New windows
New Doors and Windows
Thinking about new doors and windows? Whether it’s to repair damage, save money by reducing energy consumption or enhance the look of your home, the decision to install new doors and windows, like any home repair, requires selecting the appropriate material and design features to suit your needs.
New Doors:
When shopping for new doors, consider the range of available materials. Wood is a popular choice as it is more aesthetically pleasing that steel or fiberglass, but it is not the best option for a front door that is not protected by an awning or porch. Wood is very susceptible to wear and tear from outside elements and often works best for interior doors. Steel is another material but it has the drawback of radiating heat in the summer months and being less energy efficient than wood or fiberglass. Fiberglass doors, the last choice, hold up to abuse and come equipped with long warranties.
In terms of cost, the most you’ll pay for a fiberglass door is $1,500. Solid wood doors are by far the most expensive and can run in the neighborhood of $3,500 if you decide on a pre-hung door, hinges, locksets, and weather stripping. Steel doors are the cheapest option – at most you’ll pay $300-500. If your main concerns are durability and safety, steel is a match for you. However, many homeowners choose wood or fiberglass made to resemble wood for a front door and save steel for garage doors where utility is king.
New Windows:
Did you know that Federal tax credits are available for windows installed in 2016 (and retroactive purchases made in 2015) for Energy Star-qualified windows? You’ll lower your heating and cooling bills throughout the year and the government is incentivizing you to make the switch.
As with doors, there are three types of materials to choose from when window shopping: wood, vinyl and fiberglass. Remember that vinyl can’t be painted so you are stuck with the color you buy. Fiberglass windows do what windows are supposed to: keep cold air out and hold in heat. Consumer Reports rates them higher than most vinyl and wood windows for this reason and for their ability to withstand harsh weather. Wood windows are a must to keep the original look of a Wash Park bungalow or perhaps a Victorian but they also demand that you take preventative measures to make sure they don’t rot or warp.
Window Movement:
Casement Style has a crank and they’re easy to clean. Double hung are even easier to clean and they do a great job of letting air flow through the home when you lower the top sash. They are a recommended choice for families with small children as they prevent the danger of a child climbing out the bottom window.
The adage of ‘you get what you pay for’ isn’t always the best advice when it comes to windows. But you can’t go wrong choosing a company with great customer service who has been in business a long time.
Be sure to check the rules regarding installing floor to ceiling or bay windows. Depending on where you live, your ability to select the window of your dreams could get derailed. Here’s a link to Denver’s permitting process for bay windows.
You can hire Castle Builds to install your new doors and windows where none previously existed or we can replace your existing windows with more aesthetically pleasing choices so you can let in some of that Colorado sun and see more sunsets. Having a lot of natural light in a home does wonders and can’t hurt your resale value either. New doors and windows
