Whether you live in a drafty old Victorian "gem" or a "mid-century ranch," the time may have come to consider replacement windows for your home. Years of rain, wind and hot sun causes deterioration in your old windows. Or, you may simply want more efficient glazing as windows are where the most energy is lost in homes, even fairly new ones. Before you start tearing out sashes and ripping out sill, though, take a walk around your home and look at the way windows (or "lights") fit into the general design of your home. Whether you're just replacing or want to restore an old home, the balance of lights to solid surface is what makes the design of a house look "right." While you're touring, check the sills and trim for signs of deterioration. If a sill is "mushy" on the inside, you may need to plan on some major carpentry work.
Replacement windows should fit the architecture of the house but they should also improve window efficiency. Aluminum windows, the first mass-produced replacement, conduct heat and cold like crazy and are the least desirable alternative where heating or air conditioning seasons are long. Vinyl frames are less conductive and wood is least conductive of all. Glass types can also affect the "look of a window as well as contribute to efficiency. Glass varies from double-pane, to "low E" glass or even old-fashioned hand-blown high-lead content glass, all with their own unique look. Argon gas thermo-panes tend to deteriorate with time, sometimes lasting only a few years but multi-layered "E-glass" tends to have a dark or silvery cast to it. Windows on a face of the house should probably be glazed with the same material if others that will not be replaced contain a distinctive glass (like hand-blown "bubbly" or E-glass). Consider all alternatives and determine what's appropriate for the look of the house and the climate. Get several estimates for any carpentry work that will be needed before replacement windows are installed to establish how much will actually be available for the windows themselves.
Replacing all the windows may be worth taking out a home improvement loan if most windows are nearing the end of their lives. Carpentry costs are the first item in the budget. Then the actual work of choosing begins. A tightly sealed single-glazed wood storm window will outperform aluminum thermo-pane (if such a thing exists) but will be considerably more expensive. E-glass may not be needed on north and east-facing sides of a house. Vinyl may pay for itself faster in terms of maintenance than wood does in efficiency. Choose stock and custom sizes according to the style and balance of the house. Removal of the old windows and installation of the new should proceed with a minimum of nasty surprises when the replacement process is based on knowledgeable choices.
Taking Stock
Examining Alternatives
Making Choices
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