San Antonio Windows And Siding
Should You Replace Windows and Siding Together?
Do you fully need to replace the windows in your San Antonio, TX? If you know you need new windows and siding, should you replace them together or separately? Here’s what San Antonio, TX homeowners need to know.
When it comes to owning your home, there are a lot of decisions you have to make. For most people, every penny counts, and we’d all be wise to stretch our dollars (and time) a little further.
But with so many decisions to make, it’s not always easy to know the right thing to do.
For example, when it comes to windows and siding replacements, should they be done together? Separately? Or does it not really matter either way?
The truth is, if you’re considering a makeover, there’s one choice that’s above the others. Not only do you want to stretch your dollars, but you also want to make the best aesthetic choice for your home now and in the future.
Let’s take a look at what the best solution is for this situation.
What’s the Short Answer?
The short answer to whether a siding and window replacement should happen at the same time is “yes!”
The main reason the answer is yes is that it makes the job easier for your contractor. In the short-term, your ability to have the same person do both jobs increases the likelihood that it will be done well and look good. In the long-term, this work will help to direct water away from the window frame and into the interior of your walls.
Now, let’s take a look at some more specific parts of this predicament. There are obviously more factors to consider other than what the “best” idea is. This way, your decision will be more informed either way.
Windows First Is the Way to Go
In either situation, it’s best for you to replace the windows first. This comes down to one main reason, and that’s the capping. Capping is the protecting covering put over exposed exterior wood. This helps to protect things like water from getting inside your home and ruining the interior of your windows.
Why should this go in first? Because unfortunately, capping can be damaged rather easily. If the siding is installed first, the old siding removal can damage the existing capping you have coming in.
You then have two choices.
Deal with the weird combination of new siding and damaged capping or invest in new capping on old windows that you’ll eventually need to replace. This is why replacing the windows first is usually the way to go. In the other situation, it’s okay if it gets damaged, because it’s going anyway!
The Cost to Replace Home Siding and Windows in San Antonio, Texas
Perhaps this is the topic you cared most about. You may have even scrolled down to find it. True, the reality is that you may only care about the cost of new siding and windows. If it’s too much for your budget, it may have to be one or the other.
Swapping out all the windows in a three bedroom home is expensive. Just ask your contractor. That home improvement project can move into the 5-digit range when you also factor in the cost of siding.
Obviously, this isn’t a small chunk of change, so you may have to prioritize based on cost.
Do the windows first if you have to choose if only because it’s the order the pros would do it anyway if they were doing both. The only situation where you might not do the windows first would be if the siding is falling apart of starting to expose parts of the house.
In other words, if it’s going to affect your home in the long-term, you’ll want to prioritize the siding. But if it’s only a home project that needs to be done, start with the windows.
Why Replace Both Siding and Windows?
The last question to answer: Do you need to do both the window and siding? And if so, why?
One major reason it can benefit you to do both is the energy efficiency of your home. Whether it’s winter or summer, your windows play a big role in keeping warm or cool air (whichever is desirable) in your house and out of the atmosphere.
Did you know you could save between $126-465 per year when you replace your windows? Combined with new siding, your big investment will start to pay for itself as time goes on.
When you replace windows and siding, you’re saving energy for the whole home. If air is penetrating through the cracks of your siding, it won’t matter how nice the new windows you just had installed are. The opposite is also true with new sidings if your old windows aren’t getting the job done.
In the end, it will benefit you and your energy bill to get both projects done pretty close to one another, if not at the same time.
Windows And Siding: Wrap-Up
When it comes to windows and siding, it’s usually best to get both jobs done at once. It’s not a cheap investment, so if you have to pick one, do the windows first. It’s better to not damage any of the work on new windows, and doing it the opposite way increases the risk of that happening.
By replacing your windows and siding, you are increasing the energy efficiency of your home and saving money in the long run. Sure, it’s expensive, but so is letting air conditioning or heat go right out the window. It’s an investment in your home that will pay off as the years go by.
Contact us with questions about your siding or windows so we can answer any specific questions you have. Thanks for reading!