Time to replace those old windows? You can do it yourself with just a few tools and the right know-how. Read on to learn how to replace windows.
Are the windows you have in your house now on the older side? If you’ve seen better days, you’re likely to be straining your home in different ways.
For starters, your old windows will likely pull down your home’s appeal. They also make it much less energy efficient than it should be. They could even affect the value of your home.
By learning how to replace windows, you can install new windows in your home and take full advantage of them. Replacing windows is one of the best home improvement projects you can undertake.
Interested in a DIY window replacement? It won’t be easy. However, you can gain a decisive advantage by learning in advance how to install replacement windows.
Use this step-by-step guide to install new windows in your home so you no longer have to look at our old ones.
- First, make sure you definitely want new windows in your home
Before you start removing your old windows from your house and replacing them with new ones, you need to think a bit about whether you are ready to replace windows.
Replacement windows can cost a lot of money. On average, you pay somewhere between $ 300 and $ 700 per window during window installation.
You may be able to easily reduce these costs by figuring out how to replace a window yourself and make it a DIY window replacement project. But even then it will cost a pretty penny to replace windows.
You will also cause a decent mess in your home while you are replacing your windows. You need to be prepared for this process so you won’t be surprised later.
- Look for the best replacement windows for your home
If you think long and hard about it and decide that you want to install replacement windows in your home, the next step will be to choose the right replacement windows. There are so many options for those who want to install new windows in their homes.
Some of the most popular types of windows these days are:
- Vinyl window
- Wooden window
- Aluminum window
- Fiberglass window
Go with the windows that look and feel best when they’re in your home. They should also be the windows that make your home as energy efficient as possible once installed.
- Measure your home on replacement windows
After you’ve decided once and for all to install new windows in your home and choose the windows you want, it’s time to take measurements so you don’t invest in windows that are too large or too small for your home.
To do this, measure both the height and the width of your windows within your existing window frames. Take your height measurements on the left and right side of your windows and in the lower right in the middle. Make your width measurements at the top and bottom of windows and across the middle.
Once you have your measurements, order windows with your smallest heights and widths. This will ensure that your new windows fit well when they arrive.
- Rip your old windows out of your house and throw them away
When your new windows show up at your home, you will be so excited to install them and show them to the world. But before you can do that, you have to make room for them by getting rid of your old windows.
This is not always as easy as it seems. You can severely damage your window openings and cause a big mess by not properly removing old windows.
To tear out an old window, do the following:
- First remove your storm window from the window opening if you have one
- Check whether your window contains sash weights or sash springs and remove them if this is the case (be very careful with sash springs as they are under high tension and can tear and cause injuries!).
- Remove either the inner or outer stops for your window, depending on whether you are installing your new window from inside or outside your home
- Use an oscillating saw to remove the sash from your old window
- Fill in any holes that your old window has left and replace any damaged wood that is around the outside of the window opening
If you have a house that was built before 1978, chances are that You could have lead color in or around your windows. In this case, you should contact a window installation company to assist you with your project.
- Clean your window openings and prepare them for replacement windows
When your old windows are safely out of the way, you will be so just before installing your new windows. Before doing this, however, it is important to clean the window opening so that a new window can be accepted.
Use a shop vacuum to clean a window opening so that there is no dirt, dust or dirt in or around it. You could complicate the process by trying to insert a new window into a window opening that is filled with dirt.
Take your time to put a special tape on your window sill. Meanwhile, check your windowsill to make sure it’s level and no bowing has taken place. You may need to use washers to align the windowsill.
- Put in your replacement windows
As soon as your window opening and the windowsill have been prepared for the window installation, you are prepared just as for the installation of your new window. Here’s how you want to do it:
- Take your new window and fit it dry in your window opening to see that it fits
- Move your new window to the side for a few minutes and caulk the top of your window frame, the stops in your window opening and the window sill
- Put your new window back in your window opening and let it rest against either your inner or outer stops
- Screw your new window tight and check whether your window sashes are flat and even
- Add insulation around your window frame
- Cut a windowsill adapter to the correct length and lock it at the bottom of the window
- Seal along the edges of the inside and outside of your window to seal it
In theory, all of this may sound simple. But you have to work at least a few hours to get the job done. Take your time and make sure everything is done correctly to prevent air and moisture from later entering your home through your windows.
- Contact window installers if you need a hand
After you’ve got the hang of how to replace windows, that’s not the case The hard to do it alone. You will feel more comfortable if you have one or two replacement windows installed.
However, if at any point you are not feeling good about replacing DIY windows, it is a good idea to stop and hire a professional window installation company to help you. They install your windows properly the first time and make them look great.
Look for a window installation company that has extensive window replacement experience. Look for one that also offers a number of great Windows options to choose from.
But maybe most of all, try to find a window installation company that has countless positive reviews from previous customers. This way you will learn that you know what to do when replacing windows.
Rent them to treat yours Replacement window to you. They will do a great job and leave you with windows that you will end up loving.
Learn how to replace Windows before you start
As you can see, learning how to replace windows is not impossible. Even if you are not the handiest person, you can quickly find out how to install replacement windows in your home.
You can also leave the window replacement to the professionals if you want. They come to your home, measure your windows for you and take care of every aspect of your new window installation. Everything is done in just a day or two and will help you enjoy the benefits of new windows earlier.
In our blog you will find further tips on how you can significantly improve your home.