Replacement windows improve the appearance of your home, but there are other reasons to have them installed. If you’re renovating an older home, the windows may have rotting wood frames, be stuck in a shut position due to shifting of the house or be rattly and drafty.
Windows have become much more energy efficient and easier to maintain. It may even be worth investing in new windows for their convenience. No matter why you get them, quality windows should improve the value of your home, so the investment is worthwhile. Here are some reasons to consider replacing your windows.
OLD WOOD FRAMES ARE DECAYED OR DAMAGED
Wood tends to deteriorate over time due to weather exposure and insect damage. If the frames are decayed, they’ll need to be replaced. Even if the wood is still in fairly good shape, it may be damaged from sun exposure and rain, which affects the appearance of your home.
Sometimes windows are damaged by shifting of your home’s foundation. When that happens, a window gets stuck in the frame and you can’t open it any longer. Even worse is when you force a window open and then can’t get it closed again. When you buy replacement windows, you can have them custom fitted so they fit securely and glide easily once again.
YOU’RE TIRED OF THE UPKEEP REQUIRED FOR WOOD
Wood has to be maintained properly to keep it looking nice. You’ll have to scrape flaking paint off the frames regularly and add new paint. If you’re tired of constant home maintenance chores, then when you renovate, you should use as many maintenance-free materials as you can.
If your retirement years aren’t too far off, you’ll be able to save the labor and expense of maintaining wood frames if you replace them with aluminum clad or vinyl frames now. Both vinyl and aluminum windows are practically maintenance-free since they don’t flake or need to be painted. New windows are also easier to clean since you can tip them inside to clean the inside and outside without having to go outdoors and stand on a ladder.
YOU WANT BETTER CLIMATE CONTROL IN YOUR HOME
New windows are much better at keeping out cold and hot air. If you want to eliminate cold drafts in the winter, choose new windows with multiple panes of glass. These have gas or air between the panes that acts as insulation that blocks the transfer of heat. Even the frames of new windows are insulated. Vinyl windows have interior insulation to make them more energy efficient.
You’ll probably see some savings on your monthly power bill as the result of getting new windows, but the most noticeable difference is the comfort level in your home. If it is always chilly near the windows in the winter, replacement windows will help eliminate these pockets of cold air that makes sitting or sleeping next to a window uncomfortable.
YOU’RE RENOVATING TO SELL THE HOME
If you’re fixing up an older home to put it on the market, then putting in new windows will make the home more attractive and desirable to potential buyers. New windows might also affect the price and allow you to get more money on the sale that helps pay for the expense of the replacement windows. New frames with new glass freshen the appearance of your home. Plus, new windows come with a transferable warranty, which potential buyers may like.
Whether you’re considering new windows for a home you want to flip or one you want to live in, you’ll have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to framing materials and type of glass for your replacement windows. Visit Paris Building Supply to see what’s available and for help choosing the best new windows for your renovation project.