New Windows: Best Price VS Best Deal

Window and exterior door replacement makes a huge difference to your home and comfort, and it’s easily one of the most impactful renovations you can undertake. It’s not a project where you want to cut corners, especially if you want to get the best results and ensure this is the one and only time it will be necessary. Homeowners who attempt window replacement on the cheap often regret it – we’ve been called out to homes where the job needs to be re-done after less than 10 years thanks to disappointing results and broken promises. In our decades of serving local homeowners, we’ve learned what they truly value: quality, efficiency, a great warranty, and peace of mind. This handy guide shows you how to secure them.

Warranty

The best sign that you’re choosing the right window company is the warranty they offer. A great warranty demonstrates that a company truly stands by their products. It’s also worth keeping in mind that, when it comes to window warranties, things may not be as simple as they first appear. It’s vital to know what is actually covered in terms of the product – are the frame and the sealed glass unit covered? Is the installation also covered? In addition, don’t be fooled by the term ‘lifetime’ warranty. In reality, these regularly only cover 25 years, or even 20.

What does Centra offer?

Centra provides homeowners with a 30-year warranty on the frame, the glass, AND the installation, demonstrating how much faith we have in our work and products. This warranty is fully transferable to a new homeowner if you decide to sell.

Performance

One of the primary goals of window replacement is to improve energy efficiency, boost home comfort, and lower energy consumption and bills. Not all windows are made equal, and differences in frame material, glazing, and overall build quality can greatly affect performance. Homeowners seeking superior performance at an affordable price should opt for vinyl windows with low emissivity coatings on the glass panes.

What does Centra offer?

We go a step further than most window companies. The high-performance vinyl products we install for homeowners are the same ones we use on major multi-family restoration projects – meaning you’re getting windows and doors that conform to higher standards.

Quality

Whether it’s windows and doors or any other major purchase, homeowners always want to ensure they’re getting top-quality products. Find a company with a solid reputation for consistent excellence, and one that makes their own products instead of buying them in so you know they have complete oversight of the quality control process. Take a good look through company reviews prior to making a decision to ensure the company’s standards are where they should be.

What does Centra offer?

We’re 100% Employee Owned, and we both manufacture and install our products – meaning company owners are making your products, and owners truly care. Our windows and doors also undergo rigorous product testing to ensure you’re getting the quality you paid for.

Local Expertise

If you want the best windows and doors, it’s worth keeping in mind that every home and location has specific needs. For one thing, the local climate plays a big role in picking the right products. You want a company that manufactures its products locally and understands these differences, as opposed to one whose manufacturing operations are based elsewhere. Many companies may operate in Western Canada – but where are they based, and are their products designed with us in mind?

What does Centra offer?

Centra has two manufacturing facilities – one in BC, and one in Alberta. We make our high-performance products locally, and we understand the provincial climates and needs of homeowners who live here. Our products, such as our Supreme Collection Windows, are perfect for harsher weather such as the freezing temperatures of Alberta winters or the intense heat of Okanagan summers.

Experience

Always look at how long a company has been in business and their overall reputation. In our time, we’ve seen companies pop up and disappear within the space of a year or two, leaving homeowners high and dry and meaning their warranty isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. When making a major purchase such as new windows and doors, customers should be able to rest easy knowing that they’re dealing with a reputable business with the longevity to back up their promises.

What does Centra offer?

Centra has been serving local homeowners for over 40 years, and we have unrivalled building code knowledge thanks to our work in the window manufacturing and building envelope restoration sectors. Being 100% Employee Owned means company ownership is constantly renewing and we cannot be sold off or shut down. You can trust our warranty because you know Centra isn’t going anywhere.

When it comes to best price vs. best deal, one of our local sales representatives puts it best:

“If a competitor sells you a window package for $5000 and your energy bills decrease by $10 per month, it might sound like a good option at first. But when Centra’s windows and doors could instead save you $30 per month, it quickly becomes clear which is the better long-term deal despite the initial sticker price being potentially higher. Over the span of 20 years, option A will save you $2400 on your energy bills, but over the same span, Centra can save you $7200 on your energy bills, and the original savings no longer seem worth it.

Then there’s installation, which is a very important aspect of window replacement that’s often overlooked. Most companies use subcontractors to do renovations, meaning the install team gets paid per contract. They make the same dollar amount if the work is finished in 1 day or 7, despite how much time it should take to make sure window replacement is done correctly. Centra's window installers are paid by the hour as opposed to by the job – and on top of that, they’re actually shareholders. That means you literally have Centra Windows Employee Owners showing up at your house to do the installation. They care about the company and know how important the small details are to make a project successful – and by extension, the company too.”

We aren’t afraid to tell homeowners why our products may cost a little more – cheapest price is very different to the best deal, after all. It's simple: when it comes to Western Canada, Centra offers the best value for windows and doors. Homeowners get an exceptional product with outstanding performance, and the peace of mind of an unbeatable warranty and a company that will still be around in future decades to honour it. Centra will always be the best deal.

Western Canada’s Top Choice for Windows & Doors

Have an upcoming window and door project? Reach out to the experts for a free consultation! If you have any questions regarding this topic or anything else to do with windows, contact a local Centra Employee Owner at 1-888-534-3333 or drop us an email at info@centra.ca. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date, and test your window knowledge on LinkedIn.