14 - Friday, June 23, 1989 - North Shore News Window projects are ideal renovation job IF YOU’VE just suffered through another winter of cold, uncom- fortable drafts penetrating your home through inefficient or deteriorating windows, the warm weather ahead may provide you with a chance to rectify the prob- fem. Spring or summer is an ideal time of the year to install replace- ment or new windows in your home. But this is not a project you should rush into. After a little investigative work, youll find that window replace- ment is an expensive undertaking that must be approached with cau- tion and some basic knowledge. The first step is to determine what is wrong with your existing windows, keeping in mind that some problems can be solved without replacing the entire win- dow. For example, air leakage prob- lems can usually be solved with a combination of new weatherstripp- ing, new hardware and sealants. Alternatively, you can install an interior storm window in winter to ceduce air leakage and provide an extra layer of glazing. In some cases, however, new windows will clearly be required. Two basic options are available: renovation windows or replace- ment windows. Since the term new windows can refer to either option, make sure you and your supplier are talking Ixtenior.DESIGN SERVICE ¢ Complete Shop-at-home service ¢ Free no obligation consultation ¢ Free estimates * Hand-crafted furniture our specialty Ask about our Introductory Product Discount Program. YALE Tow Fra fn Bch in TERIORS 688-4356 1004 Hamilton St. Vancouver Red, White, Champagne reg. °5Q°° SALE = 19"-21* about the same thing. Renovation windows are design- ed to be installed in a rough open- ing and include exterior trim. They are available in custom sizes for installation when you are building an addition, adding a window, enlarging an existing opening or replacing a badly deteriorated unit. Replacement . windows, on the other hand, are designed for in- stallation in existing frames. They are less expensive than renovation windows because they require less material and are easier to install. As with any purchase, there will likely be a trade-off between price and quality when you purchase your windows. While cost is an important consideration, it rarely makes sense to buy the cheapest product available. The best approach is to establish a budget for your new windows and then, working within that budget, select units that are as energy-efficient as possible. While the sheer number and variety of windows on the market today might seem overwhelming, you should be able to make an in- formed decision by considering such factors as the window type, glazing, frame materials and war- ranties. First of all, establish on a win- dow-by-window basis whether the unit is to be fixed (doesn’t open), operable (opens), or a combiaation of the two. From an energy stand- SURREY 14625-108th AVE. 4 blks. north of Gulidford Phone 585-8877 point, windows mot needed for ventilation or emergency exists (check your local building code) should be fixed. Where circumstances dictate that you use operable windows, keep in mind that units with hinges (such as casement or awning windows) are usvally more energy efficient than sliding windows. Air leakage rates are also a useful yardstick for comparing operable windows (the lower, the better). Ask the supplier for the CMHC (Canada Mortgage and See Wocd Page 17 g —— CUSTOM —— WINDOW FASHIONS a ° Mini-Blinds ma ° Vertical Blinds * Wood Blinds ° Pleated Shades Rs ° Window Shades fee ° Woven Woods Be 525 8722 EPO. 30! NORTH VANCOUVER 1400 MARINE DRIVE 984-0341 “ARE YOUR EDGES SHARP? Complete Mower Repair Service Garden. Tools from *5° Authorized dealer for: : Mower Sharpening trom *10° wy. XN upp Let’s Sell REAL ESTATE Harley McDougall List with me — be WORRYFREE ! “Serving the whole North Shore’’ WESTERN REAL Home 926-1952 “I make my commissions the old fashioned way, | earn them."" Office 922-6166 BURNABY 4700 E.HASTINGS Cor. of Hastings & Beta Phone 294-5256