Exterior Remodeling
Window Repair done properly
Plenty of window problems are hardware or seal problems, and replacing the whole window to solve them is expensive overkill.
What this work involves
Failed insulated glass shows up as fogging between the panes. On many units the sealed glass unit can be replaced while the frame and sash stay, which is far less involved than a new window.
Sashes that will not stay up are usually balances. Windows that will not lock are usually out of square, either from settlement or from a bad original installation, and can often be adjusted.
Rot is the dividing line. Once the frame or sill is soft, repair is a stopgap and replacement is the honest recommendation. We will say which one you are looking at.
The sequence on a job like this
- Diagnosis of whether the problem is glass, hardware, alignment or rot
- Insulated glass unit replacement where the frame is sound
- Balance, lock and hinge hardware repair or replacement
- Sash adjustment, weatherstripping and re-sealing
What we look at before quoting window repair
Every window repair job starts the same way: we look at what the new work has to sit on. Rot is the dividing line. Once the frame or sill is soft, repair is a stopgap and replacement is the honest recommendation. We will say which one you are looking at.
A problem found on the walkthrough is a line item. The same problem found after demolition is a delay and a change order. We prefer to find it the first way.
Worth knowing
The thing that usually goes wrong
Repairing hardware on a window with a soft sill. The adjustment holds until the frame moves again, which it will.
Finishes get the photographs, and the parts underneath decide whether the job lasts. On houses like these, that means checking what the new tile will be set on and fixing framing before the walls close up.
If you are unsure about your own situation, call (678) 665-7771 or drop us a line. Igor will come look, at no charge, and tell you honestly how big the job is.
Other exterior work
All of it is on the exterior remodeling services page.
Where we do this work
Our work stays within six counties around Roswell. If you live in Alpharetta, GA, Marietta, GA, Woodstock, GA or one of thirty-nine other cities across Fulton, Cobb, Cherokee, Forsyth, Gwinnett and DeKalb, you are inside it. The full list is on the service areas page.
Have a look at the gallery for finished work, or call (678) 665-7771 and we will come out.
What moves the number on a job like this
Prices are not on this site, and that is on purpose. A remodel number depends on the house, and we have not seen yours yet. The useful thing we can share now is which decisions move the total the most.
Layout changes cost the most. Keeping fixtures in their current spots limits how much has to be opened up. Moving a drain line or running new wiring means cutting into floors, walls or ceilings and bringing more trades onto the job.
Then there is the condition of what we are working on. Rot, old repairs and water damage take time to correct, and they shape the job more than finish selections do. Materials come after that.
What gets inspected
Anything structural, most mechanical work, and every addition. We pull the permits, schedule the inspections and are on site for them.
Contractors who work around permitting are avoiding scrutiny, and the scrutiny is the point. The details inspectors look hardest at are the ones that cause real failures.
It also protects you later. Unpermitted work surfaces at the worst possible moment, which is usually when you are selling or making a claim.
What the schedule actually looks like
We give you a real schedule after the walkthrough, and we tell you when it moves. Most schedule slippage in remodeling comes from two places: material lead times and things found during demolition.
Lead times we manage by ordering early. Cabinets, windows, specialty tile and anything custom gets ordered before demolition where the sequence allows, so you are not living in a half-finished room waiting on a delivery.
Discovery we manage by budgeting time for it. On any house over about twenty years old, something turns up. Planning as though nothing will is how projects end up months late with everyone frustrated.
Keeping it right afterward
Remodels rarely fail all at once. They wear out from small neglect, like a shower joint nobody recaulked, or an exhaust fan dumping moisture into the attic instead of outside.
We walk you through what your specific project needs and how often. Some of it is annual, some of it is once every several years, and most of it takes minutes.
If something we installed starts acting up, let us know. We want to see it ourselves, since we know how it was built, instead of you putting up with it or paying someone else to guess.
Questions people ask
Can you fix a foggy window?
Often. Fogging means the sealed glass unit has failed, and on many windows that unit can be replaced while the frame and sash stay put.
When is repair not worth it?
Once the frame or sill is soft. At that point a repair is a stopgap and we will say so rather than take the money.
How do I know if siding needs replacing or just paint?
If it is soft anywhere, or you have visible seam separation, paint is buying you a year. We can tell you which one you are looking at from a walkthrough.
How long does a project like this take?
The part that stretches a schedule is usually hidden: rot under a tub, old wiring, framing that was never right. That is why the timeline comes after the walkthrough, and why we tell you right away if something we uncover changes it. Bathrooms are typically a few weeks, whole homes several months.
Do you handle permits?
We do. Anything that changes structure, adds space or moves most plumbing and electrical needs a permit, and we take care of the application and the inspections so you do not have to.
What happens if you find something unexpected?
It happens, especially in older homes. When it does, you get photos and a plan from us the day we find it, and the wall stays open until you know what is behind it.
Let us take a look at your window repair project
Call (678) 665-7771 or send a note through the contact page. Igor will come look at the space, talk through what you want, and give you a straight answer on scope. You will deal with the same people from the walkthrough through the final punch list. On a job this disruptive, that matters more than most people expect.