Window replacement cost: 3 brands offer affordable UV protection

A fresh coat of paint and new furniture can give any room new life, but the windows in your home may determine just how long it remains that way. It can happen so gradually that you may not even notice until a piece of furniture or wall hanging is moved--ultra violet rays from the sun can slowly fade the colors on your walls, furniture, and even floor coverings over time. That vibrant room with its recent makeover may appear washed out within just a few years if the sun has its way, but fortunately the story doesn't have to have an unhappy ending. If you're planning a window replacement, choosing the correct glass options can help keep the colors in all your rooms looking bright and new.

Glass options that can protect your home from UV damage

Most families upgrade their home's windows for increased energy efficiency and the resulting lower heating and cooling costs. By choosing the right options you can also nearly eliminate damage from the sun's harmful UV rays: fading walls and furniture can become just an unpleasant memory. Many replacement window manufacturers have developed glass coatings that can prevent up to 99.9 percent of the harmful rays from entering your home, and it may not affect the windows' visibility a bit. The best part is that in many cases the options don't add much to your window replacement cost budget. Consider these three brands for increased energy efficiency and UV protection when replacing the windows in your home:

1. Anderson Windows. Just about everyone knows Anderson makes high quality windows for new and replacement applications, but you might not be aware of the fact the company is an industry leader in protecting homes from UV damage. Their Low-E4 SmartSun glass coating can keep up to 95 percent of the sun's UV rays from getting through their windows. This option is available on most of their replacement model lines.
2. Pella Windows. Mention Pella's name and homeowners familiar with the window industry know you're talking about some of the best windows on the market. The company's SunDefense Low-E glass coating is available as an option on many of their replacement window model lines and can prevent up to 95 percent of the sun's UV rays from entering your home.
3. WeatherShield. This manufacturer's Zo-e-shield glass coating can block up to 99.9 percent of the sun's UV rays from passing through the windows--it might be pretty difficult to get much better than 99.9 percent.

Consider adding UV protection from one of these well known brands when finalizing your window replacement cost budget.

Jeffrey Anderson has a Degree in English from V.M.I., and served as an officer in the Marine Corps. He worked in Residential and Commercial construction management for 25 years before retiring to write full time. He spends his time writing, remodeling his old farmhouse, and in animal rescue.