Replacement Windows & Doors in Irvine, CA

While we’re not going to name either of the major home improvement mega superstores that you can find within a few miles of your home, most of us know the two biggest names. They swooped in ten, fifteen, to twenty years ago, promising homeowners all across Orange County and Irvine the ability to do most home improvement projects themselves. They carry just about everything that you’d need to fix or build anything for your home. They also carry replacement windows and doors.

These stores are tempting. They’re alluring. They truly do make you believe that you can do anything when it comes to home improvement. And many of us can do just about anything to improve our homes.

Yet there are three very good reasons why you should avoid going to these places when you’re looking for replacement windows.

Professionalism is a forgotten art form

When these monstrous warehouse style businesses first rolled into the area, they ran off almost every single small hardware shop in the area. They also hired a host of experienced and professional contractors. The intention was to provide customers with the best advice and encouragement to help them move from hiring contractors to doing things themselves.

It worked and once all of those hardware stores and other businesses were gone, they got rid of the more expensive employees and hired low wage earners who didn’t know much more than the average customer about the products and services that they offered.

Today, you may find a few people who know where to find the right products, but few who have actual real world experience working with them. That includes the windows that you may be looking at purchasing.

Professionalism is a forgotten art form because these large corporations are more concerned with their bottom line and moving products than they are about building relationships. After all, once they ran out the competition, they had little to worry about.

However, there are plenty of window replacement companies still in the area that can do a lot to help you find just what you need for your home.

Your choice of windows is … well, minimal

When you walk into one of these mega home improvement warehouses, you’re going to think that they have a lot of windows to choose from. However, most of the windows that they have for sale, available right at that moment, are basic, to the core. Double hung windows from a manufacturer that you might recognize.

They must be high quality, right? Wrong. The windows that you’ll find at these stores are mostly low end, low cost windows that make homeowners believe that replacement windows are all the same, or that you don’t need to spend much money on new windows.

While you shouldn’t overpay for anything, especially windows, when you purchase these brand of windows, you’re getting the very basic, the bottom of the barrel cheap windows that won’t improve the value of your home and won’t last nearly as long as other brands of windows that you can find elsewhere.

While small window companies may only carry one or two manufacturer brands of windows, the quality of those windows is going to be light years ahead and beyond those cheap, entry level windows.

You want to know something else?

They aren’t that much more money, either. Just think, you could be one of those homeowners who are fooled by the major corporations and their slick salespeople into thinking that you’re getting decent window when your neighbor goes to a place like California Window  & Solar and gets a much higher quality window that will actually save them money on cooling bills and improve the value of their home, all for just a little bit more than what you spent.

If you want to talk to someone who is more interested in understanding what your wants and needs are when it comes to replacement windows, then choose a family ran company like California Window & Solar. If you just want to save as much money as possible and you don’t care about quality, service, or selection, then by all means, head on down to that store where they encourage you to ‘Let’s do this.’

Installation is another mystery

Lastly, when you shop at one of these stores, you’re going to also find that installation is a different creature altogether. You’re going to be led to believe that the store is in charge of installation.

That would be great, wouldn’t it? After all, a major, international company like that being in charge of installation for your new windows … now, what could be better than that? All the resources that they have access to, you would be in good hands.

The only problem with that situation is that those companies don’t install the windows, doors, or anything else they sell. They subcontract that work out to other contractors.

As long as they have a current, operational license and insurance, they can install windows for these companies. That doesn’t mean that they have experience installing many windows. Their expertise might be in kitchen renovations and remodeling.

Does that matter? Absolutely.

While the old window may be the same size as the new one, there could be a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration when you’re installing the new window. Is it level? Is it flush? Are there any aspects of this new window, or features, that require a slightly different installation process?

Many new windows have specifications that can affect the functionality of the window. Did you know that if your windows aren’t installed by a certified installer (for many particular brands), then the company may not honor the warranty.

Do you want to take that chance? You’re going to be investing thousands of dollars in replacement windows for your house in Irvine; don’t take chances. Make sure that you not only get the windows that your house deserves and that fit within your budget, and have them installed by certified professionals you can trust.

If that sounds good, then choose California Window & Solar. We have been helping homeowners choose the ideal windows for their families for generations. BBB A+ rated. Call us to see why California Window & Solar is the best choice for all of your window needs.

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