Eventually the day will come that you decide to replace the old windows in your home. Deciding to replace the windows in your home is accompanied by a litany of decisions that you will need to make. Many of these decisions are quite obvious. You will need to decide on a company to hire, the style of window you want to be installed, the color of your new windows and even how you will pay for them.
After 11 years of helping Michigan homeowners replace their windows, I have come to the conclusion that there is one question most homeowners give little to no consideration to before deciding to replace their windows. “Should I replace my old windows with Pocket Replacement or New Construction Windows?”
Few homeowners spend any time considering this question while most people don’t even know they need to decide on a window replacement strategy. Not only is this question crucial to your window replacement project, making the wrong one could cause you and your family a headache you didn’t even see coming!
Let us take a moment to discuss the differences between Pocket Replacement and New Construction windows.
Pocket Replacement Windows
Either by default ( the window company made the choice for you) or education (you choose this option because you understand the alternative), most homeowners select pocket replacement windows when replacing the windows in their home.
Pocket replacement window are made to fit into the existing jamb of your old window and thus cause little too no damage to the inside of your home when installed. When replacing an original wood frame window, the old wood frame (provided it wasn’t rotted out) would be left in place along with the existing interior trim. The new replacement window would then be installed into the original frame or “pocket”, insulated and aluminum trimmed on the exterior.
Being much less invasive, it is easy to understand why most homeowners choose this type of window replacement. No damage to your walls and or trim to paint/stain, pocket replacements are a much easier choice when it comes to window replacement.
There are however times that a pocket replacement is not the right choice for your window replacement project. In the event that the entire existing window jamb and frame are rotted or in some why damaged beyond simple repair, a New Construction window may be your only option.
New Construction Windows
The major difference between a replacement window and a new construction window is the presence of a nailing fin. New construction windows are made to be installed in a window’s rough opening. When a builder is first building a house, the new construction windows are installed in the window’s rough opening by driving nails threw the nailing fins into the studs of the wall.
This type of installation is easy to do when first building a home because of the bare, exposed wall studs. Attempting this type of window installation after a home is constructed in like performing an open heart surgery. Not only will you need to remove all of your window casings but drywall/plaster will probably be damaged and need to be repaired.
If you can get past the cost and potential time needed to complete this type of window install however, you will be left with windows that look perfect in every way!
No matter what option you choice, replacing the windows in your home is a project accompanied by many decisions you will need to make. Pure Energy Window Company is well equip to help Michigan homeowners navigate these tough questions! Give us a call today to set a Free No-Obligation Window Consultation.
Free No-Obligation Consultation
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