Home Improvement Information

New Construction Windows Or Replacement Windows? Which Is Right For You?


Hello, my name is John Rocco.I grew up around the window and door business. My father owned a glass shop that dealt in every aspect of residential and commercial glass.Naturally, when it came time to choose a profession, i wound up in the window and door business.I have been in the business for about 27 years, and i have been self employed for 20.

One of the things that separated my company from my competitors was my willingness to show my customers how to replace their windows themselves. Whenever i would encounter a customer with a curiosity or willingness to learn how to install their own windows,i would offer to sell them the labor on one window,using them as my helper.Then,they would install the rest of the windows using the knowledge gained from helping me install one.Most window companies would never do this because there is so much money made on the labor.But i was always so busy,i never felt like it was costing me money.

Eventually, i made an installation video for those homeowners who wanted to do their own windows.While the video is for sale on my website, i decided to take excerpts from the video and write an article once a week covering some part of the window replacement project.This article is going to cover the difference between window frames used in new construction homes, and the window frames that are used to replace existing aluminum or wood windows.

When a new home is being built,the windows are nailed to the wood studs that make up the house frame.In order to accomplish this, new construction windows have a fin around all four sides of the frame that rests against the outside of the stud and nails are driven into the studs through the nailing fin. After that,flashing paper is applied to prevent water leaks,then the exterior material is applied. That material can be stucco, brick, siding, etc.

Now,imagine 10 or 20 years later when you want to replace those windows. If you were going to install your replacement windows the same way the original windows were installed, you would have to remove the exterior material around each window in order to get to those nails holding the frame in there. You can see how this procedure could cause many problems, not to mention all the labor involved. I have seen homes in california with stucco exteriors where the homeowner had the stucco cut out in order to remove the old windows.The problem was they were unable to match the stucco colors after patching. Its just not a very efficient way to replace windows. So the replacement frame was designed.

In most parts of the country it's simply a new construction window frame with the nail fin removed. In the west, where stucco is a common home exterior,a retrofit frame was designed. If you're going to be replacing the exterior material on your home, then you might want to consider going with the new construction window since the nailing fins will be exposed anyway. Also, chances are that a contractor will be doing your exterior replacement,and it would be wise to let the contractor install the windows as well.Since my installation videos deal with window replacement only, these articles will focus on replacement frames and retrofit frames. Using these two frame styles,a do it yourselfer can replace their old windows without any damage to existing interior and exterior surfaces. And the job can be done using common tools such as a drill,tape measure, and caulking gun.

In next weeks article,we will discuss the replacement of wood sash windows.

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978

To learn more, visit http://www.vinylwindowsforless.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Lowe's 2Q Net Up 9.6% But Sales Growth Light; View Cautious - Wall Street Journa..
Monday, August 16, 2010

Kansas City Star Lowe's 2Q Net Up 9.6% But Sales Growth Light; View Cautious Wall Street Journal (LOW) fiscal second-quarter earnings increase 9.6%, though sales disappointed and the home-improvement retailer's results and outlook added evidence that ... Lowe's Profit Rises 9.6% to $832.. .. read more..

Vanilla Ice's New Calling: Home Improvement! - Entertainment Tonight News
Thursday, September 2, 2010

mediabistro.com (blog) Vanilla Ice's New Calling: Home Improvement ! Entertainment Tonight News Who knew Vanilla had fifteen years of home-improvement experience under his tool belt? Along the way, he climbs roofs, jumps fences and almost topples a ... Rehabbing houses on TV, is Vanilla Ice the.. .. read more..

Home show gives Labor Day home improvement ideas - 10 Connects
Saturday, September 4, 2010

Home show gives Labor Day home improvement ideas 10 Connects Tampa, FL -- Florida's Largest Home Show is underway this weekend at the Tampa Convention Center. Whether you're building, remodeling, decorating, ... .. read more..

Henderson arrested after Pro Build break-in - KRTV Great Falls News
Monday, September 6, 2010

Henderson arrested after Pro Build break-in KRTV Great Falls News Billy Lee Henderson has been arrested after breaking in to Pro Build, a home-improvement store in Great Falls. Shortly after 11 pm on Saturday night, ... and more » .. read more..

Chevrolet Ads Obtain 'More Power' from Tim Allen - Automoblog.net (blog)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

eGMCarTech (blog) Chevrolet Ads Obtain 'More Power' from Tim Allen Automoblog.net (blog) A personality recognized first as a comedian, Allen's best known for portraying the family man Tim Taylor on the long-running sitcom Home Improvement . ... Chevrolet Cruze – Tim Allen Is The New Voi.. .. read more..

Tech Guild President Fathi Wins a Delay In Shoplifting Trial - Chief-Leader (sub..
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Tech Guild President Fathi Wins a Delay In Shoplifting Trial Chief-Leader (subscription) Civil Service Technical Guild President Behrouz Fathi's pending trial for the theft of home improvement materials from a Home Depot in Suffolk ... and more » .. read more..

"Home Improvement" Star Voice of Chevy Cruze - WYTV
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

" Home Improvement " Star Voice of Chevy Cruze WYTV He's best known for his television show Home Improvement and for being the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the movie Toy Story. The ads will offer comparisons of ... and more » .. read more..

Martha Stewart giving Hallmark Channel a makeover - Los Angeles Times
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Los Angeles Times Martha Stewart giving Hallmark Channel a makeover Los Angeles Times Hallmark was able to reel in more product makers and home improvement retailers, such as Home Depot Inc., that already have an association with Stewart. ... and more » .. read more..

Stores offer discounts to veterans - Record-Searchlight
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Stores offer discounts to veterans Record-Searchlight Although some businesses, including Lowe's Home Improvement , have long offered discounts to veterans, Dunlap said a lot more jumped on board after veterans ... and more » .. read more..

Big Box foes planning Lynn talk - Daily Item
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Big Box foes planning Lynn talk Daily Item LYNN - Opponents of a commercial development that would expand the present Walmart store and erect a Lowe's Home Improvement ... and more » .. read more..

home | site map
© 2006