Gresham, Oregon Window Replacement
Last updated on 11/15/2019
Gresham window replacement can be a time-consuming home improvement project, especially if it's something you want to try installing on your own. The rewards of putting in your own Oregon replacement window frames, however, are well worth the time you will put into this project. Not only will a Gresham window replacement project give you better energy efficiency, saving you money on your heating and air conditioning bills in your Oregon home, but it also will make your home more valuable, should you ever need to sell it.
Weather Concerns in OR
Gresham window replacement is a good idea because of the wet weather that you will experience in this area of the state. Gresham has quite a bit of rainy weather, especially in November through February, as this area of northwest OR will receive more than half of its average annual rainfall of 45 inches during these four months. Some of the precipitation here is in the form of snow, although temperatures don't tend to stay below freezing for very many days in a row in Gresham. However, cold rain can really make your home feel drafty if you have old glass, so a window replacement project can help fix this problem.
The cold winter weather here will really give your home an uncomfortable feeling if you have leaky windows. There are many reasons that window frames tend to leak air, primarily because the glass is old and sits loosely in the frames. If you can hear the glass rattle in the frames during periods of high winds, that's a significant clue that it might be time for a replacement of the glass.
In addition, not having a proper amount of insulation inside the frames can cause drafts and an uncomfortably cool feeling inside your home. Many times, picture window installers and contractors simply didn't install enough insulation around the frames of older homes, which leads to that feeling of drafts entering your home. If the air around the glass in your house feels like it's moving or if it just feels much colder than the other areas of your home, chances are your home could benefit from a Gresham window replacement.
Gresham is a city of about 105,000 in extreme northwestern OR, near the Washington border. It is just to the east of Portland, with its large population base, which gives residents here plenty of options for finding installers and manufacturers of replacement window frames. Just do a little bit of shopping around, and you're sure to end up with a good price on the materials. If you need the materials to be delivered, you may be better served by sticking with a local Gresham company, thereby saving some money.
The population of Gresham has grown by more than 10 times since the 1970 census, so the fast growth in the number of residents here makes your investment in Gresham window replacement a great idea. There's little doubt that those who are shopping for a home in this area of Oregon will be more inclined to make an offer closer to the full price if the home has already had a Gresham window replacement project completed. You may even receive back the full cost of the window replacement project at the time you sell your home.
Cleaning Your New Glass
Once you've had your Gresham window replacement project completed, it's important to keep the glass and the frames as clean as possible. Most replacement window frames can be kept clean with a simple mixture of dish soap and water, especially the vinyl type of frames. If you've chosen wooden frames in Gresham, you can also keep these clean with water and soap, but you'll need to be sure to paint or stain the frames occasionally, protecting them from the elements.
If you've selected low-e glass in your Gresham window replacement project, you will want to keep the glass clean, just so you can enjoy the new glass as much as possible. This type of low-e glass does need some special cleaning techniques, though, just to ensure that you don't damage the seals. Try to avoid using a pressure washer on this type of glass, for example, as you might use too much pressure, damaging the seals. Avoid using any abrasive chemicals or scouring pads on the glass, too.
With the new glass in your Gresham window replacement project, you probably will have the best luck with keeping the glass clean by using a simple mixture of dish soap and water. Commercial cleaning products that are made specifically for glass will work, too. Because of all of the precipitation in this area of Oregon, it can be difficult to keep water spots and streaks off your new glass, so you may need to clean them a bit more often, just to keep a nice looking product.
Gresham, Oregon U-Factor and SHGC Ratings for Replacement Windows
When shopping for replacement windows in Gresham, Oregon - located in Multnomah County - it is extremely important to purchase windows (and doors) with the correct u-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) as rated by Energy Star.
Energy Star determines the u-factor and SHGC that will give you the most energy efficienct replacement windows, skylights, and doors based on your county's climate zone.
The climate zone assigned to your county takes into account how extreme the seasons are in your area. How warm and cold it gets in Gresham determines how well your new windows will need to keep out the cold air and the hot sun.
Below, you will find a table with the climate zones and corresponding u-factor and SHGC ratings for Gresham, Oregon and Gresham's metro area counties including: Clackamas County OR, Clark County WA, Columbia County OR, Multnomah County OR, Skamania County WA, Washington County OR, and Yamhill County OR.
The climate zone, u-factor and SHGC listed for your county in the Gresham, OR area will help you to determine which replacement windows, skylights, and doors will maximize energy savings for your home.
To find the Energy Star recommended u-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) for your county in the Gresham metro area, simply do the following:
- Find your county in the left most column.
- Find your climate zone in the orange box to the right of the column with your county's name.
- Under the orange box with your climate zone, find the dark grey box with the product you are looking for - window replacements, new doors, or skylights.
- Under the product type, you will find the best u-factor and shgc as determined by Energy Star.
- When getting quotes from contractors, be sure that your window replacements, new skylights, and/or replacement doors have these ratings to maximize energy efficiency in your home.
| Counties | ||
|---|---|---|
| Clackamas County OR Clark County WA Columbia County OR Multnomah County OR Skamania County WA Washington County OR Yamhill County OR |
Northern Climate Zone | |
| Windows | ||
| U-Factor | SHGC | |
| 0.30 or less | 0.00 or more | |
| 0.31 | 0.35 or more | |
| 0.32 | 0.40 or more | |
| Skylights | ||
| U-Factor | SHGC | |
| 0.50 or less | Any | |
| Solid Doors (No Glass) | ||
| U-Factor | SHGC | |
| 0.17 or less | No Rating | |
| Doors with Less than Half Glass | ||
| U-Factor | SHGC | |
| 0.25 or less | 0.25 or less | |
| Doors with More than Half Glass | ||
| U-Factor | SHGC | |
| 0.30 or less | 0.40 or less | |
If you don't see your home's county above, use the u-factor and solar heat gain co-efficient (SHGC) search tool below to search for your Gresham, OR area county's recommended window efficiency ratings.
Use the table above or the tool below to search for the specific u-factor and SHGC for your county so that you are educated and have this information on hand in order to maximize the financial return on your investment in new windows, new skylights and/or new doors in the Gresham, Oregon area.
Remember to research thoroughly prior to making a window replacement or replacement door purchase, regardless of whether you are installing the windows and doors yourself or having them installed by a licensed professional contractor.
Gresham Window Suppliers
Below you will find a list of local window retailers, contractors, installers, and manufacturers in the Gresham area.
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