Many Dayton homes have old wooden windows that have begun to leak, rot, or accumulate condensation between the panes of glass. If your windows have been looking a bit worse for wear, you may be thinking about calling a window repair company. However, before you make this call, consider an alternative: replacing the windowsaltogether. Window repairs do have their place, but in the case of older windows, you’re usually better off opting for a replacement. Here’s a closer look.
1. Repairing Old Windows Is Often Only a Temporary Fix
A few decades ago, wood was the preferred window frame material because it was easy to use, affordable, and able to customized. But there is one thing wood is not: weather-resistant. By the time your wood windows start showing signs of deterioration, such as decayed wood, difficulty opening, or sagging frames, more serious deterioration is not far off. If you pay to have a broken sash or leaky frame fixed now, you’ll probably need to have additional repairs made in a year or two. Before you know it, you’ll have spent more time and money repairing your windows than you would have spent just having the windows on your Dayton home replaced.
2. Window Replacement Is a Better Investment
Even if window replacement costs you slightly more than making repairs to your old windows, it is usually a better investment. New window frame and sash materials, like Fibrex® composite, are much more durable than wood. You won’t ever have to scrape and paint Fibrex windows, which will save you countless hours and dollars on maintenance. Plus, Fibrex is more energy-efficient than wood, so your heating and cooling bills will go down when you replace the windows. The money you save on energy can help defray part of the cost of replacing your windows. New windows are also less likely to leak, which allows you to avoid costly wall and floor damage.
When choosing replacement windows, just make sure you avoid those made with vinyl. Vinyl windows are inexpensive, but you get what you pay for. They are prone to air leaks after just a few short years and will soon leave you right back where you started — with leaky, inefficient windows.
2. Damage to New Windows May Be Covered Under Warranty
What if your windows are newer and are already experiencing problems such as air leaks or trouble latching? In this case, rather than calling a window repair company, contact the company that installed your windows to see if they are covered under warranty. Renewal by Andersen offers a 20-year limited warranty on glass, 10-year limited warranty on installation, and 10-year limited warranty on parts other than glass. This warranty is fully transferable, too, so if the previous homeowner had windows installed, you can still make a claim within the warranty period. If the damage to your windows qualifies, we will replace or repair the windows as needed.
If the windows in your Dayton home are old and in poor shape, contact Renewal by Andersen. Rather than make repairs, we will recommend new, energy-efficient replacement windows that will save you a bundle on energy and simplify your lifestyle for decades to come. We offer free, in-home consultations, and our estimates are good for one year.
