Do you need some new windows in your home or business? Well, you’re not alone. In fact, window and door replacements are the most common exterior home renovation that there is!
If it’s that time for you, you may be tempted to grab your old circular saw and some caulk to spend your Saturday installing them. Well, there are better ways to go about it, and even if you’re a DIY type, it might be best to leave windows up to professionals.
Let’s talk about the downsides of installing windows yourself.
Why You Should Avoid Installing Windows Yourself: Safety
There are a few safety concerns that come with installing windows yourself, whether that’s at home or for your commercial property, and this takes top priority. Safety is by far the number one reason that window installation should be left to professionals. Here are just a few examples of what could go wrong.
Falling Risks
If you’re climbing a ladder to install your windows, that always poses a risk of falling. The same goes if the windows you are replacing are on the roof.
Trying to replace the window from indoors? You’d be surprised at how easy it is to fall out from there. Think about it. Your window is jammed, you swear you can get it in that extra inch, you get into position and push as hard as you can, and you launch yourself right out! Don’t laugh, it’s happened before.
Tools
If you don’t know the tools you are working with, especially power tools like saws, then you pose a serious risk to yourself. If you’re thinking power tools can’t be that complicated but don’t have experience with them, then this is a definite risk for you. Never mess around with tools you don’t know how to use.
Structural Damage
If you’re trying to cut a hole in a wall and you don’t know where the support is on that wall, you could cause some major damage to your building. If you don’t have the construction skills necessary for this, just know that a mistake on your wall could cost you a fortune.
Save Money
If you’re thinking that the whole point of DIY is to save money, think again. Having professional installation saves you money over the long term in a couple of ways.
Power
The right installation includes the right insulation. The right crew will make sure that your windows aren’t leaking heat during the winter, which will save you a small fortune every year, especially if you have a big house. In fact, you could be losing up to $330 in heating/cooling costs a year due to a draft around your windows!
Scale that onto multiple windows, and if you install all of them yourself, the chances are that many of them will have room for air to flow and even for bugs and other pests to enter.
Mistakes
The chances of needing something corrected are a lot higher when you are replacing windows yourself. If you’re installing windows yourself, especially if it’s your first time, you’re bound to make mistakes.
Things may not sit right, they may not be secure, or they may not be able to handle the additional weight when you put in your air conditioner. There’s a lot that can go wrong, so getting it right on the first try will save you money down the line.
Building Codes
Do you know the residential or commercial building codes related to the type of project you’re doing? Well, a window installation company does. If you do it yourself and find out it was a violation, you can face some serious fines and then have to pay to get them professionally installed and up to code!
Mistakes Are Too Easy To Make
Measurements have to be exact for window installation to stop airflow from coming in and to secure the window into the wall. Cuts have to be in the right place, the right caulk has to be used, and everything needs to be done right.
We mentioned that mistakes are costly, but you could just be finishing your project and notice something is wrong, contact a professional, and have the bill be twice what it would have been if you had called beforehand.
Security Issues
Improperly installed windows are less secure. Professionally installed windows will have the right security to prevent break-ins or storm damage, making it more difficult to be destroyed by a large impact.
Time
If you’re a rookie at installing windows, there’s no shame in that at all. It will likely take you a lot longer to install your windows, especially if you’re replacing many of them at once than it would a professional crew.
Unless you’re superman, getting 6 windows in could easily take up your whole weekend. A professional crew that specializes in window repairs and replacements will get this done in no time so you can get back to enjoying your home!
Getting The Right Equipment
Professionals will make sure you get the right windows, frames, glass, and styles for your home! They’ll work with you to match your aesthetic and your budget and overall find the right windows for your home!
Why Wait?
If you need a replacement or two, don’t waste your time installing windows yourself. The right crew can get the job done quickly, affordably, and correctly, which will save you a fortune in the long run!
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