If you are trying to determine if your Elk Grove home needs replacement windows, you may not know where to begin. If your windows are extremely old, are cracked and broken, and if the frame is wood and coming apart, then the decision can be quite easy. However, if you have vinyl windows that were installed about 10 to 20 years ago, the answer may not be as cut and dried.

We have put together a few questions or concepts that you should consider when you are trying to determine whether it is time to replace the windows in your home. Take all of these questions as a whole and then sit down and discuss it with your significant other or your family if other people would be involved in this decision.

Why do you need to take this effort in determining whether to replace the windows?

Replacement windows can cost several thousand dollars, between the windows themselves and installation. Some windows can cost up to $750 or more, such as large picture windows or bay windows. As such, you want to make sure that you are going to be investing in the proper home improvement project.

Not all homes in Elk Grove are going to require replacement windows when the homeowners think it might be something to look into. However, there are also plenty of homeowners who should replace their windows who choose not to because they don’t believe it’s a worthy investment at this time.

Go over these questions and be honest in your own assessment. This will help you in the long run.

Consider the age of your current windows.

If your current windows are more than 30 or 40 years old, the decision about replacing them should be pretty straightforward. Any windows that are that old will generally be made from wood frames. While the wood may stand the test of time, more often than not they have been painted over many times.

You could potentially strip down the paint on these windows and start all over, but the exposure on the outside part of the window to rain, sun, high winds, and other weather elements will likely have caused deterioration in the integrity of the window.

For windows that are not as old, the average life expectancy for vinyl windows is about 10 to 15 years. Today’s windows may last 15 to 20 years. If your current windows are at least 15 years old, regardless of whether they are wood or vinyl, it is time to seriously consider replacing them.

What is the condition of your current windows?

The condition of your current windows is also going to be a major factor. Even if your windows are 20 years old but are in relatively decent looking condition, how do they function? Can you draw the window in on a double hung frame to clean the outside of the windows from inside your home? Do the windows open and close easily? When you close the windows, do they seat properly, which is important to keep rain and other weather elements out of your house.

If your current windows are not functioning properly, it will have an impact on how you use them. For example, if your windows do not open or close easily because the tracks are corroded, warped, or dirty, then you may ignore that window and choose another window to open on days when it’s beautiful outside. The more you ignore a window, the less likely you are to take care of it properly.

Do you want to make a lucrative investment in your Elk Grove home?

Finally, if you are ready to make a significant and important investment in your Elk Grove home, then you’re going to come across a number of options. You may want to renovate the kitchen, redo a bathroom, install a new roof, or even add a patio feature to your backyard, such as an outdoor living space, but replacement windows and doors can also have a direct impact on your home’s value.

When you replace the windows in your home, you can increase the energy efficiency as well as the complete style of each room in your home.

For example, if you are tired of double hung windows in your bedroom, which happens to overlook a beautiful view, you could consider installing bay windows instead. Bay windows will allow you to open and close certain sections to allow fresh air into the room, but it would also give you the illusion of a more open space in your bedroom. You would even get a shelf where you could place plants and other knickknacks to make your room even cozier.

When you make the proper investment in replacement windows or doors for your home, it will affect your emotional well-being at home as well. When you come home and look around, seeing a more open field because the blinds and the curtains are drawn back to expose your brand-new windows, you will feel more at home and comfortable.

When you focus on these key questions, you should be able to determine whether replacement windows is something to seriously consider for your Elk Grove home at this time. If you are still not sure, you may need to see what styles and features current modern windows have. This might give you all the inspiration that you need to make the decision to replace the windows in your home.