This blog is about house windows, window repairs , glass replacement, window replacement, or what to look for when purchasing new windows when you are thinking of building a new home...

There is more to windows than just getting them to open and stay open. There are styles, brands, and efficiency factors to consider today compared to 20-40 years ago.. Styles available today very from vinyl, aluminum, and wood windows for starters and insulated Low-E glass has becoming the new standard compared to those products from the 80's and 90's. Before making an expensive purchase you should consider all the pros and cons of each style and brand of window to make a good sound decision. It is not always wise to install a newer more efficient window by replacing your old windows as you may never reap the financial benefits in your lifetime. I have seen to often a customers quick lunge to upgraded their windows only to be haunted with different set of headaches from faulty design flaws or improper installation! So please feel free to read on and excuse my work still in progress.

Why is my window glass going bad?

Homeowners have frequently relay their frustrations to me and feel of being ripped off by their builder or the window manufacturer for providing and installing badly designed windows. The truth is even the builders fall prey to bad windows and don't always know what the best window brand is for the money. Lets face it though the majority of builders do shoot for a mid to lower grade of window to keep building cost down this goes without saying in cookie cutter homes since high end windows can cost up to 4 times more than a standard window. Unless complaints from homeowners come back to haunt the builder after the house is built they will continue to stick with the cheaper window.

So who's to blame? Well it could be the installation of the window itself If the window is installed out of square by the framer. I would put the blame on the builder or installer. If the windows are leaking rain above the window itself, again I blame the installer or builder. If the windows are getting moisture glass within a couple of years after being installed or are not operating well it could be the window manufacturers issue. You would be the better judge to the answer to these questions.

One helpful hint in phrasing windows stick with a brand that has been around for a long time and are seen all though your town or city. If the window manufacture has been in business for 20-50 years they have had a chance to fix the flaws that make for a bad window and if they are all throughout your city and state parts should be easier to access

Email me if you have a question or an issue that you are not sure about.

trueamericans2001-awsomglassworks@yahoo.com

The below illustrations show the most common window styles and their names by the way they operate. Refer back to these if you have questions about your own window styles or windows you were considering purchasing. Picture windows also called fixed windows are not shown but can be attached or mulled to each of these in one way or another.

If your windows are not functioning well or at all then the installation of new windows can give you great peace of mind in having a functioning secondary emergency exit. Also newer window designs today can also give you a more efficient window. But don’t make the mistake in thinking that by changing all your older windows to a newer more efficient window you will start you saving big money in energy savings. The shear cost of new windows alone will cost you a lot more than you can recover back in energy savings in your lifetime not to mention the contract labor charges . Some window styles like wood and vinyl windows will save you more in energy savings than aluminum style windows but windows are the worst part of your house as far as insulation. Don't get me wrong I am not bashing more efficient windows. Today's wood windows will save you in energy cost it is just questionable if and when you will you will retrieve all the money you invested in the upgrade. Newer windows today range from cheap (depending what you call cheap) to "Yeouch" ! This does depend on the style of coarse . Going cheap on aluminum window will cost you in energy savings while wood and vinyl will cost you in the first initial cost of the window. Making a fine line on efficiency versus cost but will cause you possible future headaches in warranty repairs.Stick with a name brand window that has been around for some time.

Windows that are just beyond repair should be replaced if nothing else but for safety reasons.

Factor in all cost if you are going to replace your windows though IE… the cost of new windows, labor cost, time, and misc materials. Even on the cheap side it will get very expensive quickly depending on how many windows you need and the sizes needed.

The labor. Installing new windows (if you hire someone) can tend to cost you more than the windows themselves and this is especially true if they are installed with outside brick or stucco and the windows are larger in size than the original opening. Even more-so if they are on the second or third floor. This is not to saying you have to tear out the brick to install a new window. If the window is slightly smaller than the opening this is the ideal scenario for a new install. On the other hand if the window is slightly larger than the opening you will have to disturb the brick/stucco studs, sill or even header making it labor intense and costly.

SIDE NOTE: When hiring a contractor NEVER put all your money upfront for the job. The person or persons holding money has leverage power so don't give up all your power, 1/2 deposit is a reasonable amount and the rest upon completion. The contractor may require to work off a draw type of payment, you can do this but be cautious, if the contractor drags the work on for weeks or months longer than it should he can drain most of your money and could insist for more money to complete the job.

You can however save a lot of money just in labor cost if you can do it yourself. Don't assume that its going to be easy even in the best case scenario. Make sure you know what you are doing and think about what is behind each wall. You do not want added expenses in redirecting a water pipe, PVC pipe ,or electrical wires so don't just start cutting in to the wall with a sawzall. When it comes to installation have a minimum of one other person on hand helping or more depending on the sizes of the windows .

The time. After ordering the windows allow a minimum of 3 weeks for the windows to arrive. If hiring a contractor ask the contractor to submit you a contract on how long they anticipate installation once the windows arrive. You want something in writing but try to be a little flexible with the contractor if it takes longer than expected due to problems such as back-orders or broken glass just for example then it is out of his control unless he is the one making the mistakes. Expect “Murphy’s Law” to kick in somewhere and expect to spend more money than you anticipated. If nether happen then you really have something to brag about. Installation itself depends on the laborers experience, how many are helping, style of window along with how and where the windows are located. If doing yourself allow 1 full day per window and hopefully you will surpass this. It's better if the new windows are slightly smaller than the original windows at least 1/4” this allows 1/8”on both top-bottom and 1/8” on left and right sides, you will be amazed at how little clearance 1/4" gives and ALWAYS measure twice before ordering. This is if you can special order custom sized windows, not all window companies such as wood window companies will do this so expect to pay more for that service if they will custom size them.

· ...Note: A window for example called a 3860 in size goes by the width in the first two digits the second two digits are the height of the window, “38” stands for “three feet-eight inches in width” and “60” stands for “six foot-zero inches in height”. This is a standard size tool for window companies but do not assume that buying a new 3860 window and your old 3860 window in your house are the same sizes. There can be as much as 1” variation in width or height from the older and the newer window making it either to big or smaller than the original window opening.

Materials. Other than the cost of the windows themselves materials cost depends on underlying wood rot or if the windows are a different size from the original opening. If there is wood rot do the right thing now and replace the wood you will never have a better time to do it or termites, wood ants, or mold cam eventually infest the area. Short standard lists of materials are: 2 x 4 studs or 2 x 6 depending on your wall, tar paper. interior and exterior Wood trim, Header flashing, Sheet rock, sheet rock joint tape, nails, float and texture, Caulk, and Paint and Tools galore. Guys you will never have a better excuse to buy tools tell her it will save you money if you do it yourself and it is true so you don’t have to lie about it.