When Replacing Windows Enhance - Don’t Just Replace

Posted by: Ken Mariotti

We should have changed our windows rather than simply replace them when we had the chance. We’ve all heard this lament at sometime from a homeowner who completed a major remodeling project. Today, more than ever, homeowners contemplating a window replacement or general remodel project need to listen to this cautionary tale. When it’s time to replace your windows, seize the opportunity to enhance the look of your home, do not just replace your windows.

Marvin Ultimate Casement

Be Strategic

It’s likely that 75% of the windows in your home as they were originally installed are still functionally adequate for your lifestyle. However, it’s likely that there are rooms, which could be visibly enhanced with a different style window. Consider casements to replace double hung windows, so you don’t have to climb on your kitchen counters to open a few windows over the sink? Maybe, the stationary transom window above the entry door could be replaced with an awning inviting fresh air to flow through your home? Or maybe it’s time to update your home’s curb appeal with a more contemporary look by selecting new windows that have minimal detailing and integrated window coverings? Simple changes can yield dramatic results.

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Ask

Enlarging or changing a window style is likely going to cost more than simply replacing the exact window, but don’t be afraid to know the facts. Ask how much it would cost to modify a window opening and compare the price of the window you want versus an identical replacement to the ones you have now. Could you replace a non-operable bathroom window with the same size awning window fitted with privacy glass? Or could you replace an old double hung with a tilt-and-turn window? With a side hinge, tilt-and-turn windows lets the sash swing horizontally and with a bottom hinge that permits the window to be opened like an awning window are ideal for maintenance and increased air flow.

Educate Yourself

The more you understand your options, the better decisions you can make. Let’s say you want to make the window opening bigger. If your window is in a wall that’s not masonry you can make changes pretty easily. If you’re remodeling, including replacing the homes siding, you may have the option of using new construction windows in addition to replacement windows, opening up a wider selection of prices and styles to choose from. Additionally, understand that it’s usually easier to enlarge the window opening vertically, by cutting downward because it enables you to use the existing header. With a little understanding and planning you may be able to avoid custom sizes by enlarging the space to fit a standard window of your choosing.

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Make a Budget

As Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire cat said, “If you don’t know where you’re going any road will get you there.” When it comes to home improvements the cardinal rule to remember is to have a budget that gets you to the end of the project you envision. If you follow the simple formula above you’ll get the windows you want at the price you can afford. Begin with a clear strategy outlining the kind and number of windows to be replaced. Refine your list based on the construction feasibility; weighing the cost versus the return and you now have a plan. With your plan in hand, visit window showrooms, home shows and the Web to see what products are available and the cost of those options - you can now build a budget.

If you want to change your home to reflect your modern sensibilities for design, energy efficiency and convenience a great time to do this is when your windows need replacing.

Replacing Windows. To Everything There Is A Season

Posted by: Ken Mariotti

How do I know if my windows need to be replaced? It’s a question we get nearly every day and I   Everything eventually wears out and is replaced with something else. In the case of windows that ‘something else’ is far and away better than what it is replacing.

Marvin awnings

must admit that when I hear that question a song plays in my head. The song goes something like this; to everything there is a season…a time for this and a time for that. That sentiment is indeed the best way to answer the question.

Older homes often have extremely durable original wood windows that with regular maintenance and repair can last 100 years. On the other hand, homes built within the past 50-60 years usually require wood windows to be replaced around 20 years after installation. These wood windows are more prone to rotting primarily due to the fact the wood is not old growth and so not the hardwoods of yesteryear. Additionally, techniques such as finger joints and the environmental restrictions placed on paint ingredients, reduces the paint’s preservative and anti-microbial properties.

While it’s possible to repair surface damage caused by mold, wood rot or cracks, these may be an indication of deeper damage or a precursor to future infrastructure damage because the window system is slowly failing. The most important thing to determine is whether the surrounding structure of the home has sustained any damage. Inefficient windows can leak, allowing water to enter your house both in front of and behind the walls, inviting mold and mildew to grow.

Failing wood window

New materials

Back to the song in my head, to everything there is a season and the season of amazing building materials is indisputably now. Today’s highly energy-efficient windows and design selection, cost-savings, comfort, aesthetics and easy maintenance are compelling reasons to replace old windows.

Improve comfort

It’s not necessary to replace the windows in your entire home in order to obtain the benefits of a

quieter and more comfortable home. Keep in mind that windows can deteriorate much faster on one side of your home that has been exposed to sunlight, wind, rain and other weather conditions. Consider replacing all of the windows on one side of your home at the same time in order to ensure the exterior appearance is consistent.

Lower energy costs

Low E, you’ve probably heard this term a hundred times and still may not quite grasp its significance. Low E or low emissivity glass coatings used on modern windows has a huge impact on your wallet. The coating protects your furnishings from fading and deterioration caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays and it lowers your heating and cooling costs by deflecting unwanted heat gain or loss. Simply said, Low E glass reflects heat back to its source, keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Low E coating is specified according to the climate where you live in order to have the maximum impact.  Another reason to replace all of the windows on one side of your home at the same time is because Low-E windows will appear slightly darker than standard glass from the exterior view of the home.

Add ventilation

Consider replacing fixed units (windows that do not open) with operable windows that open in order to improve the airflow throughout your home. Awnings and hoppers are excellent replacements for fixed transoms or fixed bathroom windows. Replacing your old single-pane glass with today’s double or triple-pane glazing will significantly reduce heat loss and regulate heat gain making ventilation more important than ever.

Windows wear out and with the new building materials; there has never been a better time to replace your windows. For additional information about window replacement check out our website.