Fenestrated?
Your windows are a very important part of your home, they provide views and light while keeping the elements out and your home comfortable. They take a lot of abuse from the sun, wind and rain, not to mention baseballs. Undetected, a small leak in a window can turn into an energy loss or wall damage so regular inspections and maintenance is necessary.
fen·es·trat·ed adj. Having windows or windowlike openings.
Below is a piece that deals with all things window. I hope you will find it ‘illuminating’.
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Winter Window Maintenance
Inspection. Examine the edges of all windows, inside and out, operate each window and check the locking mechanism. Check for cracks, breaks or fogging. Look for missing or cracked caulking.
Calking. Remove any cracking or shrinking calk then use a high quality exterior grade paintable calk to re-do the entire window. Spread out the calking with a plastic spoon, craft stick or wet finger. Wait 24 hours before re-painting. Failed calking can result in damage to the window framing and walls plus it can increase heating bills.
Fogging occurs when excess moisture gets in between the panes, it appears as clouding that cannot be cleaned, if the clouding is streaky it’s likely that the UV coating has failed. A fogged window has lost some of its insulating properties but not all, the decision to replace is usually an aesthetic one. One can replace the entire window at great expense or hire a glass company to replace just the sealed unit(s) leaving the frame alone. Another great option is to defog the existing window without replacing anything. A number of companies can perform this new procedure without removing anything and at the least cost. Defogging involves cleaning in between the panes and removing the moisture using proprietary methods. One such company is WindowmedicsSeattle.com. In most homes, when one window is fogged, the rest will soon follow.
Cleaning. Professional cleaning can be costly. In many cases windows can only be cleaned by the pro’s but you can save a lot by cleaning the ones you can reach and pay for the rest. Starting with the exterior windows, use a soft brush on a pole with a solution of ammonia or vinegar in warm water to soak the window. While the window is still wet, use a razor blade to scrape the entire window. It’s amazing what kinds of goo and glop ends up on a window that only a scraper can remove. Brush the window again and then use a squeegee from left to right in a horizontal stroke, cleaning the leading edge of the squeegee with a rag between strokes, us a dry microfiber rag to buff off any streaks. Soak the screens in the same solution, then hose them off and allow them to dry. The same procedure can be used inside but the excessive water may require the use of towels and tarps, otherwise good old Windex is useful.
Choices. If you are considering window replacement, check the manufacturer out carefully, problems with windows can be very costly and don’t usually show up right away. Just like a real estate agent, choose the ones with good reputations that have been around for a long time. Companies that market aggressively and make exaggerated claims should be avoided. Pella, Milgard and Certainteed are trusted brands that control the quality of their installers.
Energy. The most efficient window is a very small one. Windows are by nature inefficient but they have come a long way. Windows lose energy through conduction, convection and radiation so a good window addresses all of these. Recently, much attention has been paid to controlling the amount of UV light (radiation) that passes through; new regulations require UV protection on all windows. Upgrading from single pane windows to double pane can save money over time but changing from one type of double pane to another or to triple pane can be hard to justify financially.
Courtesy of Linnea Jones – Windermere Real Estate / Northeast, Inc. 425-765-2211
