Window Replacement Companies Directory. Home. Advisor's Guide to Hiring a Window Contractor. Windows are as much an aesthetic component to your home as a functional one. As well as allowing light in, they can also enhance the appearance of your house and add to the “curb appeal”. However, like anything with moving parts they can wear out and stop functioning correctly, or they can start to look “dated”. Questions to Ask Your Window Contractor. As with any contracted job, you don’t want to hand it off to just anybody. You want to be sure the person you are hiring is someone you feel comfortable with. After all, your home is a major investment and you want to give it the best treatment you can. Here are some questions you should ask of any window contractor: How long have you been in business? Companies that don’t do good work don’t stay around very long. Three to five years is a good amount of time, but don’t forget to ask about the contractor’s experience with your type of windows. Do you subcontract or have your own crew? A contractor with his own crew usually indicates that they have enough work year- round to require a steady crew. However, if subcontractors are used, be sure to meet with them to make sure you communicate effectively and that you feel comfortable with the subcontractor. Also be clear on who to go to if there’s a problem or change in plans. What kind of warranty do you provide? The windows themselves should come with a factory warranty, but you want a contractor who will stand behind his or her workmanship as well. Be sure to learn who to go to for issues after the work is complete. Can you give me references? Look for referrals that are within the past year to see how the work looks for recent jobs. How to choose Window Treatments for Sliding Glass Doors like curtains, blinds, shades, shutters, cellular shades, specialty treatments. What looks the best? If you can, talk to the people and ask how well the crew worked, if they looked and behaved professionally, and if they would use them again. Do you have insurance? Any time work is being done around your home there is a chance for injury. If a contractor doesn’t have coverage for his or her crew, any injuries on your property will be your responsibility. Don’t take this chance. How would approach my job? This question is aimed at giving you insight into how the contractor does business. Do you work in bad weather? It’s not always easy to work in inclement weather, but a good contractor will know how to isolate the work- site so that you don’t have to wait out the bad weather with a gaping hole in your wall. Do you or your crew have any extra certifications?
Going the extra yard to get additional certifications shows an interest in the work they do. It also indicates someone who is not settling for the bare minimum requirements. How much repeat business do you get? Some remodels are done in phases. A contractor who is called back to handle several phases enjoys the trust of his or her clients. Finally, be sure to find out how long before the installation is started and about how long the job should take. When you get a quote, see if interior finishing is included. Not all contractors include this, so don’t assume it’s included just because it wasn’t brought up. Return to Top. Replacing Windows. The decision to replace a window should not be done on a lark. It can be a fairly expensive and involved project. A more in- depth look can help you decide if you should replace a window or if you can save money by repairing it. Rotten Wood. The wood that the frame is made of can rot if it has been painted or primed incorrectly. It can also suffer if the wood wasn’t seasoned correctly at the mill. Also, wood that is constantly exposed to humidity, not just rain and dew but also lawn sprinklers, can deteriorate quickly even if it’s been treated properly. Rotten wood can let in drafts and moisture. It can also promote the growth of mold on and between your walls. Various pests will make their homes in rotten wood, and as wood rots it falls apart and will lead to broken panes and holes in your house. Look to see how rotted it is. Rot can sometimes look worse than it is. If the sill or the part that divides the window into panes, called a muntin, is rotten in spots, you can save money by using an epoxy (about $2. However, extensive rotting or a rotten frame should be replaced. Find out what caused the rot in the first place. If you don’t remedy the cause of the rot, it won’t be long before you’re repairing or replacing your windows all over again. Broken Panes. The glass part of a window is called a pane. The reasons they can break are numerous and classic. A stray baseball hit by the neighborhood future major league all- star is the scenario that most often comes to mind. Storms can blow debris against the panes, and on a hot day the shock of cold water, as from a garden hose, against a hot window can cause it to crack or shatter. There is no repairing the glass. It must be replaced. Glass can cost from $3. The sash may also need replacing. The sash is the frame that holds the pane. Depending on how the window got broken, the sash can be broken or bent. Broken Seals. Windows expand and contract with swings in temperature. This can cause seals to crack and fail, leaving condensation free to build up between the panes in double- or triple- pane windows. Double- and triple- pane windows are sometimes filled with insulating gases like argon and krypton. When seals crack, this gas escapes. If the gas escapes faster than air can rush in, the resulting vacuum can cause at least one pane to implode. Because of the costs and complexities involved in repairing the pane (including the varying costs of gases), it’s best to replace the sash entirely. Sticky Windows. Almost everyone has encountered a window that refuses to open or puts up a fight in order to close. Reasons for this include: Frames, sills, and sashes have been painted over. The paint must be chipped away with a putty knife. Old paint and putty must then be scraped off and sanded for a smooth operation. Paint can sometimes ruin hardware. If your windows are old enough, the hardware might not be able to be replaced. If this is the case, you should consider replacing the window rather than have one that doesn’t work. If your house was built before 1. You may want to hire a professional if you suspect lead. Windows can become stuck due to dirt in the tracks. A simple cleaning is usually all that’s needed for this situation, but if the window has been forced to close in spite of the debris, there could be damage to the sash. If you clean your tracks and the window still doesn’t shut right, call a handyman to take a look at it. The sash may be bent. Drafty Windows. Drafts coming in through your windows are often caused by old weather stripping, though you should check for rotted wood (see above). Old caulking can also allow air through, as can loose sashes. Assuming the wood is in fine shape, a tube of painter’s caulk costs about $1. Weather stripping is replaceable at $8. Sash replacement can cost between $4. Return to Top. Other Reasons to Replace Windows. Since the above situations are relatively easy to repair in most cases, why would you replace your windows? There are several reasons, some of which have been covered above. Let’s recap: Difficult to Clean – Cleaning windows isn’t anybody’s favorite chore, but some windows can get stained over time due to nearby industries or because of a coastal location. The design of the window can also cause cleaning difficulties. A second- story window that requires someone to hang outside of the window for cleaning is a safety hazard for anyone. Whether because of permanent staining or for safety reasons, the window may need to be replaced with something more resistant to environmental effects or something that swings inward for easier cleaning. Replacement Parts – Especially troublesome in older homes, the part that needs replacing just may not be available anymore. While simple hardware like locks and latches can be changed for a newer design, weights and other needed mechanical components may have been discontinued in favor of newer designs or materials. You may have to replace the window because the replacement parts no longer exist. Style – Especially if you have recently remodeled your house, your old windows may look dated or just not fit the looks of your house. You could be restoring a Victorian and want to replace the inexpensive vinyl windows with something that retains the vintage look of the house. Window Treatments for Sliding Glass Doors (IDEAS & TIPS)Sliding doors are an aesthetically pleasing way to bring lots of natural light into a room. They are also a highly efficient way to gain access to an outdoor area. Yet, as wonderful as slider glass doors are, finding sliding door window treatments that don’t detract from their usefulness can be quite a challenge. After all, what good are sliding door window treatments if they limit the amount of sunlight that gets into your room or makes it difficult to actually use the door? Luckily, there are some great window treatment options available. Types of Sliding Door Window Treatments. Sliding glass doors offer abundant natural light and easy access to the outside. These perks create a bit of a double- edged sword when it comes to window treatments for sliding doors. Your window treatments should not negate the functions of your sliding doors, meaning you don’t want to block out too much light and you don’t want to obstruct your ease of access through the door. Luckily, there are several options of window treatments you choose once you establish your specific needs and wants. Vertical Blinds. Sliding door blinds are the most common window treatments and provide the best solution for privacy concerns in a home where sliding doors and French doors are used. Sliding doors are attractive and efficient, but they need to come with the proper kind of treatment to preserve privacy and filter sunlight. But choosing the wrong kind of blinds can ruin the beauty and efficiency of a sliding door. So in order to keep this from happening, you need to know the different choices you have when it comes to sliding door blinds. Sometimes having tons of choices can be overwhelming, but it is a blessing in this case if you know what options you have. Blinds are commonly made of PVC plastic, Faux Wood, Real, Wood, and Fabric. They are constructed using slats or vanes that can be adjusted using a cord, a wand, or a remote control. Their slats slightly overlap, making the blinds and shades very easily adjustable. Because they are easily adjustable, blinds can provide privacy whenever you want it. You can also control the amount of light that can get in your home. They lie flat against the sliding doors in the closed position. And in the open position, they can be arranged to let in as much or as little light as you desire. Plus, when the slats are drawn completely open, they fit neatly against each other out of the way of your indoors to outdoors travels. Slat Sizes. When it comes to sliding door blinds, the most important decision you need to make is choosing the size of the slats. They come in 1- inch, 2- inch, and 3. Most homeowners choose 3. Those who prefer treatments that require less maintenance and are cheaper should choose 1- inch slats. If you want to maintain an old- fashioned theme in your home, 2- inch slats should be your choice. Colors. Blinds come in a wide variety of colors and materials. If you are going to change the color scheme of your room, it is best to choose a neutral color sliding door blind. But, if you want your blinds to look prominent, pick a color that will stand out against the wall or your door. Pro tip: Most interior designers avoid using blinds and curtains as the basis of a room’s color palette. Let the room color and decor determine your blind color. Vertical blinds or shades are the most popular choice because they offer total control of the light allowed into the room and they are cheap. They are easy to install and maintain and are perfect for sliding doors. Plus there are lots of blind styles available. Sliding Doors with Built- in Blinds. Because of the many problems people have with vertical blinds (they break, get dirty, they make noise, most are ugly), you can now buy specialty sliding glass patio doors that have horizontal blinds built- in. The horizontal blinds are sandwiched between two pieces of glass and controlled by a slider knob. These ingenious blinds are impervious to dust and dirt, they look great, and they open and close at the flick of a switch. Curtains. The quickest and easiest choice for sliding patio door window treatments is curtains. They can add style and drama to your room while providing light control and easy access to the door. Curtains come in many fabrics, colors, patterns, designs, and motifs. Curtains for sliding glass doors protect a room from sunlight and also decorate the room. But they also have an important safety function, they make people realize that there is a window there. If you have kids, then you know what I mean! I’ve had kids and sometimes even friends walk right into a closed glass sliding door. It’s kind of funny but could be dangerous. Curtains for sliding glass doors should be able to be tucked away to prevent people tripping over them when passing through the doorway. So be sure to choose one made of a material that is easily stored away behind a tie or sash. A glass door is often an important source of light, so also consider using a translucent material which will allow light into the room and maintain your privacy. Light colors, such as grays, creams, and light blues are ideal for translucent curtains. If you like to leave your sliding glass door open to let a breeze enter the house, then choose a lighter material. In this case, I prefer simple designs rather than overly decorated and intricate ones. They are really easy to install too. With a quick DIY installation of a sturdy curtain rod, you can have your curtains up and brightening your room in less than an hour. You can even dress up the curtains with a coordinating decorative valance that sits over the main curtain rod. Pro tip: Check the weight of your curtain. Use a strong and secure curtain rail so that the curtain does not fall and break the glass. Curtains for sliding glass doors can make a beautiful addition to your house, and also improve its safety for children and adults alike. Sliding Panels. Sliding panels are another good choice for sliding patio doors. The panels operate on a track, so their workability with large areas of glass work perfectly for sliding glass doors. Vertical Cellular Shades. Cellular shades are a relatively recent product option. They can be transparent or opaque and they are designed as wide vertical pleats, forming an accordion- like shade. Vertical cellular shades are great for energy efficiency in rooms with large amounts of glass. They can be pulled open or closed, or gathered in the middle, as you see fit. The best part is that all these types of blinds are available in a wide variety of fabrics, colors, and materials. Here you can see how Vertical Cellular Shades work: If you’re interested in seeing how to install them, here are two manufacturer videos: Plantation Shutters. Another popular and quite stylish option for sliding glass doors is plantation shutters. With a track much like that of the sliding doors, there are some types of shutters slide open and closed. Others have hinges enabling them to slide open and shut. For light control, plantation shutters can come with wide or narrow louvers at your request. They rotate from closed to open to allow in as much light as you wish. If you’re considering Plantation Shutters, be sure to check out this nice walk- through video. Read this Before you Buy Window Treatments! When choosing window treatments, there are several vital considerations that will help determine the sliding door window treatments that are best for your room and will fit in with the overall feel of your home. The benefits of slider doors make choosing the perfect window treatment for sliding doors a potentially tricky process. Here are some tips to remember to help you choose the right window treatment for your sliding glass door. Match your Existing Window Treatments. First, if your sliding glass patio doors are in the same room with other windows, then be sure to coordinate your window treatments. It will look best if all your window treatment match. Open in the Same Direction as the Door. Next, I always recommend that your window treatments operate in the same direction as your sliding glass doors. Meaning that if your door opens from left to right, then your curtains should also open that way. This obviously depends on the type of treatment you choose and rules are meant to be broken. Think About Durability. The last tip, sliding glass doors are usually highly traveled areas. So you’ll want choose window treatments that will stand up over time.
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