Window Repair or Replacement: How to Decide

When a window gives you trouble, it is easy to assume it needs to be replaced. Sometimes it does. Often, though, the problem is one part: a balance, a crank, a seal, a section of rotted wood. Fixing that part keeps a window that is otherwise fine. Here is how to think through the choice.

Start with what is actually wrong

Most window problems fall into a few groups, and each points in a different direction.

• Moving parts: a window that will not stay up, a casement that will not crank, a lock that will not latch. These are almost always repairs. See our posts on window balances and casement cranks.
• Glass: fog between the panes or cracked glass. The sealed glass unit can often be replaced without replacing the window. See foggy window glass.
• Drafts: worn weather stripping and cracked caulk are repairs. See drafty windows.
• Wood: rot in part of a sill or sash can often be cut out and replaced. See wood rot on window sills and sashes.
• The whole window: a frame that is badly rotted, warped or out of square, or a window that lets water into the wall. That is where replacement comes into the picture.

When repair makes sense

• The frame and sash are solid
• The problem is one part or one area
• You like the window, its look or the way it fits the house
• Only one or two windows have problems
• It is an older wood window that can be reconditioned

Older wood windows deserve a second look before they go to the dumpster. With rot repair, new glazing, weather stripping and paint, many of them can keep working. Our window repair service covers wood rot replacement, wood window reconstruction and reconditioning, and sash replacement.

When replacement makes sense

• Rot or damage runs through much of the frame, not just one section
• The window is out of square and will not close or lock no matter what is adjusted
• Water is getting into the wall around the window
• Parts for the window are no longer made and nothing else fits
• Many windows in the house have the same failures at once
• You want a different style or size of window

There is also a middle path. A new sash can sometimes go into an old frame, which keeps the frame and trim in place while replacing the part that holds the glass.

Questions to ask before you decide

1. Is the frame solid, or is the rot or damage in the frame itself?
2. Is this one failed part, or many problems at once?
3. Can the parts still be found? Many common parts are in our shop.
4. How many windows have the same problem?
5. Does the company quoting the job do repairs as well as replacement?

That last question matters, because it means you hear about both options. We do repairs and new window installation, so we can tell you which one fits your window.

Do not wait too long

Small problems tend to grow. A crack in the caulk lets water reach the wood, the wood rots, and a repair that would have been simple becomes a larger one. A worn balance that lets a sash slam can crack the glass. Catching problems early keeps more of your options open, including repair. Repairs can also be done one window at a time, as the budget allows.

What affects the cost

We do not give prices without seeing the window, because the answer depends on the window. For a repair, the cost depends on the part or the amount of wood involved, how easy the window is to reach, and how many windows need work. For replacement, it depends on the size and type of window, the glass, the material, and how the old window comes out. A free quote puts real numbers side by side. Ask about financing if you are planning a larger project.

Get an honest answer

We come out within 24 to 48 hours, look at the window, and tell you whether it can be fixed. The quote is free and there is no obligation. Call (248) 250-8000 or request a free quote. We serve homeowners across Metro Detroit (Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties), and our work comes with a 5-year workmanship warranty.