Older homes have a character and charm that make them stand out from modern properties. From intricate woodwork to unique architectural details, they are true treasures. However, this historical beauty often comes with aging windows that rattle, leak air and are often structurally compromised, resulting in costly energy bills. This guide will help you navigate the replacement process, ensuring you pick the best replacement windows for your older home.
Why Replace Old Windows?
Replacing old windows is beneficial in the following ways:
- Energy efficiency: Older windows often have poor insulation, leading to drafts and air leaks. New windows with features such as inert gas fills and double- or triple-pane glass can significantly reduce heat transfer and lower utility bills.
- Improved comfort: By eliminating drafts, modern windows make your home more comfortable year-round, with more consistent temperatures and reduced noise from outside.
- Increased home value: Replacing old windows can significantly improve your home’s appearance and market value.
- Reduced noise: Modern windows can be a great solution for reducing unwanted outside noise, especially for those in busy or noisy areas.
- Reduced maintenance: Traditional wood window frames can be prone to rot, decay and peeling paint, requiring regular upkeep. Modern materials are low-maintenance, resistant to the elements and often feature tilt-in sashes for easy cleaning from inside the house.
Signs It Is Time to Replace Your Old Windows
While some issues with old windows can be solved with repair, there are clear indicators that full replacement is the smarter, long-term solution. Recognizing these signs early can save you from escalating repair costs or unnecessary energy expenditure.
- Drafts: When you can feel a consistent draft of cold or warm air coming from around the window frame, even when it’s closed, the seals and weatherstripping have failed.
- Operational difficulty: Windows that are hard to open, close or lock are a sign of warping or damaged frames.
- Condensation: If you have double-pane windows and notice moisture, fog or a cloudy film between the glass layers, the insulating gas seal has broken and the window has lost its energy-efficient properties.
- Visible damage: Visibly peeling paint, soft or crumbling wood or signs of mold and mildew on the frame or sill indicate moisture infiltration and wood rot.
- High energy bills: An increase in your heating or cooling costs can signal that your windows are not properly insulating your home.
- Poor soundproofing: You hear excessive outside noise, like traffic or neighbors, because the windows do not provide adequate sound dampening.
Factors to Consider When Replacing Windows in an Old House
The following factors can help you pick the best replacement windows for an old house:
Frame Material
The material you choose for your historic window replacement will define the longevity, look and care required for your new windows. For an older home, the decision often comes down to preserving a classic look versus maximizing durability and minimizing maintenance. Here are some materials you can choose from:
- Wood windows: Wood offers an authentic look and feel, unmatched architectural warmth, and can be painted or stained to perfectly match any existing trim or decor.
- Fiberglass windows: Fiberglass is extremely durable, very low-maintenance, won’t rot, warp or crack like wood or vinyl, has excellent stability for harsh climates, and can often be stained to realistically mimic the look of wood.
- Vinyl windows: Vinyl offers a blend of performance and affordability, making it a popular option for budget-conscious homeowners. This material is cost-effective, requires almost no maintenance and offers good thermal performance due to its nonconductive nature.
- Fibrex® windows: Fibrex® is a composite window frame material by Renewal by Andersen® that combines the strength of wood with the low maintenance of vinyl.
Maintenance
Consider how much time you want to spend on upkeep. For instance, do you enjoy periodic painting and scraping, or do you prefer a “set it and forget it” solution? Your answer will heavily influence the best material choice for your frames. Fibrex® is a low-maintenance composite material that blends reclaimed wood fiber and thermoplastic polymer. It does not require the traditional upkeep associated with other materials like wood.
Energy Efficiency
Modern windows offer superior energy performance. Look for features like double- or triple-pane glass, low-emissivity (low-E) coatings and inert gas fills like argon to reduce heat transfer and lower energy bills.
Window Style
Choose window styles like double-hung or casement that complement the home’s original architectural style, such as Colonial, Victorian, Craftsman and more. Replicating the original appearance is essential for preserving the home’s character and value.
Why Professional Installation Is Crucial for Older Homes
The quality of the window installation is as important as the quality of the window itself, especially when considering how to replace windows in an old house. Professional window installation is crucial for older homes due to unique challenges like non-standard opening sizes, structural settling and the need to preserve architectural integrity.
Older homes often have uneven walls, hidden rot, mold or structural weakness around window openings that a professional can identify and address before installation. Experts also know how to work with the specific materials and architectural details common in historic properties, ensuring the new windows blend seamlessly with the home’s character.
After an old window is removed, the installation process can reveal hidden issues like structural rot, insect damage or long-term water infiltration beneath the frame and sill. An expert installer can identify and correctly address these problems immediately, preventing future, more costly structural repairs.
Finally, achieving true energy efficiency depends entirely on proper sealing and insulation. A professional uses the correct shims, low-expansion foam and sealants to completely eliminate air gaps between the new window frame and the wall opening. This attention to detail is what locks in the performance benefits of a high-quality window, guaranteeing you see the maximum possible savings on your energy bills.
Find the Perfect Windows for Your Wisconsin Home
For homeowners in Wisconsin, the combination of a historic home’s charm and the region’s harsh, fluctuating climate presents a unique window replacement challenge. You need windows that look the part, but can also withstand heavy snow, freezing temperatures and summer sun.
Asher Lasting Exteriors has a long history of serving homeowners in the region, giving them unparalleled expertise in working with older and historic homes. We understand the critical need to balance historical aesthetics with high performance against Wisconsin’s demanding weather conditions.
Our high-quality Renewal by Andersen® replacement window options are the ideal solutions for older homes. They are available in various styles, including specialty, casement, double-hung and sliding windows. Call us today at 715-832-7282 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation, and we will help you find the perfect windows for your home.
