Facts About Vinyl Replacement Windows

Do you have leaky and cold windows? Do you think windows would update the look of your house and provide you with better comfort?

Today, many homeowners install vinyl replacement windows to increase their comfort level, save energy and to improve the aesthetics of their home. Advances in design, plus improvements in the formulation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have made vinyl windows a high quality product that competes favorably with wood.

Vinyl windows have significant advantages over aluminum and steel windows. Although metal is a highly efficient heat conductor, that doesn’t work well when you’re talking about window frames. Vinyl replacement windows on the other hand, are a non conductor of heat and the design of a vinyl window can add greatly to the frame’s insulating value. In addition, as window glazing has improved, the difference in insulating values between the glass and the frame of a metal window become greater and greater.

In fact, good quality vinyl replacement windows are nearly equal to wood windows in their overall insulating value. They also come in a variety of styles, including single and double hung, horizontal sliding, casement, and awning. They are virtually maintenance free since they never have to be painted.

If you are searching for a New Jersey contractor, we recommend working with Triton’s Gutter & Siding for all your window purchase and installation needs. However, if you insist on installing your vinyl replacement windows yourself, here are some quick and easy tips to help you along.

Installing Vinyl Windows

• To install a vinyl replacement window, first remove the old sash. A tradition double hung window will have two sets of removable stops. All have an inside stop that holds the lower (inner) sash in place and a blind stop that separates the two sashes. The outside stop is nailed to the edge of the sash and is not removable.

• Pry off the inside stops carefully so that you can reuse them. Cut the sash ropes and remove the lower sash, then pry out the blind stop and remove it. Remove the upper sash.

• Set the vinyl replacement window in the opening. Makes sure it fits snugly between the stool on the inside and the outside stops of the old window on the outside.

• Some vinyl replacement windows have sloped extrusions on the bottom that match the sloped sill of your old window; others are flat. If the bottom of your new window is flat, you may be able to use a piece of lattice or door stop as a support for the front edge of the window.

• If not, you'll have to rip an angled support. To do so, set the window in place in the opening, and measure the gap between the front lower edge of the window and the old sloped sill.

• You can make supports for all your windows at one time. Plane the edge of a board at an angle that roughly matches the slope of the sill, then rip and strip of wood to match the gap. To install the new support strip, cut it to the length and nail it in place directly beneath the point where the front edge of the window will rest.

• Center the vinyl replacement window in the opening. Use a carpenter’s square to make sure the window is square, and then shim the sides of the window directly behind the predrilled screw holes in the jamb. Screw the window in place through the side jambs, then replace the inside stop.

• Go inside and check the window to make sure it operates properly. Then go back outside and run a narrow bead of caulking all around the window to seal the gap at the outside stop.

Located in New Jersey, Triton Gutters & Siding can help you gain a full understanding on how vinyl replacement windows can help improve the efficiency, comfort and look of your home. The Window Professionals at Triton Gutters will help you determine the right vinyl replacement windows, so call today!