Wednesday 26 October 2011

The Functions And Installation Of Replacement Windows

By John Mills


This is a window which is fixed into the space left when an old non-functional window is removed. The window that previously existed may have deteriorated or ceased to be functional and thus, to retain the aesthetics of the building, an alternative window can be fitted. With the modern technology, the replacement windows are designed to serve several purposes such as preventing heat loss during cold seasons and preventing too much heating during hotter seasons. They also provide some degree of sound proofing making the house quieter as compared to the traditional windows.

Installation of this window type can take several forms such as full-frame installation whereby the whole window is removed including the frame. The new window is then fixed into the space left by the window removed This can be done externally or internally. The window is held into position using the studs where the previous one was fitted.

Insert installation can also be used when the frame is still in a reasonable condition but is often extremely common in old wooden windows. The new window is fixed onto the existing frame. This method is simpler and cheaper than the previous one but considerably reduces the window space since the frame is nested.

Another method that can be used is that of replacing only the window sashes and the existing frame is used again. Currently manufactured ones have a fin on their outer frame. This fin is used to nail the window from outside the building before a siding of stone veneers is applied. Some are however, made without this fin so as to be installed with little disruption to the sheet rock or the siding.

Several materials have been used in the manufacture of such windows and they include wood, vinyl, PVC, vinyl-clad wood, aluminum, and aluminum clad wood and other several composite materials. The most common materials are PVC and wood. This is because they are easily obtainable, cheap, durable and have good insulation properties thus can prevent heat loss.

Wooden types have been used for a long time since 1900s, but they somehow fell out of favor in the 1960s when better materials like aluminum were introduced into this field. Vinyl also found favor in the late 1970s. Later in the decade, other composite materials have been introduced such as fiber glass and vinyl wood polymer.

Replacement windows however, have heavier weights than the traditional ones due to the insulated glass often used, vinyl is also weaker but heavier as compared to wood. Their frames are also thicker in profile and thus the space of the glass is reduced. They may also not operate like the traditional one for instance; the replacement window may not be fully opened to the top. They however, considerably increase the value of the house due to energy efficiency and often part of renovation when installed correctly.




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