New Construction Versus Replacement Windows 05/16/2010
 Dry rot on bottom of outside door  Mold on the Bottom of the Windows I interviewed quite a few window manufacturers before deciding upon Andersen 400 Series Woodwright Windows and Doors. Andersen Windows has a 20-year warranty on their products. I really liked this feature. To me, this means that Andersen believes their window/doors will last at least two decades and when this time has passed, the homeowner should be able to replace these windows with replacement windows and not have to go through the cost and labor of having new construction windows installed. But what is the best choice for your remediation project: new construction windows or replacement windows? Once you see what the main differences are between the two, I’m certain that you will hands down choose new construction windows. We chose new construction windows because our existing windows were in such bad shape due to severe water intrusion, that it made the windows, their frames, etc. unusable. I wasn’t even able to give the windows away. (See photo). Let’s look at what the key differences are between new construction windows and replacement windows. 1) New construction windows are installed in new homes. Replacement windows are typically installed after the original windows reach 20-25 years old. 2) New construction windows have a nailing fin around all four sides of the window. This fin makes it possible to nail the windows into the wood studs that frame the house. Replacement windows do not have this nailing fin. 3) New construction windows cost significantly more than replacement windows because of the amount of additional work involved. This increase can be as much as 50 to 100 percent more than the cost of replacement windows. 4) If the structures around the windows or the window frames themselves need to be replaced due to water damage or for some other reason, new construction windows are your best choice. If the structure around the windows and the existing frames are in good shape, then replacement windows are the ones to go with. When your home is being remediated, it is because it has been infiltrated with water. Water typically enters through openings such as windows and doors. In my humble opinion, a home that is being remediated should use new construction windows and doors. The cost of these is typically included in the quotation that your general contractor gives you. Make certain that the contract states that new construction windows and doors will be installed. Using new construction windows and doors, plus correctly installing the stucco, brick, stone, siding, and/or wood exterior, helps ensure that you won’t have to repeat the remediation process because of moisture problems. |  Kathryn M. Barto AuthorHi! ArchivesOctober 2010 Categories |
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