The Ins & Outs of Replacement Window Installation

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By Gates Dearen

With hurricane season in full swing, many people are considering the replacement of their old, outdated windows.  In the heat of the summer, folks also get tired of paying sky-high utility bills caused by worn out windows that make your air conditioner run nearly.  Whatever the motivation, once you’ve made the decision to upgrade your windows, you might wonder about the process of having your old windows removed and new windows installed entails. 

How disruptive is it?

Having experienced a kitchen redo that saw me cooking dinner in my garage on a camp stove for a month, I can appreciate why people feel anxious whenever they consider any kind of home remodeling.  Dealing with a contractor and crew can be challenging.  Add to this the circus of construction equipment and an industrial dumpster that is part and parcel of many construction projects and is it little wonder why some homeowners consider the pain of remodeling right up there with root canal.  If the prospect of having your family’s happy home disrupted is keeping you from having replacement windows installed, let me assure you this is one construction job that properly handled, can be fairly quick and painless.

To get started, one of our representatives will go to your home to provide information and take some measurements.  Then we’ll help you select the windows that best suit your home and your budget.  All at no charge to you.  Once you’re satisfied with your selections and the estimate, we’ll set an installation date that works best for you.   

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When the installation day arrives, you can help by moving furniture and curtains away from any windows you want to be replaced.  You should also be sure to disable any security system that’s attached to your windows.  Once the installers arrive, we’ll take it from there.  Before we begin, the team leader will walk with you through the house to confirm which windows will be replaced. This is also an opportunity to ask any questions you have about the installation process.

We’ll treat your home like it is our own.

The most important principle we teach all our installers is to make sure we leave your home as we found it.  Before the old windows are removed, our crew will prepare the site by laying down drop cloths to make sure floors and furniture do not get covered with dust or debris.  If it is necessary to cut into the masonry to widen a window opening, we will employ vertical screens as well.  

Our crew is trained to remove existing windows without damaging furnishings inside your home or plants outside it.  This is the most time-consuming part of the job since we need to make sure the existing windows come out cleanly, so the façade of your home is ready for new windows.  When the old window has been removed and hauled away, the installation team will make sure the opening is the proper size for the replacement window.  Sometimes it’s simply a matter of swapping an old window for the new.  Sometimes it requires cutting the masonry to enlarge the opening.  Either way, our installers are trained to minimize the noise and dust this creates.

Out with the Old Windows & In with the New

Once the opening is ready, the installation process can begin.  The window sill is prepped by scraping off any old paint, as well as sealing any holes or cracks in the masonry. The frame will then be readied.  Next, the replacement window will be set onto the sill, then tilted up to fill the opening.  The installers will initially fasten the jamb to the frame before leveling it.  Shims will be added if necessary to level the window and allow the sashes to open and close properly.   Once this has been accomplished, the jambs will be securely fastened. Then any gaps will be filled with foam insulation.

Once the installation team has completed their task, they will move onto the next window while the finishers do their thing.  This includes installing exterior trim, as well as muntin bars or mullions that give your window that distinctive look.  The finishers will also make sure there are no defects in either the exterior or interior trim.  The goal is to make it look as though your new windows had always been part of your home.  The finishers will also double check all facets of window operation to make sure that sashes open easily and locks and tilt latches function as they are designed.  

Once your new windows have been installed, the old windows will be placed in our truck(s).  Then we the remainder of the cleanup begins including the stowing of tools, picking up drop cloths and sweeping up.  Ideally, our team will make it seem as though a construction crew was never at your home.  This means they’re required to leave your home in the same condition it was when they arrived, both inside and out. 

After the crew has finished cleaning up, the team leader will take you for an inspection of your new windows.  This includes getting you to sign off on the team’s work, as well as showing you how to operate your new windows.  You’ll also be presented with documentation on your new windows at this time, as well as with their warranties.

If you’re ready to start the process of replacing those old, inefficient windows, contact us at HomeRite Windows and Doors by calling (904) 296-2515 or visit our showroom at 4801 Executive Park Court, Building 200, Suite 207, Jacksonville; FL 32216. 

Gates Dearen is the co-owner of HomeRite Windows and Doors in Jacksonville, Florida. He and Richard Walden have been serving the building products industry in Florida for over 25 years. They strive to match homeowners with the right windows and doors for their homes and budgets. They make the home improvement process pleasant with first-rate, energy-efficient products, affordable pricing, and award-winning installers who employ the best practices and who always treat customers and their property with the utmost respect.