Budgeting is perhaps the most important part of any home improvement project, from a simple window repair to a full replacement. It’s a good idea to set aside a small amount for your home’s maintenance and to take care of your credit score so you won’t have any problems if you need a loan for a more expensive project.
One of the most important parts of your home’s thermal envelope and curb appeal is the windows. When they’re damaged, old, or no longer match your home’s aesthetics after a renovation, set a budget for window replacement. Here’s how to come up with a reasonable estimate:
Cost of Materials
Different window and door companies carry windows from different brands. Some manufacturers offer proprietary materials, such as composite. But most also offer popular materials, including wood, aluminum, vinyl, fiberglass and others.
Find out how much you’ll expect to pay for the material of your choice by reaching out to several companies for quotes. Remember, however, you won’t be paying only for the frame and the glass, though those two materials equate to the lion’s share of the cost. You’ll also pay for miscellaneous items like nails, trim, insulation and more. Ask contractors for a detailed list of materials and their costs.
Cost of Labor
For the labor, you’ll be paying the contractor for the number of hours it would normally take them to get to your home and install your new windows. Ask contractors for a detailed quote on this, as well. There might be miscellaneous expenses too, such as the cost of transporting the materials to your site and the clean-up after the project. Most contractors offer free site visits for consultation, but you may have to pay for the next visit, which involves making detailed measurements of window openings.
The clean-up doesn’t just involve removing the debris from your site. It also includes removing the old windows, which entails a separate cost and should appear on the contractors’ quotes.
Savings
The cost of windows may be considerable, but the best windows and the best installers also help you save some money. This is after your windows are installed. With good, energy-efficient windows, you can expect to save on the cost of energy use in your home, as such windows are highly effective in reducing thermal gaps and increasing energy efficiency.
For this reason, it’s a bad idea to go cheap on the materials and the labor. Buying cheap windows off the shelf and installing them yourself or hiring an inexperienced handyman might cost a lot less, but those cheap windows and shoddy workmanship won’t do much to make your home more energy-efficient in the long term.
When you hire a professional and buy the best windows your budget allows you to, you might even qualify for tax credits. More savings for you.
When you come up with a reasonable budget for your window project, include an additional 20% of the total amount for contingency.
To install new, energy-efficient, and beautiful windows, get in touch with Allstar Construction of Fargo. We also offer other home improvement services as trusted roofers in the area. Call us today at (701) 478-7663 or use this form to schedule a free consultation.
