A homeowner is responsible for all the hardware of their house, which ranges from roof repair to replacing old siding to fixing leaky old pipes. This also includes the windows and doors, which are not to be taken for granted. Solid, airtight windows may have window screens over them, or even shutters to protect them during bad weather, and such windows can make a house comfortable and safe to live in. Sunrooms are known for their large windows to admit sunlight, and some homeowners hire contractors to add these rooms to the house or remodel a current room. Kitchen remodeling jobs or bathroom remodeling can include window replacement if need be, and energy efficient windows are often a great choice. In other cases, only window pane replacement is necessary, rather than swapping out the entire window. When is it time for window pane replacement? Or perhaps total window replacement would be better?
Window Pane Replacement
Most often, this sort of repair work is done when just one or two panes in a window are damaged, and the damage does not extend to the entire window system. For example, a bird might fly into the window and crack a pane, or a vandal might throw objects at the window and break a pane or two. In cases like these, total window replacement is more money and trouble than it is worth. Instead, the homeowner can look up window pane replacement experts who can help, such as referring to local hardware store staff or looking online. A query such as “window pane replacement companies near me” is a good place to start, and the homeowner will compare a few companies before choosing one to help.
Once on the scene, a worker will patch up the window temporarily with a board to seal the gap, and take measurements and recommend certain models of glass panes. Once a pane type is chosen, the company will order it, and workers will install it in the window, good as new. In general, this is not a good DIY project; it is better to hire experts who can fit in the pane just right. After all, a poorly installed pane might be drafty, or fall right out. A customer can also request quotes on different replacement pane types and the fee for installation.
Total Window Replacement
In other cases, though, it is time to replace the entire window at once, and faulty windows and doors can be a serious liability for the house. Old, shoddy windows and doors are fragile and warped, and they don’t fit well inside their frames in the house. Such loose, ill-shaped windows and doors admit air drafts, which disrupt the house’s climate control and thus the HVAC system will be overworked. That can get expensive in a hurry. Not only that, but these old windows and doors are a security hazard, since it is relatively easy for intruders to force these doors and windows open, or break them down. And if nothing else, old windows and doors look ugly, being scratched or stained, pitted, damaged by termites, etc. Such hardware will not impress home buyers who visit when the house is put up for sale.
For these reasons and more, window and door replacement companies can be found and hired to help, and often, kitchen remodeling or bathroom remodeling will include window replacement on top of everything else. Once on the premises, the workers will remove the old windows and doors in question, and measure the holes in the walls and make recommendations about what to put in their place. A new window may be not only tough and stylish, but it can also be double-paned, which helps insulate the house better, especially in winter. The new windows and doors, once available, will be test-fitted, then permanently installed into the house, and sealed with caulk and other materials to prevent air drafts.
New windows and doors fix all the problems of the old ones, from preventing air drafts to looking attractive to home buyers. They are also generally more difficult for burglars to break into. Thus, new windows and doors can increase a house’s price on the market, and this allows window replacement to generate a fair ROI, or return on investment.