Replacing old and leaky windows with energy efficient models can bring a significant return on investment when you consider today’s high energy prices.

With the return of warmer weather, homeowners often plan home improvement projects and many look for ways to do them with minimal impact on the environment.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for 44 percent of the average home’s total energy use. Replacing old and leaky windows with energy efficient models can bring a significant return on investment when you consider today’s high energy prices. Plus, saving energy is good for your wallet and the environment.

Craig Evanich, president of Renewal by Andersen, suggests homeowners look for the ENERGY STAR label to ensure that a window is energy efficient. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing inefficient single pane windows with ENERGY STAR qualified windows could save up to 15 percent on your energy bills.

Evanich adds that Renewal by Andersen windows come standard with High-Performance Low-E4 glass which is designed to perform at even higher standards and is over 14 percent more energy efficient than stringent ENERGY STAR requirements.

Homeowners are increasingly seeking products that not only help reduce their energy consumption, but do so in an environmentally responsible manner. This means taking into consideration the full product life-cycle, from materials to manufacturing and use, to recycling and disposal. Here are some points to consider:
* Choose windows that are made from recycled or renewable materials.
For example, Renewal by Andersen windows, America’s only Green Seal certified replacement window, are made from a highly sustainable composite material that blends the best attributes of thermoplastics and wood fibers — much of it reclaimed directly from the company’s manufacturing plant operations.

* High-quality windows made from sustainable materials are built to provide long-term performance and minimize the long-term impact to the environment.
Evanich says windows made from composite materials can be a good option for homeowners who like the look and strength of wood windows but want the low-maintenance features of vinyl. Because of the unique blend of materials, composite windows do not need ongoing staining or painting to maintain their natural beauty, saving homeowners time and money.

* Shop by performance not price.
Shop around for quality windows that enhance the beauty of your home based on long-term value, not price. Saving a few dollars now could mean another replacement project just a few years down the road.

For more information on choosing energy efficient windows, visit renewalbyandersen.com or call (800) 630-5838.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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When determining what remodeling projects are most deserving, homeowners should consider that windows offer some of the biggest payoffs. According to Remodeling Magazine’s “Cost vs. Value Report,” when updating windows, homeowners can expect up to an 85 percent return on investment. Coupled with the energy cost savings, it usually pays to replace.

“Windows make that all-important first impression, and for this and many other reasons they should be in good working order,” says Rod Clark, window marketing manager for JELD-WEN. “Windows and doors have a direct impact on energy conservation, security and aesthetics.”

Below is a checklist to help homeowners decide if replacing windows is the right choice.

How to Evaluate Windows for Replacement

1. Examine Your Existing Windows

If your window shows signs of wear and tear or exposure, such as cracked paint, but operates normally, then it’s likely time to refinish it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If vinyl windows show signs of seal failure between the glass panes, or wood windows have severe warping due to moisture or wood decay, then it’s time to replace.

2. Evaluate Problems

In addition to normal wear and tear and energy efficiency, there are a few other indicators that window replacement is needed. Signs to look for include:

* Problems opening or closing. In older homes, wood windows may have been painted over numerous times or may have become severely warped due to age and weather conditions. Windows that don’t open and close easily or properly are more than just annoying; they are a safety issue and a sign that it’s time to replace them.

* Drafts. There are many tests to determine if a window is drafty, such as placing a lighted candle next to the window to see if the flame moves. If it does, your windows are drafty and your energy bills are paying the price and it is time to replace.

* Excess noise. Older, single-pane windows don’t block as much noise as new double-pane windows. If you can hear your neighbors chatting across the street as they are getting their mail, it’s probably time to upgrade your windows.

3. Consider Energy Efficiency

Classic signs of inefficient windows include condensation, drafts and warped frames due to moisture. If energy efficiency is the top priority or water infiltration is an issue, the best choice is to replace poorly performing windows and patio doors with ENERGY STAR qualified windows. Manufacturers such as JELD-WEN offer wood, vinyl and aluminum ENERGY STAR qualified windows. When replacing single-pane windows with ENERGY STAR qualified windows, homeowners can save $125 to $340 a year, depending on the climate.

4. Determine How Much Impact Replacement Will Have on a Home

Upgrading to energy efficient windows has become much easier as new products and technology emerge. In the past, window replacement has been a more complex project best suited for professional contractors or highly skilled do-it-yourselfers. However, replacement windows, such as JELD-WEN’s Wood Double-Hung Pocket Window and Vinyl replacement windows, make it easier and less expensive.

When choosing replacement windows, look for ones that are designed for installation into existing window frames to help make sure the impact to the exterior of the home is minimal. This is key, especially for brick or stucco exteriors. By using replacement windows designed to fit into existing openings, the process is simpler, quicker and minimizes wear on the exterior siding.

5. Evaluate the Need for a Contractor

If you can’t do the replacement on your own, hiring a contractor may be the best way to go. Hiring a contractor can save time, cut down on stress and ensure projects are done correctly. When hiring a contractor, be sure to interview several candidates, ask for references and don’t automatically choose the lowest bidder. Insist that they follow proper installation instructions from the manufacturer to ensure reliable performance.

For more information about JELD-WEN replacement windows, or to find a dealer near you, visit www.jeld-wen.com or call (800) 877-9482.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Different Styles

It could just be some country charm which you want to incorporate as your home improvement theme. In any case, by choosing a theme you are not only increasing the value of your home but also making an investment for your future.  Try out themes that intrigue you, or are easy to incorporate and would be pleasing to the eye.

A home improvement theme is important anywhere in the house.  Starting from the outside, the theme could be a Victorian house. This is a very common home improvement theme today.  Or if you pick another type of house, just choose the type that you want your house to look like and you can then make your changes by adding different items that belong to this type, in order to give it the right theme look.

You can use a retro look or a garden look for your rooms in your home improvement theme. Using a home improvement theme for the bedroom can make it more personable.  Everything that you want to incorporate in your theme can be taken into account, according to your taste, the age group and the modern trends. For families who like to stay together and play together, a bright and casual theme is perfect.  The children too can be encouraged to create their own themes.  All family members could be considered before choosing the decorating theme.  You should make it a place where everyone can feel at home.

Colors

Incorporating your home improvement theme need not be expensive.   Many of the items can be bought from the local stores at low prices.  You can just keep the items simple, and still have a brand new look with an innovative and new theme. Themes can be based on colors, as colors play a very important role in each one’s lives. Each one has their own associations with certain colors.   Sometimes contrasting colors can lend just that unique look that you are looking for.

For example, a dining room with many shades of red could have a dramatic effect.  Blue and lavender are generally calming colors and are popular in the bedroom or even in the living room.  Orange is supposed to stimulate hunger, and could be used in the kitchen.

A Consistent Theme

There is definitely a certain skill involved in decorating the house according to a home improvement theme. It is not enough to choose impressive Home Improvement Themes for one or two rooms, or just the outside.  The theme should be consistent from room to room whether it is cool and contemporary or elegant and traditional.  A home improvement theme is fun to plan and complete, because different themes change the look and feel of your home.  You will enjoy decorating and redecorating according to the change of moods.

The choice of fixtures and appointments is important to go with the ambience of the theme.  Use the correct furniture, lamps, window coverings and accessories to set the right mood.  Use a consistent theme right from your bathroom to your backyard.  It doesn’t matter what style you choose, but you have to be proud of your decorating theme and make sure that your family feels comfortable at the newly decorated home.

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On the “do-it-yourself” (DIY) scale, repairing or replacing screens is relatively easy and requires little elbow grease. The only materials required are:

• new screening or screen patches
• scissors
• household cement
• screen rolling tool
• razor knife
• square
• 1×2 and 1×4 stock to stretch the new screening
• stapler
• brads
• wood putty

Screen Repairs

If you have noticed a small hole in your window screen, less than about 3″ in diameter, you can simply repair the hole. Plastic screens are difficult to patch and should probably replaced. Fiberglass screens can go either way, while metal screens are easy to patch.

Measure the hole(s) and buy ready-made patches or cut them from new screening. For small holes, the patch should have a minimum diameter at least a half-inch larger than the hole. Larger holes require a full inch extra diameter of replacement screening.

To insert the patch into the screen, unravel quite a few strands around the patch’s edges. Interweave these strands with the screening and bent until the patch is held tightly in place. The stands can usually be bent by hand, but if the screening is heavier you can use long-nosed pliers. Plastic patches also require some household cement on the strand ends after they have been woven into the screen.

Small holes (less than 3/8″) with some household cement.

Screen Replacement

Replacing screens in metal and wooden frames can require different procedures. Because replacing screens in metal frames is easier, I’ll discuss that process first and then move on to replacement of screens in wood frames.

Replace screening in a metal frame

Remove the screen from the window and lay on a hard, flat surface large enough to support the entire frame.

Remove rubber edging from the old screen. Set aside for reuse if it is in good shape. If not, discard it. Measure and cut new rubber edging.

Remove the old, damaged screening. The damaged screening and any scraps can be saved for future repairs.

Using the old screening as a pattern or measurements of the window, measure out the new screening from a replacement roll. Be certain to leave sufficient excess screening on all sides—typically enough to reach the outsides of the frame and a bit more.

With a screen rolling tool, start in a corner of the frame to tighten the screening into place. Press the rubber edging into the groove and secure the screening in the frame. Work your way slowly and with a steady hand around the screen. This helps avoid the errors of bending the screen frame, which is often made of thin aluminum, and ripping the screening with the screen rolling tool.

If you are finding the process difficult, try tacking the material to the frame first (recommended for fabric but not aluminum) or use a spreader to support long screens.

When the screening is pressed tightly into the frame, trim excess material with a razor knife.

Replace the screen in the window. Sit back and relax in your insect-free home!

Replace screening in a wood frame

Replacing the screening in a wood frame can be more challenging because of the care necessary in affixing the screening to the frame.

In the existing frame, start in the center of a strip of screen molding and work toward the ends, prying slowly along the way. Be careful not to break it.

For wood frames, the wedge method of stretching ensures tight screening for a quality finished product. For this method, have some 1×2 stock that is slightly wider than the frame handy. Also use 1×4 stocks to make the wedges.

Cut new screening from a replacement roll. Be certain to leave sufficient excess screening on all sides—typically enough to reach the outsides of the frame and a bit more.

Staple screening across top edge. Nail the bottom cleat to a bench or flat surface and install the 1×2 cleats. Roll the new screening over the cleats and nail to the top cleat.

Between the cleats and screen frame, insert the wedges. Tap wedges until the screen is pulled taut.

Every few inches, put a staple in the screening along the bottom and then the sides.

Trim excess screening. Countersink brads to refit screen moldings and fill holes with wood putty.

Finally, staple the entire screen tightly in place working from the center brace outward. Remove the wedges and the screen should stay taut. Use a screen rolling tool or putty knife to replace the screen moldings. As with the metal-framed screen, relax and enjoy the peace and quiet your hard work has afforded you!

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Learn all about how and why doors and windows stick and how to fix them, so you’re not stuck the next time opportunity pays a visit!

Stuck Windows

Windows can stick for a variety of reasons. Often wood expands and contracts, moving parts have been painted over, or two surfaces may simply seem fused together. Some of the most common problems and fixes for stuck windows are:

Painted-over joint: Cut the paint with a window zipper (tool designed just for this purpose) or a putty knife. Hold blade flat against the sash and push the edge into the joint while drawing the tool along the surface.

Paint build-up: Similar to when joints are painted over, years of painting can also result in an accumulation that causes excessive friction. Use a paint scraper to remove excess paint from the window stop, parting strip, and blind stop. Raise and lower the sash throughout the process. For a lower sash, it is also a possibility to remove the window stop to sand and scrape the edges facing the window. If none of the easier solutions were successful, remove both sashes and completely strip the paint to the bare wood. Repaint the sashes and reinstall when the pain has dried.

Too much friction: Lubricate the sash channels with candle wax or talcum powder. This can also prevent painted surfaces from sticking together. If spring metal weather-stripping is found in the sash channels, reduce tension by using a hammer and block of wood to flatten the strip.

Just plain stuck. A sharp rap to the center rail, near the lock can sometimes break a bond between painted surfaces. The blow can be administered with the palm of your hand or a rubber mallet. Another option is to gently tap a wooden block again the sides of the sash.

New friction channels. If you have some extra time on your hands and are very concerned with preventing heat loss, another option is to install new friction channels. To do this, first remove sashes, weights and pulleys.

Push fiberglass insulation into the openings for the weigh cavities. Start at the top and work your way down with the aid of a flexible rod or stick.

Using a hammer and sharp chisel, notch the ends of the top parting strip to create the new channels.

Replace the sashes in the window frame between the two new channels. Tilt the entire assembly into the opening from the bottom inside.

Finally, reinstall interior stops according to the manufacturer’s instructions for adjusting tension. If windows are too loose after the stops have been installed, increase tension by hammering a wood block against the stop at nail placements. When the tension seems right to you, drive in several nails.

Stuck Doors

Doors can stick for many of the same reasons as windows—too much tension, or painting over moving parts. However, with the addition of hinges, that also opens up a whole new area of possible reasons for stuck doors.

Door rubs against jamb. The solution to this problem differs according to which side the door is rubbing against the jamb on. If the door rubs against the jamb on the hinge side, you will need to shim the hinges out. Unscrew the hinge from the jamb and place a piece of cardboard behind it. Shimming out the bottom hinge may resolve the problem of a door binding at the top of the strike jamb.

If the door rubs against the jamb on the side without the hinge or against another part of the door frame, the door may need to be modified so it will fit. Mark the door with scribe lines so you know where to plane and remove the door (removing bottom pin first and working your way upward). Lay the door on a flat surface and plane the appropriate edges.

Loose hinge screws. To fix loose hinge screws, wedge the door open and remove the screws. Fold back the hinge, being careful not to lose any existing shims. Buy or whittle wood pieces to fit the holes. Add glue and push the wood pieces into the holes. Scrape the wood plugs until they are flush, fold the hinge back into place, drill pilot holes and drive in new screws.

Moving a stop. Sometimes it’s easier to move the stop than unwarp a door. If a door is binding against the hinge-side stop or will not close properly because of an improperly placed stop on the latch side, pry off the offending stop. Close the door and draw a line, along the doors inside edge, on the jamb. Nail the stop on this line.

Moving a strike plate. A latch and strike may get out of alignment because a house had settled. If the strike plate is too far away, shim it out with cardboard. If it is too close, unscrew the strike, chisel out a new mortise, drill pilot holes, and replace the strike. If necessary, use wood putty to fill the old mortise hole and sand until smooth.

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