After: new white replacement windows, front of the home, on a Cedar Hill home
Before: the original windows, front of the home, on the same Cedar Hill home
BeforeAfter

The problem

The original windows had dated frames on the front, including the arched window, and on the sides. Like most homeowners we work with, the goal was a home that’s more energy efficient and better looking, which for most families is their biggest investment.

What we did

We replaced 5+ windows with Home Craftsman replacement windows in white, glazed with Cardinal Lodz-366 low-E glass, covering the front, including the arched window, the side bump-out and the side walls.

The result

The white frames match the trim, and the arched front window keeps its shape with a cleaner look.

Old windows vs. new windows

What changes when old metal-frame windows are replaced with modern dual-pane, low-E vinyl windows. These are typical published ratings, not measurements taken at this home.

Energy efficiency

Higher bars are better. Insulating value (R = 1 ÷ U-factor) shows how well the window keeps heat in or out. "Summer sun heat blocked" (1 − SHGC) matters a lot in Texas.

Insulating value (R), higher = better

Old new-construction window
R 0.78
AdEx Efficient Replacement Windows
R 3.6+

Summer sun heat blocked, higher = better

Old new-construction window
27%
AdEx Efficient Replacement Windows
77%+

About 4½ times better at keeping heat in or out, roughly 78% less heat moving through the window, and about three times as much summer sun heat blocked. Typical published ratings, not measured at this home.

Sources: old windows = metal-frame single-pane clear (U 1.29, SHGC 0.73) and double-pane clear (U 0.83, SHGC 0.65), from the U.S. DOE Building America Measure Guideline: Energy-Efficient Window Performance and Selection (Table 1). New windows: AdEx Efficient Replacement Windows meet or exceed the ENERGY STAR Windows Version 7.0 South-Central zone requirements (U-factor ≤ 0.28, SHGC ≤ 0.23); the bars use those minimum values. These are whole-window ratings, so they differ from the center-of-glass glass specs below. Typical values only. Actual savings depend on the home and are not guaranteed.

Sound reduction

STC (Sound Transmission Class) works like decibels: a window blocks roughly its STC rating in dB. Every 10 points of STC makes outside noise sound about half as loud, and about 3 points is the smallest change most people notice. Bars show how much sound energy each window stops compared with the old single pane, so longer is better.

Old new-construction window
Blocks ~27 dB (STC 26–28)
1x
Standard dual pane
Blocks ~29 dB (STC 28–30)
~1.6x more sound blocked
Sound-upgrade glass
Blocks ~32–33 dB (STC 32–33)
~3.5x more sound blocked

Standard dual pane blocks about 1.6x more sound than a single pane. Sound-upgrade glass blocks about 3.5x more sound (roughly 70% less sound energy getting through). Based on the midpoint of each range; typical lab ratings, not measured at this home.

Sources: single pane = Soundproof Windows, Inc., STC Ratings ("most likely between 26 and 28"). Dual pane and sound-upgrade = lab-tested windows in Andersen 100 Series STC/OITC data (dual pane standard STC 28–30; STC upgrade 32–33), shown as an example of a modern vinyl-type window, not the product used here. Typical values only, not measured at this home. STC/loudness rule: Penn State NoiseQuest, The Soundproofing Company.

Glass: Cardinal Lodz-366

Every AdEx window uses Cardinal Lodz-366, a clear glass with three layers of silver coating that cuts the sun’s heat while letting daylight through.

U-factor
0.24 (argon) · 0.29 air
Solar heat gain (SHGC)
0.27
Visible light let in
65%
UV blocked
95%

Center-of-glass manufacturer data for a dual-pane unit with 3 mm glass, a 13 mm gap and 90% argon fill, calculated by Cardinal with LBNL Window 7.8. Whole-window ratings vary with the frame. Source: Cardinal Glass Industries, Lodz-366 and Cardinal Lodz-366 spec sheet (PDF).

About the windows: Home Craftsman

This job used Home Craftsman vinyl replacement windows.

More from this job

Same home, more spots. Drag each slider to compare.

After: side bump-out of the same Cedar Hill home with new replacement windows
Before: side bump-out of the Cedar Hill home with its original windows
BeforeAfter
Side bump-out
After: side wall of the same Cedar Hill home with new replacement windows
Before: side wall of the Cedar Hill home with its original windows
BeforeAfter
Side wall
After: window on the siding wall of the same Cedar Hill home with new replacement windows
Before: window on the siding wall of the Cedar Hill home with its original windows
BeforeAfter
Window on the siding wall

Questions about this project

Do I need a permit to replace windows in Cedar Hill?

Yes. The City of Cedar Hill’s permit poster lists exterior door and window replacement among the work that needs a permit. See our Cedar Hill page. Source: City of Cedar Hill: “When Do I Need a Permit?” (PDF).

How much more sound do new windows block?

Compared with an old new-construction window (about STC 27), a standard dual-pane window (about STC 29) blocks roughly 1.6x more sound, and sound-upgrade glass (about STC 32–33) roughly 3.5x more. These are typical lab ratings, shown in the chart above, not measurements at this home.

What does Cardinal Lodz-366 glass do?

It’s a clear low-E glass that reflects heat and blocks much of the sun’s heat while letting in 65% of visible light. It blocks 95% of UV, which helps keep floors and furniture from fading. In a dual-pane argon unit its center-of-glass U-factor is 0.24 and SHGC is 0.27, per Cardinal.

How do I get an estimate for a project like this?

Two ways. Send photos of what needs work and get a Full Picture Estimate within 24 hours, with options, pricing and warranty in writing. Or book a home consultation and we’ll meet you at the house. Start here.