If the budget crunch just slammed the door on the home renovation you were dreaming about, take a look at your windows.

How do they look?
If your home is more than 15 years old, look for evidence of rotten wood, cloudiness or moisture on the glass, and drafts around sills. According to Brian Buresh of Buresh Home Solutions, even if you see none of these warning signs, windows that are 10 years old or more are significantly less efficient than those on the market today. “A lot of people choose to upgrade windows for better energy efficiency even if they aren’t having any major problems.”

What are your options?
The two most common window types are vinyl and wood. The majority of wood windows are actually wood-clad (solid-wood windows wrapped in a low-maintenance product, with a vinyl or aluminum exterior and wood interior). Vinyl windows offer easier maintenance, says Rob Walker of Beisser Lumber. “You can care for vinyl windows with virtually nothing more than a roll of paper towels and some glass cleaner.” 

Wood or wood-clad windows are treated by the manufacturer with a preservative and may include prefinished interior trim that can be stained or painted. Wood products require a bit more care.
Both types are available in dozens of options not available even 10 years ago. Although some manufacturers only offer vinyl products in two or three shades, many offer both vinyl and aluminum in more than a dozen colors.

Why should you replace?
If you’re seeing any signs of deterioration, you should replace the affected windows as soon as possible. Buresh explains, “Sometimes people put off replacement, thinking they can’t afford it, or they’ll wait until they can do a whole bunch at once. By then, a job that could have cost a few hundred dollars has jumped into the thousands because you have more damage than just a window.” Starting small also lets you see how your contractor works and how smoothly the process will go.

Replacing old, less-efficient units with energy-efficient ones can save you hundreds in heating and cooling bills each year, therefore paying for the project in a very short time. New windows reduce energy costs 15% to 25%. Federal tax credits and manufacturer rebates on qualifying products can save even more. Your contractor can provide details on these programs.

What will it cost?
The cost to replace a window will vary depending on quality, size, finish options, and other factors. On average, a basic replacement—no repair, no bells or whistles—will run anywhere from $300 to $700 per window. Because sizes differ from one manufacturer to the next, be sure to have your contractor compare options with more than one company. “Custom” to one might be “standard” to another.

What comes first?
You can start by choosing the windows yourself, but most professionals recommend finding a good contractor first. “You want to make sure you’re getting a reputable company and someone who knows windows,” says Buresh. Not only will you benefit from expert advice, but the contractor may be able to offer additional discounts and options that you won’t find on your own. 

Walker agrees. “A quality contractor does the entire job,” he says. “You want someone who can diagnose and correct any problems—whether you have framing issues or other damage to
correct or whether you simply want more-efficient windows.” 

Both Buresh and Walker note that a complete window replacement job should mean the homeowner doesn’t have to lift a finger—not to paint, not to clean up, not even to remove the stickers from the glass.

Replacing your old windows with new, efficient ones can pay off, both now and down the road, in lower energy costs and higher resale value. If the home renovation door is closed for now, you have window options!

 

RESOURCES

Beisser Lumber & Design Services

Buresh Home Solutions