Thursday, April 14, 2011

Follow The Window Man on Twitter

Follow The Window Man on Twitter. Don't miss out on tips about buying windows and doors, information on special deals and coupons, and news about our area showrooms.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Window Facts

The Window Man prides itself on educating customers about windows and doors for commercial and residential properties.

FACT #1:
Yes, we are the educational window company! Did you know that most window companies prefer to sell one particular brand of window because...well, because that's the ONLY brand of window they carry! Did you know that every home has unique window needs? Sound abatement, view, energy efficiency, material type -- these are just a few critical points each individual homeowner must consider. Every home has its own unique character, so choosing the right window for your home is important. Did you know that The Window Man carries 15 of America's top brands? Our windows can be made from every available material, come in any color you can imagine and will increase energy efficiency. The Window Man...we educate, you decide.

FACT #14:
VINYL WINDOWS MOVE. We know what you're thinking. "So, what does that mean to me?" Well, vinyl expands and contracts as much as ten times more than other window materials. You must know the AAMA Air Infiltration Rating of your vinyl window. That great summer window might be a lousy winter window, wasting energy and money.

FACT #19:
To foam-fill or not to foam-fill -- that is the question! Today, many vinyl windows include some form of insulation in the frame members. Injection foam-filling is generally the most energy efficient, since it completely fills the frame cavities...when properly installed. Manually installed, ridged foam pieces are better than nothing, so choose to have those installed, if nothing else, when staying within budget is critical. Your attic and walls are insulated to increase your home's energy efficiency, so make sure that your window frames and sashes are too!

FACT #21:
Shhh...We sell peace & quiet. Everyone could use a little bit of golden silence in their lives, right? Well, three letters are the key to increasing your home's solitude and preventing outdoor noise pollution from entering your home: S.T.C. Sound Transmission Class ratings tell you how well a window performs in blocking noise. The Window Man sells the nation's highest-rated S.T.C. windows, and these beauties will look just perfect on your historic district home. Come visit our Alexandria showroom (Route 1) - the area's only acoustical showroom...Come hear the difference!

FACT #24: SOLAR TUNING:
Which Low-E Option is Right For You? Choosing the right Low-E for your home is critical to maximizing energy efficiency. Hard coat, soft coat, Low-E squared or Low-E cubed? Many brands only offer one Low-E option, which may be fine for Florida or Minnesota, but in this region "Solar Tuning" to maximize your windows' performance is something you need to consider. Passive-solar heat gain in the winter can be an enormous energy saver, but you will no get that with Low-E cubed, 365, 366, or Solar Bane 70. Ask us about "Solar Tuning" your home.

FACT #32:
Are They Four-Pt. Fusion Welded? Are your windows four-point fusion welded? And if so, are both the frame and sash welded? These should be two of the first questions asked by any vinyl window shopper. Sadly, and surprisingly, many window companies still use outdated, inefficient mechanical windows. With mechanical windows, there is only one question to ask -- not will these windows begin to leak, waste energy and become unreliable, but when will they? With The Window Man, you'll find only four-point, fusion-welded, vinyl replacement windows. And our windows still cost less than many of the other companies' inferior windows.

FACT #33:
Which Material is Right for Your Home? Every home is different. One-story ranch, two-story colonial, brick, vinyl-sided, downtown, historic district? These are all factors that must be considered when purchasing windows. We offer vinyl, wood, aluminum, wood-clad, fiberglass, and now, even composite windows. Nobody provides a better window selection than The Window Man. We educate, you decide.

FACT #41:
Oops! What codes & ordinances? At The Window Man we are actually aware of all federal, state and local remodeling codes, including the recently-passed EPA Lead-Safe legislation. This new law requires all contractors, remodelers and anyone involved in home renovations to be certified as an EPA Lead-Safe company. Anyone considering replacement windows (especially those in the Historic District) needs to verify that the company you're considering will not only meet, but ultimately surpass required code specifications. After all, you don't want your new windows installed twice, do you? We've installed millions of window over the last 21 years -- you can trust us!

FACT #66:
Great Window? Who said so? Has the window you're considering for purchase been tested for energy-efficiency, durability and functionality? Is it maintenance-free and easy to operate? Does it include a strong, easy-to-understand warranty? How does it stand up to solar UV rays, noise and air infiltration? Well, unless your window has been tested and certified by AAMA, the NFRC and is Energy Star compliant, you don't know. Many window companies install windows that have NO certification of ANY kind. We don't! Our selection, quality and value will amaze you.

To learn more about windows, visit the Education section of The Window Man's website or stop by any of our three area showrooms.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Meet Our Founder

Tom Patterson founded P.B.S. Inc, trading as “The Window Man”, in August of 1989 after being a partner in a small building supply company (Contractors Discount Supply) that sold just to builders.

The new construction industry is primarily about “price”. That lead me to the “replacement” window & door market, which is value driven.

We at The Window Man, have always aimed to offer the “best value” in all types of windows & doors; whether vinyl, wood, wood clad, fiberglass, composite, aluminum, or steel.

We became involved in the commercial window industry in the mid nineties when we became the area dealer for Mon-Ray/DeVAC windows. This has allowed us to work with architects, structural engineers, & acoustical engineers on many large and small scale projects.

We have also worked on Federal projects including historical and acoustical.

By incorporating many of the things we have learned in the commercial and Federal construction arena, we can better serve our residential customers as well.
Our industry is a combination of old (low tech) and new (high tech) that is always interesting and challenging as it continues to evolve. We enjoy the challenge of staying on top of the latest technology.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The Residences At Ritz-Carlton

Here at The Window Man we're proud of our recent project at The Residences At Ritz-Carlton in Washington, DC's Georgetown neighborhood. You would be too! Take a look.

Project details include:

DeVac 400 acoustic with 1/2" laminate clear glass, interior mount.

Mon-Ray 802 storm door with full view with 1/4" laminate glass, with 5" air space for noise reduction.

Stop by any of our three area showrooms to talk about which window or door is perfect for your residential or commercial project.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

How To Compare Windows

Shopping for new windows for your commercial or residential property in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington DC and haven't a clue as to how to begin selecting the perfect product? Start by visiting the education section of The Window Man website. We'll teach you:

Glass Basics

Sound Abatement

The Greener Side of Things

What Makes a Great Window?

Window Facts

Window Materials

Window Terms

And if that isn't enough, stop by any of our three area showrooms. Our consultants are happy to discuss the details of your particular project.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Commercial Windows & Architectural Window Installation

Here at The Window Man we offer many commercial window solutions such as DeVAC by MonRay, H Windows, Optimum Windows, Gerkin, Universal, and Keystone.

Some of our local commercial projects include Some of our Commercial projects: (HOLC) Home Loan Building in Washington DC, National Research Council in Washington DC, various Interior Mounts in the (USDA) Department of Agriculture in Washington DC, (NIH) National Institutes of Health in Maryland, the Naval Academy's Ward Hall in Annapolis MD, the Seaford Middle School, the Middletown, Delaware Middle School, Seaford High School, the Crestwood Elementary School in Springfield, VA, the Seaford Central Elementary School, the Rock Hall Elementary School, the Blades Elementary School, the Department of State Training Facility in Arlington VA, the National Park Service Building in Harpers Ferry, WVA, the John Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, the Greenpeace HQ in Washington DC, the Stewart Building in Baltimore, MD, the Fred Douglas Elementary School, the Seaford West Elementary School, the Garrnet Elementary School in Kent Co. MD.

To find out how The Window Man can help you with your commercial project stop by any of our three Norther Virginia showrooms.

(703) 978-9888

Fairfax Windows
Fairfax, VA
3853-A Pickett Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
Mon - Fri: 9am to 5pm
Sat: 9am to 4pm

Alexandria Windows
Alexandria, VA
3000 Jefferson Davis Hwy.
Alexandria, Virginia 22305
Mon - Fri: 9am to 5pm
Sat: 9am to 4pm

Chantilly Windows
Chantilly, VA
14017 Lee Jackson Hwy.
Chantilly, Virginia 20151
Mon: 10am to 6pm
Tue - Fri: 12pm to 8pm
Sat: 9am to 4pm

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Glass Basics

Want to learn more about window glass? The Window Man is dedicated to educating consumers about residential and commercial windows and doors for properties in the Metro DC area. To learn about things like: the types of residential window glass; if your IG is certified and low-e glass, click here to read our Glass Basics Guide, provided by Softlite.