Door and Window Repair and Replacements

If you have somewhat newer or double pane windows most likely they have a lifespan of 10-15 years as is typically recommended by the manufacturer. Around the 10-15yr mark, your seals start to weaken due to being exposed to the outside elements. Older single-pane windows are usually a huge culprit for air leaking which in turn can raise the cost of your heating and cooling bill. Regarding exterior doors, it just depends on the location of the door. If a door is located underneath a large, covered porch it most likely will have a longer lifespan since it has more protection from the exterior elements. If it is a metal-wrapped door with a solid core it will last longer than a solid wooden door that may warp over time. A higher quality door that is properly installed and has the correct maintenance can last up to 50yrs.

One of the big ways to cut down the gas or electrical bill on older houses with single-pane windows is to replace them with a double-pane window. Single-pane windows also will have old ugly storm windows attached to them. Prior to double-pane windows, storm windows were the norm. In the long run it is worth replacing windows since it will help cut down on heating and cooling costs plus it will increase the curb appeal and add to the resale value of the home. As long as your exterior door is not allowing sunlight or air around it, you are probably good to leave it. Aesthetic-wise you can always paint your exterior door instead of replacing it if you are only concerned with the look of it.

Most likely you’ll get a minor price break to replace multiple windows at once compared to just replacing one window. This is due to the fact that you’re having the project set up and tear-down time spread out across multiple windows instead of just one window.

We recommend people replace their windows at the end of the summer or early fall. Springs rains are hard to work around and cause a scheduling nightmare. At the end of summer or early fall, you may not be losing a ton of heat out of the window opening compared to doing it during a colder time of year.

Vinyl windows have a longer lifespan than the majority of windows. However, we would recommend an aluminum-wrapped wood window. The aluminum windows are more structurally sound and usually of a higher quality than a vinyl window.

Any metal-wrapped door with a solid wood core has a longer life expectancy than a plain wood door. Once you start adding windows and such you add more liability to the door. If there is a window seal on the door it now becomes your weakest link.

Windows that are NOT replacement windows need to be replaced from the exterior of the home. There is a nailing flange on the window that needs to be nailed to the exterior sheathing. This nailing flange is then covered with flashing and your exterior window trim which your siding butts into. Although, if the windows being installed are considered replacement windows, then the installation process is slightly different. Replacement windows are installed inside of the old window frame. Going with replacement windows is typically a more cost-effective route although it may not be as aesthetically pleasing as getting non-replacement windows.

If you’re going to install non-replacement windows 9 times out of 10 there may be a minor amount of siding that has to be removed and replaced after install. If the exterior window trim is larger the siding may not need to come off. Although, replacement windows are mainly installed in the frame of the old window which removes the hassle of messing with the siding.

As long as a window is going into an existing opening one day for completion is reasonable. But if a window is going into a location where there was not one previously it takes a little bit longer.