Escondido Real Estate

Thinking Of Using Replacement Windows On Your Home?

Do you want to replace the windows, siding, or roofing on your Escondido homes? Are you concerned that the cost of a total exterior remodel will not bring the return on your investment when you sell your Escondido homes? Well, there are alternative methods to tearing apart your windows, siding, and roofs. Take a few tips from these expert residential developers who know a thing or two about purchasing high performance materials that will return the investment when you sell your Escondido homes, replacements are the way to go!

 

Replacements are boorish cousins to sleek remodels, but replacements are more likely to return your money when you sell.

• Windows:

Framing material makes the greatest difference in the cost of replacement windows. Your choices, from least to most expensive, are aluminum, vinyl and wood. Sweeney gives vinyl windows the value stamp because they require no staining or sealing and fit easily into existing frames. They are also more energy-efficient than aluminum windows. For a typical house, vinyl windows would cost $10,000 to $14,000, and wood windows would cost $11,000 to $18,000. Wood windows require more work to install because you have to remove the whole frame and replace interior and exterior trim. Regardless of which type you choose, Sweeney and Zuch recommend the Marvin, Pella and Andersen brands.

Windows that have two layers of glass are best, ideally with argon gas between the layers. Look for a low "U factor" (the rate at which heat passes through a window) whether you live in North Dakota and want to keep the heat inside or in Mississippi and want it to stay outside. A low emissivity ("low e") coating can help lower the U factor still further by slowing the rate of heat passing through.

• Siding:

Only two forms of siding get high marks for value. Vinyl is among the least-expensive products out there, but it will last 20 years or more and is easy to install. Plus, today's vinyl is attractive, and droves of people are selecting it, says Sweeney. An average, midrange vinyl-siding replacement job runs about $10,000 for materials and installation; a more upscale, foam-backed vinyl runs about $12,000.

Fiber-cement siding is more expensive, but it lasts twice as long. James Hardie, the leading manufacturer, has a 50-year warranty on its siding, which can handle anything Mother Nature throws its way. It's available in different colors and textures, even mimicking other types of siding, such as cedar shake or wood. Fiber-cement siding costs about $13,000 for a typical home.

• Roofing:

Sid Davis, author of Home Makeovers That Sell, says that curling or discoloring shingles, or shingles that are losing the mineral coating that protects your home, are a sign it may be time to replace your roof. Dimensional shingles, made with pieces of shingle laminated together for thickness and texture, are tops for durability and aesthetics. Whereas a good three-in-one shingle should last 20 years, dimensional shingles will last 30 to 50 years and are more resistant to the elements. They also have color gradations to give your roof a pleasing look. Average costs range from $12,000 to $15,000.

 

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