How to Prepare Your Home & Family for a Window Replacement
Getting new, energy-efficient windows is certainly an exciting home renovation; they do a whole lot more than let in daylight, after all! According to ENERGY STAR, “replacing old windows with ENERGY STAR certified windows lowers household energy bills by an average of 12 percent nationwide.” Considering how much Minnesotans spend on heating and cooling each year, that’s a significant amount of savings to look forward to!
Still, the time leading up to and during the renovation can sometimes be described as a bit of an upheaval. Because window replacement contractors are so mobile while they work and need access to a variety of areas in your home, it can be a bit tricky to work around them—but only if you don’t know what to expect and only if you pick the wrong window contractors!
Below, Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors, your Sauk Rapids provider of window installation services and more, discusses the preparations you’ll need to make before labor begins to help things go as smoothly as possible.
Choose the Right Type of Windows
Before you set up your home for the window replacement itself, you need to ensure you have the right windows picked out to suit your home and your lifestyle.
At Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors, we offer a wide range of window types. If you have questions, we are happy to help you make the right selection. For example, we can help you choose which type of windows work best, slider windows or double-hung windows. We even offer unique window options, such as triple-pane vinyl windows.
We can also help you choose various styles, such as between vinyl and wood windows. Every family and home is unique, so finding the right mix of style and function is key.
Picking the Right Windows For Climate and Energy Efficiency
Minnesota has many things to offer, with a wide variety of activities to choose from over the course of four different seasons. However, while residents get to enjoy distinct seasons, the weather isn’t always too accommodating in this great state.
People in Minnesota need windows that protect their home and family from bad weather, including big snowstorms and harsh rain. At Tony's Lifetime Exteriors, we offer quality windows that protect you from the elements, and we also can install many energy-efficient options.
Learn more about how to ensure your windows withstand winter.
Pick the Right Window Installation Team
It’s the number one thing you can do to ensure a positive installation experience. Window installation, though it might not be as noisy as, say, a roofing contractor’s work, can be quite disruptive if the contractor doesn’t take steps to minimize it. What this will look like will depend on the scope of the work and the type of windows you’re having installed.
Generally, though, your contractor should take care to speak with you far ahead of time about which rooms they’ll need access to and, roughly, when. You should know how long the work should take if everything goes as expected and how long the installation team’s breaks will be.
On the day of the installation, your contractor should walk through your home with you, reviewing the scope of the work and making sure both you and them are on the same page. This is no time for surprises, so they should be unrushed and open to your questions.
Make Accommodations For Pets and Kids
Window installation is a delicate task, one that involves potential sharp objects should a glass panel shatter. It’s for this reason that pets and children are best kept away from where workers are. We love a friendly dog as much as the next person, but we also care about their safety, not to mention the efficiency of our work!
For some pets, simply putting up a baby gate might be enough, but the wilier ones might need more extreme measures. Nervous animals can benefit from being boarded for a bit, though this is only necessary in extreme cases, as many window installation jobs can be finished within the same day.
As for kids, youngsters will need to be suitably attended to. Baby gates might again prove useful. If you have an infant, you might want to make arrangements for their sleeping needs if the window installation takes place near your room.
Trim Back Your Landscaping
Not only does proper landscaping keep pests from infiltrating your attic, as we cover in our roofing contractor blog—it also helps your window installation team do their work! The more space you can create between your windows’ exterior and plants, the better, though, of course, you shouldn’t need to transplant anything. Doing so also helps to keep your plants safe.
While you don't need to go particularly out of your way, it’s a good idea to make the process simpler for your window installers. You also don’t want your new windows to become damaged right away, so consider trimming back any plants that are too close.
Contact Your Alarm Company
Many homeowners spend so much time worrying about the physical aspects of the window installation that they forget about one crucial potential hurdle: their alarm system! When your replacement window team shows up for work, the last thing either of you wants is to have to deal with unexpected delays.
All alarm companies and technologies work differently, so we recommend getting a hold of them as soon as you have your window installation date scheduled to make sure everything will go off without a hitch. They might provide additional instruction, they might not—but one thing’s for certain: you’ll get peace of mind.
Learn What’s Expected of Your Window Installation Company
The good ones will hold themselves accountable, so you won’t need to. That being said, it never hurts to know some industry-standard etiquette! For instance, you should expect drop cloths to be used liberally. These are long swaths of material placed near the window installation site to keep everything clean, and their use is a courtesy practice and norm throughout the window installation field. You should see these everywhere.
As far as cleanup goes, too, that should all be taken care of. When the team leaves your home, it should look as though they hadn’t set foot inside or out. No need to prepare that steam cleaner; your crew should have you covered.
If you have questions about what we provide and our process, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is highly trained to keep your home safe during the window installation process, and we are happy to address any concerns you have.
Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors: Bay Windows, Casement Windows, and More
When you need replacement windows, Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors is ready to assist you. We carry a wide range of quality window styles and options, so we will find the right windows to suit your design style.
As proud partners of Walsh Windows, we’d be thrilled to bring better energy efficiency to where you live.
Reach our Sauk Rapids office today at 320-252-9086 to learn more or request a quote.