Window replacement can be a costly investment for any homeowner,
and especially for larger homes with lots of windows. Despite this cost, it’s
vital that homeowners plan on a new window installations on a regular basis, usually
every 7 to 10 years depending on their location and the home’s current windows.
There are many advantages to new windows, both in terms of energy costs and appearance
as well as comfort and convenience.
Five reasons your home
needs window replacement include:
Energy-efficient windows lower your utility
costs
Better interior insulation creates a more comfortable
home environment
New windows look clearer
Updated windows offer more interior sunlight
and an improved view
Various window styles are easier to clean
than standard single-hung windows
If it’s been a few years since you’ve had a window installation
in your home, you might note some vital information about the benefits of
window replacement and especially energy-efficient models. You might also
consider some details about various window styles on the market today, so you
can choose the best model for your home in particular.
Reasons Your Home Needs Window Replacement
No matter the cost, it’s good to consider regular window replacement and updates for your home, just as you would any other feature around the house. After all, you wouldn’t assume that your home’s carpeting and cabinetry will last forever, so it’s good to think about a new window installation when needed as well. Consider a few reasons why you should plan on window replacements on a regular basis for your house:
Windows provide a large part of your home’s overall insulation. Old, thin windows allow in outside heat, cold, humidity, and other bothersome elements, while today’s energy-efficient windows provide added insulation against heat and cold.
Energy-efficient windows also keep your home’s heating and air conditioning inside, so your furnace and AC work more efficiently and suffer less wear and tear throughout the years.
Today’s styles of windows also block heat without blocking sunlight, so you can enjoy a light and bright interior while avoiding a hot, stuffy feeling inside your home.
Old windows tend to suffer from scratching and etching over the years. Dirt, dust, and other debris settle into those scratches, creating a cloudy look that never goes away no matter how many times you clean those windows! New window installation offers a cleaner, clearer appearance from inside your home.
Small windows that don’t let in much sunlight can mean a dark, dull interior and an unwelcoming look. Updated window styles offer more sunlight in the home and an unobstructed view to the outside, for a more enjoyable appearance inside your house.
Small, outdated windows are often very unattractive! Upgraded, larger windows or those in a more modern style add visual interest inside the home and improve curb appeal outside as well. Bow or bay windows might also offer added seating under the windows, for a cozy reading nook or room for entertaining.
New windows might increase your home’s property values or, at the very least, ensure that you aren’t decreasing your home’s values with old, unsightly, outdated windows.
Tilt-in windows and other styles allow you to clean the outside glass from the comfort and safety of your home’s interior rooms. You can then forego the cost of professional window cleaning while also ensuring that your home is always clean and pristine and looking its best.
Picture windows don’t open and close; these might be a safer option in high-crime areas or for rooms of your home that would otherwise allow thieves to easily pry open a window and gain access to the house.
Updated safety windows with thick locks, deadbolts, and other security features also allow for added safety and less risk of someone forcing the windows open.
A new window installation with a built-in frame means less gaps and openings around the windows, for fewer drafts in wintertime and less risk of bugs and insects making their way into your home.
When Do You Need a New
Window Installation for Your Home?
While window replacements offer many benefits for homeowners,
you might still wonder when you should plan on a new window installation. In some
cases, a home’s windows are so old and unsightly that it’s obviously time for
an upgrade! However, you might also note some indicators that it’s time to budget
for window replacements for your home.
One common indicator that it’s time for new windows is when
you notice drafts around those windows in wintertime. This often means that the
windows have sagged or otherwise pulled away from the home’s framework,
resulting in gaps and leaks. Those drafts also mean that your home’s heating
and cooling are escaping around those areas, wasting energy throughout the
year.
Another indicator that you need a new window installation is
when windows always look dirty even after a thorough cleaning. Those etches and
scratches holding dirt and debris also mean that window glass is thin and
damaged and more likely to break. Thin glass also allows in hot and cold from
the outside while letting heating and cooling escape from inside your home!
It’s also good to think about new windows when the home’s
current windows seem old and unsightly and offer little visual interest inside the
home. A homeowner should appreciate the appearance of their home from both the inside
and out, and windows either enhance that appearance or make a home seem dull and
outdated. If you tend to notice beautiful windows in a neighbor’s or friend’s
home while your home’s windows seem small, drab, and unattractive, it’s time to
call window replacement companies near you!
Why Choose a Door Installation
Along With New Windows
When you call a window replacement company near you, they might
also suggest new entryway and patio doors for your home. This is not a cheap
sales tactic, as old and outdated windows also typically mean that your home
has old and outdated doors as well! As with old windows, older doors tend to
pull away from a home’s framework, creating gaps and leaks that let in heat and
cold and let out your heating and air conditioning.
Old doors with weak frames are also easier to kick open than
today’s security doors, with thick frames and secure connections and locks. Updated
patio doors also include thick glass that offers added insulation inside the
home and which is harder to smash or otherwise force open! An updated style of entryway
or patio door also means enhanced visual appeal for your home, both inside and
out. Thick wood entryway doors offer lots of traditional appeal while frameless
glass patio doors ensure extra sunlight in the home.
Tips for Choosing a
New Window Style for Your Home
When you shop for window replacements for your home, you might
be surprised at the many styles available, and a little overwhelmed with your options.
Check out a few tips for choosing the best window style for your home and be
sure to discuss these options with a window installer or designer near you.
For small rooms without much clearance, choose sliding
windows. These have one or more panes that slide to the side. The larger,
unobstructed pane allows for lots of sunlight into the room while a sliding style
doesn’t need clearance in front.
To add some grandeur in your space, opt for a
bow or bay window, which juts out from the home. These windows allow in more
light and can make a space seem larger overall.
If your home is in an areas with lots of rains
or heavy windows, choose tilt-in windows. Homes in areas with inclement weather
tend to see windows often streaked with water and dust, and tilt-in windows are
easy to clean without having to call a professional!
Double-hung windows allow you to slide the upper
pane of glass up and down, along with the lower pane. A double-hung window is
an excellent choice for rooms where you need added air circulation but don’t
necessarily want breezes blowing in your face! They’re also an excellent choice
for rooms where you want to keep the lower sash locked, such as for a child’s
playroom, while still allowing in fresh air.
For added style, choose casement windows. A casement
window is hinged at the side and opens and closes like a door. They need
clearance for their operation but add a traditional look and feel you’re sure
to love.
Hopper and awning windows are excellent choices
for kitchens and areas with trapped heat and humidity. Hopper windows are
hinged at the bottom and open outward at the top; awning windows are hinged at
the top and the bottom pane opens outward, like a window awning. The angled opening
of these windows direct trapped heat and humidity out of the home.
Consider all these options for window replacement and
discuss them with a window installer as needed. Your home will look better and
you’ll enjoy increased air circulation and sunlight when you upgrade to replacement,
energy-efficient windows.
