Questions Answers
| What is Low E glass? |
| A: Low E glass features a transparent reflective coating which reduces the transfer of radiant heat across the space between the panes of glass in a dual pane window or door. Low E glass will further reduce your heating and cooling bills. Oasis recommends that you ask for this and have your windows manufactured with this option. Low E can not be applied after the window is manufactured. |
| Q: What is Argon gas and why is it offered with the Low E glass? |
| A: Argon gas is a harmless, colorless and inert gas that further improves the thermal efficiency of your new construction or replacement window or door. Oasis provides argon gas whenever a contractor orders Low E glass. The argon also improves sound deadening because argon is a heavier gas and reduces sound transmission from outside your home. As a manufacturer, Oasis likes to use it because it is relatively inexpensive and readily available. Krypton gas is also available and perhaps better than Argon, but it is quite expensive |
| Q: Can Argon gas leak out of the window or door? |
| A: Over a period of twenty years, 1% per year of the argon gas will escape. This does not have a material effect on the thermal benefit of the Argon gas, and it is harmless to people pets and the environment. |
| Q: Does Oasis use safety glass? |
| A: Yes, we use tempered glass which will behave similar to the glass in your car windshield if it is struck hard by an object. This is required of all door manufacturers in the US by the government for safety reasons to prevent severe injury in the event the glass is broken. |
| Q: Can I get a custom sized window or Patio door? |
| A: Absolutely and we can do it for a reasonable price in a reasonable amount of time. |
| Q: Is vinyl the same as plastic? |
| A: No. Vinyl windows and doors are made from unplasticized poly vinyl chloride (uPVC) which is an entirely different chemical composition than plastic toys. uPVC is much stronger, durable and more weather resistant than plastic. |
| Q: Will the PVC peel like my wood doors and windows? |
| A: No, the white or beige color is not painted on, but is through out the entire shape of the material. If you cut through it, you will see that it is all white or all beige. |
| Q: I have a home located near the ocean. How will the salt air and salt water effect my Oasis windows and doors? |
| A: It will not effect your PVC Oasis windows and doors. PVC has been used for years by boat manufacturers because of its endurance and resistance to salt water. If you were to put a length of the material into the ocean and let it sit there for a year, when you took it out of the water it would not show any corrosion. |
| Q: Will I ever have to paint my Oasis windows and doors? |
| A: No. That is the beauty of PVC and particularly the high quality PVC material Oasis Doors uses in the manufacture of their product. |
| Q: How can I be sure the vinyl used in my window is the best available? |
| A: Ask the manufacturer of the window if the vinyl extrusions are certified. This is an industry wide program to guarantee you that you are getting a high quality vinyl material. If the manufacturer can't answer this question, you may want to find another manufacturer for your windows. |
| Q: How expensive is it to replace my old wood windows with new wood windows or vinyl replacement windows? |
| A: A remodeling contractor will spend several hours removing an old wood window from the frame of your house and then installing a new wood window. This will be slow and expensive work, and there will be a considerable amount of finish work and painting to be done after the installation. Most vinyl replacement windows are designed to fit inside your existing window frame and there is virtually no additional work to be done following installation. |
| Q: Can I buy my windows and doors from a national home improvement chain store? |
| A: There is an old adage, you get what you pay for. Be aware that the chain store is price-based and negotiates a "minimum cost" deal from the manufacturer before selling products in the store. For national chains, the manufacturer usually makes the least expensive window or door possible and often cuts quality corners to meet price points. Also, the majority of the windows and doors offered in that type store are in stock sizes that are not custom made for your house. Be aware that if you contract a chain store to install windows for you, the first time you meet your contractor or installer will be when he comes to measure your house for windows. You won't be able to check out the quality of his work or references. He works for the chain store, not you. |
| Q: Who should I talk to about installing windows? |
| A: Oasis has had great success referring homeowners to Oasis contractors . These people do their own selling and installing of the windows. They are not franchise operations, they own their own business. .In most cases, the contractor will do the measuring and installation himself. This means their reputation is at stake and they typically take greater pride in the quality of their work and making the homeowner happy and satisfied with the quality of the work. This type of contractor has also been in business for a while and considers himself a professional. |
| Q: How can I be sure to get a good contractor? |
| A: The more homework and research you do into the contractor, the greater your chance of happiness. Make sure he or she is a professional. Call a couple of references. Inspect a home where the contractor has done similar work and ask the owners how they felt about the contractor. Also, ask yourself how comfortable do you feel with this contractor after he has been to your home to provide an estimate? Do you feel like you can trust him? How long has he been installing windows and doors? How long has he purchased windows and doors from the manufacturer or distributor from whom he is buying your windows? What do they say about him? Do they recommend him? |
| Q: Should I take the lowest bid? |
| A: How did that window model compare to the next higher bid or highest bid you received? Is the low bidder the contractor you felt would do the best job? If the three bids are within 10% of each other, than you should go with the contractor with whom you are the most comfortable and who has done the best work that you have seen. If low bid is 20% or lower than all the others; buyer beware. If high bid is 20% or thousands of dollars more expensive than other estimates, you may be overpaying. |
| Q: Can I install my own windows and doors? |
| A: That is a difficult question, but we recommend a licensed or experienced remodeling contractor be hired to do the job for you. Don't look at this answer as a challenge to your abilities. Not everyone has the same aptitude and skills. Most people don't tune up their car, they go to a qualified mechanic to do it. Our recommendation should be viewed in the same manner. |
| Q: How do I know that I am getting a good vinyl window from the contractors that I ask to do an estimate? |
| A: You will need to research the brand or manufacturer of the sample window they brought into your home. Where is the window made? How long has the contractor been installing this specific brand? Has the manufacturer been making vinyl windows for at least ten years? Will the manufacturer or distributor provide warranty service with a factory trained and paid service technician. Ask to go visit the distributor or manufacturer. Oasis maintains a beautiful showroom for homeowners to see life size windows . Your vinyl windows represent an investment on your part and you should research the manufacturer of the product. |
| Q: Are Oasis windows and Patio doors made with insulated or some type of thermal glass? |
| A: Yes, we manufacture our windows and Patio doors with a thermally efficient 1" thick insulated glass panel. |
| Q: Why should I consider insulated glass windows and doors? |
| A: The insulated glass provides greater insulation value than single pane glass. The air trapped between the glass reduces the conduction of heat and cold through the window. Single pane glass has an R value of about 1.0 and clear insulated glass in a vinyl window has an R value or 2.0. You can also improve on the R value with Low E glass and argon gas. |
If we haven’t answered your particular question, please feel free to e-mail us and we'll get back to you.
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