Archive for the ‘Home Improvement’ Category
Measuring For Your Vinyl Replacement Windows
MEASURING FOR YOUR VINYL REPLACEMENT WINDOWS
Let’s say you’re tired of those old wood windows, and you decide it’s time to upgrade to vinyl replacement windows. You get 2 or 3 contractors to come out and give you an estimate. After they leave, you can’t believe windows can cost so much. I mean, having to get financing to replace your windows just doesn’t seem right. Let me explain to you why the windows are so expensive. You have to pay the salary of the salesman who comes over to give you your “”free”" estimate. Then, you have to pay the salary of the installers. Finally, you have to pay the owner of the company. In some cases there is a broker who acts as a middleman, and he or she gets a cut too. No wonder you need financing! Now, imagine if you already knew how to shop for windows, how to measure for new windows, how to remove the old windows, and how to install the new windows. You just eliminated everybody except the owner. All of a sudden you can afford to replace your windows without taking out a loan! The next few articles are going to cover this process. This article is going to discuss the proper way to measure for your double hung replacement windows.
It’s important to properly measure for your windows. If you order them too small, you’re going to end up having to improvise in order to get them to work. Even if you do get them to work, you’re probably going to have problems. And if you order them too big, you’re really in trouble. Chances are you will be ordering more windows. So, measuring is very important. Fortunately, it’s also very simple. We are dealing with old double hung wood windows here, so if that doesn’t apply to you, don’t worry. Future articles will discuss other types of windows. In the case of the wood sash windows, you want to measure the width first, and height second. When you go shopping for windows, always give the dimensions as WIDTH X HEIGHT. To measure your width, you want to pull a tape measure from the top right corner to the top left corner. Put the tape measure in that 1 1/2″” pocket where the window frame slides. Measure to the sixteenth of an inch. Do the same thing at about the midway point,right above where the window locks. Then, raise the bottom sash and take the same measurement at the bottom. If you can’t raise the window for whatever reason, go outside and measure from there. You will have to remove the screen though.
The majority of the time all three of those measurements will be the same. If they’re not the same, use the SMALLEST measurement. Now subtract 1/4″” from that measurement. This is your width for the new window. The height is a bit tricky. If your window sill outside slopes downward for water drainage, you have to make sure that you measure from the HIGHEST Point of the sill. You want to measure from the top right corner to the bottom right corner. Put your tape at the top where the upper sash closes. If the bottom has a 5/8″” high inside wood sill piece to prevent water from coming inside, you need to raise the bottom sash and run the tape past the 5/8″” sill and down to the high point of the sloped sill. Do this in the middle and on the left. Once again, take the smallest measurement, but this time deduct 3/16″”. This is your height. If you order your windows using these dimensions,they will fit right in, and leave just enough room to adjust if needed. The final step is to measure the depth of the pocket where both sashes slide. By depth, i mean from the point outside where the top sash rests against the outside wood stop to the point inside where the inside bottom sash rests against the inside stop. This measurement should be between 3 1/4″”- 3 1/2″”. The reason you need to know this dimension is because not all replacement windows have a 3 1/4″” depth frame. You want a replacement window that’s going to fit right into the existing pocket of the wood frame. If you purchase a window with a 2 5/8″” frame depth, you’re going to have approximately 3/4″” to fill. That means buying new wood stops for the inside of the house that are 3/4″” wider than the existing stops. Get the 3 1/4″” frames and save yourself a lot of extra work. Now, if you’re on a really tight budget, the lower grade windows will be the 2 5/8″” frame, and you will have to get the wider trim. But that’s something you should weigh in your mind, whether the money saved on the lesser grade window is worth the extra expense and time of installing new stops around the inside of all your windows.
So, now you have the measurements and it’s time to go shopping. What should you look for to know you’re getting quality windows? A top quality double hung replacement window will have tilt-in sashes that allow you to clean the outside glass from inside the home. All double hung windows have a mechanism that keeps the window in the open position. The better windows use a state of the art mechanism known as a constant force balance coil. All replacement windows will have double glazing, meaning there will be two panes of glass in each sash separated by a 1/2″”-5/8″” spacer material around the edge of the unit. A quality window will use an intercept spacer or something called a super spacer. Find out the U-Value of the window. The lower the number, the better insulating properties. You want a window with a U-Value under .40. There is a special glass called LowE that will lower that U-Value number. In fact, most quality windows include LowE as standard. Those are the main things to ask about when window shopping.
On the opposite end of the quality spectrum, you can buy an economical replacement window that will not have the tilt-in feature.The mechanism that holds the window open will consist of a block and tackle assembly made up of a spring and string. Another mechanism in lower quality windows is called a spiral tube balance. These lesser grade assemblies are notorious for failing after 5-10 years. The spacer material used on lower quality windows will be aluminum or something called swiggle seal. And many times the U-Value of these lower grade windows will be up around .50. The thing to remember is that a window that uses a super spacer more than likely isnt going to use a block and tackle balance system. It would be like buying a new car with leather interior and no power window and door locks. Follow those guidelines and you will have a good idea what quality you are buying. Once you make the decision and purchase your windows, it’s time to get them home and take out your old windows. Next week I will tell you how to remove the old wood windows..
John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit How To Install Windows
Learn how to properly measure for your new vinyl replacement windows.
Tag: vinyl windows, replacement windows, how to install windows, installing vinyl windows, retrofit windows, replacing wood windows, replacing aluminum windows
Home Remodeling Tips
Home Remodeling Tips
Maximizing the function and style of your home, could be very challenging. Before you buy, you should know the pros and cons of home remolding. There are several directions you can take when planning to remodel your home.
Homeowners, do-it-yourself projects are a fact of life. The amount of planning and time you spend before you start a project can have a direct result on the end product. Hiring a contractor or doing it yourself, this guide can help.
You may have settled into your new home and discovered that it doesn’t work for you the way that you thought it would. perhaps you’ve grown tired of searching for a new home. So, you’re thinking about remodeling instead of moving.
Try to hire a design professional who will charge on an hourly basis. Most architects would develop a full set of architectural plans for you right away. This can cost thousands of dollars, which you don’t want to spend unless you’re definitely going ahead with the project.
Find out if your home can be modified to create the kind of space you need. You also need to talk with the local building department to find out if there are any restrictions that would prevent you from starting your project.
A common mistake homeowner’s make is assuming that when they sell they will get back the money they invest in remodeling their home. How much you can get back depends on local real estate market conditions, the type of remodel project, and the length of time between the project completion and the sale of the property.
It doesn’t make sense to take on a major renovation if you plan to sell in the near future. If this will be a long-term home for you, then it may be worthwhile to invest in a major overhaul. But, keep in mind that design tastes change over time.
Talk to your local real estate agent to find out whether your remodel plans are likely to meet with market approval. The point of remodeling is to make your home better suit your lifestyle. But, it’s also important to consider the resale potential of your improvements.
The value of a remodel project will vary from one place to the next. Your agent can help you determine if you will be over-improving your home for your neighborhood. Keep in mind that most remodel projects end up costing more than budget. Factor this in to your cost analysis.
About The Author: Roger King has been writing articles on home decorating ideas for several years, and has been helping people find and review the best value for interior design solutions. Visit his web site www.all-homeinteriordesigns.com for free tips and guides for your home improvement projects
Maximizing the function and style of your home, could be very challenging. Before you buy, you should know the pros and cons of home remolding. There are several directions you can take when planning to remodel your home.
Tag: Home Remodeling Tips
Selecting Area Rugs For Your Home Or Office
Selecting area rugs for your home or office
Imagine the desired total look of the room. Do you want a room that’s organized or a room rich with colors or texture? If you start with a totally empty room, choose an area rug, then paint or wallpaper the walls in colors to match it.
Keep in mind the area rug has to fit the room. Think how the room is used, how much traffic the area gets and who will view it under what light. For high traffic areas such as hallways and foyers, you may want a tough, decorative rug.
If you start with furniture, choose an area rug to pick up the colors used in your furnishing pattern. The fundamentals of a rug design can be more included into the overall design.
Size up the dimension of the room and the area you want to cover up. The most common area rug sizes are 4×6 and 6x9feet. They work well under small tables.
An 8×11 foot area rug or bigger can cover an entire room. Smaller area like in front of a kitchen sink adds color and warmth. A rug with a courageous, overall design can be the focal point of a room with furniture’s in solid or passive patterns.
Light colored area rugs make a room look more open. Choose a rug that will execute well, with the right grouping of thickness and fiber. The denser the mound, the better your area rug will be.
Synthetic yarns, nylon, polyester, acrylic, and polypropylene, and the naturals wool and cotton, are durable, soft, and easy to clean. Your area rug should not only look great, it should perform well, too.
About The Author: Roger King has been writing articles on home decorating ideas for several years, and has been helping people find and review the best value for interior design solutions. Visit his web site www.all-homeinteriordesigns.com for free tips and guides for your home improvement projects
Imagine the desired total look of the room. Do you want a room that’s organized or a room rich with colors or texture? If you start with a totally empty room, choose an area rug, then paint or wallpaper the walls in colors to match it.
Tag: Selecting area rugs