QUESTION:
“My windows are old, leaky and have hardware problems.
Should I repair or replace my windows?”

This very common question is best answered with an analysis of costs and benefits.

In some situations, window repair can improve your windows so that you might gain an additional service life of 5-10 years. This can come in handy when cash is tight (like now) or when bankers are allergic to lending (it gives them hives). Too bad you missed the lending bubble!

Window repair can also be very beneficial when there is a pressing problem which could be fixed with the repair, such as water or air leaks. You mentioned hardware in your question. Hardware repairs or replacements are very appropriate for an overall window repair program.

Aside from the lower cost of window repair over replacement, repair programs can usually be implemented in a much shorter time than complete window replacement.

On the other hand, with planning and an orderly process of design, specification and financing, the more expensive window replacement could cost less in the long run, especially when analyzed with regard to enhancement of property value and reduction of energy costs.

So the right answer, therefore, is that there is no right answer for everyone, except for one: Solicit the assistance of of an expert.

At Builders Architectural, we spend most of our time bringin’ windows to da people of da great city uh Chicaga (this line is done with a Mayor Daley accent – which all of us here seem to have, like it or not, but hey, at least we’re not from Pittsburgh). See cool photo-montage of some of our jobs below:

Despite that we are principally providers of window products (whether new or replacement windows), over the years we have received so many inquiries from people needing either information or window repair programs, that we opened a division called Builders Architectural Repair & Testing. We nicknamed this division BART, not to be confused with Bay Area Rapid Transit or Bart Simpson (although we admire him greatly).

Back to our point about needing a window expert. BART would be one choice, even if you are not in Chi-town.  Other choices would be local architects and consultants who specialize in windows or what us professional folks call “the building envelope”.

There are so many variables to consider when attempting to arrive at the best answer to “Window Repair or Window Replacement?”, that we will devote future articles to the many facets of this discussion.

Stay tuned, and thanks for visiting this window of opportunity!

Need an assessment of your windows?

Contact me, Mark Meshulam,
the Chicago Window Expert
for the expert attention you deserve.

My phone: 847-945-9200 ext 229
My email: mark@chicagowindowexpert.com

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