Installing Vinyl Windows: A Sacramento Homeowner’s Guide

I love driving through Sacramento’s Oak Park to look at the old, colorful character houses that gracefully line the streets. My imagination tends to run wild thinking of all of the families who have lived there and the many stories those sturdy old walls must hold.

While the bones of these old homes have certainly stood the test of time, the windows haven’t. Thin, rattling panes and warped wood frames not only make the houses look tired, but they cause drafts—drafts that put a strain on your HVAC system and your energy bill. It’s no coincidence that these are some of the most common complaints of owners of old, historic homes.

Luckily, modern window replacement options, like installing vinyl windows in Sacramento’s historic homes, can drastically improve the health of your HVAC system. Replacing old, worn out wooden or metal windows with tightly sealed, low maintenance vinyl ones is your best bet by far for improved HVAC performance, noise reduction, and home safety.

Why Vinyl Windows Offer Sacramento Homes the Appeal of A Tight Seal

Whenever I replace single pane windows in an older home, I almost always notice that the seal between the wall and the window is broken. This happens a lot with older wood window frames as they age because, over time, they dry and crack in the heat of the Sacramento summer, then expand, warp, and mold over the cool rainy months.

Vinyl windows, compared to other materials like wood and metal, though, have the advantage of an extremely tight seal with the walls of your home when installed by a professional. The advantages of a tight window seal include:

• Indoor temperature control: The tight seal on vinyl windows effectively keeps out drafts and acts as an insulator. This helps maintain a comfortable internal environment in your Sacramento home, keeping it cool during our long, hot summer months, and keeping it warm and dry in the winter.
• Increased energy efficiency: Vinyl’s ability to insulate and prevent airflow from outside means that your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain a consistent temperature inside your home. This can mean savings on your energy bill every month.
• Common allergy prevention: The majestic oaks, the lush sycamores, and the bountiful mulberry bushes are part of what makes SacTown so beautiful. But in this city famous for its trees, pollen allergies are all too common. Keeping your home free of outdoor allergens is a must, so making sure you have a tight seal on your windows is critical.
• Improved safety: I like to think of Sacramento as a fairly safe place to live but, like any other big city, it isn’t perfectly peaceful all the time. As a rule, windows with tight vinyl seals are much harder to break into, whereas old, rickety wooden windows might be a target for troublemakers.
• Decreased noise: Sacramento can be a bit boisterous from time to time and noise can seep in through the most unlikely of places—like the spaces between your windows and your walls. Metal and wood framing can warp and shift easily in reaction to temperature and seasonal changes, compromising the seal and letting the city ruckus into your peaceful oasis.

Vinyl Windows: Sacramento’s Best Choice for a Low-Maintenance Material

Over the years, I’ve learned that many people have their hearts set on wooden windows because of the classic aesthetic it lends to a home. In a climate like Sacramento’s, though, I always let people know that wood might not be the best choice.

Our winters tend to be wet and mild—the perfect climate for mildew and mold. Wood, because of its high cellulose content, porous nature, and susceptibility to weathering, often attracts mold. Of course, regular sanding and staining can help prevent its growth, but choosing vinyl windows for a Sacramento home can prevent the problem in the first place, saving you a ton of labor. Windows with vinyl framing, especially those with ceramic spacers, effectively prevent condensation between panes and around windows—a very common problem in Sacramento’s damp, warm Mediterranean climate. Without condensation, mold and mildew can’t proliferate.

Windows with vinyl framing, especially those with ceramic spacers, effectively prevent condensation between panes and around windows—a very common problem in Sacramento’s damp, warm Mediterranean climate. Without condensation, mold and mildew can’t proliferate.

Scratching, aging, and corroding are also not a concern with vinyl; really, the only maintenance required for vinyl windows, if they’ve been carefully and professionally installed, is occasionally washing them. Hot water, a bit of soap, and a soft cloth are all you need to clean the vinyl around your windows.

Luckily, vinyl windows come in a variety of styles that mimic the texture and grain of wood so it’s possible to achieve the aesthetic you want without the upkeep required for wood windows. Vinyl also tends to be between 20-30% cheaper than wood, so not only will you be saving time on maintenance, you’ll be saving money up front. Plus, replacing windows can actually increase the value of your home, with a return on investment between 65-80%.

Vinyl also tends to be between 20-30% cheaper than wood, so not only will you be saving time on maintenance, you’ll be saving money up front. Plus, replacing windows can actually increase the value of your home…

When you decide to upgrade your current windows with vinyl ones, be sure to work with local experts who provide high-quality, custom-fit windows that meet your needs and aesthetic tastes. Having your windows professionally installed is critical as well. This way, you can be sure that your windows will have a nice tight seal, lasting you for many years to come.

Consider vinyl when replacing your Sacramento home’s windows for a quieter, more efficient and low maintenance home. Contact the experienced professionals at Bell Brothers for a free consultation today.

Image courtesy Unsplash user Brooke Lark