Chapter 5 Further Reading: Windows and Doors
Books and Reports
1. "Windows and Glazing" — Building Science Corporation (buildingscience.com) BSC has produced a series of research reports and technical documents on window performance in real-world conditions. Of particular value are their studies on the gap between rated and installed window performance, the effect of window orientation and SHGC on net energy balance, and the moisture risks of different installation configurations. Most are free downloads. Search for "BSC windows" and filter by your climate zone.
2. "Efficient Windows Collaborative — Window Selection Guide" (efficientwindows.org) The EWC is an industry-education consortium that produces climate-specific guidance on window specification. Their free online guide allows you to select your climate zone and building type and get specific SHGC, U-factor, and VT recommendations. Also includes a cost-benefit calculator for comparing existing windows to replacement options. One of the most practical consumer-facing resources available.
3. "The Old-House Journal — Window Restoration Guide" A collected guide for restoration of pre-war wood windows, including glazing compound application, sash weight repair, frame painting, and weatherstripping installation. Available as back-issue reprints from oldhouse journal.com. Essential for anyone with pre-1940 wood windows considering their options.
4. "Residential Windows: A Guide to New Technologies and Energy Performance" — John Carmody, Stephen Selkowitz, and Lisa Heschong (W.W. Norton) The standard reference text on residential window performance, written by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers who developed much of the field's scientific foundation. More technical than most homeowner books but accessible to motivated readers. Covers the physics of heat transfer through glazing systems, low-e coating science, frame thermal performance, and cost-benefit analysis.
5. "Pretty Good House" — Michael Maines and Dan Kolbert (Taunton Press, 2022) Chapter on windows and doors (Chapter 7) provides an excellent practical overview of window selection for a renovation context. Their "good/better/best" framing by climate zone is easy to apply without a deep technical background.
Online Resources
6. NFRC Certified Products Directory (nfrc.org/certified-products-directory) The authoritative source for verified window performance data. Before purchasing any window, look up the specific model and variant in the NFRC database to confirm the labeled performance numbers are certified. Manufacturer spec sheets are not always accurate; the NFRC database is independently verified.
7. ENERGY STAR Window Finder (energystar.gov/productfinder/product/certified-windows) The ENERGY STAR product finder for windows allows you to search certified windows by climate zone and performance level. ENERGY STAR certification is a reliable floor — products certified to the Zone 5 standard meet meaningful minimum performance thresholds. Use it as a starting point for your specification list.
8. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Window and Daylighting Group (windows.lbl.gov) The research arm responsible for most of the physics underlying modern window performance understanding. Their publications on low-e coating performance, gas fill degradation, frame thermal bridging, and real-world installation testing are available as free downloads. Their WINDOW software (free) allows you to calculate the thermal performance of custom glazing assemblies — useful for anyone specifying non-standard configurations.
9. Fine Homebuilding — Window Installation Articles (finehomebuilding.com) Fine Homebuilding has published extensively on window installation techniques, with detailed photo sequences showing correct flashing sequencing for various installation configurations. Search "window installation flashing" in their archive. Their articles on "replacement window installation mistakes" are particularly instructive for anyone hiring a contractor for window replacement work.
Technical Guides
10. "Air Leakage of Residential Windows and Doors" — ASTM E283 Test Method Not consumer reading, but worth knowing exists: ASTM E283 is the standard test method for window air leakage, and the AL (air leakage) value on NFRC labels is derived from this test. When comparing windows for air tightness, look for AL ≤ 0.30 cfm/ft² (the ENERGY STAR maximum for windows) or ≤ 0.20 cfm/ft² for premium performance.
11. "Acoustics of Windows" — Acoustical Society of America For homeowners specifically concerned with noise reduction, the Acoustical Society's consumer publications explain the physics of sound transmission through glass and window assemblies. Their summary articles are accessible and correctly describe why standard double-pane performs poorly for noise vs. common expectation — and what actually works.
12. Building America Solution Center — Windows (basc.pnnl.gov) The DOE's Building America program has published extensively on window installation best practices, including their benchmark for proper flashing sequence in different climate-zone assemblies. The Solution Center allows you to look up climate-specific installation details and download illustrated guides for window installation that are appropriate for your region.
A Note on Manufacturer Resources
Most major window manufacturers (Andersen, Marvin, Pella, Jeld-Wen, Milgard, and others) publish detailed installation guides for their products. These guides should be followed for any installation — the specific shimming, fastening, foaming, and flashing details vary by product design, and deviating from manufacturer instructions can void the product warranty and, more importantly, create installation errors that cause water damage.
When hiring a contractor to install windows, ask whether they have read and are following the specific manufacturer's installation instructions for the products being installed. A professional window installer will have this documentation on hand.
A Note on Window Salespeople
Window replacement is a high-margin residential product, and the sales tactics in this industry are among the most aggressive in the home improvement sector. Tactics to be aware of include: expiring discounts that reset after the deadline (manufactured urgency), "as good as single-pane" claims for older double-pane windows (usually false), guaranteed energy savings percentages without showing the underlying calculation, and "neighbors have already upgraded" social proof.
The appropriate response to any sales situation involving major home expenditure: take the specification information they provide, verify the NFRC ratings in the certified database, and run your own cost-benefit calculation using your actual energy costs and window area. No sales pitch should substitute for your own numbers.