One question that comes up quite a bit when we meet with homeowners is whether they need to replace every window in the house at the same time.
The answer is no.
At Window Installation Specialists, we’ve looked at plenty of Pittsburgh-area homes where a few windows were clearly ready to be replaced while others were still doing their job. We’ve also been to homes where nearly every window was original and the homeowner decided it made more sense to take care of everything at once.
It really depends on the house.
Start With the Windows Giving You Problems
Most homeowners don’t wake up one morning and decide they need new windows throughout the entire house. Usually, something gets their attention first.
Maybe there’s a window in the bedroom that’s difficult to open. The living room feels drafty every winter. There’s fog between the panes of glass that never goes away. Or one room always seems colder than the rest of the house.
Those are the windows we’d look at first.
Age matters, but it isn’t the only thing that matters. Two windows installed around the same time can be in very different condition depending on where they are on the house, how much weather they’ve been exposed to and how well they were originally installed.
That’s one reason we don’t think homeowners should automatically assume every window has to be replaced just because a few are causing problems.
Replacing a Few Windows at a Time Is an Option
There’s nothing wrong with breaking a larger window project into smaller projects.
We see homeowners start with the windows that need the most attention and come back to the others later. Sometimes they’ll do the front of the house first. Other times it’s a particular room or floor.
Budget can obviously be part of that decision too. A homeowner may want better windows but simply not want to take on a whole-house project right now.
If you’re going this route, it helps to think ahead a little.
You probably don’t want to replace several windows now and discover a few years later that the new ones you choose for the rest of the house look completely different. Things such as frame color, grille patterns, hardware, glass and window style are worth discussing from the beginning, even when you’re only replacing a handful of windows.
Sometimes Doing the Whole House Makes More Sense
On the other hand, there are houses where replacing windows in stages doesn’t accomplish much.
If most of the windows are around the same age and you’re finding drafts, sticking windows, deteriorated frames or other problems throughout the house, replacing only two or three may mean you’re dealing with another window project before long.
Some homeowners would rather get it done once.
Replacing everything together also makes it easier to keep the appearance consistent throughout the house. You can choose the windows, finishes, glass and other details as one project rather than trying to match something that was installed years earlier.
Neither approach is automatically better. It comes down to what condition the windows are in and what makes sense for the homeowner.
Pittsburgh Homes Aren’t All the Same
This is especially important around Pittsburgh.
We work on everything from older homes with unusual window openings and original trim to newer houses with large windows and more modern designs. What makes sense for one house may make absolutely no sense for another one a few streets away.
That’s also why looking at the windows in person matters.
A photo can show us quite a bit, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. We want to see how the existing windows are operating, look at the openings, take measurements and hear what the homeowner has actually been noticing.
Sometimes the conversation changes once we’re standing there looking at the windows together.
The Installation Matters Just as Much
No matter how many windows you decide to replace, installation is a big part of how those windows are going to perform.
Window Installation Specialists use our own experienced employee installers rather than handing the job off to subcontractors. We take care of the process from measuring the openings through installation, insulation, sealing, trim work and cleanup.
We also install windows from manufacturers including Andersen and Pella, so homeowners have different materials, styles and price points to consider instead of being pushed toward one option for every house.
Not Sure Where to Start? That’s Fine.
You don’t need to know whether you need four windows or twenty before calling us.
That’s part of what the estimate is for.
We can come out, take a look at what you currently have and talk about the windows that are giving you trouble. From there, we can help you figure out whether it makes sense to replace a few now, work through the house in stages or complete everything at once.
Window Installation Specialists has been working on homes throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania since 1973.
To schedule a free on-site estimate, call (724) 446-0275 or visit www.windowinstallationpittsburgh.com.
