How-To : Home Improvement

Whenever I write an article, it’s usually tailored to the do-it-yourself homeowner to help them save some money on the high cost of labor these days. This article is for the “not so handy” homeowner who wants to have new vinyl windows installed in their home. So, where do you begin? Well, the first step is to get estimates. You should always get 3 estimates. Keep in mind that the price you are quoted doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of the product. For example, I used to wear the hat of Owner, Salesman, and Installer. So, when I would give an estimate, my only markup would be to pay my salary. On the other extreme, some companies have an inside sales staff who do telemarketing as well as mail solicitation. These people set up in-home estimates. Then, there is an outside sales staff who visit the customer for an in-home estimate. If the customer signs a contract, there is another employee who measures your windows. Then, the installation crew comes out and actually installs your windows. In many cases, you never even see or talk to the owner. Now, imagine if this company, let’s call them shears, was selling the exact same window that I was selling. After you got both estimates, you might be inclined to think that my product must be inferior if I’m able to sell it so much cheaper. The reality is, it’s cheaper because I pay two salaries; my salary and my other installer’s salary. The other owner has to pay his own salary plus Inside sales, outside sales, field measurer, and installation crew.

So, when you get each estimate, these are the important things to know about that particular brand: What kind of warranty do they offer? Any reputable vinyl window manufacturer should offer a lifetime warranty because any quality vinyl window and door really is made to last a lifetime. Ask how long the MANUFACTURER has been making vinyl windows. A lifetime warranty is meaningless if the manufacturer goes out of business. Once you’re confident that the manufacturer is well established, find out how long the installer has been replacing windows. Make sure they are licensed and insured. Being licensed and insured doesn’t necessarily mean they’re good, but it does give them accountability. I knew an unlicensed window installer who was as good as any licensed installer, but if he were to mess up a job, the customer had no recourse against him.

Once you are satisfied with the price, manufacturer, and installer, you can determine the level of quality of the actual product. You can get all hung up on specs such as U-Value, R-Value, Air infiltration, etc. But i believe you can actually get more confused if you start trying to compare all of those numbers. Just ask if the product is an energy star rated window. If the answer is yes, then you know the specs meet the highest government standards. You can confirm this by going to the Energy star website.If the manufacturer is listed on the energy star site, you can be sure that the U-Value, R-Value, SHGC, and Air infiltration tests have met the requirements. So, now you can concentrate on some of the functional parts of your window. If you are in the market for a single hung or double hung window, ask about the mechanism that is used to hold up your window sashes. If they still use the old spring and string method (sometimes referred to as block and tackle), or the spiral metal balances, you are not getting a high quality window. The constant force balance system is more technologically advanced. It uses a titanium coil that is designed to last longer than you or I. Also, a good quality hung window will have sashes that can tilt in so you can clean the glass from inside the home. This is a nice feature to have, especially if your windows are on the second floor. Just these two items can tell you a lot about the quality of the window. On horizontal sliders, look at the weep holes located on the lower fron of the window. There will be one on each end. These holes are there to drain out any water that might get inside. On many windows, the weep hole is just a punched hole that leads to the inside track. Unfortunately, with this type of situation, a strong wind can blow cold air and dirt through those holes, right into the home. A better quality window will have a one-way trap door on the weep holes. The door stays closed against wind and dust, but if any water gets into the inside track, the door will open to allow the water to escape. Also, check the frame corners. A quality window has welded corners. The vinyl corners are welded through a heat and cool process. A lesser grade window will use screws to hold the corners together. When you make your appointment for the estimate, be sure to request a sample of the window be brought to your home so you can visually check these things.

A salesman is taught to focus on their product’s strong points and avoid the weak points, so it’s up to you to stay focused yourself, and don’t allow yourself to be distracted. “How long has the manufacturer been in business?” “What is their warranty?” “Are the windows Energy Star rated?” “Are the installers licensed and insured?” “What mechanism holds up the sashes on the hung windows?” “Do they tilt in?” “Are the frames welded or screwed together?” “Do the horizontal sliders have weep hole covers?” If you get satisfactory answers to these questions, you are on your way to a positive vinyl window experience.

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978.
To learn more, visit How To Install Windows

All the cheap prices are usually for bargain replacement windows that might not be built well or last very long. Fortunately a number of companies have improved their custom manufacturing processes which actually lower the costs in replacement windows. Customarily this level of improvement was a quick fix, but now there are so many choices in window replacement which gives the buyer a lot more to think about. Have your window replacement job done by true professionals, so you won’t be revisiting the issue any time soon. Before you assume replacement windows are cheap, you should research online the window brand you have, this way you will find the best deals that are available. Before assuming that your insurance plan covers a replacement window you should check with them.

Different kinds of windows and replacement methods will have to be decided on evaluate, so make sure you have done a bit of research on your own. Another advantage of some of the state of the art insulated windows is the reduction of outside sounds. Home improvement services will include replacement windows in your budget when figuring how much it will cost to upgrade your dwelling. Before assuming that you do not need to get any kind of replacement window coverage you should keep in mind that windows do not come cheap if you have to pay out of pocket for a replacement.

Before assuming every window replacement fits any style of window, you should get the measurements of the window that needs to be replaced. Another advantage of selecting vinyl replacement windows is durability and they are usually less expensive than some other materials. For a lot of people the decision to replace a window often goes a great deal further than how much it will cost with all the advancements in technology.

Before assuming you do not need a window replacement and you can just stick a towel or a trash bag over the window, you may want to think again. For many customers replacement windows might be a perplexing decision to mull over with so many options out there to choose from. Replacement window jobs are a common home remodeling project and a big factor in insulating the home from outside weather effects. Different models of windows that you can install in your house can be found if you are a hands on type of individual.

[tags]window, windows, replacement window[/tags]

All the usual details of durability, attractiveness, and affordability add to the numerous features that might be found in modern replacement windows. Home improvement companies that offer replacement windows for vinyl windows are starting to offer them at a lower price. Different types of coatings have been made to allow for high or moderate solar gain, depending on what you are looking for in your replacement windows. Luckily, a home improvement loan may make even the biggest window replacement costs seem like less of a burden when you can make payments over time. This type of project can be very time consuming, but a replacement window company can really help speed up the process. Customarily this endeavor was very easy to decide, back when there were only a few options in window replacements. An important point to consider is that often the best prices are typically for bargain replacement windows that may not be built well and may not last long.

A number of companies have improved their custom manufacturing processes which actually lowest the costs in replacement windows. For many people the decision to replace a window often goes much further than how much it will cost, with all the advancements in technology. Home improvement services are everywhere; they do renovations from inside and out, and they can also give you a great price for replacement windows. If you have single-pane windows, you will probably really be happy to know that the replacement window is relatively inexpensive.

Before assuming every window replacement fits any style of window, you should get the measurements of the window that needs to be replaced. Different types of replacement windows, some of which look better than others, can be found for great prices when starting a replacement window project. Some have found that adding insulation around their replacement window helps keep the cool air out during the winter months. Even repairing a few broken windows will create several decisions for the buyer to think about when considering to replacing a window. I have tried several local lumber and the big box stores to see if they had a replacement for a stock window. In some instances, the replacement window will need to be custom built because of an odd size, and may end up costing a little more than you had expected.

Home improvement resources for replacement windows may be found by doing an online search. Everything from interior & exterior custom designed kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom replacement windows. Another consideration is that a lot of actual replacement window installations can take 5 to seven business days because of the size of the building.

[tags]replacement window,windows,home improvement[/tags]