If you are thinking about hiring a general contractor, you should read my blog before you pick up the phone or send that email. I am not a general contractor myself, but I have just finished restoring my home. It was a big project that involved working with multiple contractors over an extended period of time. Although I am not a professional, I learnt an awful lot about how to get the most out of a team of contractors and how to keep a project on schedule and under budget. I also learnt a thing or two about the work they were carrying out.
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Buying your first home often means buying the worst home on the best street. Spring has arrived in Australia, which means now is the perfect time to tackle renovations that were not possible during winter. One of the first on your list must be making the windows of your aged home more energy efficient. You want to install air conditioning after the window project, so you need to eliminate all drafts which could make your air conditioner work harder than it needs to. There are two ways you can reduce the impact drafty windows have on an air conditioner's energy use:
Recaulk exterior of windows
Caulking is the waterproof sealant and filler which fills the gap between the window frame and the body of the house. When applied correctly, caulk around window lasts approximately five years and then must be reapplied after this time. However, house movement impacts the regularity of the need for window caulk. Long, dry periods cause caulk to dry and become frail, which dictates caulking is required earlier. An annual inspection of the caulk condition is the best determinant of the need for replacement.
As the caulking gets old, it falls away, and you will see it on the outside window sills. Another sign caulking is needed is when you notice the glass panes seem loose within the frame. Finally, feeling a draft come through the window frame is the final indication caulking is required. A skilled general contractor can take care of recaulking all the house windows in a day; you just need a sunny day to make sure it has time to dry.
Weatherstrip interior of windows
Applying new weatherstrip to the interior of windows is the next way to banish drafts. Weatherstrip is available to buy at your local hardware store, and there are different material types for sale. A foam weatherstrip, for example, is applied to the top and bottom window sashes of your window. However, felt weatherstrip goes completely around the window sash. Talk to the staff at your hardware store about which product works best for your window style.
Foam weatherstrip is easy to install as you cut the length to suit the window sash, peel the backing paper, and then stick it in place. Felt weatherstrip is nailed into place around the four sides of the window sash. If you have concerns about doing this task yourself, a general contractor can take care of this task for you in a day.
Don't let drafty windows push up your energy costs this summer when these two tasks will tighten up the window surrounds and keep the chilled air inside.
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