Unlike many other items on your home maintenance checklist, when to replace your windows isn’t so clear-cut. In most cases, replacing your window pane, frame, or the entire unit is the only way to combat the inevitable complications of aging windows. The following five warning signs are good indicators that upgrading your windows is no longer an option – but rather a necessity.
1. Your windows no longer perform properly.
Do you have trouble opening or closing your windows? Do they stick or slide off the track? Horizontal and vertical slider windows can be tough to work with because of excess buildup of dirt and grime on the tracks. Lubrication will aid you in opening or closing the window, but only temporarily.What about your drapes? Are they fading? Has your house become especially noisy? Your windows should be blocking excess sun light and noise so that your drapes and furniture stay in mint condition, and you can be free from that noisy neighbourhood kid that likes to play basketball at the most inconvenient hours. If you’ve answered yes to these questions, your windows are definitely due for an upgrade.
2. Your windows look a little (or a lot) on the rough side.
Is the paint on your window exteriors peeling? Believe it or not, taking care of your windows is considered general maintenance and can negatively effect the value of your home if neglected. Disregarding your windows can actually cost you up to 5% the overall value of the property!FUN FACT: Upgrading your windows is actually one of the cheapest ways to enhance your “curb appeal.”
3. Your windows need a lot of time and attention.
Are your exterior windows high up and difficult to clean? Do they show dirt, spotting, and streaking easily? If your windows are taking extra effort to look ‘spic and span,’ your windows have lost an important coating. Over time heat from the sun degrades the glass and no amount of elbow grease will solve this problem! Consider upgrading your windows to save time and energy on this tedious task.
4. Your energy bill has become unusually high.
Are you spending more to heat and cool your home than you should be? By upgrading your windows, you can take advantage of new energy-efficient technologies. Caulking, weatherstripping, and storm windows can be used to prevent any unnecessary air (and even water) leakage from outside. Your windows play a vital role in your energy bill – Don’t let them cost you money that you should be saving!
5. You’re doing exterior renovations.
Already planning to give the exterior of your home a makeover? Want to learn more about the benefits of replacing your windows, doors, and siding simultaneously? Of course you do!When renovating, installing your windows before the siding will allow for them to be correctly placed against the frame of your house. This also reduces the likelihood that your new windows will become damaged.If a full exterior renovation is out of your budget, no worries! We’ll install your new windows properly so they match the overall look and feel of your pre-existing exterior.
Are you seeing any of these warning signs? Call the Beverley Hills Windows and Doors experts at 1-800-263-4515, or drop by a showroom location today to schedule a step-by-step in-home consultation.