Vytex Heritage Series Window Review
by Michael Kaplan

I first had the Vytex Heritage series window installed in my home about 2 years ago. At the time I was replacing old, broken-sealed builder grade windows from 1985. They were single pane and were doing little to keep out the heat in the summer or cold in the winter. Since this was the first time I had ever purchased replacement windows, I found out there was alot that I didn't know about windows. I learned all I could from the dealers who showed me their windows, from reading literature and asking questions.

I considered several brands of windows before finally deciding on the Vytex replacement window. Several things went into my decision. The bang for the buck factor was certainly at the top: the Heritage series window had terrific features at a competitive price. The double-strength glass, LowE Coatings on two of the glass surfaces, tilt-in windows and constant force balance were at the top of my list. I also liked the science behind the Duraseal spacer that they used to keep the two layers of glass in each sash separated. I will do my best to discuss why these things were important.

First and foremost, the overall qualities of the glass package were just what I was looking for. After doing my homework, I knew that I wanted a window with an 'R' value of at least a 4. The 'R' value represents how well a window resists heat transfer. The higher the R value the less heat that can flow through the window (and into or out of your home!). Most of the windows I looked at had an R Value in the 2 to 3.4 range. Without getting into triple pane glass and more expensive gas fills, the Vytex Heritage was the best I could find in the price range.

The fact that the window had a high quality low emissivity 'LowE' coating on both surfaces of glass inside each sash is part of what made the difference. Vytex uses a lowE coating from Guardian called 'Acclimate'. They have a few competitors, but this seems to be one of the best soft-coat contenders. Also contributing to the high R value was the spacer. The spacer, called Dura seal is warm edge technology 'ribbon' made of rubber and steel. This spacer keeps the inside and outside glass of the sash from touching--in fact it keeps the glass about half an inch apart while at the same time adding the bonus of not conducting energy between the two pieces of glass. Altogether from outside edge to outside edge, the glass package measured nearly a full inch--that's plenty of space, and leaves enough room for them to fill the inside chamber with Argon gas. Argon gas is better than just plain air. It is more energy efficient and also doesn't conduct sound as well as air does. To make the window even more energy efficient, the vinyl frame around the glass was cleverly constructed to further insulate the window with chambers of dead air space.

Another feature that made me a fan of the Vytex Heritage window was the constant force balance. To fully appreciate why this is important you really have to try it yourself and compare it to other brands. The balance system is what keeps the window up or down or wherever you leave it in between. If you're familiar with older windows, you'll probably recall some kind of noisy spring mechanism that did this job. The constant force balance is quiet and smooth and keeps the window wherever you leave it--even when you tilt it in for cleaning. Of the balance systems in the windows I previewed, this one was one of the best.

Finally, and very important was that I felt that the dealer could get the job done and done well. The dealer I selected was Hallmark Windows and Siding. They could not have done a better job answering my concerns and installing the windows. The installers were factory trained, and I tell you--they were like clockwork. The precision of their install team was impressive. You could tell they worked together often and have installed many windows. I have confidence that these guys did a perfect job and I couldn't be happier with my windows.

So if you're in the market for replacement windows for your house, be sure and check out Vytex and Hallmark Windows and Siding. I will recommend them again and again, even after 2 years, they still look new.

©2005. Reprinted with permission from the author.

Pictured above: John sets a Vytex Georgetown window replacement into the frame Rockville, Maryland.

 

© 2006 Hallmark Windows & Siding 10411 Motor City Drive, #610, Bethesda, MD 20817