Solar Windows & More has minimized the “pane” and maximized the efficiency
By Laura Briedis
With its storefront on Pearl Road in Strongsville, just steps in front of Home Depot and Lowe’s, Solar Windows & More offers a local alternative to the national chains.
“We are Strongsville’s very own window company,” says AJ Jaffary, owner. “Our business is based here and many of our employees live in Strongsville.”
“We support the local economy by proudly selling American-made products, many of which are made in Ohio,” says AJ.
“We sell Sunrise Windows & Doors built in the Toledo area, GutterShutter manufactured in Cincinnati and ProVia Doors from Sugarcreek. We also make our own glass block windows in our North Royalton facility.”
As a locally owned business, the company takes a friendly, familiar approach to sales. The tone is set by the staff, which includes a trio of best friends from Lakewood High School—AJ, Operations Manager Mark Uffman and Sales Manager Herminio Delgado—who all have hands-on experience installing windows and siding.
The company continues to grow exponentially, thanks to stellar reviews on Angie’s List, an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and 5-star Google reviews.
Energy-Efficient Windows
Only one of 44 distributors of Sunrise Windows’ top-of-the-line Restorations windows in the country, the Solar Windows’ knowledgeable sales staff educates homeowners about the importance of energy savings and explains the Energy Star rating, low E-coatings and thermal block energy materials and how they all translate to cost savings and help to keep you warm and cozy.
“Although the energy rating on the glass may be great, the window is only as good as two things: proper installation and quality construction,” explains Mark, noting the key is how well the window is constructed to stop water and air infiltration.
“The average air leak on a typical double-hung vinyl window that is Energy Star rated is .30 or less cubic feet per minute, but on ours it is 0.02,” he says. “Which means our window is 15 times better than the industry standard.”
In addition to triple weather-stripping seals and polyurethane window frame insulation to maximize energy efficiency, Restorations windows offer up to 27 percent more viewing area than other replacement windows, thanks to a narrow line window design allowing for more glass space.
The window frames come in many shapes and color options and are customized to your home. Whether a trapezoid shape, a garden window with a sill, a large bay window or an awning design, your windows from Solar Windows & More make a design statement.
The Solar Windows’ staff helps you design your windows, and a measurement technician (yes, there is a dedicated employee whose sole job is to measure windows and doors) measures the window openings and sends the specs back to the office. Then, Solar Windows places the order with the manufacturer. Typically, it takes three to six weeks to custom build each order.
Beyond the Pane
As its name implies Solar Windows & More offers more than windows. The team can also take care of all of your home’s exterior needs, from roofing down to the gutters, siding and doors.
Solar Windows & More offers a complete water management system from GutterShutter.
“We offer a 100 percent no-clog guarantee,” says Mark, noting that in the four years they have been installing the product there has never been a clog. “There are no vertical openings for water or clogging debris to enter and no screens to clog.”
Rainwater flows over and around the nose of the GutterShutter by the simple physical law of water surface tension, the same way water clings to the side of a glass when it is poured. Most of this water is directed through the perforations in the GutterShutter, thus moving rainwater away from your home and protecting your foundation.
The company also installs GAF roofing shingles and Alside and Norandex siding.
“We were just awarded the GAF System Plus Warranty for our customers,” says AJ. “This means customers receive a 50-year warranty, which covers 100 percent labor and materials.”
“We are not a jack-of-all-trades, but instead have installers who specialize in each trade,” adds AJ. “We have a crew that just installs windows, others who are roofers and some who just do gutters. This way we have the best professionals in every craft.”
Residential & Commercial
In addition to residential jobs, the company also works on commercial projects.
The crew installed expansive 10-foot-tall windows for the Strongsville United Church of Christ to provide better energy efficiency and comfort for parishioners.
“It used to be icy cold inside in the winter and then when the sun would beat down in summer it would get hot,” says Mark, noting they worked in two phases so they would not disrupt worship services.
“After we installed the new windows, they noticed an immediate improvement.”
The company also is licensed, bonded and insured in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky. Solar Windows installed 876 windows and 173 patio doors for dorms and apartment buildings on the West Virginia University campus. And it has worked on historical landmark buildings, including the turn-of-the-century Rieger Place that was featured on the A&E TV show “My Haunted House.” The Solar Windows crews had to match the original window characteristics using a special blend of paint.
Solar Windows & More is located at 8367 Pearl Road in Strongsville. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 440-946-3697 or visit SolarWindowsAndMore.com.