A window replacement in your home is a major upgrade that contributes to much more than enhancing your home’s curb appeal. When replacing your windows, there are many factors that should be considered to ensure they are the perfect fit for your home and last as long as possible.
Afterall, the average window can last anywhere from 15-40 years depending on their overall quality. We don’t know about you, but we would prefer to have a window that lasts decades over one that may only last a few years. With that said, we have compiled a list of 6 mistakes to avoid when planning a window replacement in your home.
1. Basing Your Window Replacement Decision Primarily on Cost
Like anything in life, you get what you pay for. If the cost of a windowmsounds too good to be true, it most likely is. We want to emphasize that it’s important to have a realistic budget in mind for your window project. A window replacement cost can range from $300 – $1,800 per window without accounting for labor costs.
However, If you are basing your window decision on finding the lowest cost window, it’s likely the window will not hold up as long. A lower quality window often results in a premature replacement and more money wasted in the long term.
As with any major home purchase, make sure you do your research and prioritize your goals for your window replacement. Do you want low maintenance, high quality windows? Are you looking for energy-efficient windows that will save you money in the long run? Is style a must-have? Make a list of what you’re looking for, and then contact a company you trust to provide you with options. At BOSS Services, we offer free window consultations to really dig deep to discover the homeowner’s primary goals and then provide the best options to fit those parameters.
2. Not Asking About Warranties
When you’re looking into a big investment like a window purchase that should last for decades, a warranty policy is extremely important. You should always ask a window company what type of warranty is offered with their windows. Some companies may only include window frames and sashes repairs in their window warranty and not an entire window replacement. You can determine that a window company truly has high quality windows if they have a lifetime warranty that will simply replace the entire window if it were to fail for any reason.
Another question to ask about a company’s warranty is the duration of the warranty. Some window dealers may only provide one-year warranties on their products. A company that stands behind the quality of their windows may provide a 20 year lifetime warranty. At BOSS Services, we provide a best-in-business 20 year lifetime warranty because we are confident that our windows are built to last. We will not charge for any parts or material for any repairs or a window replacement for the duration of 20 years. We also don’t don’t charge for labor for 2 years if you need a repair or replacement. After those 2 years, we only charge a flat $60 service charge.
If you want to know more about why BOSS Windows are simply higher quality and a better investment than most on the market today, check out our blog covering 5 Reasons Our Windows are the Best in Michigan: https://thebossservices.com/5-reasons-our-windows-are-the-best-in-michigan/
If you don’t ask what type of warranty comes with your window installation, you could pay thousands in window replacement costs if your window were to fail within the first couple years of use.
3. Neglecting Climate In Your Window Replacement Decision
Living in West Michigan, we see a variety of climates throughout the year. In the winter, you want your windows to be able to maintain the heat in your home. In the summer, the goal is to keep heat out of your home. Being an heating and cooling company that assesses HVAC efficiency, we know that windows play a big part in a home’s energy efficiency. If you sacrifice quality for a low cost window, it’s likely you will pay in the long run for purchasing a window that isn’t as equiped to handle the various climates in Michigan.
So what should somone living in Michigan look for in regards to an energy efficient window? You should definitely look for windows that utilize hard coat Low-E, not soft coat Low-E in a Mid-West climate. If you do research, you may find that a lot of websites recommend soft coat Low-E for higher energy efficiency, and that may be accurate in warmer climates. Soft-coat Low-E’s primary function is to keep additional heat out of your home, spraying a coating on the glass after the window is manufactured that leaves a rainbow bronze tint.
However, at BOSS Services, our windows are made with a hard coat Low-E because it provides better energy efficiency for a Michigan climate. Hard coat Low-E is actually melted into the glass while it’s still hot, not just a coating over the top. It is completely undectable compared to the rainbow tint you’ll see with soft coat Low-E. Hard Coat Low-E does an excellent job of harnessing solar energy from the sun to keep your home warm in the winter. At the same time, it is able to reflect UV rays in the summer to keep your home cool. This means hard coat Low-E truly offers the best of both worlds in energy efficiency for Michigan homeowners.
4. Ignoring Required Maintenance When Choosing a Window Replacement
If you are like most homeowners, you probably want a window that requires very minimal maintenance. Some windows need more maintenance to prevent premature issues. For instance, frames made out of wood typically need repainting and resealing every few years to maintain their aesthetic and prevent air leaks. At BOSS, we only offer vinyl windows because they require less maintenance than wood frames, usually only needing a wipe down every so often to keep them looking clean.
Also keep in mind the cost of maintenance if you fail to upkeep a high maintenance window regularly. If not regularly maintained, you will likely end up paying more in window replacement costs later on for an additional window or window frame.
If you are looking for a more in-depth guide about different window types and what to look for in a window replacement, Consumers Reports has this fantastic resource: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/replacement-windows/buying-guide/index.htm
5. Replacing the Windows On Your Own
Replacing a window yourself is not only one of the most common mistakes, but it is also one of the biggest window replacement mistakes homeowners can make. While installing your own windows can cut costs, it is definitely more costly in the long run for many reasons.
If installed improperly, your windows will experience seal failure, resulting in the high cost of losing heating and cooling energy in your home and a potential early replacement or costly repair. On the other hand, a professional installer has the experience required to respond to any unexpected issues that may arise.
Most importantly, if you install the windows yourself, you void the potential of having a valuable warranty that protects you from having to pay for a premature replacement or repair.
6. Choosing a Big National Company Instead of a Local Company
With branches all over the nation and millions of dollars in advertising to make national companies household names, many homeowners seek large corporations for window replacements. Quite frankly, big national window manufacturers simply don’t have a vested interest in the lcoal communities they serve. On the other hand, smaller, local window companies often can offer more personalized and responsive service, with a greater desire to do whatever they can to make sure their fellow community members are happy with their purchase.
At BOSS Services, our windows are made custom, almost entirely by hand locally in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They aren’t shipped in from a factory far away that doesn’t support workers and the economy in our own area. We truly care about providing our customers with the best the country has to offer in windows, and we’re extremely proud that our local windows facility provides just that.
Questions About How to Plan for a Window Replacement in Your Home?
When choosing the right windows and the right window company for your home, there are a lot of factors to consider. It is a major investment in your home for decades to come if done right!
If you are looking to replace a window in your home and have specific questions, we offer free window consultations all over West Michigan, from New Buffalo to St. Joseph and Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Just call 269-468-6682 to schedule your appointment, and we’re happy to help provide you with the best answers and options for you!
