Archive for May, 2010
Check your window effectiveness
Posted by admin in colorado windows, denver window contractor, denver window replacement, denver windows, hiring window company, new windows, replacement window benefits, Uncategorized Sunday, 16 May 2010 20:34 1 Comment
Frost Damaged Window
A window replacement is a cinch if little Jimmy knocked it out with a baseball. But sometimes it is difficult to decide if those windows really need to be replaced. There are some clear warning signs that you can follow to see if you need some replacement windows Denver, whether it be because of damage or to upgrade your home.
One clear sign is frost buildup. This is a sign that there may be a crack in your window, or it may just be too thin for the environment. A good window will always be about room temperature. If it is cold in the winter and hot in the summer, you may need more insulating efficiency. Beyond the window, if the area around windows is cold in the winter, that is a clear sign that you need replacement windows. Contact a Denver windows company and ask them to preform the candle test, where a technician will take a lit candle around the window moulding and look for flickering caused by drafts. Obvious situations for a Denver window replacement are cracked windows or frames. Window mechanics can also fail, and the unit will need replacement to open and shut properly.
Some people want to replace windows as an investment or cosmetic improvement. Modern windows increase the resale value of a home in two ways. They lower heating bills which is always a plus in buyer’s minds, and they can be matched to the home’s interior, making it more beautiful. New windows lower heating costs along with upgrading the look of the house. Utility bills will go down, as well as repairs from mold caused by frost buildup. This can put extra work load on your air conditioner, and eventually lead to you having to call your Denver HVAC technician as well to replace a blown compressor. Preventative maintenance is the cheapest way to maintain a home. Drafts are a sign of improper insulation and wasted energy on utilities. Some windows even qualify for tax rebates. New coated windows also protect your furniture from UV damage. UV light fades colors much faster than normal light. If the window does not operate correctly, the window frame is either warped, or the moving parts are failing. Either way, replacement windows are in order.
Window Style Guide
Posted by admin in denver window replacement, denver windows, replacement window benefits Sunday, 16 May 2010 18:12 1 Comment
Replacement Window Styles
When ordering replacement windows, you have plenty of options to consider. Window replacement is a great way to change the look of your home. The classic double hung windows can get boring, so think about bay windows to open up the room to the outdoors or put in a garden window to let light in. Think about the time you want to invest in both the time of installation and the maintenance of your replacement windows Denver. You will have to paint your window many times during its life unless you use a vinyl window. These windows do not rust or peel because the color is the material. Vinyl is the easiest replacement window when it comes to maintenance that you can get from a Denver windows company.
When it comes to energy-efficiency, there are many high-tech options you can choose from to better the thermodynamics of your home. Window laminates can decrease heat transfer. Windows may be certified for certain government efficiency specifications like energy star standards. Some things you can do to check if it is time to visit a Denver replacement window company. You can get someone to stand outside in the dark and shine a flashlight around the window edge. If you see light come through then that is a seal failure and source of energy loss.
In noisy areas like near the freeway, use laminated glass to reduce noise. Double pane windows also reduce vibration and outside sound.
If your windows fog up, this is a sign of excessive humidity. Humidity buildup is often caused by closed heating vents, so keep vents unobstructed. Contact your HVAC service company if any mildew has built up before installing replacement windows.
In areas with dangerous weather, use stronger doors and windows. Use a storm window, or tempered laminated glass for exterior windows. Tempered glass is partially shatter resistant. Laminated glass increases strength and reduces UV exposure of furniture in the room. These windows increase the value of a home through better energy efficiency. Windows are the primary area of heat/cooling loss in the home. Now windows and coverings are often the most high tech parts of a house.
Double pane windows can come with gas inserted between the panes. This pressurized inert gas is a better insulator than air. The pressurized system ensures no air leaks.
Installing Replacement Windows
Posted by admin in denver window contractor, new windows, replacement window benefits Sunday, 16 May 2010 17:20 No Comments
Single Pane Window
The primary source of information for window installation should be your window manufacturer’s instructions. For window installation, first fold out the installation fins. Apply sealant caulk to the back of the fins where they attach to the exterior sheeting. Install the window unit from the outside, positioning the nailing fins on the exterior. A galvanized roofing nail or exterior screw can be used to temporarily secure the piece. Plumb the windows with a vertical level. Shim the sill to level. Then level the other parts of the window and secure the frame in place. Shim out all sides while being careful of keeping it level. Check that the sides are square and the diagonal distances are equal. This ensures the window is not twisted, which will hinder operation. Finally, finish nail the whole unit together. Reinstall the old trim, or if you are doing a complete window replacement Denver, create new exterior trim. Use caulk around each piece of trim. If you have vinyl siding, add a new layer of vinyl over the trim to match the exterior. Most replacement jobs will come with new screens. Check your Denver Windows company for the matching screens with screen clips. Secure the screen into the screen tips.
Once you have the replacement window in place, it is time to install the interior window trim. Even the new insulated energy efficient windows are of little use if you do not secure the edges of the window. Open weight pockets are not good insulators. You can fill in these air pockets with foam or pump in insulation. Fill all spaces around the window with insulation. If you have to cut the frame to install the insulation, install the trim over the cut edge. Be careful of foam insulation as it expands which can effect window operation through bowing. Everywhere else should be caulked. For thicker walls, you may need jamb extension molding. Attach the extensions then caulk and attach the trim with finishing nails.
Some factory Denver windows come with sills installed. Most modern windows do not come with a window stool, although warehouses may have them. You can even create your own window stool for a custom DIY project. You may have to do some grout work to repair your interior wall. Once the wall is even plaster to finish. Then seal the frame and trim with wood sealer. Paint everything but weatherstripping and vinyl. Wood interior windows do not come with locks so they must be installed last.
Removing Your Old Windows
Posted by admin in Uncategorized Sunday, 16 May 2010 15:52 No Comments
Removing a Broken Window
Before you can replace your windows, you need to remove them. When installing window frames of larger or smaller size window removal is a must. Old pocket weight windows are easy to enlarge by using the pocket space on each side of the window. However, in situations where more than one window is to be installed in an opening, the window removal will get really hairy and you will want to consider hiring a contractor before you replacement windows Denver. Modern window factories can make custom windows mulled together so more than one window can share any opening. If you do not have to replace the whole window frame, then window removal is an easy task to do with a buddy. All the required tools can be found in the average toolbox, like a hammer, pry bar, screwdriver, saw and caulk.
To remove a window, first remove the exterior trim with a pry bar. Then remove the storm window if there is one. Use a razor blade to cut the sash cord and the wieghts should fall down. Remove the sash. This is usually the easiest part. The upper sash may have a wood wedge holding it in that you can knock out with a chisel. Use the chisel again to drive into the rabbet and pull out the stop. Then remove the balance cord pulleys. The cords should screw out, but if they do not you may have to chisel them out. Then remove the interior window trim, being careful to keep all nails if you are going to reuse the trim. Check your Denver window company’s dimension guidelines for your particular window. These older style windows with sash weights allow cold air in around around the sash pocket. A new construction window requires removing the whole window sill and frame.
You should then prepare the opening to the rough dimensions required. If the opening is square and is withing manufacturer dimension you can install now. If the replacement window is smaller, block in the opening on as many sides as needed. Once the opening is level and withing guidelines you are ready to go.
To enlarge a window, remove the frame and cut the interior wall surface to the desired dimensions. Before cutting make sure you are not cutting into any ducts or electrical equipment, and verify you are not cutting any necessary structural support. Additional temporary support for the ceiling should be installed before removing the header and any studs. A Denver windows company can install a new header and studs using appropriate structural materials. Larger windows may require large 2by8 or 2-by-12 studs. Put your sill plates in before the cripple studs.
Replace windows yourslef
Posted by admin in denver window contractor, denver window replacement, denver windows, new windows, replacement window benefits Sunday, 16 May 2010 15:08 No Comments
Replacing Windows Yourself
Modern windows have two or three layers of glass with insulating space between them. Windows used to come in only one pane that was more fragile and conducted much more heat than modern designs. Some windows can even be considered high-tech with special coatings and fillings of inert gas. The coatings are made of tiny metal particles that reflect sun in the summer and aid in insulation. Because of this modern technology some would rather use a Denver windows company to replace windows for an investment home improvement project. But there is no reason to be scared. View these windows as cool new tools you can use to improve your house. These replacement windows Denver can be fun investments. If you need convincing, calculate the cost of the window installation vs the energy savings from your new window. You will find that some projects pay for themselves in only a year or two.
The most common windows are double hung. Specialty replacement windows Denver companies can make custom windows while warehouses will carry horizontal, awning, bay and garden windows. Unusual sizes will have to be special ordered. Specialty windows are more expensive, but it is usually a better choice to go with your custom glass company instead of rebuilding your window frame into a standard size. You can choose from wood, vinyl and metal frames. Wood is actually more insulating than vinyl and metal. Clad wood windows are the most expensive option because it combines the efficiency and beauty of wood with the time and maintenance savings from clad windows.
Windows come from your vendor in new construction and replacement types. New construction windows are for building homes. They are installed on the outside with no exterior trim at the time of installation. Siding and trim are added later. Replacement windows use the existing frame, without modifying any trim. A single pane window needs a storm window to protect it, although storm windows are not as attractive. The construction replacement is better if you are also changing the trim.
Older windows can be damaged or rot easily, and leak like sieves. Your first step in upgrading to high tech windows is to measure your old frame. Then determine the brad of window you want to go for and use their measuring instructions. If you cannot find an exact match, smaller window frames are easier to install because only a little frame needs to be built up. Larger windows may be brighter, but will require cutting into the frame. Be sure you construct support for your frame if you weaken it in the expansion process. Ask a carpenter about any changes to the frame you plan.