Improving the Façade with Exterior Windows

Generally, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure periodical and seasonal exterior home checking. While doing your own external inspection, do not forget to check the exterior windows as well. The first thing you would normally notice are broken windows, frames as well as panes. These will require to be fixed immediately. If you are handy with doing odd jobs around the house, replacing windowpanes and frames should not be a very difficult job for you. On the other hand, you can always seek the services of a carpenter and/or a glazier to do the job for you.

If screens installed on the windows of the home you are planning to buy, check to see the condition of these screens. Broken screens can be repaired and/or replaced easily. Some houses have double pane windows for enhanced insulation. Check to see if there are any leakages that can lead to poor insulation. These can be easily taken care of by sealing the gaps with putty.



Changing Exterior Windows

If repairs to the external windows are not doing the required job, you may need to replace the exterior windows. Over a period, the weather can cause substantial damage to the windows, or the windows can become warped. If the home you looking at is an old one, the exterior windows may constantly need to undergo repairs. You may need to replace the complete windows. The newer exterior windows efficiently keep the cold draft out, saving high-energy costs in the end. Reducing drafts from all sources, including exterior windows, has a potential of saving you between 5% and 30% of energy costs every year.

Rattling windows is a sign of possible air leaks, and so is it if you can see daylight around the window frames. These can easily be sealed by weather stripping them. If the home has storm windows, check them to see if they fit properly and are not broken.



Checking for Water Leakage

While inspecting the exterior windows, check for water stains around the windows. This would indicate water leak and could lead to rusting of window frames if they are metallic, and rotting if they are wooden. Check your roof top gutters and drain pipes leading down from the roof for blockages, if any. This could cause overflowing of water down the walls, spoiling your exterior windows. In addition, water leaks could form mould and mildew on the walls and window frames.

Other than air and water leaks, properly fit exterior windows can reduce noise pollution to a great extent. Noise baffles fixed to the exterior windows prevent noise from passing through the windows.