There are four key pillars that combine to support up a successful replacement window experience. Like a table or chair with a broken leg, losing just one of these supports can cause your satisfaction with your new replacement windows to collapse.
We began this series with two articles on the Window Frame. In other articles, we will discuss the Window Glass and the Window Design. In this, the first of four parts, we’ll look at why proper installation is such a critical piece in the replacement window puzzle.
Your windows can only perform as well as the installation will allow. Consider this: your window openings are big holes cut into the building envelope. The roof and walls and siding are engineered to keep outside weather out and inside environment comfortable. Window openings cut into that sealed envelope and provide an entry point for the outside to get inside. Without windows to fill those holes your home will be the same temperature as it is outside and anything that’s happening outside (rain, snow, wind, bugs, noise, intruders, etc.), will be inside. Windows fill those holes to let light into your home and allow you to see outside.
If your windows are not built and installed accurately and sealed absolutely perfectly, you will still have holes in the critical building envelope. Although likely small, these holes can let the outside elements in and the heating and cooling you paid so much to put in to leak out. If you then multiply this by the number of windows in your house you can see how poor window installation can add up to many holes in your home wasting your heating and cooling dollars. Worse yet, these gaps in the building envelope are allowing rot-and mold-creating moisture into the structure of your home, where it will begin doing unseen damage over time.
You can see that even the best, most energy-efficient windows can only perform as well as the installation allows. A great window, installed badly by poorly trained or inexperienced installer can make the extra money you paid for a top-of-the-line window worthless. If the installed window has gaps that open up around the window they will allow heat and cold to pass through the opening into your home. In this case, you might as well have left your old windows in place. Eventually, these gaps can lead to dangerous moisture and insect damage to the structural framing of your home which may result in very expensive repairs down the road.
While it may look simple to the untrained eye, installing your new replacement windows so that they maintain the integrity of the building envelope over the long haul is a somewhat complex project requiring specialized skills and experience. Many well-meaning contractors without specialized window installation training will simply caulk gaps left from a poorly fitted windows or inaccurate installation. While your new windows may appear to be sealed against the elements, at least initially, this type of remedy can not last. After a few seasonal weather changes where all building materials expand and contract as temperature and humidity levels rise and fall, the caulk will fail, gaps will open and air, moisture and insects will have easy access to your home.
The importance of proper installation of your new replacement windows cannot be overstated. Poor installation methods will likely undo all the hard work and expense you undertook to select the right window frame, the right glass and the right options to get the perfect window for you.
In our most recent post in this series on the Four Pillars of a Great Replacement Window Experience, we discussed how important proper installation is to the success of any replacement window job. In this, the second of four posts about the replacement window installation process, we will discuss they key first steps to a good installation: Accurate Measurement, Precise Manufacturing and proper Packaging and Shipment of your new replacement windows.
The best replacement window installation must begin with accurate measurements of your existing window openings. To ensure a perfect fit of your new windows in your existing window openings, they need to be manufactured to very close tolerances, which require very accurate measurements of your existing windows. Differences of fractions of an inch can mean the difference between a great installation and a poor one.
To ensure a lifetime of trouble-free performance, there should be a minimal amount of space between the new window frame and the existing window framing. The smaller the gaps the installer has to fill, the warmer your home will be in winter, and the cooler it will be summer. It also enables the installer to keep the weather and insects on the outside where they belong for the long haul.
From the accurate measurements, the factory can then manufacture your windows to exact tolerances. This is a critical step. Accurate measurement is the first step, but the manufacturing is where those measurements come into play. Precise manufacturing at the factory is critical to your windows being constructed and fitting to its opening properly. Renewal by Andersen manufactures its replacement windows to within 1/16 of an inch of the existing window opening to ensure the best installation.
There’s nothing worse than receiving a new product that has been damaged in shipment. When your windows come off the line and are tested, they should be perfect. They should arrive at your home the same way. Windows are relatively fragile building components until they are installed in a secure opening. There are a number of moving parts and we all know how fragile glass can be. Improper packaging and shipping can turn your perfect windows into windows that cannot be fixed on the jobsite, no matter how good the installer is. Windows can be knocked out of square, glass can be broken, locks can be damaged and window frames and sashes can be scratched. Even glass that’s not broken can be damaged in shipping.
Some manufacturers simply shrink wrap their windows and place them in a truck for shipment. On the long road from factory to jobsite windows can be damaged by rubbing or knocking against other items in the trucks. Shrink wrap is inadequate to truly protect them from the rigors of shipping and handling. It’s not uncommon to see windows arrive at a jobsite scratched and marked and you might not notice until the windows are already installed in your home. Be sure the windows you buy will arrive at your home in the same condition as when they were manufactured. This can include proper wrapping and boxing, but should also include some kind of protection of the glass and frame itself.
There are many individual processes that must each be completed perfectly to ensure a great replacement window installation long before your installer gets his or her hands on them. An issue at any point along the chain can ruin the job before it even begins. Before you select the replacement windows for your home, be sure to ask how accurately the windows will be measured, how precisely to those measurements the windows will be manufactured and how they will be packaged for shipment.
In this multi-part series on the four pillars that make up a great replacement window experience, we are discussing each of these pillars to your happiness: the Window Frame, Window Glass, Window Installation and Window Design.
In the first post on Window Installation, we discussed why window installation is so critical, while in the second, we discussed the importance of accuracy during the initial Window Opening Measurement, Manufacturing to close tolerances and how improper Packaging and Shipment of the replacement windows can undo all the precision of the previous steps.
In this third post on replacement window installation, we’ll talk about removal of the old window, new window handling and preparation of the job site.
In the fourth and final article on replacement window installation, we’ll discuss the actual installation of the new replacement window and what your installer needs to do to maximize the window’s performance and durability to keep you comfortable many years into the future.
When your windows are delivered, they need to be handled carefully to ensure they aren’t damaged before they are actually put into your home. While your installers are preparing the window openings, they need to take precautions to protect the new windows and ensure they get the right window in the right opening. Before they start, your installers should explain the process to you so that you know what to expect while they are working on your home. you’re your installers are replacing multiple windows they should have a plan for where they will start and finish to minimize disruption to your home. This may be even more important in cold or inclement weather when you don’t want many openings in your home open to the elements. You should take this opportunity to ask any questions or express any concerns you may have. Don’t be afraid to ask. This is your home and you’re going to have to live with these windows for a long time; you should feel comfortable with every aspect of your installation. A good installation professional should be happy to share his knowledge and answer any questions you may have. True window installation experts have installed hundreds of windows and understand your concerns with work being done on your home.
With all your questions answered and a good level of confidence in your installation crew, your crew should begin to begin the site preparation by protecting your property, indoors and out. Inside your home, in each room in which they will be working, they should ensure that your furniture, flooring and any other personal property in the room is out of the way and/or protected. The job will necessarily create some from the removal of the old window and installation of the new one, but they should take steps to minimize and control its spread as much as practical. Outdoors, they should take steps to protect your landscaping by protecting shrubs, plants, trees, flowers, etc. during the work.
The first step toward installing your new replacement windows is removing the old ones. Remember the old saying that “you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet”. Demolition is loud, dirty, nasty work but it has to be done. Of course, your installation crew should take necessary precautions to minimize any of the mess they create. You should also expect them to clean up when they are done. The standard definition for construction and remodeling work is “broom clean”. It should go without saying that your crew should take care to do no more damage to your home than they will repair.
In the best of circumstances and weather conditions, your crew may opt to work on the same processes on multiple windows rather than complete one window at a time. This can be a more efficient method of work as they will be using the same tools and doing the same tasks, removing the debris, etc. on multiple windows at one time. However, in inclement or cold weather, or when there is a chance the weather could turn bad, this should be avoided to minimize the risk of exposing the home to the elements.
When your old windows are removed, and your new windows installed, your crew should pack up the old windows and other debris and dispose of them for you. Disposing of your old windows should not be your concern and you should never be left with construction debris at your curb for your trash collectors. It’s simply unprofessional.
Protecting your new windows, taking the time to ensure you understand the installation process and protecting your home and furnishings are strong pillars of your replacement window installation.
If you’ve been following our blog, by now you know that there are four pillars that make up a great replacement window experience: the Window Frame, Window Glass, Window Installation and Window Design.
In this, the fourth and final article on Window Installation, we’ll talk about the installation process of the new replacement window. We’ll discuss the proper steps to install your windows to ensure the best performance for the long term.
Picking up where we left off, the old window sashes have been removed and discarded. Your installer now has to inspect the opening and begin to prepare for the introduction of the replacement window.
Your installer must clean out the opening, remove any stray nails and look for any unstable framing. Any damage or rot he or she discovers must be repaired or replaced prior to installing the new window. The window opening must now be inspected and checked for “square”. This ensures that all corners are at 90 degrees to each other and that the sill and header are level and the jambs are plumb. Houses regularly settle over time and often some remediation must be undertaken at this time to plumb and square the window. Installing a new window in an out of square opening will prevent proper sealing against the elements and likely lead to trouble with the window’s operation over time.
Finally, we come to the most exciting part of the entire installation process. The opening is prepared and your installer can move on to putting your new window in its prepared opening and secure it to the existing framing.
Unlike traditional New Construction Windows, Replacement or Insert Windows do not require disturbing the exterior siding of your house. While New Construction windows use nailing flanges to secure the windows to the sheathing of your house under the siding, Replacement Windows are secured through the window frames into the framing of the house. This keeps your existing siding in place and undisturbed so there is no need to replace or repaint your siding.
Depending upon the window frame of your previous windows, your installers may cover the existing window frames with color-matched or contrasting low maintenance flashing. Your replacement windows will likely be installed from the interior of your house and secured to the framing with strong screws into the structural framing of the window. These screws are usually covered with decorative or color-matched cover panels.
Just as the window framing had to be squared, your new replacement window must be installed in that opening square, level and plumb to ensure that it continues to operate at peak performance for many years to come. Your installer must use finesse and precision in securing your new replacement window to the framing. If he or she over-tightens the installation screws they can bow the window frame or pull it out of square. The window was manufactured to tight tolerances to ensure its energy efficiency and weather tightness and any deflection in the frame will adversely affect those qualities and prevent proper operation.
Leaving screws too loose, on the other hand, can have the same negative efficiency and operational effects and could affect your personal security as well. Your replacement window installation screws must be driven with just the right amount of force and tension to ensure there is no “play” between the window frame and the window opening framing.
The final step in the installation of your new window is to properly insulate any small gaps between the window frame and window opening that could cause air leakage or moisture penetration. When the window is securely fastened to the framing and insulated, your installers will seal around the window to prevent potential air or water infiltration.
With the window securely fastened to the framing, insulated and sealed, your installer should check the window’s operation. This is likely something that was done when the window was secured, but it must be double-checked before the sealants finally cure, just in case any adjustments need to be made. Your installer should open and close the window, check any easy clean tilt-in operations, if applicable, and any other window operation procedure.
Once confident that the window operates as intended by the manufacturer, your installers can put on any trim included with the window. Prior to installing the window’s insect screens, your installers should thoroughly clean the window and the area around it before packing up their tools.
Proper installation by an experienced crew is critical to your window performance. Not only does your window need to perform well when your installers leave, but they must continue to perform well for many years to come. You want an installation crew who installs windows every day. The most perfect window in the world will not keep you warm and dry or cool and comfortable if it is not installed correctly. There are literally dozens of specific tasks that must be completed accurately to install a window perfectly so it lasts for many years to come.
Remodeling companies and general construction workers are often not aware of the specific, but critical, installation instructions each window manufacturer demands to ensure applicability of its warranty. If just one manufacturer-specified installation step is not followed, your manufacturer’s warranty may be invalidated.
Renewal by Andersen of Long Island is your complete start-to-finish replacement window solution. Our installation crews are well aware of our specific installation steps and carry them out to the letter every day of the year. They understand that the key to your satisfaction is to use the same proven installation system on every window they install.
For more information or to schedule a free, no obligation replacement window consultation, give us a call at (866) 609-5033 or fill out the short form on this page and we’ll get right back to you.
Check out this post for more information on replacement window installation.
