If windows are not installed properly, it’s basically like not having a new window, according to Travis Edinger, owner of Innovative Siding, Windows & Remodeling.
“If they are not insulated property or not installed truly square or adjusted properly it could leak,” Edinger said.
Property owners have many different options for windows and prices. How much to spend on windows depends on how long someone plans to stay at the house and the options that are selected.
“They definitely pay for themselves if you plan on being there for a long time,” Edinger said.
If the house is a temporary place to live or a rental, he said getting new top-tier windows might not pay you back in a short period of time.
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Homeowners have many different options of windows, including single or double hung, picture, casements, awning and sliders among others. There are also different colors where a homeowner might choose a window that matches the trim indoors or outdoors.
“A lot of it is preference on what you prefer as on how they open,” Edinger said.
He said the most popular types are casements and single- or double-hung windows. Casement windows crank open outward, single-hung windows open vertically with the bottom window panel moving up and down, and double-hung windows open similar to the single-hung windows except the upper part can move up and down.
Single-hung windows are less expensive than the double-hung windows and could be preferred by homeowners because it could be rare if anyone opens the top part of a window, Edinger said.
When he gets calls from people inquiring about windows, he will go to the location and get rough measurements on the windows so he can get an estimated price to replace them. Then he will find out what a homeowner wants and gather some options and prices on what is requested. Once the homeowner wants to proceed with the project, Edinger will install the windows when they arrive.
Last year, Edinger, who is a dealer for Minnkota Windows, said the company had sold as many windows by June as it did in an average year, which took a little longer to get the products that were ordered. It normally took about two to three weeks to get an average window but for a while it was 14 to 16 weeks.
“Now it is about eight to 10 weeks to get a window,” he said. “They (Minnkota Windows) were slower because of demand, not because of not being able to get parts. … It was all window companies I talked to.”
He said windows from Minnkota Windows are better quality than ones you can find at a retail store.
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“If it is going into your long-term house, it’s probably not worth trying to save a buck on that,” he said.
Edinger said spring is the time of year when everyone starts calling and thinking about windows. He recommended people call a contractor right away about getting new windows installed because they might need to be ordered and the length of time to get them.
“This is the time of year for most contractors where it sets up their year,” he said. “Everybody is calling.”
He said he does tell his customers to not rush getting their windows done.
“Make sure you are confident in your decision on what you want so you don’t regret your decisions,” he said. “It’s definitely the time. We don’t want to wait until July to start calling around and still hope to get stuff in in August.”
