Life with Our New Vinyl Replacement Windows
First Impressions
 
Our new vinyl replacement windows from the inside and the outside. My first impression when I got home from work
on installation day was WOW! First of all, we were told the job would
take two days since it involved replacing three patio doors. Unlike
windows, replacing patio doors involves removing the old frame from
the house. So when one of the installers told me they were done, I
was quite surprised.
As for the windows and doors themselves,
I have to say they looked fantastic from the outside. The coil wrap
trim is a perfect match to the rest of the trim on the house. The
ugly old aluminum is no more and the overall appearance of the house
has been greatly improved. On the inside, the improvement in appearance
was less dramatic but still substantial. The clean white vinyl gives
the house a more updated and modern look. I say the interior change
was less dramatic because we always kept our discolored old aluminum
windows hidden by blinds and curtains. Now they we have the new
windows, we’re leaving the window coverings open a lot more.
The new windows and patio doors operate much better than our old
ones. They don’t exactly glide, but they slide with little
effort. Our old patio doors had broken rollers and locks that didn’t
work, so the difference here is night and day.
Disappointments
 
The new vinyl frame is almost twice as wide as the old aluminum frame, which means we've lost a significant amount of glass area. With any major project, there are going to
be things that aren’t perfect and this was no exception. My
biggest disappointment with the new windows is the amount of glass
area that we have lost. We knew this was one of the tradeoffs when
choosing replacement windows over new constructions windows. That’s
why we chose a company that offered “thin” vinyl frames.
Even so, I was surprised by how much of our old glass has been replaced
by the vinyl frame. None of our rooms are noticeably darker during
the day than they used to be, but I’m aware of the lost glass.
As my wife mentioned, another unpleasant surprise was the
lack of security when the windows are in the vent position. Even
with the vent lock engaged, they can be lifted out of their tracks.
Fortunately, this was easily fixed with a few screws in the top
of the track.
A final area of concern has to do with the large amount of caulk
used to install the windows. Time will tell if it frequently gets
dirty and how difficult it is to clean.
Conclusion
Despite these issues, my wife and I agree
that vinyl replacement windows were one of the best investments we
could have made in our home. The whole house feels newer and quieter
and we’re looking forward to the energy savings that the windows
will provide. It’s also good to know that this is one of the
best remodeling projects when it comes to getting your investment
back when you sell.
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and good luck with your project.
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