Replacing all the windows in a condominium building is the type of project that’s sure to run into resistance. Some residents won’t see the need, some won’t appreciate the noise and disruption still others will take issue with the type, style and cost of new windows to be installed. An article on the reminetwork.com website suggests some steps owners will want to take before embarking on such a window replacement project.
Residential windows have an anticipated service life in the range of 35 to 45 years but may require replacement in half of that time if problems develop. The timeframe is the same for new windows or windows installed 20 years ago, and depends on the quality of the design, fabrication, and installation.
A window replacement program can be an expensive endeavour that involves a significant amount of work and disturbance within owners’ units.
The author of the piece then goes on to lay out four questions he believes should be asked of a condo board before window replacement commences including: the reason for replacing the windows, what type of windows will be installed, the energy efficiency of the new windows and how long and disruptive the process will be.
Certainly transparency is integral to the successful completion of any such project and the article makes several important points. But it also neglects to mention another important step, one that should be undertaken before any decision is made about replacing windows: an energy audit.
An energy audit will involve an examination of all aspects of the structure including the windows. It will determine where the structure is haemorrhaging energy and how much. Your building may have additional issues such as defects in the window openings themselves that are causing air leakage. An energy audit can pinpoint such problems and allow you to address them during the window replacement process.
The results of the energy audit will also help you make an informed decision regarding the type of replacement windows you’ll want to purchase. Certainly local building codes will provide a framework but building codes are really just a list of minimum requirements. It may behoove the condo board to install windows that exceed what building codes require and the energy audit will help them make that decision.
R-Values and Window Replacement
Until the oil crisis of the 70s no one paid much attention to the energy efficiency of windows. Windows were windows. If they allowed more heat to escape than they held indoors so what? Heating oil was cheap and plentiful and would be that way forever. Carbon footprint? What’s that? Today we’re a bit wiser and less prone to throwing heat (money) out the window. We’re also more aware of the damage we can cause to the environment through the use of wasteful technologies.
Enter the R-value. An R-value is the measure of a material’s ability to resist transferring heat. In a typical building, whether commercial or residential, the windows possess among the lowest R-values meaning they are responsible for most of the heat that’s lost to the atmosphere. Making sure your new replacement windows have the proper R-value will go a long way toward ensuring your window replacement project yields the desired results.
Toronto Doors and Windows: The Area’s Premier Window Replacement Contractor
There’s a saying in racing circles “It’s not the car, it’s the driver” meaning you can have the fastest car ever built but if you’re driver isn’t up to the task it won’t matter. Same with replacement windows. You should always be sure your new replacement windows are installed by experienced, certified installers. The window technicians from Toronto Doors and Windows are some of the best in the business so you and the board can rest assured that the installation will proceed on schedule and without incident.
When it comes to replacing the windows in your condo or home it doesn’t pay to overlook details. Make sure you have a thorough energy audit before deciding on which replacement windows to install and then have those windows installed by the pros at Toronto Doors and Windows.
