When considering upgrading our homes, most consider remodeling the kitchen or bathrooms. We want to invest in the beauty of our living rooms, bedrooms, and dining spaces. Additionally, we are considering landscaping and improving our backyard areas. However, have you considered the benefit of a replacement window or a new window?
Replacement windows for your home add to its value, putting more equity in your pocket. The best quality replacement windows will contribute to lower energy bills (even more than the price of windows over time) and greatly enhance your home’s aesthetics. Furthermore, a replacement window will decrease the noise you hear from outside and is less of a headache than dealing with old, outdated windows that have been painted shut and function poorly.
Adding replacement windows or new windows to your home could qualify you for an energy-efficient home improvement credit from the government, leading to substantial savings on your new window costs.
If you feel a draft around your windows in the winter, heat coming through in the summer, have visible cracks and chips in your windows or see signs of water intrusion around your window seals, it may be time to invest in replacement windows.
There’s nothing better than looking out your front windows on a bright, sunny day to take in the view, see the birds nesting in the trees and the squirrels scurrying through your yard. Or maybe you like gazing through the windows on a rainy day, watching the raindrops hit the windows and slowly trickle down.
For as many benefits as windows provide, there’s a good chance they might also be costing you a great deal of money. Older windows that are drafty and let air escape can increase your energy bills by 10 to 25%.
Regardless of whether you want to lower your energy costs, make home maintenance a little easier or reduce outside noise, there are plenty of options available for getting replacement windows. There are also plenty of benefits to replacement windows. If you’re thinking about replacement windows, consider the following benefits:
- Easy Maintenance: Getting replacement windows with advanced designs helps increase their sustainability. When windows are high quality and properly maintained, they can last 20 years or more, depending on the material. If you’re chatting up a window company about what type of window might lower your maintenance costs, look for windows that are durable, easy to clean and are of a good material. Features such as between-the-glass shades and blinds reduce the amount of time you spent cleaning your windows and also reduce dust and allergens.
- Improved Safety: When it comes to preventing break-ins, replacement windows can do the trick. Many styles of replacement windows are available with glass options that can increase the security and safety of your home. For example, laminated glass has an interlayer made of polymer that helps hold glass together if it shatters to aid in preventing break-ins. Tempered glass is designed to break into chunks rather than shards. Finding the right type of window for your needs from a window company will leave you feeling safer and better protected.
- Better Home Value: Homeowners who replace their windows can get as much as 80% of their investment back. On average, replacing a window costs anywhere from $300-700 per window, so getting a large chunk of that money back in the long run is a definite plus for homeowners who are considering getting replacement windows.
- Adding Tint: Another option for replacement windows is getting tinted ones or using a window film. Tinted windows can lower energy costs (up to 40% saved on utility bills) and offer comfort as well as additional protection from UV rays.
In addition, windows with a security window tint can benefit your home.- The tint in window film helps hold glass together to aid in preventing break-ins.
- Safety window tint makes it more difficult to see valuables inside a car if you tint a car’s windows.
- Safety window film allows you a clear view to the outside if you’re in your house or a car, but prevents others from looking in.
- Simply put, it’s another layer of protection you can use to keep yourself, your home, car and valuables safer.
- Lower Energy Costs: As previously mentioned, getting replacement windows can have a very positive effect on your pocketbook. Yes, replacement windows do cost money, but they’ll also save you money in the long run. Well-insulated windows can keep extreme outdoor elements such as cold, wind and heat from affecting your home’s heating and cooling system. Depending on the window company, different types and styles of windows are offered for different climates.
- UV Protection: Natural light coming in through a window can be great for reading a book, but too many ultraviolet rays can cause your home’s interior to fade. Many styles of window, such as double-pane can protect your home’s floors, walls and furnishings. Some brands and styles of window can block more than 90% of the sun’s UV rays.
- Looking good: Getting replacement windows installed in your home can keep you safer and reduce energy costs, but it can also make your home look good. New windows can make a home look more appealing on the outside, more appealing on the inside and can also increase your home’s value.
Whether you want help preventing break-ins, blocking out noise, lowering your energy costs, improving the overall look and value of your home or make maintenance a little easier, replacement windows provide numerous benefits.