If your mailbox looks anything like mine, each week you receive a coupon or special offer from a company offering to replace your windows. Free windows, free sliding doors, trips to Hawaii, etc.
Why all the junk mail? Window replacement is a highly profitable niche of the remodeling industry, in-fact, some of the biggest remodeling contractors in the country specialize in window replacement. In order to maintain their project flow, many of these companies use aggressive promotion and sales tactics.
On a country built on specialization, hiring a firm that specializes in window replacement might seem like the logical choice. Before you do, make sure you hire the right firm. If you call one of these firms, chances, are they’ll send a consultant (AKA, salesperson) to visit your house, they’ll measure your windows, try to sell you the most expensive window they have and get you signed-up at that visit. Not exactly a consultive approach.
There are many problems with this approach. These include, trying to sell you the most expensive windows (since they are commissioned based) and selling you windows that are wrong for your home. For instance, using expensive high-performance windows for energy savings when there might be cheaper, more effective, ways to save energy, such as insulting your attic or under floor space.
A window is only as good as the installation and that is usually left to the field crew. Part of the challenge of getting a good installation with these companies is their focus is on volume. Many installers are paid on a piece work basis (per window). Compensating the installers on how quickly they get the job done makes it hard to do it right.
So, before you hire one of these companies find out what brand of windows they carry, are these “private label” or “house brands”, many house brands are value engineered to increase the profit margin for the replacement company and are inferior. If you’re replacing your windows to save energy, see if they perform a real energy audit and payback analysis; don’t just rely on vague claims about “saving energy”.
Find out who will be doing the installation; are these company employees or sub-contractors? Are they paid by the window? Finally, find out the qualifications of the person supervising the project, this should be an experienced contractor.
If they push back to your questions with vague assurances like “don’t worry it’s guaranteed“, keep looking. Remember, this is your house and it has to be done right.
Another choice for replacing your windows
Before you call the number on the piece of junk mail offering “free windows” or a trip to Hawaii, consider another approach, hiring a remodeling contractor to replace your windows. This approach has numerous advantages; you’re not limited to a specific brand(s) of window like you are with most replacement contractors, if there are trim or siding repairs needed, your contractor can take care of them, if you want to change window sizes or add and delete windows, your contractor can do all of this at the same time.
Also, if you have a historic home, this is really the only logical choice, since a qualified remodeling contractor will be able to match the details of your home assuring its historical integrity.
Many home owners take a keen interest in researching the windows for their home. Hiring a remodeling contractor and not a window replacement company means that you are able to use whatever window you want, not just select from their narrow range of options.
So, before you fall for the “free” trip to Hawaii, review your window replacement project with a qualified remodeling contractor.
BuildSmart can help you when it comes to working with all sorts of contractors. We know the questions to ask and the qualifications to look for. We can also teach you how to identify the right vendor for your work. At BuildSmart, we turn owners into builders every day. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your next renovation project a success.
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