We are one of Staten Island & New Jersey’s best replacement window installers.
BY JOHN KOLBASKA, OWNER
It’s important to recognize a stellar replacement window installation experience versus a mediocre one. Many contractors cut corners to save money and don’t genuinely care about the mess they leave behind with their shoddy installation work.
These companies will advertise $189 windows plus installation, but what you’re really getting is the bare bones — not nearly enough to ensure that you won’t have any future problems with your windows like drafts a few years down the road.
On top of that, those same $189 window companies don’t tell you about the 3 types of installation methods — new construction, full frame replacement and pocket replacement — which all come with different price tags. Quickly that $189 window package turns into $600 plus per window and you’re still not receiving a top-notch installation experience.
We’re going to go over our step-by-step process of each installation method, which will show you why our customers give us rave reviews, refer their family, friends and fellow neighbors and call us back to do more work.
Replacement Window Installation
About 95 percent of our installations are done as replacement windows and the other 5% are new construction. There are two types of replacement window installations — full frame and pocket.
Upon our technicians’ arrival at the installation site until the time they leave, they follow a specific checklist. Here are the steps:
- Take windows off truck and inspect for any damages like tears in screens, glass, dents, etc.
- Go into home and double check measurements to ensure window fits into existing opening.
You don’t want a company to tear out your window then go, ‘oops, the measurements are wrong,’ and now you need to stick in a piece of plywood to close the opening until a new window is ordered and delivered.
“That happens quite frequently with other companies,” said The Men With Tools Owner John Kolbaska. “That never happens with us.”
- Technician goes in and introduces himself to homeowner, goes over work order. Other technicians will follow behind and lay out heavy-duty canvases on floor and furniture in work area. Cloths extend from entry door, walkways and steps in and around work area.
“We’re very mindful at keeping the dust to a minimum,” John said.
- Setup tools and remove existing window. This could be either a new construction flange removal or an older replacement window.
- For a full frame installation, a new frame is built out complete with exterior stops and new brickmold. If it’s a pocket installation, the new window is set into the existing frame opening.
It’s important to note when the window is set, it’s squared, leveled and checked to make sure that it’s operating properly. Shims are used behind all screws and little adjustments are made to make sure jamb jacks on windows are pushed out correctly. Sashes are also tested. A lot of contractors skip this completely.
- Foam insulation is applied.
Again, many companies won’t use foam insulation or they will charge extra. We don’t charge anything extra. Foam insulation comes standard.
- Go outside, install flashing and drip cap.
- Apply high-quality silicone to seal window.
- Install interior molding package.
- Remove stickers and clean windows.
- Vacuum and clean up work area.
“We leave it cleaner than before we got there,” John said.
- Pack everything up.
- Take customer through final walkthrough, show how windows operate.
New Construction Window Installation
Many of the same steps are applied, checking the window for damages, speaking with the customer, etc. Here are the technical steps that are different from the replacement installation.
- Go outside and cut back siding — aluminum, vinyl or wood — to free the existing flange.
- Once window is out, flexible peel-and-stick flashing tape (rubberized material) is set around opening.
- Silicone is applied on top of flashing before flange is set.
“The flashing and silicone are designed to sit underneath the flange, lock it and make it watertight,” John said. “We flash all four sides of the window, but we only silicon the sides and top because if water somehow penetrates behind, we want it to be able to drain from the bottom. The two most important factors when it comes to window installation is the 2-D method — deflect and drain. We don’t want any water seeping into the window cavity.”
- Window is set, push flange into silicone.
- Square, level off window.
- Screw flange into sheathing, one screw for every 4 to 6 inches.
- Another layer of flashing tape is applied over the flange on header and 2 outer sides of window.
- Make sure housewrap extends over top of window flange.
- Install five quarter building material or new brickmold.
- Install drip cap, which is designed to deflect any water away from the window.
- Install aluminum flashing over exterior brickmold on all 4 sides.
- Apply exterior silicone between flashing and window.
- Go inside, foam insulate cavity.
- Install interior extension jambs.
- Install interior molding package.
- Remove stickers and clean windows.
- Vacuum and clean up work area.
- Pack everything up.
- Take customer through final walkthrough, show how windows operate.
With the two different installation methods above, it’s clear to see that a new construction window installation, requires more labor and materials to complete the job. This leads to a higher overall cost and is why 95% of our customers choose the replacement window installation option.
“A lot of people say that new construction windows are better than a regular replacement window,” John said. “But if you have experienced window mechanics, they’ll know to install a replacement window properly”.
Once the job is done, we don’t forget about our customers either. We follow up at the 12-month period to make sure that everything is OK. What makes us unique is that we offer a lifetime warranty on the installation to give you added peace-of-mind. That combined with our windows lifetime warranty and you’re fully protected.
“Most of our competitors only offer a 1-year warranty on their installation,” John said. “However, we like to offer the most value in our industry, and that’s why we offer the best labor warranty on Staten Island & New Jersey.”
Are you in the market for replacement windows? Check out The Men With Tools on Staten Island, NY who won’t caulk and walk and will give you a fair price. Call us today at 347-815-4151 for a free estimate.
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