When shopping for new windows and doors the first thing you’re likely to notice is the sheer number of available styles. Picking one that suits your home to a tee is not always the easiest thing to do but charlesandhudson.com has posted a primer that might help clarify things for you. They start right off with a helpful tidbit that a lot of people probably don’t think about when purchasing new windows or doors:
Remember to choose a window or door that will look good from the inside as well as the outside of your home.
Believe it or not a lot of people get so fixated on the way windows and doors (windows particularly) look from the street that they forget to consider how they’ll look from the sofa in the living room. So keep that in mind.
The primer then goes into some detail about the most popular styles including: awning windows (“hinged from the top, opening outward from the bottom… Awning windows are typically installed over fixed windows or doors,”) bay windows (“…a large center window bordered on either side by double-hung or casement windows set at 30- or 45-degree angles.”) casement windows (“…casement windows feature a single sash that’s hinged on the left or right and open outward using a crank handle.”) and more.
Main Reasons Homeowners Replace Their Windows and Doors
It might behoove us to back up a bit and take a look at why people would want to replace their windows and doors in the first place. Typically one or more of the following reasons are at work when people decide to replace their windows:
- The Single-Pane Blues – Some homeowners will hold on to their wood frame single-pane windows until there’s little left but caulk and peeling paint. When they finally relent and replace their old windows it’s like having a new house.
- Security Issues – Old windows that don’t close all the way, close awkwardly, are loose in their frames or have rotting casements pose a significant security and safety risk to you and your family.
- Adding Value – Few improvements you can make to your home will add as much value as new, energy efficient windows (exception below). You can reasonably expect an ROI of 85% when it comes time to sell your home.
As far as replacing entry doors is concerned, most people do it in order…
- To Save Energy – Chances are that draft you’re feeling is originating from the front door. A draft may not seem like much of a problem, but it can increase your energy usage by 10% or more.
- To Add Curb Appeal – The front door is the focal point of your home. For most people it’s also the first thing they get a good look at when they visit, and you never get a second chance to make a first impression as they say.
- To Increase Security – A wooden door is a major security risk. The fact that ⅓ of home invasions happen through the front door should be proof enough of that. By replacing your wooden front door with a steel door, you make your home many times more secure.
- To Add Value – When you think of the home improvement projects with the best ROI what comes to mind? A deck? New windows? If you guessed either of those you’d have company, but you’d be wrong. Front door replacement provides the highest ROI (nearly 97%) of any home improvement project.
Replacing Your Windows and Doors? Speak to Our Experts Today
If you’ve decided it’s time to replace your windows and doors, talk to the professionals at Toronto Doors and Windows. We’ll help you choose a style that’s right for you at a price you can afford. We’ll work with you every step of the way to make sure the process goes smoothly and that you wind up with a warmer, safer and more valuable home. Call us today on 647-932-3667 and talk to one of our knowledgeable sales associates. They’ll get you started on the road to a more beautiful, more energy efficient home.