Window Buying Guide for BC Homes

A typical home with 10–15 windows takes 2–4 days to complete. Each window takes approximately 1–2 hours to remove, prep, install, insulate, and flash properly. We protect your interior with drop cloths and clean up daily. Larger projects or custom orders may take longer.

Replacing all windows at once is more cost-effective because of reduced setup, scaffolding, and trip charges. You also get consistent aesthetics and a single warranty start date. However, if budget is a concern, we can phase the project — typically starting with the most damaged or least energy-efficient windows first.

Retrofit (insert) installation keeps your existing window frame and slides a new window inside it. Full-frame replacement removes everything down to the rough opening, allowing inspection of the structure and proper flashing. Full-frame costs more but is recommended when frames are rotted, when you want to change window sizes, or when proper integration with your building envelope is critical.

For most Lower Mainland homes, high-quality double-pane with Low-E and argon gas provides excellent performance at a reasonable cost. Triple-pane makes sense for north-facing walls with significant heat loss, homes in colder BC regions (Fraser Valley highlands), or premium builds where maximum energy efficiency is the goal. The additional cost is typically 25–40% more than double-pane.

Common signs include: condensation or fog between glass panes (sealed unit failure), drafts around closed windows, difficulty opening or closing, visible rot or deterioration in frames, significantly higher energy bills, and outside noise that seems louder than it should be. If your windows are 20+ years old, they likely no longer meet current energy standards.

U-factor measures how much heat passes through a window — the lower the number, the better the insulation. It is measured in W/m²·K (watts per square metre per degree Kelvin). A single-pane window has a U-factor around 5.0, meaning it loses heat rapidly. A standard double-pane window sits around 2.7. A double-pane with Low-E and argon gas drops to 1.4–1.6. A triple-pane with Low-E and argon can reach 0.8–1.0. For BC's Lower Mainland (Energy Star Zone 2), you want a U-factor of 1.40 or lower to meet Energy Star certification. The lower you go, the less heat escapes your home in winter and the less cooling you lose in summer.

SHGC measures how much solar radiation (heat from sunlight) passes through the glass, on a scale from 0 to 1. A higher SHGC means more solar heat enters your home — which is beneficial in winter (free heating) but can cause overheating in summer on south and west-facing windows. A lower SHGC blocks more solar heat, keeping rooms cooler. In BC, a balanced SHGC between 0.20 and 0.35 works well for most homes. South-facing windows may benefit from a slightly higher SHGC (0.30–0.40) to capture winter sun, while west-facing windows that get intense afternoon sun should lean lower (0.20–0.25) to prevent overheating.

Low-E 270 and Low-E 366 refer to different coatings made by Cardinal Glass (the most common in North American windows). Low-E 270 is a "passive" or "hard coat" Low-E — it lets more solar heat through (higher SHGC around 0.34) while still reflecting interior heat back inside. It is ideal for north-facing or east-facing windows where you want maximum natural warmth from the sun without overheating. Low-E 366 is a "solar control" triple-silver coating — it blocks significantly more solar heat (SHGC around 0.22) while still allowing plenty of visible light through. It is ideal for south-facing and west-facing windows where afternoon sun would otherwise overheat rooms. In simple terms: Low-E 270 = lets more sun warmth in (good for cold sides), Low-E 366 = blocks more sun heat (good for hot sides). Many homes benefit from using both — 270 on north/east walls and 366 on south/west walls.

A window energy rating label shows several key numbers: U-factor (heat loss, lower is better), SHGC (solar heat gain, context-dependent), Visible Transmittance or VT (how much daylight comes through, higher means brighter rooms, typically 0.40–0.70), and Energy Rating or ER (a Canadian metric that balances heat loss, solar gain, and air leakage into a single number — higher is better, look for ER 25+ minimum). These numbers together tell you how the window performs thermally. Two windows can look identical but perform very differently depending on the glass coatings, gas fill, and spacer technology used in the sealed unit.

Yes. Energy Star certified windows may qualify for provincial and federal rebate programs including the CleanBC Better Homes program and the Canada Greener Homes Grant. Eligibility depends on the specific product's energy rating (U-factor must meet program thresholds) and whether you get a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation. We can advise you on which products qualify during your consultation.

Quality windows should come with at least a 20-year frame warranty and a 15-year sealed unit warranty. Our Ply Gem windows offer lifetime frame warranties and 20-year sealed unit coverage. Beyond the manufacturer warranty, Tomron Construction provides our own workmanship warranty covering installation quality, flashing, and sealing.