Details About Home Window Replacement You Never Thought to Ask
What are the window replacement details you never thought to ask? Here’s the must-know information our COO, Andy Lindus, shared on a recent program.
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While insulation, ventilation, and drafty windows tend to be top of mind during the winter months, they should not be left ignored as exterior heat and humidity levels rise. Excessive levels of home humidity can lead to mold growth and wood warping. In simple cases, exhaust fans and dehumidifiers can remedy the issue. This, however, is not the case with wet attic insulation which requires complete replacement. Windows that have mold, mildew, drafts, and fogginess in the glass are also past their lifespan and a reputable professional should be leaned on for window replacement. When selecting a contractor, their reputation should be a much bigger consideration than how fast they’re able to complete the work. Reliable contractors quickly book up, while those less experienced can often jump on work much quicker.
See How Windows are Removed to Make Way for New House Windows:
Window Warranties
While home windows often look similar in appearance, the difference in warranties can be substantial. Verify whether the window companies you’re interviewing offer a lifetime workmanship warranty. This means that the installing contractor will replace any windows that fail prematurely due to subpar workmanship. There are fewer things more frustrating than having a home improvement product deteriorate only to have the installing contractor and the product manufacturer bicker about which party is responsible. Until the issue is resolved, the homeowner is left high and dry.
It’s also to a homeowner’s benefit to ask what kind working relationship a contractor has with the manufacturer and of the window they’re installing and what kind of training their installation team has been provided with. Window product warranties should be accompanied with a lifetime transformable warranty on all parts. If the manufacturer opts to put a cap on the warranty duration, look for a warranty that extends at least 30 years.
A Window’s Spacer System
Window panes are often filled with argon gas. Crypton is also available and will increase a window’s R-value over argon, but at a significant cost. It’s worth noting that how a window is filled and sealed are more important than the gas being used. A window’s spacer system is comprised of the materials utilized to hold the pieces of glass together. It’s a material other than glass and therefore has a different expansion and contraction rate.
Top priorities should be a material that’s durable and doesn’t conduct energy well. The best manufacturers utilize stainless steel in their window spacer systems in order to avoid catastrophic seal failure which results in the need for window replacement. Frustratingly enough, seal failure can occur in less than a decade in windows with inferior spacer systems, made from materials, such as foam and vinyl.
For more information about our replacement window services, contact us today. Our team of window professionals is ready to serve you.
Our team answers homeowner questions every weekend on WCCO 830 AM from 9:00 am-10:00 am. Have your most pressing home improvement questions answered by calling or texting 651.461.9226.
