Are you thinking about replacing your old windows? You may have heard that the energy savings and added home value from new windows make it a worthwhile investment, which is absolutely true. Old windows can be drafty and let too much heat and cold pass through. New windows are insulated to prevent the transfer of heat and cold through the glass and around the window frames. Now or even years from now, potential buyers for your home will be impressed with the addition of new windows.
But the only way to get the most value out of your new windows is to have them properly installed. How do you identify a reliable window installation company? Here’s what to look for before you hire a window installer.
Credentials
The first thing to do before hiring a window installer is to check their credentials. Do they have the necessary licensing to install windows in the state where you live? A window installation company should be licensed in the state where the project will take place. They should also have some sort of certification that states they have completed the necessary educational requirements to properly install windows. Any window company should be able to show you proof of these credentials. Without this proof, do not hire them.
Experience
Find out how much experience a window installer has in the business. Don’t choose a brand new window company that is just starting out. While they may have had the necessary training and experience working for someone else, you don’t want your home to be one of the first projects they handle on their own. Look for at least a few years of established experience. Or if you do consider a newer company, ask for references from their previous employer who can vouch for their skills. Many window contractors apprentice with an experienced window company before starting their own window business, making them more experienced than they may seem.
Reputation
It can help to get a feel for a window installer’s reputation. This can be done through references and reviews. Most companies can provide you with references from previous satisfied customers, but naturally those will be all positive. Be sure to also read online reviews that would alert you to any potential red flags with a business. Ask friends, neighbors, and coworkers if they have a window company they recommend and see what names come up.
Training
Specific training should be completed before a window installation company goes into business. On the job experience is very useful, but professional training is just as important. Every employee who works on your windows should be sufficiently trained to do the job. Insist on this and ask the installer who will be working on your home and what training they have had. If the business owner hesitates or refuses to provide this information, you may want to keep looking.
Expertise
A general contractor may have the knowledge needed to install windows, but if they don’t have any experience doing the actual window replacement process, they may not be able to do the best job. You need a window specialist who handles nothing but windows to do your installation. There are tiny details and specific best practices that only window experts know. Insist on a window expert for your installation.
Warranty
Ask what kind of warranty a window installer offers for their work. A lifetime warranty would be the best possible option, securing the windows for as long as the windows themselves or the home exists. This way you know that if there ever any problems with your windows, the installer is responsible for repair or replacement.
Get All of the Above and Then Some From Zen Windows
Zen Windows Twin Cities is an experienced window installer with the necessary training, credentials, and expertise to perform your window installation properly. We have earned a reputation in the community for quality windows at affordable prices. Our work is backed by a lifetime warranty, so you never have to worry about window problems in the future. Contact us with any window replacement questions.
Call (763) 286-6871 today or get a 5 minute online window quote. We look forward to providing you with all the benefits of new windows with reliable installation.
