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8 Cost Saving Window Replacement Tips

Windows have it bad. They protect your home 24/7 from the wear and tear of the seasons. But, no matter how sturdy they are, soon they’ll need replacing. However, constant battery isn’t the only reason why you should go ahead and replace your windows.

You might have passed by this beautiful house down the road and simply fell in love with its windows that you just had to have them. Or you had your house remodeled, and you need matching windows for your new house theme. In any case, window replacement shouldn’t bother you so much, as long as you have the right equipment and these helpful tips.

8 DIY Windows Replacement Tips That Should Save You Money

1.    Rule of Thumb – Be accurate!

First things first: be very accurate with your window measurements. Don’t just rely on your guts; trust the measuring tape. Accuracy saves time, money and effort. When measuring, use the smallest units possible (centimeters with millimeters is the best) for the best fit.

To get the most accurate measurement, make sure you measure the width and the height three times: from one end, the middle part, and the other end. Then choose the shortest measurement of the three. This will ensure that you get the best fit for your frame.

2.    Figure out what type of replacement you’re doing

There are three, if you didn’t know that already – sash kits, full-frames and insert replacements. Sash replacements attach new parts to your window (like the jamb and the sill), while the insert replacement has a set of fully-assembled windows, ready to be installed.

The full frame is like the insert, except that it includes the frame itself; in short, it’s the whole package, a total renovation of your window, sill and frame. All three could be easily installed and it just depends on what you want.

Don’t forget to consult your budget, too, as these replacement windows don’t necessarily come cheap. Choose wisely, and pick up the instructions from there.

Types of window frames

3.    Quality check your materials

Always check the quality of your replacement windows. Don’t just get those cheap glass replacements just because they’re cheap! It’s best to be in a showroom and contrast and compare materials and products.

Some things you can consider are warranties, operation, glass selection and even the time it will take you to clean them. Once you’ve done your price and quality check, go ahead and proceed with installation.

8 DIY Windows Replacement Tips That Should Save You Money

4.    Take this time to clean!

Hit two birds with one stone! After removing your old windows (with or without frame), clean the area thoroughly, meaning the jambs and the sill. You will also notice that the jambs and sills could have some holes in them, so make sure you fill them up before you proceed to installation.

If you’re removing the entire frame, then check for holes as well. Make sure you fill everything up before installing your new windows.

5.    Go green!

If you’re feeling a little kinder to the environment, why not try an energy-efficient window? It helps with maintaining room temperature and reducing noise levels. You could also use recycled materials for your windows, some used windows for a classic, ancient effect, or windows made of environment-friendly materials.

8 DIY Windows Replacement Tips That Should Save You Money

6.    Take your time

If you’re convinced that you can replace your windows yourself, then you better do a great job with it. Installing windows take time, especially if you’re also changing your window mechanism.

Devote time and effort, and don’t rush. When you try to just slug it out, you’ll end up redoing the entire thing over again. So be careful and take your time.

7.    Dry fit!

No, these aren’t clothes we’re talking about. But like the perfect pair of jeans, how do you know it’s perfect when you haven’t tried it on? Dry fit your window before attaching it completely. This will help in case your measurements were a little off and there are some fitting issues. Also, try out the window mechanism.

Does it open properly?

Never move forward in attaching that window unless you have done a dry fit and you’re satisfied with how the window works.

8.    Paint and Finish

8 DIY Windows Replacement Tips That Should Save You MoneyIt’s always a great idea to place finishing touches on your newly installed windows. If you don’t like the original color, go crazy and paint!

But before you do so, check if you left any nail or screw holes that you need to fill up. Once you’ve done that, you can proceed with painting your new windows.

 

 

These are just a few tips and tricks of the trade. On top of everything, make sure your head is in the game. It’s not that hard, come to think of it.

Replacing your windows doesn’t really require a professional, as long as you follow the instructions carefully. What’s the internet for, anyway, right?

 

Article written by Vitaliy Volyanskiy

 

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46 Comments

  1. Simply wanted to say your article is great. The clarity in your post is just great and I could assume you’re
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  2. My husband and I are going to replace our windows this winter, so I found your tips to be really helpful! I especially liked your tip to “go green” when choosing a replacement window. I had no idea that there were windows that could help to make my home energy efficient like the ones that you mentioned! I think that installing these kinds of windows would be great, because not only could they help us save money, but they would help us protect the environment at the same time! I’m going to look into having energy efficient windows installed in my home! Thank you for the information!

    1. Thank you so much! I am so happy your found the article clear and helpful. If you are in the Renton, WA area I can recommend Window Strong for replacement window services, particularly if you are interested in going green.

  3. Thanks for the reminder to clean the window before you put it in. It really does become a lot harder to clean once you’ve installed the window – especially on the outside! Thinking of this before I replaced some of my second story windows would have saved me a lot of headaches. Thanks for saving others from the same fate!

  4. My house had been added onto by its previous owners; however, while they installed new windows for the expansion, they left the rest of the house with its old windows. I want to replace the old windows, since they are in definite need of repair or replacement, but should I think about replacing the newer ones as well to keep the whole house looking the same? I do like your suggestion of going green, though; I didn’t know that windows themselves can help the environment, plus I like the sound of noise-reducing windows! Thanks for the article; I’ll definitely be using its advice when I replace my windows.

  5. Taking time to make sure everything is done right is the best tip on here in my opinion. It’s like my father always used to say, “You need to measure twice and cut once”. It basically means that if you take a little extra time initially, you can save yourself a lot of extra work later when your windows or woodwork do not fit in the frame. Thanks for posting these awesome tips for everyone to see!

  6. I agree that the very first thing you should do is be accurate when making assessments about window fixing. I think that you should be accurate in measurement and identifying problems. I think that it is important to be able to realize if you need to repair or replace a window.

  7. I appreciate your tip on figuring out what type of replacement your windows need. I always assumed that a replacement always meant replacing the whole window, I guess I was wrong. My wife and I have some old windows that we want to be replaced, we’ll have to take a look and see what actually needs to be replaced.

  8. Thank you for the help. My wife and I are doing some renovations and are hoping to replace a couple windows. I had not realized there were different types of replacements, as you mentioned. I think ours is currently wood, but am wondering if aluminum would be more durable. Is it worth trying to switch to a new material when we do the replacement?

  9. This is some really good information to know during the installation. I like that you pointed out that you should take your time when installing it. That does seem like a smart thing to do if you don’t want to break the glass. It seems like it might be a good idea to gave a professional install it for you.

  10. Considering what windows go through on a normal basis pretty impressive. Making sure that your windows are sturdy and able to resist harsh elements, I would agree is important. Replacing your broken or cracked windows immediately sounds like it could really be beneficial for your safety.

  11. I would personally never want to try to install a window on my own. I would probably put it in backwards and have to redo it. However, if you want to save money then it is probably a good idea to take our your old window yourself. That isn’t nearly as hard as putting one in. As long as you take your time to do it right.

    1. Good Luck! You can always consider taking a class at your local community college in carpentry and framing where you’d learn the basics for installing windows. Or you could consider hiring a professional.

  12. Thank you for the help. My wife and I are wanting to put in a couple new windows to maximize energy efficiency of our house. With that in mind, I am not sure what trim material would be the most efficient. Would the wood option be the most thorough insulation?

  13. I actually saw some windows the other day on a home that were painted dark brown. I really loved the style that it produced and I would love to do something similar. We want to replace our windows because they are about as old as I am. Do you have any tips for painting the frames? Would using masking tape be beneficial? Any tips that you have would be greatly appreciated!

  14. I need to replace all of the windows in my house, and I have a budget that I need to stick to. Your tips for saving on window replacements will be great to know so that I won’t go over budget. Checking the quality of the materials that I’m choosing seems like it would include the type of glass and the frame that I want. I’ll remember to go to a showroom and compare materials that will help me choose the best window replacement that will live the longest without getting damaged easily.

  15. Thank you for the help. I am about to have a few windows replaced. I would love to switch to a more efficient solution, as you discussed. What determines how energy efficient a window is?

  16. This is some great information, and I appreciate your suggestion to install energy efficient windows. My husband and I have decided to replace our current windows because they’re getting old and outdated. We’re still trying to decide what exactly we want to replace them with, but we’ll definitely look into going with something more energy efficient. Thanks for the great post!

  17. Having check this out I believed it absolutely was extremely enlightening.

    I appreciate you spending some time as well as to get this content together.

    One time i again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and commenting.
    But so what on earth, it was still worthwhile!

  18. I appreciate your tip to make sure you have accurate measurements before you choose replacement windows. I remember my dad got replacement windows and guessed at the measurements, the result was quite stressful. I also like what you said about carefully considering what type of replacement windows you want, it’s easy to forget that there are so many different materials and options out there!

  19. I am so glad that I came across this article. My husband and I have been wanting to replace our windows for a while now. We recently moved into an older home so having something new would be really nice. We will have to keep these tips in mind while we get the process started. Thanks for sharing!

  20. Your advice for taking accurate measurements is really smart. I can imagine it would be frustrating to order the glass you need in the wrong size by mistake. Measuring each side at least three times sounds like a safe way to be certain that you know the correct size. Thanks for the great tip! I will definitely remember when it is time to upgrade my windows.

  21. That makes a lot of sense to take exact window measurements. Home improvements aren’t something you can fudge. I know; I’ve cut twice, measured once multiple times in my home projects and created a lot of waste material. Maybe I’ll just get pros to help me with my windows.

  22. I liked that you talked about how it would be best to make sure that you check the quality of the material you choose. I would be the person who would go for the cheapest option. So, I am glad that you pointed out that you want to make sure that the cheap option actually will work for your needs and will last.

  23. I agree with you in that it is important to make sure you take the time to take accurate measurements when replacing your windows. It makes sense that taking the time to do this can help you make sure your investment is not in vain and that your new window will provide the benefits you need. My son broke one of our windows yesterday while playing ball, so I want to make sure I take the time to consult with a professional to make sure the right tools are used to properly seal and install the type of window I choose.

  24. I liked that you talked about how it would be a good idea to know what type of window replacement you are doing. That does seem like a really important thing to know. After all, I wouldn’t know what I would need to get a wood window frame replacement.

  25. I totally agree with you in that it is important to take careful measurements when replacing your glass. My son broke our kitchen window yesterday while playing basketball and we want to replace it before any accidents happen. It is important to remember that comparing several companies and what they can offer to you can help you find the best glass replacement for your needs.

  26. It was easy for me and my fiance to decide to look into a residential window replacement service. We do not like the windows we have in the home we just moved into. After the professionals install the new ones, we will be sure to paint over the color if we are not totally in love with it.

  27. Thanks again for showing me the right way to measure a window and to stay accurate in the process. As you mentioned, do not just rely on your gut when measuring but trust the measuring tape. We have been looking into getting some new windows, and I think that this will help us make sure that we have the right measurements for replacement.

  28. Back when we moved into this house, I feel delighted with the looks of our windows. However, as the time passes, the windows are starting to look boring, and there are windows downstairs that have been damaged over the years. We plan to hire contractors to replace them one of these days, but we want to know how to save money because we are tight in money right now. It appears that we can have an eco-friendly window after all. Like you said, those windows are made from recycled materials which can also give a classic and ancient effect in our house. Thanks for the tips!

  29. Oh, this is fabulous! We are going to replace some window’s in my grandmother’s house. I didn’t realize there were three different kinds of window replacements. I agree that it’s worth it to get higher quality materials that will last longer and look nicer.

  30. We had a hail storm not too long ago that ended up chipping one of our windows. I wanted to look up what the most effective and cost-efficient way to fix it would be. I really appreciated the tip about making sure that the materials have high quality and not to just replace it because they’re cheap.

  31. I really liked your tip to use a measuring tape to determine how much of window you will need. I accidentally shattered my bedroom window last night. I will be sure to call a professional and tell them the dimensions of my window.

  32. This is some really good information about aluminum windows. I liked that you pointed out that I should make sure that I can paint the window frames. I bought a fixer-upper and I have been considering replacing the windows.

  33. My wife and I are thinking about installing new windows when we remodel our living room, so thanks for these tips! I like your point about comparing materials and different products first. I’ll be sure to do this so we can find windows with good insulation.

  34. The article is so nice. You have shared all helpful tips with us. I agree with your these amazing tips. Thanks, Timisha for this such kind of article.

  35. It’s a great idea to use energy-efficient windows, as they will also reduce noise levels. My home is located on a very busy street, so these tips could be quite helpful. Thank you so much for all the tips on choosing replacement windows.

  36. My wife and I live in a pretty old house, and we have been considering replacing the windows. Since we don’t know how to find the right windows, I was curious about how to find them. I really like that you say to try out the window mechanisms in the window to see if they work properly. I know that I would want to understand how the windows work before we install them.

  37. It’s true that windows protect my home 24/7. I think I fell in love with my neighbor’s new windows, so I might get some from a good window contractor. Thanks for telling me that I should be accurate with my wants so that I’ll get the best possible outcome for my home remodel.

  38. I like the idea of getting more energy-efficient windows when I’m getting them replaced instead of putting in more of the same thing. We hadn’t really planned on replacing the windows until I tripped and knocked a lamp through it. Now that we need new ones anyway, maybe it would be worth it to get ones that would insulate our home better.

  39. I appreciate your recommendation to clean the area thoroughly before installing the new windows. My wife and I have been living in our home for over twenty years and we’ve considered doing some rennovations to make things newer. We have been considering a few different types of windows to change the feel of our home. We may decide to get the modern aluminum windows or something like that.

  40. You made a great point about figuring out what type of replacement you’re doing so that you have the correct amount of budget. My husband and I are looking for an energy-efficient window service that can help us as we renovate our house. We will keep these tips in mind as we search for a professional that can help us best.

  41. It’s interesting to know that you need to consider your budget before deciding the type of replacement windows you need. My husband noticed that a window in our house looks damaged, and we are looking for advice. I will let him know about your recommendations to understand the benefits of planning a window replacement project.

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