Time to upgrade your windows

Purchasing windows and doors in Hawaii can be confusing.

How does a homeowner know what to do? What are the right questions to ask? How can you tell the difference between a good or bad window?

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 hints on how to choose the right company, window product and installation technique.

First, pick an established company. Remember, you are purchasing a lifetime product. For Hawaii homeowners, it’s smart to pick a local company. A lot of mainland people come to Hawaii and start businesses and make plenty of promises. But in my experience, 99% of those companies fold. So, buy local — you’ll be glad you did later down the line.

Second, picking 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, Hawaii homeowners don’t want a window that may be suited for a mobile home or trailer. Remember, most replacement windows are of high-grade and do cost a bit more. The theory that you get what you pay for is not always true. A lot of times, when salesmen are involved, you pay but don’t get the quality you assumed you were getting. Make sure the company you choose can be trusted.

Third is installation techniques. A bad installation can ruin a good window. Run if you hear the word “retrofit.”

Be careful because this is a shortcut install that is just a way for a contractor to double his or her profit margin. A retrofit install is fast, but will fail in the long run.

Find the right company by calling Tropical, which is the first company to install vinyl siding and windows in Hawaii. Tropical has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and wins Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Hawaii’s Best award every year. Tropical has more than 20,000 satisfied customers, and has been around for more than 60 years. It is the only locally owned and operated vinyl window and siding company in Hawaii.

Call Tropical for the best windows as well. Only top-quality windows are used with all stainless-steel hardware and lifetime warranties that cover everything. Come to Tropical’s showroom at 1351 S. Beretania St. in Honolulu and see the difference.

Lastly, for the best installation, call Tropical, which installed the first vinyl windows in Hawaii in 1978. With almost a million windows installed in Hawaii alone, Tropical has the experience to make local homeowners proud. So, remember, “vinyl is final” with Tropical.