Getting Replacement Windows

The home is over 30 years old. The windows have had it. You can hardly get them open any more and the screens have long since been tossed out.

It takes two hands pushing or pulling to open or close your patio doors. The cats climbed up the screen so often, it had to be removed because it not only was no longer functional, it looked awful.

So now it's clearly time to do something about your home's windows. But what to do?

You have two choices. You can either have all the windows and doors replaced (which requires extra expense, time and permits), or you can have what's called "window replacement". When you remove the windows and doors completely, including the frames, you run into structural issues that require pulling permits and having inspections.

But if you're merely doing window replacement, where a new frame is installed inside the existing frame, then you don't need a permit. The cost is generally less expensive, but it's still a chore to do. So here are a few helpful tips to help you through the process:

• Choose a reputable window company. With hundreds of companies out there vying for your business, you want one that is reputable with lots of experience.
• Choose a company that supplies you with plenty of references. Call a few of them. Get their feedback.
• Choose a company that furnishes you with a copy of their business license, their liability insurance, and their worker's comp insurance. You don't want anything to fall back on you legally or financially if a worker gets injured on your property.
• When they tell you it will take 3 weeks to manufacture the windows to your specifications, it will actually take 4-5 weeks.
• When they tell you they can replace all of your windows in a single day, laugh. My latest project only required 4 locations out of about 20. Two workers showed up around 10:00 in the morning and did not leave until 9:00 PM. My advice: don't try to do it all at one time. Break out your project into smaller segments. If you are not happy with the first segment, find another company to finish the job.
• If a worker tells you that you have an "unusual problem" and you can see that you will be left with windows that look unfinished or not appropriate, don't believe him. Your home is going to have been built the same way every other home was built at the time it was built. There will be nothing "unusual" about it and your installer should not encounter any "surprises". Make them do the job right and to your full satisfaction.
• Never pay more than 50% in advance. Do not pay the balance until or unless you are totally happy.
• Watch out for messy workmanship. This can come on the inside or the outside, particularly when it comes to any damage they do to your walls and the sealing of the frames to your walls with caulking.
• If they finish the job at night, reserve any written comments they ask you to make until the next day when you can inspect the work in the daylight.
• Make sure all of the caulking is done properly and evenly. You don't want any gaps that leave you exposed to water penetration, mildew or mold.
• Do not make the final payment without getting a Lien Release from the Window company. This protects you against sellers who don't pay the manufacturer for the product that was placed into your home.

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Barbara Jennings

Barbara Jennings is one of the foremost authorities on interior redesign, home staging and art consulting. She trains entrepreneurs from all over the world through her online tutorials and courses. Author of 9 books for the decorating and design field, she is widely respected for her expertise and affordable training programs, customer support and on-going mentoring services.

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