Give us a call at (312) 222-0200
According to the experts, it seems that wood replacement windows are the right choice for older properties or for homeowners who favor a traditional appearance. What’s great about wood is that not only is it very versatile, but at the same time it can also be shaped or milled in order to fit a wide range of openings.
If you are interested in getting wood windows, you should know what most of the time they come unfinished, but if you want you can also stain or paint them in any color you want. Better yet, it’s also possible to order windows that are already painted or ready to be painted, but if you go down this route there are going to be few colors you can choose from.
In terms of price, you should know that wood windows are a bit more expensive compared to vinyl replacement windows. So if you want to get one in a regular size, then a standard double hung pine window is going to cost between two hundred and fifty and two hundred and eighty dollars, plus a little bit extra for the installation if you don’t want to install it on your own. Of course, depending on quality and brand, the prices can vary quite a bit.
Other factors that can increase the price of wood replacement windows include exotic woods, decorative inserts, and high performance glass. For instance, a window with that features high performance glazing is going to cost over 800 dollars. If you opt for mahogany, then the cost is going to be a whopping twenty one hundred dollars.
Vinyl and wood both have excellent insulating properties. Keep in mind though that vinyl replacement windows cannot handle temperature extremes as good as wood replacement windows, especially when it comes to heat. High temperatures causes vinyl replacement windows to become difficult to close or open and they can develop leaks.
Even if wood replacement windows boosts great resistance to temperature extremes, they are susceptible to a host of other environmental factors, such as moisture for instance. That is why you need to make sure your wood replacement windows are properly sealed (you can stain or paint them for this purpose). But staining or painting wood replacement windows makes them high maintenance and the costs are certainly going to add up pretty quickly.
If you live in an area with harsh winters, then maintenance can be a big problem. In fact, it’s best that you avoid getting wood windows at all and go for clad wood windows instead. Doing so lowers your maintenance costs and the windows also maintain their natural wood on the inside.
On the other hand though, it seems that there are some people who have a different opinion about this. According to the EWC, wood is definitely not the most durable material for making window frames and that is because it’s susceptible to rot. But if wood is maintained properly, then it undoubtedly has a very long lifespan compared to other materials on the market. Since it can be painted in any color you wish, wood can easily maintain its exterior surface for a very long time.
Clad wood and wood replacement windows are by far one of the most environmentally friendly choices of windows material on the market today, but only if the wood used for them comes from a sustainable source.
The more popular window manufacturers, such as Jeld-Wen, Marvin and Andersen mention exactly where the wood used for making their windows comes from. In order to learn more about the distributors and manufacturers that use wood from sustainable forests, the Forest Stewards Council has compiled a database of FSC certified retailers on its website that you should definitely check out.
According to many home renovation experts, if you want to improve the value of your home, then you should certainly consider getting wood replacement windows. However, while this generally does apply, it seems that it’s not a given. That’s because a lot depends on the condition of the existing windows and also on the type of home.
For instance, aluminum, clad wood, fiberglass and vinyl windows may not complement a historic Victorian home, but they can look okay and more appropriate if used for a more modern home. Regardless of how great your home may look, drafty and rotting windows are never going to be a selling point, so if you have a home with such windows that you plan on getting good money for, you should replace them right away.
You can always contact us and ask any questions you may have concerning Chicago window installation, available window types, financing options, or anything else.
