Sometimes, the state of glass in your windows might deteriorate. Other times, it could break due to heavy temperature fluctuations or a simple accident. So you think to yourself it’s an easy project to handle. You could be under the impression that a replacement windows project is a fairly straightforward procedure.
So you go and cut out the old glass to remove it from the frame. Then you take measurements and you order new windows for that purpose. However, the installation process is much more difficult and meticulous than that. If anything, it could be a hazard for your own safety. Not to mention how if you make any mistake, no matter how small, you won’t be able to rectify it.
This means that you’ve wasted a whole lot of money for nothing. And now you’re going out of pocket because you have to hire professionals to replace your windows. The thing is, replacing your windows is no easy DIY job. Even if you’re the most adept handyman. You cannot expect yourself to do it right, especially if you’ve never done it before. So here’s why you should not DIY replacement windows Bristol even if it’s cheap (or seems to be).
Mistakes cannot be rectified
On the list of things that might go wrong if you take up this DIY project, mistakes come first. The last thing you want for your newly replaced windows is to look wonky or uneven. If you so much as get half an inch off measurements, you’ll be looking at an irreparable mess. After the glass has been cut, there’s no way you can makeshift of the glass sheets you have. Mistakes can occur for many reasons. Either you don’t have the right tools to undertake this project or you took the wrong dimensions.
A faulty installation will depreciate the value of your home. When you want to sell your home, windows are the first thing prospective buyers will want to check. Trust that they will be able to spot an unprofessional and crooked installation from a mile away. Even for professionals, flawless window installation and replacement take years and years to perfect and master. So just because you’ve watched a video tutorial on it, doesn’t necessarily mean you can or should do it.
Having a reputable company like Renewal by Andersen of Twin Falls come out and install new windows and patio doors for you means that you can be confident that you will get a good quality installation and great customer service that will make the whole process as smooth as possible.
Heavy windows might be damaged
Trying to replace windows yourself will inevitably end up in bad damages. Each window pane will likely cost you at the very least a few hundred dollars. So even if you have the right tools and the correct measurements, you run the risk of messing it up.
Replacement windows can be extremely heavy, depending on the glass you choose. And the installation requires the utmost precision. This means you will be holding the weight of those glass panes for a very long time. Your arms will get tired eventually so you could drop or break the glass while trying to set it down.
Or yet again after installation. If you have done a poor job of putting everything into place, they can still fall out and shatter completely. In addition to that, you could also impair some internal parts like the window frame. Then you will be forced to hire an expert to tear down and replace the entirety of your windows.
You might be injured
Physical injuries are not uncommon while trying to replace your old windows. First of all, glass can break, and when it does, it could be dangerous. If you don’t get the tempered glass, you could cut yourself with the sharp edges of the broken shards of glass. Second, if your windows are high enough to require ladders, then add that to the list of potential injuries. A wobbly ladder could easily turn into a safety hazard and by extension a broken arm.
Granted, trying to learn a new skill or improve on your handiness is a good initiative. However, not when it threatens your safety and well-being, as well as that of your family and loved ones. You’re much better off paying a trained professional to do the job than you DIY the project. Moreover, you don’t want to risk a trip to the emergency room for what was supposed to be a ‘fun’ job.
Inappropriate installation: Cause heat leakage
When you don’t install a glass windowpane the right way, you could be unintentionally causing interior and exterior home damages. The average homeowner is not equipped to professionally deal with underlying issues concerning windows, insulation, or plumbing.
Some concerns are not raised until the old windows have been removed. Then you discover that there’s a problem with the drywall or something wrong with the window frame. Naturally, this is more than you bargained for. So if you try to fix those issues, you’ll just make them worse by covering them up with new windows.
Not to mention how for the untrained eye, the risk of hitting a plumbing pipe or an electric cord increases. So by trying to do it yourself, you’re not fixing an issue, you’re creating ten more. In addition to that, improper installation can immediately translate into higher energy bills.
Without the correct sealing, your DIY windows will allow heat to leak from your home. Your window won’t be able to protect your home from the outside elements either, especially the freezing cold. As a result, you’re going to deal with a lot of water damage, in addition to massive heating/cooling expenses.
Waste of huge expense of replacement windows
When you replace your old windows, you could mess up the configuration of the frame, the trim, or the insulation. Accordingly, you’ll be looking into a much more expensive repair project than what you started with. Mistakes happen and that’s acceptable, but not installation mistakes of this magnitude. Ones that you could have easily avoided were you to hire a trained expert.
Not to mention how you will lose the manufacturer’s warranty if you do the replacement yourself. DIY repairs are usually considered as unauthorized modifications. So, without professionals overseeing this repair, you stand to nullify the warranty. Not only will you have to buy new windows, but also you’ll have to pay for damage repair, plus labor.
