To replace or not to replace, that is the question; there is an entire school of thought that would have one believe that it is nobler not to, and more economical, lest you be swindled by unsavory salespeople whose sole purpose is to sell you unnecessary replacement windows: not so.

Windows provide great distinction and character to a home. Like other components that make up a structure, all windows are prone to the elements and will need care to maintain their optimal performance over time. Fluctuations in temperature, weather, dust and debris do not discriminate between historic and replacement windows; therefore a good maintenance regimen will include:

  • Cleaning wooden windows with a slightly damp cloth so as not to encourage rot, or vinyl and aluminum-framed windows with a mild detergent and soft brush; in each instance, paying attention to the casing and surrounding wall area to address dust and dirt that can foul window components and cause jams.
  • Examining windows frames, sashes and seals for moisture infiltration as indicated by rot or condensation and repairing quickly to prevent further deterioration.
  • Checking weather stripping or seals and replacing when wearing out.
  • Inspecting for signs of sun damage such as warping or peeling paint. Proper maintenance of wooden and metal windows alike entails painting every three to four years to maintain appearance and functionality.
  • Attending to gaps between the window casing and walls, due to movement and settling of a house, which can be filled with latex caulk.

Despite the contention otherwise, replacing an older window with a modern one does not have to change the appearance of your home for the worse. Often, examples of before and after pictures of window replacement projects cite the worst of the worst which are more indicative of poor installation, craftsmanship and selection of inappropriate replacement windows than a reflection of the replacement windows themselves. When done properly, replacement of historical windows need not change the appearance of a structure at all but maintain its visual integrity, comfort and safety of its interior, as demonstrated by the work of professional craftsmen at Kolbe & Kolbe on the University of Minnesota’s Folwell Hall, built in 1907. The same quality and craftsmanship is extended to all homeowners by reputable replacement window companies whose business stands on helping consumers make wise decisions about the variety of impact replacement windows available, providing skillful teams to install them and millwork craftsmen to replace pieces integral to the original windows’ design.

Reputable replacement window companies are not fraught with sales representatives bent on swindling you out of your money for unnecessary replacement windows. A vast amount of energy is devoted to undermining the integrity of sales representatives by replacement window opponents who blatantly use fear and negative stereotypes of salespeople as tools to sell their own products and services; hardly the higher road of doing well by the consumer and enlightening them to “the truth.”

Many of the sales professionals you will meet in consideration of replacing windows in your home have acquired years of experience in the window and door marketplace before earning the position to counsel consumers on appropriate choices of replacement windows, their installation and advantages.

When asked how modern impact glass window systems better benefit consumers than older windows, ten-year market industry veteran and top-selling sales representative, Roldan “Ro” Romero, explained simply that:

  • Modern impact resistant glass windows’ framing is thicker, allowing for more stability and durability when standing up to the elements and everyday wear and tear.
  • Stainless steel impact resistant replacement window components and fasteners are designed to withstand erosion, manage expansion and contraction more effectively, and shoulder high “wind loads,” or, sustained air pressure against the surface of the glass, even in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) of Dade, Broward and coastal Palm Beach Counties where wind speeds have traditionally measured between 156-185 miles per hour during hurricanes.
  • New technology allows for the interlayer of resin between impact glass panels to be progressively lighter, more durable and cost efficient than previous designs; over time, reducing the price for a more cost-effective product similar to the trajectory of cellular phone technology where the initial mobile phone, launched to the public in 1983, weighed two pounds and cost $3,995.

In consideration of these facts, and other benefits that impact glass replacement windows provide, it can be argued that, “the [naysayers of impact glass replacement windows] doth protest too much, methinks.” Now more than ever, homeowners are positioned to replace their older windows with modern, high performance impact resistant window systems at ever-increasing cost efficiency while maintaining the charm of their home’s original appearance. Why not take advantage of a good thing?


by Kate Donovan