Selecting the best windows

Purchasing windows and doors in Hawaii can get really confusing. There are so many companies with so many promises. How does a homeowner know what to do? What are the right questions to ask? How can they tell the difference between a good or bad window? What is a good installation versus a bad installation? It’s just confusing. All the windows look the same and all companies say they are the best. Who is a homeowner to believe? How does a homeowner even begin to choose?

Here are some quick tips on how to choose the right company, window product and installation techniques. Hopefully after reading this, homeowners will be akamai and not pay too much for too little because a salesman talks good and rushes a decision.

First, pick an established company. Remember, it’s important to purchase a lifetime product. Homeowners want someone to be there when they need them. For Hawaii homeowners, it’s smart to pick a locally owned and operated company. A lot of mainland people come to Hawaii, start businesses and make plenty of promises. However, from my experience, 99% of those companies end up folding. Homeowners should buy local, and they’ll be glad that they did later down the line.

Second, choosing the right window is easy. All window companies manufacture between five and eight different grades of windows. So, picking by name is not always wise. Homeowners sometimes pick a name brand only to get the cheapest model. For example, being given windows that are better suited for a mobile home or trailer.
Unfortunately, it happens. Most replacement windows are of high grade and do cost a bit more. However, the “you get what you pay for” theory isn’t always true. A lot of times when salesmen are involved homeowners pay for what they should have got, but don’t get the quality they assumed they would get.

In short, homeowners are ripped off for a big commission. So, it is important to make sure the company can be trusted.

Third is installation techniques. A bad installation can even ruin a good window. First, if I was purchasing windows, I would run if I heard the word “retrofit.” This is kapu in Hawaii. This is a shortcut installation that is just a way for a contractor to double their profit margin. The proper installation technique can always be researched on a home computer. But be careful — a retrofit installation is fast but will fail in the long run.

When looking for the right company, homeowners should call Tropical. Celebrating 63 years, this locally owned and operated company was the first to install vinyl siding and vinyl windows in 1978 in Hawaii. It now serves more than 20,000 satisfied homeowners. Tropical has a A-plus rating in the Better Business Bureau and wins Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Hawaii’s Best every year.

Call Tropical for the best windows. It only provides top-quality windows used with all stainless-steel hardware with lifetime warranties that cover everything. Come to Tropical’s showroom at 1351 S. Beretania St. and see the difference between the best and worst.

Last, for no shortcut, quality window installations, contact Tropical. With almost a million windows installed only in Hawaii, Tropical has the experience to make Hawaii homeowners proud of their home without any worries.