Chris: From an early age, we learned that your reputation was the very foundation of your business and that it’s something you have to earn every single day. We keep it simple. We listen carefully to our customers, and we offer honest assessments of their home’s windows. We are a second generation, family owned business that takes great pride in working with other families like our own. Placing our clients at the forefront of our daily activities, along with all that we have learned from our parents, have been the key to our success and why I think we see so many returning and referred customers.
EK: Tell our readers about the new, revolutionary, 7500 Series of replacement windows from industry innovator OKNA Windows.
Wendy: First of all, we invest considerable effort in investigating any potential new product we might offer in the future. The manufacturer must have earned a reputation for product and management excellence, as well as exhibit the financial strength needed to develop innovative new technologies while honoring their existing product warranties.
Chris: OKNA Windows, manufactured right here in the U.S.A., is a perfect example. Quite frankly, we believe that their replacement windows are among the finest available anywhere. OKNA has built an industry reputation by combining state-of-the-art equipment, advanced technologies, and dedicated craftsmanship. And the OKNA name has become synonymous with innovation, quality, and performance. They offer a wide selection of amazing window product lines, as well as a well-earned reputation for innovation, quality, and performance, and energy-efficiency.
OKNA Windows pioneered ClimaGuard. ClimaGuard is comprised of 11 optical tuned layers, which provide optimal climate control, neutral aesthetics, and plenty of natural light. ClimaGuards’ low-solar-gain coatings can provide better solar heat gain reduction than tinted glass, with a minimal loss of visible light. That means less harmful UV rays entering your home that can damage carpet, rugs, hardwood floors, artwork, and furnishings. OKNA Windows also feature high-performance, warm edge technology and insulating frames that help to create warmer interior glass surfaces and reduce frost and condensation.
In addition to offering a full line of quality vinyl windows, OKNA also offers the amazing 7500 Series composite windows manufactured from 100% pure virgin vinyl. These windows are available in a variety of interior colors, including wood grained, to seamlessly match your home’s interior décor. There is also a rich palette of exterior and custom colors available to complement your home’s exterior architecture. But what is most amazing is OKNA’s 50-year, non-prorated warranty on your new composite windows.
These ENERGY STAR rated windows also help homeowners who are interested in reducing energy costs to enjoy the savings associated with replacement windows from OKNA. Also, windows from OKNA outperform competitors on energy efficiency and excel in areas such as air infiltration and structural integrity. In fact, one of OKNA’s newest replacement windows was recognized by ENERGY STAR as “Most Efficient” in 2019. “Most Efficient” is a new distinction that recognizes products that deliver cutting-edge energy efficiency, along with the latest in technological innovation. It is an award that truly represents the very best of ENERGY STAR rated products.
EK: Describe your “Best Practices” installation promise.
Wendy: One thing about all replacement windows and doors is that they perform no better than the manner in which they were installed. That means that a highly rated replacement window installed improperly will likely perform no better than a poorly rated window. At Window Works, each of our installation teams is led by a team leader with at least two decades of experience. Our team members have been trained in the proper installation of all the products we sell and adhere to the procedures outlined by each manufacturer whose products we represent, all backed up by our “Peace of Mind Product Warranty” – your assurance of a lifetime of quality and performance.
Window Works is also a TVA Escore approved contractor. This is an added benefit for all of our customers, as it offers them the opportunity to have an independent third party inspect our installation to ensure that it was installed and sealed properly. It’s a wonderful, value added opportunity that any of our clients can take full advantage of.
EK: In addition to replacement windows, what other products does Window Works offer homeowners?
Wendy: We also offer siding, patio doors, and gutters from the nation’s top manufacturers, which means that you will have a wide variety of colors and styles to select from.
EK: How has your commitment to provide a customer service experience that exceeds the expectations of your clients impacted Window Works?
Chris: At Window Works, there are no big or small projects. We provide the same high level of customer care to each and every client. We treat you the way we would want to be treated and treat your home as if it was our own.
We listen carefully to you. Are your improvements designed to create a maintenance-free advantage, energy efficiency and savings, or to update the overall appearance of your home? Those are just a few things we consider when we work alongside our clients before we recommend the best products to complete their projects.
We don’t sell products or services to our clients that they don’t need or even want. That doesn’t help either one of us in the long run. It destroys trust. By educating and working with our clients, we eliminate the potential for this to occur. At the end of every project, our goal is to have exceeded your expectations and to have earned your trust. This becomes the foundation of future client referrals and our success – a success where everybody is the winner.
EK: Describe your “Peace of Mind Product Warranty.”
Wendy: A great warranty is important to every homeowner that is planning on remaining in their current home for many years to come. Having a warranty in writing provides the homeowner with the peace of mind they deserve. A perfect example is OKNA’s lifetime transferable warranty on their composite windows for the original homeowner. Also, OKNA’s vinyl windows have a lifetime warranty that is fully transferable to a second homeowner, which is a real plus should you sell your home in the future.
EK: What is the best way for our readers to learn more OKNA Windows and Window Works?
Chris: There are a couple of ways. You can call us at 865-560-3044, or, if you prefer, you can come by our showroom and discovery center located at 10909 Murdock Drive in Knoxville.
EK: In closing, is there anything you would like to add?
Wendy: On behalf of the entire Window Works family, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our clients for allowing us to come into their homes to experience the Window Works difference. We look forward to helping every homeowner who may be considering replacing their home’s windows, siding, gutters, and patio doors. We invite you to discover the Window Works difference for yourself.
Window Works
10909 Murdock Drive
Knoxville, TN 37932
865.560.3044
www.WindowWorksUs.com