Let’s express you’re tired of those old real wood windows, and you decide it’s
time to upgrade to
vinyl replacement windows. You get 2 or 3 contractors to come
out and give you an estimate. After they keep, you can’t believe windows can
cost so much. I mean, having to get financing to replace your windows just
doesn’t seem right. Let me explain to you why the windows are so expensive. You
have to pay the salary of the salesman who comes over to give you your “free”
estimate. Then, you have to pay out the income of the installers. Finally, you
need to pay the owner of the company. In some cases there is a broker who
functions as a middleman, and he or she gets a lower too. No wonder you need
financing! Today, imagine if you already knew how to shop for windows, how
exactly to measure for new windows, how to remove the old windows, and how
exactly to install the new windows. You just eliminated everybody except the
owner. All of a sudden you can afford to displace your windows without taking
out a loan! The next few posts are going to cover this process. This article
will discuss the proper way to gauge for your
climate glass replacement.
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It’s important to properly measure for the windows. If you order
them too small, you’re going to end up having to improvise in order to get them
to work. Even if you do get them to work, you’re probably going to have
problems. And if you purchase them too big, you’re really in trouble. Chances
are you will be ordering more windows. So, measuring is very important.
Fortunately, it’s also very simple. We are dealing with old double hung wood
windows here, therefore if that doesn’t apply to you, don’t be concerned. Future
articles will discuss other types of windows. In the case of the wood sash
windows, you want to measure the width first, and height second. When you go
shopping for windows, always give the dimensions as WIDTH X HEIGHT. To measure
your width, you would like to pull a tape gauge from the top right corner to the
very best left corner. Put the tape measure in that 1/2″ pocket where the window
framework slides. Measure to the sixteenth of an in .. Do the same thing at
about the midway point,right above where in fact the windows locks. Then, raise
the bottom sash and take the same measurement at the bottom. If you can’t
improve the window for whatever reason, go outside and measure from right now
there. You will have to take away the screen though.
The majority of the
time all three of those measurements will be the same. If they’re not the same,
use the SMALLEST measurement. Now subtract 1/4″ from that measurement. This is
your width for the brand new windowpane. The height is a bit tricky. If your
home window sill outside slopes downward for water drainage, you have to make
sure that you gauge from the HIGHEST Point of the sill. You want to measure from
the top right part to the bottom right corner. Place your tape at the top where
the upper sash closes. If underneath has a 5/8″ high inside timber sill piece to
prevent water from coming inside, you have to raise the bottom sash and run the
tape past the 5/8″ sill and down to the high stage of the sloped sill. Do this
in the middle and on the remaining. Once again, take the smallest measurement,
but this time deduct 3/16″. That is your height. In the event that you order
your windows using these sizes,they will fit right in, and leave just enough
room to adjust if needed. The final step is to gauge the depth of the wallet
where both sashes slide. By depth, i mean from the point outside where in fact
the top sash rests against the outside hardwood stop to the point inside where
the inside bottom level sash rests contrary to the inside cease. This
measurement should be between 3 1/4″- 3 1/2″. The reason you need to know this
dimension is because not all replacement windows possess a 3 1/4″ depth body.
You want a replacement screen that’s likely to fit right into the existing
pocket of the wood frame. If you purchase a screen with a 2 5/8″ frame depth,
you’re going to have approximately 3/4″ to fill. That means buying brand-new
solid wood stops for the inside of the house that are 3/4″ wider than the
existing stops. Get the 3 1/4″ frames and save yourself a lot of extra function.
Now, if you’re on a really tight budget, the lower grade windows would be the 2
5/8″ framework, and you will have to get the wider trim. But that’s something
you should weigh in your mind, whether the money stored on the lesser grade
window is worth the extra expense and time of installing new stops around the
inside of all your windows.
So, right now you have the measurements and
it’s time and energy to go shopping. What should you look for to know you’re
getting quality windows? A top quality dual hung replacement window will have
tilt-in sashes that enable you to clean the outside glass from within the home.
All double hung windows have a mechanism that continues the window in the open
position. The better windows use a state of the art mechanism known as a
constant force balance coil. All replacement windows could have double glazing,
meaning you will see two panes of glass in each sash separated by a 1/2″-5/8″
spacer material round the edge of the unit. A quality window will use an
intercept spacer or something called a super spacer. Find out the U-Value of the
windows. The lower the number, the better insulating properties. You want a
windowpane with a U-Value under .40. There is a special glass known as LowE that
may lower that U-Value number. In fact, most quality windows include LowE as
standard. Those are the main things to ask about when window buying.
On
the opposite finish of the quality spectrum, you can buy an economical
substitute window that will not have the tilt-in feature.The mechanism that
holds the window open will consist of a block and tackle assembly made up of a
spring and string. Another mechanism in lower high quality windows is called a
spiral tube balance. These lesser quality assemblies are usually notorious for
failing after 5-10 yrs. The spacer material used on lower quality windows will
undoubtedly be light weight aluminum or something called swiggle seal. And many
moments the U-Value of these lower grade windows will be up around .50. The
thing to remember is that a screen that uses a super spacer more than likely
isnt likely to use a block and tackle balance system. It would be like buying a
new car with leather interior and no power windowpane and door locks. Follow
those recommendations and you may have a good idea what quality you are buying.
Once you make the decision and purchase your windows, it’s time to get them
house and take out your old windows. Next week I will tell you how to remove the
old wood windows..