You may need to replace your windows after a break or damage to the frame, but renovating your windows can provide a fresh look to your home and improve insulation to save up to 15% on your energy bill.
So how should you replace home windows? You can do it yourself, but it’s far better to work with a professional home window replacement company. See this guide for preparing for the replacement, finding your new windows, and getting them installed, or work with an expert window contractor like Evergreen Home Exteriors in the Washington State area.
Preparation for the Replacement
There is a lot of preparation involved in replacing windows. Learning more about the windows you have and the new windows you need is the first step in how to replace home windows. That is not all, you also need the right tools, measurements for the windows, and get the windows, a source for the new glass, and the expertise to carefully replace them.
Vinyl windows, standard and inexpensive as they are, may range from $100 to $900 alone. With costs like that per window and factoring in tools, it may be best to work with a home window replacement company.
Remove the Old Window
You have a lot to factor in when it comes to how to replace a home window. That includes the trim and window stops for one. For aesthetic reasons, understanding window trim sizes is significant because it helps your windows appear balanced. On average, most window trim uses about 2 ¼ inches in width. You’ll also need to remove any sashes, pulleys, and weights used on the original windows.
Be sure to keep everything you remove if you need to order different windows in the next step. You shouldn’t throw anything out unless you are sure you’ve replaced the window. Again, a contractor will be uniquely suited to helping here. They may even haul away the old window material.
Adjust your Frame
Once you have your replacement window handy and remove the old windows, the process of fitting the new window into place comes next. That will include shimming the old windows first in a dry fit. A dry fit ensures your windows are the appropriate size. Then you can begin the installation to replace your home windows.
Shims are helpful, small pieces of wood and plastic that allow for incremental adjustments. You can find shims for projects that are as flat as .001 inches. A home window replacement company is sure to have plenty of those to get the right fit.
Installing Your New Window
The installation is far less work when you have planned appropriately. You can save yourself some time and frustration with your best measuring of windows and frames as well as buying the right tools early on – tools such as a proper drill, caulking gun, and oscillating tool and blades.
Like any home improvement task, however, there can be complications. When it comes to replacing a home window, you’ll probably need to make several adjustments as you work. This step is composed of several smaller steps, however. In truth, you may be going back and forth between several steps until you’re truly ready to move on.
The Installation Process
Caulk the sill and then place the window in the opening. Be sure to use a square to ensure your window is oriented correctly. If your shimming isn’t giving your window a snug fit, you may need a larger window.
Use your mounting screws to hold the window in place, but beware of over-tightening them too soon. You’ll still need to make adjustments. Tighten them enough to ensure you won’t have too much space between the window and the frame. Be ready to adjust.
Ensure gaps are closed off between the frame and the header. You need to make sure you have spaced everything correctly using the shims. Now will be the time to trim them flush to the window.
Test the window sash and ensure it operates smoothly. If not, you’ll need to adjust your shims.
You may have to remove the window and repeat steps as needed to ensure a proper fit.
Once you’ve finished the window and ensured it is operating correctly, you’ll need to seal the window into the frame with caulk and then install your trim. Making sure to seal your windows properly is crucial in how to replace a home window. As the U.S. Department of Energy writes, “Heat gain and heat loss through windows are responsible for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use.”
Bring in Professional Help
As you can see, as relatively straightforward as a home window replacement may seem, it helps to bring in a talented contractor. So many steps in the process require a level of fine-tuning that a contractor with years of experience might best handle. A good contractor, such as Evergreen Home Exteriors & Remodeling, will provide a free estimate for any window replacements.
If you are considering a window replacement and possibly dreading the extra work, contact a home window replacement company like Evergreen Home Exteriors & Remodeling.
Contact us through our website or by phone or text at (253) 313-7943.
As a homeowner in the Pacific Northwest, you can expect your house to take about 7 feet of precipitation every year. That means plenty of rain, but also snow, sleet, and hail. The best shingles for homes in the Pacific Northwest are able to withstand the precipitation and deliver high lifetime value in comparison with their cost.
The three most popular and most effective shingle materials for such a rainy climate are asphalt, metal, and slate. While all three materials can do the job, they all offer different advantages and budget considerations when it comes time to renovate your roof.
Compare the three best shingles for the Pacific Northwest with insights here by Evergreen Home Exteriors.
Asphalt Shingles
Widely available and commonly used, asphalt shingles are some of the most cost-effective and popular roofing options. Asphalt shingles can come in a variety of colors and shapes. For example, standard strip shingles are your most basic asphalt shingle. They tend to look very flat and weigh and cost less among other shingle choices. Dimensional shingles add some character by layering shingles so that the material overlaps, emulating traditional wood shingle styling.
When selecting the best shingles for a home in the Pacific Northwest, asphalt shingles are the budget option, but can still look quite lovely. Considering that 80% of roofing projects in the United States use asphalt shingles, they will almost certainly work for your home.
Metal Shingles
When it comes to durability, metal shingles are top of the line. These shingles can take on two different forms, standing seam and stamped metal. Standing seam roofing uses long slat-like metal strips that lock together, providing a modern and clean look. However, stamped metal shingles provide the durability of metal but with shingles that look like other popular shingle types and shapes, such as asphalt, wood, and slate.
Metal shingles are a good choice, and among the best shingles for the Pacific Northwest. They are growing more common as well. They were initially used chiefly for accents and porches, but are now more commonly used for an entire roof. As a result, metal roofing is a growing percentage of roofing in the United States. Some models predict slate roofing will grow to encompass 4.7% of roofing projects between 2021 and 2026.
Slate Shingles
Slate shingles may be the most visually attractive roofing choice between the three materials and also the oldest. Slate roofing is 100% natural stone and more common to Great Britain than the US. Slate roofing is extremely versatile because of the natural properties of the stone. Slate is easily cleaved because of its sedimentary layers. As a result, installers can shape slate to the precise needs of your roofing project. However, slate shingles are the heaviest of the three materials, and are not suited to all roofs.
Slate is among the best shingles for the Pacific Northwest because slate shingles could last anywhere from 50 to 200 years. So they are an excellent long-term investment.
To speak with an expert about the options for your roofing project, please consider requesting a free estimate from a professional roofing contractor. If you live anywhere in western Washington State or Portland, Oregon, see our service areas at Evergreen Home Exteriors. If we serve your area, call or text (253) 313-7943 to schedule your free estimate.
Home renovations are big projects that take plenty of consideration and planning. Most people don’t think of them as easy. But modern tools and technologies used by some contractors that help make the entire process nearly stress-free.
In addition to the new technologies available, there are steps you can take as a homeowner to help make your home improvement easy here in Washington State.
BuilderTrend
One of the biggest headaches of many home improvement projects is in keeping up with the schedule of work, and what is actually getting done. Working with contractors on small details and having people come in and out of your home can be downright stressful.
BuilderTrend is an online construction management system that allows the homeowner and contractors to connect on all the important details over one shared platform. It was designed to map out project schedules, management concerns, and the daily happenings onsite. As a homeowner, you will never be ‘out of the loop’ again when using BuilderTrend. You can access updated pictures, and see an overview of exactly where the project is on any given day.
You can also reach out to your team at any time, with any questions or concerns. BuilderTrend makes home improvements easy because you can find everything in one place. Even if you’ve been busy with your own life all week, you can easily check the status of progress in a couple of minutes.
One Click Contractor
Another major stressor during home improvement projects is keeping finances and paperwork straight. Knowing where you stand financially during a project and with a contracting company is crucial to continuing work. Stressing about invoices and costs can be overwhelming, to say the least.
That’s where One Click Contractor comes in. It’s an online platform designed to make one of the biggest stressors of home renovation easier, on both the contractors and the homeowners. One Click Contractor was designed to gather all of the important documents into one, easily accessible place. There, you can find digital estimates, invoices, and all other paperwork for easy reference.
Not only is it good to always know what’s going on, being able to pull up important paperwork like this at a moment’s notice is incredibly convenient. If you’re looking to start an easy home improvement project in Washington State, look for contractors who utilize both of these time-saving and convenient websites.
Other Ways To Make Home Renovations Easy
Using BuilderTrend and One Click Contractor can eliminate many of the stressors that come from home improvement projects. However, there are a lot more ways you can make renovations simpler for yourself and your family.
Store Project Materials Offsite
Consider is storing your furniture or valuables offsite. Covering furniture with tarp or plastic can minimize potential damage, but accidents are inevitable. The best way to guarantee that your belongings stay in perfect condition during a renovation is by moving them elsewhere. You should especially consider this if you’re taking on a larger project like a full kitchen remodel. If it’s a smaller project, you could consider moving things to another room or basement during construction time. Having an unobstructed workspace is a clear way to enjoy an easier home improvement experience.
Get Out Of The House
When construction is taking place, your house can look unrecognizably messy. It can stress most people out, so the best solution is often to just leave and let the professionals do their jobs. What looks like a mess to you, is something that contracting teams deal with on a daily basis. Instead of becoming overwhelmed by the sight of it all, getting out of the house will bring you some much-needed peace of mind during a big life change.
Stay Flexible
There are many ways to make home renovations easy, but there are still aspects of it that may overwhelm you. Home improvement projects often involve time-consuming planning and tough decisions, and you may second guess yourself often. The most important thing to do is take deep breaths and plan things out well. Make sure you have solid plans and decisions in place before beginning construction. Start by consulting with an expert contractor in your area.
Of all the many ways to make home improvements easy, the best advice is to stay flexible. No matter how well you plan, unexpected things are bound to happen, and your schedule may not line up as perfectly as you hoped. As long as you trust the contractors and utilize the online platforms they offer, you’ll be a big step closer to having the home of your dreams.
Owning a home means having a hundred potential projects. As years go on and families grow, finding the right time for these projects can become daunting. But it’s best to look at home upgrades as fun things that will benefit the whole family. And some can even improve the value of your home in the long run.
Here are a few examples of home upgrades in Washington state that the whole family will enjoy and appreciate.
Adding a Deck
When you add a deck to your home, you’re expanding your living space with endless entertaining possibilities. A grill and outdoor table can mean great summer barbecues. A raised fire pit can mean evenings roasting marshmallows and telling stories around the fire. You’ll have a go-to destination for outdoor dinner parties, birthdays, and hangouts for you and your family.
Adults will often enjoy a quiet place to sit and enjoy the outdoors, and the kids will often enjoy having a place to hang out with their friends. A deck is truly a home upgrade everyone loves.
In addition to the practical uses that decks offer, they can also maximize a home’s exterior appeal. Depending on which home upgrade specialists you work with, you can end up designing and creating a really beautiful space that will make your home look great. This can increase your home’s property value significantly.
With the help of a good decking company, installing a deck can be a fairly easy upgrade that the entire family will enjoy for many years to come.
Most homeowners think about how they would renovate or improve their home, sometimes even before they move in. There’s a lot of home improvement work you can do on your own, but these 6 renovations would greatly benefit from the help of a professional.
Home improvement TV shows and online DIY videos can make it seem easy to do major renovations, but what they don’t show could cost you. What those TV shows and videos don’t show you is how quickly things can go wrong, and how expensive those mistakes can be in the long run.
If you’re considering a home renovation project, these are six projects that you should hire a home improvement contractor for. They include roofing, siding, windows, decking, bathrooms, and kitchens. Everyone wants to design and build their dream home, but don’t let that dream turn into a nightmare. Let the professionals get to work on a job you can trust to be satisfied with.
Roofing
A well-built roof will last a very long time, but not forever. Damage or deterioration to your roof can lead to serious problems if left untreated. Roofing is a complicated job, and one of the most dangerous parts of home renovation — especially for amateurs. It’s also not as routine or cut and dry as you may assume. Tons of unexpected issues can pop up that a professional would be able to recognize immediately, but would slip past untrained eyes.
Roofing requires lots of expensive tools and attention to detail. Don’t risk your life by trying to do it yourself. If you hire a home improvement contractor, you can rest assured that the job was done correctly and that the pro did everything they could to optimize the longevity of your roof.
2.Siding
Replacing old siding can seriously improve a home’s overall curb appeal. It’s a great project that all homeowners should consider eventually. Doing it yourself, however, is not as simple as it looks. Siding takes lots of tools, equipment, and manpower to execute. On top of that, there are tons of technical aspects to the job that look easy, but are very complicated to implement correctly. You need to have background knowledge on mold, water damage, and pest damage if you come across it, and how to properly fix it.
It’s best to hire a professional home improvement contractor to get the work done for you, especially if you’re not an expert. You will not just save time and money — potential buyers can often recognize work that’s done professionally, and work that’s done DIY. Take great care in finding who to hire for home renovation before getting started.
Windows
New window installations don’t just look good, they will also make your home more energy-efficient, lowering overall costs. Many newer brands of windows are also built with UV ray protection that protects you and your things from the sun’s harmful light, making them a great long-term investment. Installing them yourself, however, is not as simple as it seems. Underlying issues surrounding your window frames are likely to occur, and you’ll need to be equipped for them.
It’s not just a matter of taking one out and putting another in. Ensuring that they’re properly and safely fitted and sealed is critical and takes professional craftsmanship to execute. Let a home improvement contractor take over to save you the headaches.
Decking
A deck is a wonderful way to better enjoy your property outdoors, spending summers with an outdoor barbecue or sipping drinks. While decking may seem like a fairly straightforward DIY job, there’s a lot that can go wrong. It’s not just ‘design and build in a weekend’ — you will potentially face ground issues, safety concerns, and everything will need to meet the right building codes. Even if you’re an expert DIYer, you’re not likely to finish the job within a reasonable time frame without the manpower.
No one wants to end up with a half-finished construction zone leading from their backdoor. Hire a home improvement contractor to ensure the job gets done efficiently and professionally.
5.Bathrooms
Remodeling a bathroom gives you the chance to replace old pipes, tiles, and fixtures that have run their course. They are perfect home improvement investments because they look great and can significantly increase a home’s sale value. There are tons of bathroom DIY videos online, but don’t be fooled — bathroom remodels take time and it’s easy to make mistakes cosmetically and structurally.
You need to ask yourself, do you really want to devote your weekends to work on the bathroom? Installing beautiful, new tiles is a tedious job that requires focus and craftsmanship. It can easily turn into a sloppy rush job if you need to hurry up and finish it to get your weekends back.
Pipes and fixtures are also tricky to install and easy to screw up. Hiring a professional home improvement contractor can save you time, as well as the potential of causing bigger issues than were already present.
Kitchens
Everyone can picture their dream kitchen. They’re the rooms we spend most of our time in, and are often considered the heart of the home. Remodeling an old kitchen can be one of the biggest home improvement projects a homeowner takes on, but also one of the most rewarding. Kitchen upgrades are some of the most valuable renovations you can make to a residential home.
We don’t need to tell you that kitchen renovations are complicated projects. Unless you’re a professional contractor yourself, taking on a kitchen DIY job is likely to be more trouble than it’s worth. It’s highly likely that you’ll mess something up and need to hire a professional home improvement contractor to fix things, so it’s best to just use one in the first place.
Planning your Home Renovation
Every homeowner should consider renovating at some point. Renovation projects increase curb appeal, sales value, and are an incredibly rewarding experience. DIY projects are fun ideas, but you will quickly realize that the details involved are not so simple. Not only can tackling your own home projects be dangerous, you can make costly mistakes that will set you back further than where you started.
Consider hiring professional contractors for your next home improvement project. Do your research when looking for who to hire for home renovation to find the perfect one.
