Replacing Windows & Doors: Preventing Moisture Issues
For homeowners, replacing doors and windows may seem overwhelming. But it’s also an exciting project that can result in a beautiful, better-protected, more energy-efficient home. Window and door installers play an important role in the replacement process, helping homeowners understand the process, costs, and more. Consider these reasons why homeowners initiate replacements and steps you can take to ensure lasting performance and beauty.
Initiating a Replacement Project
There are a few reasons homeowners decided to update windows and doors, and each may impact your project scope, estimate, and timeline.
Weather Damage
Windows represent one of the most vulnerable locations in the building envelope and the most common source of leaks. A homeowner may notice water between panes, water stains, rot, or even mold. This can be a sign that there is a bigger issue; water may be accumulating in the wall cavity. After the window or door is removed, any structural damage can be assessed and resolved.
Energy-Efficiency
The age or performance of windows and doors may also prompt a replacement project. New windows and doors can reduce drafts and energy bills, ensuring a comfortable home year-round. There are tax incentives for window and door replacement projects as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Homeowners can receive a credit up to $600 for windows and $500 for doors that are ENERGY STAR® certified. For more information about energy tax incentives for homeowners, explore the 25C Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit.
Design Updates
Replacing doors and windows often involves design updates. Homeowners may take the opportunity to request bigger windows, select doors with windows to let more light in, or add a door where a window is currently placed and vice versa. This can result in a larger, more extensive remodeling project.
Getting the Details Right
Gene Summy of TLS Laboratories, a water intrusion expert, shares that about 80% of the time a water leak isn’t caused by the window or door, but by the flashing materials or application method used around the window or door. To put it simply, installers are at risk of losing valuable time and money if the windows and door are not installed correctly with proven products.
Selecting the right windows and doors with your client is step one, but proper installation is key to a successful project. It requires compatible flashing and sealants and may even require a weather-resistive barrier (WRB) or housewrap if there is structural damage that needs to be resolved.
Henry® Can Help
Your goal is to deliver a successful door and window replacement for every client. Flashing tape and compatible sealants are critical to successful installations. When you choose Henry, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting a reliable, high-performance, and compatible weatherization system – flashing, sealant, WRB – from a single source. You’ll also be working with a company dedicated to helping you find the best solution that protects your reputation and provides peace of mind for your clients with a 15-year Henry® 1-2-3 Moisture Control™ System warranty.
Before you begin your next window or door replacement project, consult with the experts at Henry. Informed by 80+ years of expertise, Henry building envelope experts can help you select the system that best meets your project requirements, from foundation to wall to roof.
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