By adding or replacing windows, a homeowner isn’t simply fixing an issue, but is also enhancing the curb appeal and value of their home. Updating windows in your home may seem costly, but it’s also a very valuable investment. Very few improvements to a home recoup more than 50% of their cost. Yet, windows regularly regain 70-80% of their cost of installation through increased property value and efficiency.
Quality windows with proper installation will save the homeowner money by lowering utility bills, while maintaining a comfortable atmosphere, and keeping the occupants safe. Plus, modern windows have the added benefit of keeping unwanted elements, such as loud sounds and allergens, outside where they belong. The US Department of Energy also confirmed that efficient windows significantly reduce a property’s CO2 footprint.
Modern windows feature a double glazed low-E pane with a gas, argon or krypton, between the panes. This design defeats temperature exchange between indoors and outdoors. Much like adding cold water to hot, when external temperatures meet with internal ones, the temperature will adjust accordingly. However, the current construction of windows is almost as insulating as a wall, preserving the home’s comfort as desired.
Quality windows can come at a premium cost. Homeowners may find themselves thinking that buying and installing new windows might be significantly more affordable by inviting a few friends over and ordering a couple of pizzas. The underlying problem is that window installation may appear easy, but looks are often deceiving.
Having full awareness of what the job will entail and all the risks lurking behind the drywall around the old windows only comes with experience and training found with professional installation. Avoiding such disasters and saving time is definitely well worth the expense.
Costs of DIY Installation vs. Professional Installation
Before performing any home renovations, it is always important to consider the costs. Across the United States, window prices can range anywhere from $85 to about $2,500 per window unit. However, window prices vary greatly depending on a few different variables:
♦ Brand
♦ Size
♦ Design
♦ Materials
The most economical window material is vinyl or PVC. Even though these windows are competitively priced, they are incredibly durable to changes in the weather. Vinyl windows stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They come in a wide variety of designs and sizes, including single and double-pane options. These windows are also very attractive and can add a lot of curb appeal to all types of homes.
Another of the favored window construction materials is aluminum. The key asset to aluminum windows is their durability. Aluminum is significantly more durable than wood or vinyl, allowing for thinner frames and larger glass areas. The strength of the metal means that it is impervious to moisture, keeping the frames from warping or splitting and adding to the window’s longevity.
One of the most popular window materials is fiberglass. The most significant advantage fiberglass has over vinyl and aluminum is that it can be textured and painted to perfectly match and brighten your home’s aesthetic. With a bit of preparation, fiberglass windows can look like natural wood with much higher durability and without the necessary maintenance.
Windows come in all manners of styles depending on the homeowner’s goals, wants, and needs. Windows serve many purposes, from illuminating and shielding the home to adding style and character. To meet these goals, each window type serves a specific function as well.
♦ Sliding Windows – Quick to open windows that are ideal for facing walkways and entries.
♦ Double Hung Windows – Two quick to open sashes that can tilt and slide up or down, commonly found in areas needing ventilation (kitchens, bathrooms).
♦Casement Windows – Hinged windows that swing very much like a door allowing for ventilation and movement.
♦ Picture Windows – Windows that do not open, but allow for unobstructed vistas and natural light.
♦ Garden Windows – Windows that create a perfect space for a kitchen herb garden or to let a bit more light into a room.
♦ Bay windows – Windows that actually extend out from the house with both form and function as they can dramatically enhance both interior and exterior appeal while allowing for light and ventilation.
With so many different styles, sizes, and materials offered, window installation can become quite complicated. Positions for a casement window to open and not collide or block other elements of the home can be tricky. Creating a new placement for a garden window or placing a bay window and extending the house’s facade has many facets that an instruction foldout most likely will not cover. Professional installers can anticipate when they prepare for a job without adding unnecessary expenses.
The average cost for professional window installation is between $30 and $50 per hour. However, depending on the job’s difficulty, the amount of time an installer may spend will vary. Does the homeowner want to replace or retrofit their old windows? Does the homeowner wish to install new frames and trim with the windows? Or does the homeowner want to install windows into their home where windows don’t already exist?
Window units’ cost varies greatly. Be sure to look online and visit showrooms to look and discuss your needs with manufacturers or with the company you decide to hire.
Replacement windows don’t usually require cutting through walls, siding, or trim. These windows are designed specifically not to be invasive to the home. Thus their cost is less than whole new window units. Ultimately, we can break down the costs of window installation into the following:
♦ Window purchase price
♦ Installation and labor (optional cost)
♦ Supplies
♦ Removal of old units (optional cost)
♦ Disposal of old units (optional cost depending on where the homeowner lives)
For installation without professional help, the homeowner assumes the labor for both the removal of the old and installation of the new unit. Depending on the state and location, disposal of old window units can be very tricky. Be sure to check with your local municipalities for guidelines in construction waste management.
How Long Will Installation Take: DIY vs. Professional
There are many aspects to consider before beginning the installation process. For the DIY person, you will want to make sure you have the right tools and that you feel confident about installing the windows. To determine if the project is just right or perhaps beyond what you are comfortable with, consult the installation guide, and watch tutorial videos online.
For the DIY warrior, it has been estimated that the installation of a full-frame replacement window can take between four to six hours because a full-frame window requires tearing down the original frame and trim. This estimation is for ideal conditions. This timeframe doesn’t take into account things that may go wrong, though. If there are unforeseen problems with the trim or frame, one can expect to spend most of the day working on one window with an untold number of trips to the hardware store.
Often enough, DIY installers have spent hours looking for that tool they know they have, but can’t seem to locate. Often, relying on friends to help will make the installation more manageable, but getting schedules harmonized can be very difficult. And yet, not being professionals, DIY installers often have to read, re-read, and then explain the process to others before installing the windows.
On the other hand, professional windows installers work together and have extensive experience with all sorts of situations that can hinder installation. They have the right know-how to navigate each project with ease, all the tools they may need, and have the experience that a DIY installer just doesn’t. On average, professionals can install about ten windows in a day (8 hours).
Risks of DIY Window Installation
Each year, millions of homeowners attempt to tackle repairs and renovations of their homes without professional help or guidance. Unfortunately, unforeseen complications and even injuries due to the lack of experience and proper safety measures often halt these projects. More than 200,000 end up in a hospital every year due to a DIY project gone wrong.
Window installation may seem easy, but there can be unseen hazards lurking behind walls, frames, and windows themselves. Replacing windows can break the glass panes, resulting in severe cuts. Even if it doesn’t break, damaged glass can also mean a damaged window treatment or frame, which would require a replacement window unit.
Ladders have a notorious history of breaking, collapsing, or people falling from them. Electrical wires may be near the window frames and can be exposed during the replacement process.
Other potentially dangerous and uncommon risk factors when installing windows come from the environment. Insects may have found a way to nest near or in the window through narrow openings that have gone unnoticed. A leak may have produced mold, that can trigger health problems one may already have, like asthma.
A negative impact on your home is the other risk factor of DIY window replacement. You could cause severe damage to the home’s walls and even load-bearing areas.
Poorly installed windows can also lead to lower efficiency. As mentioned before, windows can increase the energy efficiency of a home significantly. However, if a window installation is performed poorly, there is a very high chance that the home will be less energy-efficient than before the installation.
Windows installed incorrectly will reduce the value of your home. Potential buyers who see the house will be turned away by slanted, warped, crooked, drafty, or inefficient windows.
Lastly, in some areas, insurance and local laws require specific permits and even declare what sorts of repairs a person may perform on their own home without proper training and certifications. Failure to adhere to such laws might require the installation to be done and turned over to a professional for the home to be insurable.
It is easy to overlook the benefits of training and experience, along with safe practices in the process professional installers carry. Far too often, DIY work can be a true test of ability with a very high risk of failure. If a flange won’t come loose, is it best to keep yanking on it? Or if the word “flange” is unclear, the need for a professional has become apparent.
The final and probably most obvious benefit of professional installation is a warranty. Installing a window on your own may save you some money, but you’re responsible for everything that may go wrong. On the other hand, professional window installers stand behind their work and guarantee everything is up to code, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your investment.
Final Thoughts
There is always a great thrill and a sense of pride in completing a project that brightens your family’s home, making it a more enjoyable place. However, a poorly done job can be a permanent source of discomfort and other problems. Once the professional installers’ efficiency and speed are considered, plus their knowledge and experience concerning any problems that might occur, their cost seems negligible.
All things considered, professional window installation is well worth the investment. Knowing that windows can recoup nearly 75% of their cost by enhancing the home’s appeal, comfort, and resale value, the risk of DIY is just not worth it.
US Window & Door is a family business with over 30 years of experience in window installations and replacements. We take pride in our work, and the countless satisfied San Diego customers are the greatest confirmation of our quality. Contact us today for a free estimate and see how we can help turn your dream home into a reality!
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