Home improvement companies are always looking for ways to distinguish themselves from their competition, and those that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award are already several steps ahead. In addition to its Diamond Certified status, Northwest Exteriors sets itself apart by acting as a one-stop shop for a wide variety of energy-efficient products, including solar systems, windows, doors, patio covers and sun roofs. According to General Manager Rick Pellhum, this all-inclusive approach to home improvement has allowed the company to develop a loyal clientele base that extends throughout California, Nevada and Hawaii. “We’ve been doing this for more than 20 years, so we know exactly what it takes to ensure the quality of every project,” he says.

Unlike less experienced home improvement companies that overpromise and under deliver in an attempt to increase their profits, Northwest Exteriors prides itself on fulfilling every contract on schedule and doing the job right the first time. “We want every client to be 100 percent satisfied, so as soon as their project is complete, we ask them to evaluate everything from our sales presentation to the quality of our materials,” explains Mr. Pellhum. “That way, if we discover something isn’t satisfactory about our performance, we can take immediate action and make it better.”

To further differentiate itself from its competition, Northwest Exteriors only uses high-quality products made by some of the top manufacturers in the industry, including solar systems from SunPower; windows and doors from Ply Gem, Anlin and Milgard; siding from Craneboard, James Hardie and CertainTeed; and sunrooms and patio covers from Metals USA. “We want our customers to know that we’ll never cut corners, and a big part of that is using the highest grade products available,” says Mr. Pellhum. “We never compromise when it comes to quality.”

Before taking on a solar installation, make sure you know the reliability of the system you’re considering. When it comes to solar systems, “reliability” essentially means the number of years a system will last while operating under normal conditions. Many solar manufacturers claim their products have passed rigorous industry certifications like UL and IEC, but those certifications are only for safety—they don’t guarantee consistent, long-lasting performance. Solar reliability can be affected by numerous factors, including:
Temperature fluctuations. If your area experiences extreme heat and frost or large amounts of rainfall at various times throughout the year, your solar panels can be negatively affected. Solar panels have metal electrical connectors, so expansion and contraction caused by changes in temperature can make these connectors break long before they should.
Moisture and humidity. Fog, snow, rain, wet summer heat and general moisture can corrode the internal metal components of your solar panels. Also, when moisture combines with the silicon in solar cells, it can reduce their power output.
Heavy loads. Over time, snow, hail and even wind can place extra stress on solar panels and cause them to crack, which ultimately reduces their power output. Also, cracked solar panels tend to heat up quicker, which will accelerate their aging.
Shade. If your solar panels are covered by dust, dense foliage, leaves or other refuse, it can lead to significant power loss. In conventional solar cells, even partial shading on a single cell can affect the production of an entire panel.
When shopping for a solar system to install on your property, it’s important to remember that there are now third-party agreements available that effectively eliminate the large upfront payment. “You lease a solar system and pay for a long-term warranty, which essentially means you’re buying insurance on the entire system,” explains Rick Pellhum, General Manager of Northwest Exteriors in Santa Rosa. “About 70 percent of new solar installations use this third-party agreement.”
Mr. Pellhum also suggests starting out by installing a small solar system and then expanding it as your electrical usage increases. “Solar companies can now install multiple enphase micro inverters that process and monitor each panel, which is different from the previous method of a single inverter for all the panels,” he says. “This makes it very easy to add on to the system if your future energy needs require it.”

Q: Do you have a showroom?

A: Yes, but it’s actually more efficient if we come to you because we need to do an in-home estimate. For a window or door installation, we can usually give you a bid during the first appointment. It takes more work to get a solar bid ready—we need at least 12 months of your electrical usage history, and we have to determine your site’s sun and shading issues.

Q: What’s your turnaround time?

A: Most jobs start three to four weeks after the contract signing. Window and door installations are usually one-day jobs. Larger jobs like siding, solar systems, sunrooms and patio covers are usually completed within four to six weeks of signing the contract.

Q: Will my new windows last a long time?

A: Yes. The windows we install have the most technological foam spacers instead of aluminum, which gives them a longer lifespan than the industry standard. We offer window systems with a full lifetime warranty.

Q: What’s the difference between new construction and retrofit installation?

A: A retrofit installation is when new windows and doors are placed in existing frames—there’s no time to remove trim or cut back the siding or interior sheet rock. With new construction, there can be considerable demolition and then rebuilding. The process that’s best for your situation depends on the product you’re installing, whether it will fit into existing frames, and the condition of your home. New construction will make your home look like it was built with the new windows.