Replacement Windows
& Door Tips

     
Homeowners delay replacing windows and doors because of cost and ease of just walking by the problem.
However if you have any of the problems below, taking care of your home's windows and doors can pay off in the long run.  In fact, according to Berkley Labs, inefficient windows cost Americans $40 billion a year. 
 

• According to Science Daily, Windows typically make up about 8% of the exterior surface area but are responsible for half of the heat loss or gain. 
  Are your energy bills high?  If energy costs are abnormally high, and you have done other non-window-related repairs to save money (chiefly, insulation in walls and attic).  

• Drafts. Chilly breezes in your house during the winter can come from even the tiniest cracks in window glass or window framing.

• Window glass cold to the touch. Single-pane windows will always feel cold to the touch, no matter their condition. But if you have double-paned windows, they should feel only moderately cold when the temperature outside is very cold.

• Difficulty opening or closing windows. Wood windows stuck to the frame by layers of paint. Settling of the foundation causing frames to twist, preventing the window sash from moving. Casement window hinges and latches rusted. Any of these might necessitate a full replacement rather than repair.

• Window painting and repair impossible. When your windows reach the point where the paint is alligatored, cracked, peeling, and the wood is rotting and falling apart, it becomes more cost-effective to replace the windows rather than repair.

• You get a financial windfall. If you have extra money that you can earmark for home remodeling (a work bonus, inheritance, home equity loan, etc.), it makes sense to put money into replacement windows.