Extreme How-To - July/August 2009

Replacing Old

Aluminum Windows

By Kathy Ziprik

Not every window replace- ment job goes smoothly. That’s what contractor Steve Roth discovered when hired to replace dated aluminum windows in a Michigan home.

“The windows themselves are probably 35 years old and have lost their functionality,” says Roth. “The worst part is that the aluminum had oxidized over the years. The condensation that the aluminum material transfers into the interior of the house during the extremely cold Michigan winters had deteriorated the units themselves.”

According to Roth, the single-paned windows were no longer serving as a barrier for exterior temperatures, so the homeowners were spending a fortune on

heating bills. To solve the problem, Roth determined that energy-efficient vinyl-framed windows from Simonton Windows should be installed. The windows he specified are Energy Star-quali-fied for the Northern Climate Zone and feature Low-E glass with Argon gas filling.

“Quite simply, the difference is like night and day between the old aluminum windows and the new vinyl windows,” says Roth. “Once we get this project finished, the energy savings will start immediately for the homeowner. And, the owners also benefit from added curb appeal and resale value thanks to the new windows.

“While the removal of the older aluminum windows was challenging,

BEFORE

it’s definitely worth it in order for the homeowners to have more energy-efficient vinyl windows installed in their home.”

Before the celebrating could start over the new windows, the old ones had to come out. Tackling the project during the cold winter months gave Roth true insight into the difficulties of pulling out the existing aluminum units that had oxidized over several decades.