Five Ways Upgrading Your Windows & Doors Can Save You Money

One great way to dramatically change the look and feel of your home is to upgrade your windows and doors. New windows and doors can improve your home’s curb appeal. They increase energy efficiency, contribute to the overall theme of your home, control interior sound levels and provide a literal breath of fresh air. However, the idea of upgrading all of your home’s windows and doors can certainly seem like a daunting task for both new and seasoned homeowners. In fact, you might even be wondering if it makes financial sense to take on a project so large. Would you believe that upgrading your home’s windows and doors can actually save you money in the long run? Whether it’s by reducing utility costs, preventing unnecessary repairs, or increasing your home’s security, upgrading your home’s windows and doors can provide a multitude of financial benefits. Here is a list of five different reasons why upgrading your windows and doors can actually help keep money in your pockets.

1. Keep the Weather Outside

One of the biggest ways that homeowners unknowingly overpay on their utility bills is by having to run their heaters and air conditioners excessively to control the temperature in their home. Of course weather often dictates when and how often we use our heating and cooling systems, but what you may overlook is that your home’s windows and doors play a vital role in controlling the interior temperature of your home. Newer windows and doors often must adhere to strict performance standards and can do a better job of keeping the outside elements where they belong. Updated “Solar Heat Gain” and “Air Infiltration” standards for windows and doors ensure that new window and door products are increasingly more energy efficient. Upgrading your home to include these products will result in a more comfortable, climate-controlled home with minimal use of heating and air, reducing your utility bills.

2. Bring in Natural Light

Have you ever unnecessarily spent money simply because you felt lousy? Perhaps a pint of ice cream and a pay-per-view movie might sound familiar. Studies have shown that one way to increase both physical and mental health is by increasing your exposure to natural light. By upgrading your home’s windows and doors you may effectively increase your home’s exposure to natural light. Let the sun in and let it inspire you to replace daytime TV and junk food binging with yoga and reading a book. Over time, this will inevitably save you money on a variety of health related expenditures. On top of all the health benefits, greater exposure to natural light will decrease the amount of artificial lighting you will need in your home during daytime hours, saving money on energy bills.

3. Prevent Water and Other Major Damage

The term “fenestration” is used to describe windows and doors as part of the openings of a building. If you think about what a window or door actually is, it’s basically a covering for a hole in your house. Over time windows and doors can bend and bow, the weather-stripping or caulking can corrode, and any cracks or chips in the frame or panel can allow water, dust and dirt to leak into the framing of your home. Upgrading your home’s windows and doors ensures that they are operating at peak performance. Neglecting the importance of this issue could leave yourself vulnerable to water damage which can lead to wood rot and even mold. The cost of repairing such damage can be catastrophic and largely outweighs the cost of upgrading your home’s windows and doors.

4. Steer Off Would-Be Intruders

Older windows and doors can sometimes be an open invitation for burglars, robbers and thieves to enter your home. Reducing the risk of a home invasion is a clear way to provide peace of mind as well as prevent unwanted repair and replacement costs. The ease of prying or sliding open older windows and doors compared to newer products is substantial simply due to advancements in locking systems. Multi-point locks - locks in several locations - have become the new standard for most window and door products. With newer windows and doors also comes newer technology. Most windows and doors nowadays have the option of being fitted for several types of alarm systems that can be wired throughout the entire house and connected to a home monitoring company or even an app on your phone.

5. Increase Resale Value

Sometimes the best way to save money is to simply make more money. Upgrading your home’s windows and doors is a safe way to increase your home’s value as well as the desirability of your home when it comes time to sell. While kitchen and bath remodels seem to be on top of the list when it comes to money-making renovation projects, some argue that window and door upgrades are almost on the same level. New windows and doors can be a selling point for prospective buyers for several items mentioned earlier in this list: lower utility costs, comfort, safety and peace of mind, as well as curb appeal and overall aesthetics. Studies have shown that most window replacements can on average recoup 65% of their cost while door replacements can recoup as much as 85% of their costs when selling your home.