How to Avoid Window Replacement Woes

There comes a time in every home when new windows and doors are required. It's a good indication that your old windows are ready to go when they need a steady stream of maintenance and your heating and cooling bills continue to increase. Instead of constantly busting your knuckles with endless scraping, caulking, and painting, consider new windows and doors replacement that are energy-efficient and low maintenance.

The following tips can make window replacement a little less daunting.

• Think energy-efficiency. Energy-efficient windows can make a big difference in heating and cooling your home. If you live in a hot atmosphere where much of your home energy costs involve cooling, you may want to choose windows with clear "low-E" coatings, which allow light in a while reducing the amount of solar heat gain. These windows should be of the metal frame variety and designed for low solar income. If your home mainly requires heating, select thermally- improved, non-metal windows designed for double or triple solar gain. In both cases, you want to install windows with minimum air leakage.
• Talk about the weather. While you can't manage the weather, you can certainly plan for it. While bad weather may not keep some installers from working, you may be particular about the condition of your floors and not appreciate the outside should your yard become a mucky mess. If having a bit of a mess isn't a problem for you, don't worry about it. But if your window replacement plans don't include a carpet cleaning session, plan appropriately. Most installers will have some method for inclement weather, so discuss what you both consider acceptable working conditions.

• Choose window materials carefully. Different materials have different life spans and may require varying levels of care to keep them looking good. The choice is ultimately left to you, but you may want to consider material when choosing your windows to ensure they will last a long time and provide the best value for your money.

• Have a disposal plan in place. Your old windows have to go somewhere, so it's a good idea to have some disposal plan before work begins. This should include where you'd like the old windows stored until you can get rid of them and how you will ultimately dispose of them. If you aren't planning to dispose of your old windows yourself, you might need to find out when your town's next local bulk trash disposal day is and what the guidelines are for disposal.

• Clear the way for installers. Be sure to clear a path so installers have a clear space to work. Relocate any furniture that usually resides beside or in front of your windows, and remove pictures, mirrors, etc., from the wall near them so they won't be knocked down accidentally. Also, consider the spaces outside your home where installers may need space to place ladders and tools. It's better to provide as clutter-free a working space as possible so there's no chance your indoor treasures can be damaged, or your flowerbeds trampled outside.

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Created on Nov 11th 2022 10:11. Viewed 99 times.

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