When planning to install or replace your windows and doors their are various factors which should be taken into consideration. Find below a list of points to take into account.
Advice from Competent Professionals
They could include the window dealers themselves, architects or contractors. Sometimes involvement from carpenters or painters might also be required.
Budgetory Considerations
Establishing your budget should be done before you begin your project. Installing or replacing windows and doors is a large investment but installing high quality, energy efficient replacement windows have been annually demonstrated to be an excellent investment. According to the 2007 Cost vs Value Report homeowners can expect to recoup an average of 80% for window replacement.
Look for Energy Efficient Windows and Doors
Since todays energy efficient windows and doors can also
- Reduce energy consumption.
- Reduce drafts improving the comfort of your home.
- Improve natural light and reduce glare.
- Help you take advantage of solar heat gain in cold climates or minimize it in hot climates.
- Provide years of easy operation and weatherproofing.
- Drastically minimize care and maintenance.
- Reduce noise.
- Reduce window condensation.
- Protect draperies, carpets and upholstery from fading or discoloring.
After establishing your budgetory considerations further points to consider would be:
Choosing the Right Product
Choose aluminium because of its stamina. Regardless of temperature or corrosive environs (salt, air), aluminium will last decades longer than most other window products.
Make sure you choose aluminium if your home is in a fire hazard. Wood and vinyl are quickly damaged by heat and embers, allowing fire to enter the house and more oxygen to feed the fire. Extruded aluminium retains its form at over 1000 degrees fahrenheit thereby protecting your home.
Make sure the doors and windows are factory glazes because some dealers can buy their own glass. (Nobody can glaze our products as well as we can nor does the factory warrant that glass)
Investigate the glass you desire. For example, base your energy performance on SHGC performance instead of u-values unless you live in a cold climate.
Make sure you review each product brochure for available options. It is common to hear "I wish I would have known that was available I would have selected it".
Make sure the window and door you want is properly equipped to handle the weather conditions. Operable windows and doors are intended to bring water into the sill so do not be alarmed when this occurs.
The Right Product Finish
Make sure the finish is a factory finish and warranted because some dealers have access to other painters and anodizing companies. If you are selecting an anodized finish be aware that Clear Anodizing reveals the natural character of the aluminium extrusion process such as cooling lines.
Make sure the product you select offers the color you want. Extal offers a wide variety of choices.
Make sure the product finish has exceptional performance, especially if the environment is high moisture and/or highly corrosive.
Protecting your window and door
Make sure your builder protects the doorsills from damage by other trades. Wheelbarrows, foot traffic and construction debris will all damage your new products.
Make sure your glass and metal parts are protected from corrosive agents such as concrete and stucco. Contact will damage anodized finishes within minutes.
Make sure no caustic chemicals or abrasive materials come in contact with the glass or finish during the clean up stage. This is also a time where glass scratches occur so make sure you only use window cleaning professionals.
Correct Installation of the Product
Make sure your dealer provides either a state glazing license or an AAMA Installation Masters certificate and make sure they follow the installation instructions for your specific window/door poducts.
Make sure the builder has prepared the openings to be plumb, level and square. The less "tweaking" the installer has to do to make the product fit into a poor opening the greater yor product performance will be.