How to Get Started With Window Replacements

Evaluate the needs of your home or the home where you will be installing replacement windows. Are the windows being replaced principally for aesthetics, or is energy savings also a factor? Determine what the heat loss currently is in the house and how much will be saved when installing various types of replacement windows. Factor out those savings over five to ten years. This will give you a good idea of the long-term costs vs. savings for the windows.

Measure your window openings. Most window manufacturers produce windows in one-quarter inch increments. A precise fit is of importance. Raise the lower window sash and measure the width jamb-to-jamb in three locations: near the top, at the center and close to the bottom. If there are different measurements, use the smallest measurement rather than the average. Measure the height from the head jamb to the sloped sill, right past where the sill touches the inside window stool.

Estimate the cost of the job. Work out two cost estimates, if you, as a homeowner do it yourself, or if you decide to hire a contractor. At times, it might be more cost-effective to hire a reputable contractor who specializes in replacement windows and who has all the tools necessary to do the job quickly. If you decide to do it yourself, make a materials list and get an estimate from a replacement window and hardware supplier that includes all needed parts to complete the job. Additionally, factor in waste disposal costs. You can hire a disposal contractor to pick up, dispose and clean up the site, or you can rent your own dumpster, which will be picked up by a disposal company at the end of the job.

Evaluate which tools you already have and which you will need to purchase. Add the cost of these tools to the price of the job if you are doing it yourself. Estimate the time it will take to complete the job. For the average homeowner with some experience in home improvements, it might take two hours or more per window, start to finish.

Order your materials. Unless you own a pickup truck, it might be more cost-effective to have the windows delivered directly to your job site rather than renting a truck. Include any necessary tools in your order.