When it comes time to replace your windows, there are two primary options to consider. You can have inserts placed inside your window, leaving the original frames intact. Or, you can opt for a full frame window replacement in which the entire frame, sash, and glass are replaced. Since many Michigan homes have old wooden window frames that deteriorate as they age, a full frame window replacement is often the best choice. Here are five facts you need to know about this window replacement option.
1. Full Frame Window Replacement Improves Energy Efficiency
If your window frames are older, air may leak in through cracks in the frames. Some frame materials are also quite inefficient, which means heat travels right through them. If you replace the full window frame, you can greatly improve the efficiency of your windows. New, composite window frame materials, like Fibrex® from Renewal by Andersen, are more energy efficient than older frame materials like wood. Fibrex windows also resist warping, so they result in fewer air leaks as the windows age.
2. Full Frame Replacement Windows Can Preserve Your Home’s Appearance
Some homeowners worry that by replacing their window frames, they will take away their home’s authentic style. However, today’s replacement window frames can be made to look like traditional windows if that’s the look you prefer. Fibrex window frames can be finished to look just like natural wood, which is perfect for a country home or a Craftsman home. You can also choose window frames in white, brown, navy blue, or a wide array of other colors to suit your taste.
3. Replacing the Full Window Allows You To Alter the Window Style
Do you have casement windows on your Michigan home, but wish you had double-hung windows? Maybe there’s an awkward sliding window over your kitchen sink, and you would have an easier time opening an awning window in this location. When you replace the full window, including the frame, your installers can easily switch to a more convenient or preferred window style.
4. Full Frame Replacement Allows Installers to Level the Window
Michigan Homes — especially those built several decades ago — tend to settle as they age. As this settling occurs, the window openings can sometimes become crooked. This crookedness may be obvious when you look at the window, or it may be just slight enough to make opening and closing the window difficult. Either way, your window replacement team can level the window if they replace the frame, too. This will improve the look of your home and keep your windows easy to open, even as they age.
5. Full Frame Replacement Ensures Your New Windows Last
If you choose replacement inserts rather than replacing the entire frame, then your frames will be older than the inserts. If the frames start deteriorating, but the inserts are still in good shape, you may still develop problems with leaks and air gaps. On the other hand, if you replace the frames and the sashes at the same time, they will all be the same age and should wear evenly. When the frames need to be replaced again someday, so will the window sashes.
Just make sure that both the frame and sash material you choose is durable and well-made. Vinyl, for example, is inexpensive, but tends to warp and split after just a few years. Fibrex® composite replacement windows, on the other hand, resist warping and will last for decades — especially if you choose a full replacement.
To learn more about your replacement window options, contact Renewal by Andersen. We offer free, in-home consultations and can evaluate the condition of the window frames on your Michigan home. We’ll make personalized recommendations based on our findings.
