The installation of replacement windows should always be done by a professional expert who has been properly trained to install windows. This isn’t something you should attempt to do on your own because of all the essential components involved.
Window replacement requires more than just a special set of tools and other various equipment, in order to do the job right, you need to have the level of skill and know-how that the experts at Charlottesville Window possess. A great amount of care and precision goes into every window replacement job we perform on any and all types of homes. It’s simply too easy to make a mistake when you’re trying to replace windows and even the slightest misstep or miscalculation can severely impact the condition of your installation.
That can also have a damaging effect on the window and the home, leading to a variety of problems from a lack of energy efficiency in the home to water damage from precipitation seeping through cracks and gaps between the frame and the house. You don’t want to deal with these very costly problems, which is why you don’t want to do this work on your own.
It pays to hire a professional contractor to do the work properly the first time. The installation process is a very specific operation, beginning with one very straightforward factor – where the window is installed. We’re not referring to the actual location of the window, you know where that will be already, this refers to the physical installation of the window from the indoors or outside.
Inside or Outside
It’s a question that many homeowners often wonder about since the process of window replacement can be somewhat invasive depending on the extent of the work that needs to be performed. They typically ask if there is one way that’s more beneficial than another.
The truth is, a window installation company usually has a preference based on a variety of factors. In many cases, the contractor will choose one over the other out of convenience. Whichever way is easier and brings less upheaval to the homeowner is typically the way they will go for installing the window.
After all, the homeowner is already expected to go through a significant level of preparation before the installation company shows up. You will need to remove all window dressings that you have up, including shades, curtains, blinds, whatever might hinder the work of the installer.
That also means moving any furniture or other interior furnishings from the immediate location of the window so the contractor can reach the window easily. For these reasons, most companies will tell their customers that they install from the outside, so there’s less of a mess inside the home.
But just because all of this is easier on the homeowner doesn’t necessarily make it easier for the contractor and, in certain instances, the window being installed from the inside is actually the easier option.
There are other factors at play that help determine whether the window is installed from the inside or outside. The type of window can make a difference of one over the other. The type of home being worked on can also have a role in the choice.
Outdoor Installation
One of the main reasons why your contractor may choose to work from the outside (besides trying to make it easier on you and your home) is that doing so is in the best interest of the home and the type of window being installed. In some situations, there is little choice but to do the work from the outside.
This can prove challenging for the installer as there are certain elements around the window that need to be adjusted, removed, or replaced entirely in order to do the work correctly.
Indoor Installation
Many contractors will choose to install from the indoors because doing so provides a much tighter seal to keep air from seeping out through any cracks or gaps. This is due to the exterior blind stop trim that is located outside. If that is left intact, the window has a greater chance of being more energy efficient.
The interior trim stop is also typically removed but this can be dealt with easier than the exterior stop when replacing the window. But only if the caulking is done correctly, having applied inside and outside ahead of reinstalling the trim and not after! That last part is vital because it can have a substantial effect on the long-term reliability of the window down the line.
