From increasing your home’s appeal to increase its energy-efficiency and providing security for your family, the importance of your windows and doors cannot be overemphasized. Most windows and doors are very durable and only require minimum maintenance allowing them to last for decades and decades. Their longevity is definitely a benefit, but it is also the reason that many homeowners do not pay the proper attention to their windows and doors. Like most other parts of your home, your window and doors should be inspected and maintained at a minimum annually (if not twice a year). This inspection will give you a better understanding of the condition of your windows and doors and will hopefully allow you to notice any minor issues before the escalate to larger issues.
Below we have outlined several key indicators to look out for when inspecting your windows and doors.
1. Age of Your Windows and Doors
It is important to know the number of years that your windows and doors have been in use for. Age alone is not an indicator of much, but most windows and doors have a lifespan of 20-25 years and if yours are getting close to this age, it is important to keep an eye out for potential signs of damage, wear, and even breakdowns.
2. Appearance and Style
Sometimes an upgrade is simply needed for aesthetic purposes. When completing your annual inspection, take a walk back to the sidewalk or street and look at your home. Are your windows and doors adding to or taking away from your home’s curb appeal? If they are not adding to your home’s aesthetic, can they be fixed or updated, perhaps with some fresh paint? If the answer is ‘not really’ you know it will be time to start planning for an upgrade.
3. Cracked and Missing Caulking
The caulking that surrounds your window and door frames plays a very important role. Its job is to seal and close the small space between the window or door frame and your home. This ensures that water, bugs , and extreme temperatures are not able to penetrate into your home. However, over time this caulking begins to breakdown, shrink, and even deteriorate. Once this happens, gaps appear around your window and doors frames allowing for air, pests, and water to make their way in. All of these have the potential to cause damage to your home as well as the windows and doors themselves. If neglected, the damage caused by this type of exposure will lead to the need for replacement windows and or doors.
4. Damage
Damage to the glass or to the frames of your windows and doors may be difficult to notice at times. That is why completing a thorough inspection is important. Small cracks and bends will all affect the operation of your windows and doors making it difficult to operate or leaving them exposed to security breaches from potential intruders.
Completing an annual inspection of your windows and doors will reveal any potential issues that need your attention, it is also one of many ways to identify when to replace windows and doors as you can compare the year over year wear and tear that your windows and doors have faced.