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Home Improvements - Questions and Answers
When considering home improvements, it is important to ask
family members for their opinions. So, how do you evaluate the
answers?
Typical Discoveries
Talking with family members about home improvements will lead to
surprising answers....
How To Install Professional Looking Porch Railings
Designing A Professional Porch Railings
If you plan to install a professional looking porch railings for the first time you want to ensure you do it right the first time. This requires among other things proper design and proper planning....
Kitchen Cabinets - Reface or Replace?
Kitchen Cabinets - Reface or Replace?
Homeowners sometimes ask themselves if they really need to
replace the cabinets. Why not just "reface" them ? To decide if
your kitchen remodel warrants replacing cabinets or you should
consider...
Matching & Co-ordinating Your Home To Make It More Desirable
When looking to create that desirable and harmonious feeling you get in some properties, making sure you co-ordinate is a key area to keep in mind. Matching and co-ordinating is all about making sure the different areas of your property gel...
Spring Home Projects in Northern New England
As I sit on a plane in route from Chicago to Boston this evening, I realize I have been staring out into the dark abyss contemplating the arrival of spring. Spring is a time of anticipation and renewed life. A time when the snow finally abates...
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Buying Replacement Windows
While most buyers of double glazing are looking for replacement windows to help reduce their energy costs, or because their old windows are rattling in their frames, there's a whole class of buyers who are 'trading up' - replacing perfectly good window frames for the sake of having the windows they want. They may be looking to replace all of their windows with a different style, or trying to restore their home to its architectural period.
And then there are the homes that were fitted with the first wave of double glazed windows in the 1960s and 1970s. The original windows that featured double glazing as an energy saving measure were aluminum framed and conformed to the best energy standards of their day. There have been enormous advances since then - in materials, techniques and styles. For many people, it's time to upgrade to the new standards, even if the old windows are still holding firm.
There are other reasons that people turn to replacement windows as well. Last spring, for instance, my mother decided it was time to replace the mullioned casement windows in her kitchen. She's always hated them, but they came with the house - and were brand new when she bought it. She shopped around for months until she finally found exactly what she wanted - a full three three-sided greenhouse window with shelving built into the window frames. Each pane is double glazed, and the entire effect is stunning. Her choice of replacement window transformed the entire kitchen.
Whatever your reason for seeking replacement windows, the following advice can help you choose the right ones.
Prioritize your needs
Think through your reasons for replacing your windows and place a priority on each. There are many choices of materials and styles of replacement windows available, and each has
distinct advantages over the others. If you're concerned with restoration, for example, and want authenticity, then wood framed double glazed windows will probably be at the top of your list. If your primary need in replacing windows is affordability, then PVCu framed windows are a far better choice.
Do your research
Research windows and styles, certainly, but also check into the companies that you choose to do business with. Ask around to friends who've replaced windows about their experience with particular suppliers and contractors.
Invite three to four companies to your home to get an estimate
Don't make a choice based on one double glazing price quote. After you've checked around, choose three or four companies that have a good reputation and have been in business for some time and make an appointment for them to come to your home. They'll need to see the scope of the job to give you a reasonable estimate of the price to do it.
Always have your windows measured by a professional
Don't order based on your own measurements, no matter how reliable you think they are. Choose a company that will take the measurements themselves, if for no other reason that it then becomes THEIR responsibility if any of the windows ordered don't fit the space for them.
Finally, don't assume that you're stuck with the same look you've got. Replacement windows can make a spectacular difference in your home's appearance and value. Barring prohibition for historical or council reasons, you can have that picture or bay window you've always wanted. It's all a matter of finding it.
About the Author
Matthew Anthony writes for many home improvement sites including double glazing and window treatments and blinds.
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