The majority of the replacement doors and windows for your home are manufactured on the Mainland and then shipped to Hawaii. It makes economic sense to do this, as Hawaii is not really equipped for large-scale manufacturing.
Hawaii offers unique challenges for any kind of building material, due to the high-level of UV light and salt — salt is one of the most corrosive agents found in nature, and homeowners and businesses are surrounded by it.
Quality windows that work well in California, Texas or Washington are often not equipped to deal with the elements in Hawaii. Products that are most susceptible are screens and hardware, as they contain metal and have the most direct exposure to the elements. Manufacturers have become aware of this fact and as a result have special warranties for Hawaii, as the businesses know what the elements will do to their products and don’t want to be liable.
If you go online and check out various manufacturers, the warranty will say “Limited Lifetime Warranty,” but in the fine print you will find disclaimers for residents living in Hawaii, living on any other island or even living within two to three miles of the ocean in general. Most companies then limit the warranty on screens and hardware (the elements that wear out first) to two-to-three years. Companies also charge for shipping and labor for replacements.
At Diamond Head Windows & Doors, the company decided to change this scenario as it encountered too many homeowners who thought that their windows were covered by warranty, only to be shown the fine print once they had problems. Diamond Head Windows negotiated with Amerimax, an international building supply manufacturer, and as part of bringing their product to Hawaii, negotiated a full lifetime warranty from the manufacturer, which covers screens, hardware, frames, glass and accidental glass breakage, as long as homeowners are living in their homes.
This product and warranty have been very successful in Hawaii. Some competitors, not able to match the warranty, tell consumers not to worry, that the company will repair consumers’ windows if there is a problem. But something to keep in mind: If it isn’t written, then it isn’t true. If the manufacturer is not willing to support its window in Hawaii for more than two years, what does that tell you? If the salesman wants to offer a “personal guarantee,” will the company be around when the need arises? Many warranties have a clause at the end that states that the warranty can’t be altered or added to by a salesman.
In addition to the manufacturers’ lifetime warranty, Diamond Head Windows also offers a lifetime installation warranty, should your window ever leak, or have any issues not covered by the manufacturer.
If you’d like more information or a free estimate to replace windows or doors in your home, contact Mark McKinstry of Diamond Head Windows at 419-7500.
DIAMOND HEAD WINDOWS & DOORS
contact // 369-9911
address // 99-1083 Iwaena St.
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