Rosie on the House: What to consider when shopping for windows, doors and skylights

• Fiberglass: A close runner up to vinyl in popularity, fiberglass windows are durable and offer a different aesthetic. They can be made to look like wood windows and are stainable and paintable. The frame stands up well to our desert heat. The price point tends to be higher than vinyl or aluminum.

• Aluminum: Popular with builder models, aluminum frame windows are constructed with a thermal disconnect in the frame. The thermally broken frame reduces the transfer of heat. Temperature differences in non-thermally broken aluminum frames can be as much as 15 to 20 degrees.

• Aluminum clad wood windows: Aluminum clad windows and doors are exterior wood frames wrapped in aluminum. This choice is usually made for aesthetic reasons. They can be costly, and quality can be significantly different between manufactures.

• All-wood windows: Wood windows don’t stand up as well to the heat and ultraviolet rays from the sun as the other windows do.

Q: Are there any tips when shopping for windows?

A: Yes, here are a couple of tips:

• Buy the window that has the highest heat transfer resistance and best warranty that your budget will allow.

• Check the manufacturers warranty. Another consideration in selecting a window is the warranty. Check to see if fading, sealant failure, locking devices and even glass breaks are covered. Also ask how long the warranty is good for parts and labor.

Q: Are skylights a good investment?

A: If you like light in your home, the answer is yes. Skylights provide an easy way to lighten up your home.

Roof mounted aluminum frames can be flashed into the roof shingles or curb mounted. The actual skylight material can be glass or more likely an acrylic bubble. These bubbles tend to be double domed which works to protect against heat gain. The acrylic material comes in clear, white or bronze tinting. Glass domes come in clear or glazed.

Q: What are some of the upgrades that you can get with a skylight?

A: Other increasingly popular styles of skylights include a venting option, which opens the skylight itself a few degrees to allow air to pass through. There are screen options of course with venting skylights.

Models are now available with dual panes of glass. You can also get blinds between that lie below the glass. To make matters even more convenient, the blinds can be set on a timer to open and close automatically. There are also solar powered motors to open and close them.

Q: What should I look for in replacing my entry door?

A: Choosing the right exterior door starts with the location in the house. The front door will likely be selected for its aesthetics. And there are plenty of options to choose from. The most common types of front doors are not all equal.

• Fiberglass: As with windows, fiberglass doors are popular for a number of reasons. They can be made to look like wood and can also be stained or painted. They are durable in the Arizona sun and heat. They are lighter than a wood door and don’t sag or warp. Fiberglass is also used for patio doors.

• Steel: An up and coming popular door style is custom steel entry doors. These are produced with unique designs and are not the smooth steel doors you find in commercial applications or more utilitarian uses around the home (like the back door from the house to the garage). Steel doors are high end doors and are among the costlier options.

• Wood: Wood doors aren’t a good option if they are in full sun. However, there