Replacing windows in Sacramento
In Sacramento, the main job of a window for much of the year is keeping summer heat out. National Weather Service climate records for Sacramento include stretches of nine or more consecutive days at or above 100°F, with only one- or two-day breaks between some triple-digit days. In a long heat wave, sun-facing windows can turn a room into an oven by late afternoon.
Solar heat gain
The solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) on a window's label tells you how much of the sun's heat comes through the glass. In a hot climate, a lower SHGC on west- and south-facing windows can help keep rooms cooler. North-facing windows take little direct sun, so the choice matters less there. Ask the contractor to recommend glass for each side of the house, and check the SHGC on the labels.
Daylight and glare
Low-SHGC glass can also reduce visible light a little. If a room is already dim, check the visible transmittance rating as well. For rooms with harsh afternoon glare, glass that cuts heat may also make the room more pleasant to sit in.
Winter fog and condensation
In winter, tule fog forms across the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys on calm nights after rain, and it's usually thickest just before dawn. Cool, damp mornings can bring condensation on window glass, especially on older single-pane or aluminum windows, which conduct cold to the inside surface. Condensation that runs down onto wood sills, year after year, is one cause of rotted frames. Double-pane glass with warm-edge spacers and frames with a thermal break resist interior condensation better.
Stucco houses
If your home has stucco walls and original aluminum windows, full-frame replacement in stucco means cutting back and patching stucco around each opening. Many replacement windows for stucco homes are designed to install over the old frame with a flange that covers the gap, avoiding stucco removal. That can be a good approach when the old frame is sound and dry. Ask the contractor which method they propose and how they'll seal and finish the exterior.
Aluminum frames
Older aluminum windows without a thermal break conduct heat readily, so the frames get hot in summer and cold in winter. Replacing them with vinyl, fiberglass or thermally broken frames changes how the window feels near the frame.
Dark frames in the sun
Dark vinyl frames absorb more heat in direct sun. Ask what the manufacturer says about dark colors on west-facing walls here.
Second stories
Two-story houses mean ladders or scaffolding for the upper windows, and summer installation days start early to stay ahead of the heat. Ask how the crew will reach and install upper windows safely, and how long each opening will be exposed.
Checking a contractor in California
California's Contractors State License Board lets you look up a contractor's license number, classification and status for free. Look the business up before you sign, and make sure the name on the license matches the name on the contract.