San Diego Window Installation – New Construction Windows

Selling and Installing New Construction Windows for Homes Throughout San Diego

You know that your home needs new windows, but now what? Deciding to have new windows installed in your home is the first of several decisions you will need to make before the project is done. You will also need to decide what brand of windows you want, what company you want to install them, and what style of windows will work best in your home. Fortunately, when you work with BM Windows, we will walk you through all of your options when it comes to new windows.

One of the easier decisions you’ll need to make is choosing between replacement windows or new construction windows. While we mainly sell replacement windows at BM Windows, we do offer new construction windows as well, and these types of windows are the best choice in some circumstances. Read on to find out more about new construction windows and whether or not you should consider installing them in your San Diego home.

What Are New Construction Windows?

New construction windows are windows that are installed directly onto the home’s framing. Each window has what’s called a “nailing fin” or a “flange,” which is a flat, thin piece of material that extends outward from the window’s frame, allowing the window to be securely attached to the studs with screws. New construction windows are installed while the home’s framing is still exposed—before the exterior wall material (drywall, stucco, siding, etc.) has been added.

As the name implies, new construction windows are typically used in new homes and installed while the home is still being built. They are also used in home additions at the time of construction, or in walls that require extensive repairs prior to having new windows installed.

We highly recommend BM Windows for their professionalism and service for installing our replacement windows.  The person who helped us decide on the manufacturer, model, and style of window was knowledgeable and very helpful.  The estimated time for delivery and installation was correct and the installers were top notch being efficient and careful during the replacement process. Very happy with the look of the windows and BM Windows made the process easy.

– Mim T., San Diego

Advantages of New Construction Windows

One of the main advantages of new construction windows is that they offer a larger viewing area than a replacement window of the same size. This is because new construction windows just have a single frame, while replacement windows have what could be considered a double frame. Replacement windows are made up of a window insert that has a frame of its own, which is then installed within the frame of the previous window. Some homeowners actually prefer the look of the thicker, double frame, but others like the larger glass area of new construction windows.

Another advantage—and this one only applies to DIYers—is that new construction windows can typically be installed by a handy homeowner. A homeowner can go to the local home improvement store and purchase a new construction window and then install it himself or herself fairly easily. Replacement windows, on the other hand, should be installed by professional window installers.

Considerations for New Construction Windows

While new construction windows are great for new construction homes or additions, they are not usually the best choice for existing homes. Primarily, this has to do with cost. It’s not that the windows themselves are more expensive. The added cost comes with the labor that is involved with installing them, and the additional work that needs to be done following the installation. Installing new construction windows in an already-completed home involves opening up the exterior wall to expose the home’s framing. Then, the original window needs to be removed and the new window installed. After that, the exterior wall will need to be repaired and repainted, and new framing around the window will need to be added. This is a fairly labor-intensive, and therefore expensive, process. In addition, if you’ve ever had to repair an exterior wall in your home, you know that the end result is not always perfect. The texture of stucco can be hard to match, or you might not be able to find the exact same siding that is on your house, and the new paint might not perfectly match the old paint.

For most homeowners, it just doesn’t make sense to put new construction windows in an existing home, which is why they almost always opt for replacement windows.

What About a Combination of New Construction and Replacement Windows?

Some homeowners have new windows installed in their homes as part of a larger home improvement project. Maybe they’re adding on to their house but want to replace the windows in the existing portion of the home at the same time. They might be worried that the new construction windows and the replacement windows won’t match. This is an understandable concern.

The good news is that most of the lines of windows we sell have windows available for both new construction and existing structures. That means you can get windows from the same manufacturer and the same product line for your entire house—the new portion as well as the existing portion. However, replacement windows and new construction windows do have a slightly different look to them in the frame area once they are installed. Since replacement windows are installed within the frame of the old windows, the frame areas won’t look exactly the same when you compare new construction and replacement windows side by side. However, we will do our best to create a nice, cohesive look among all of your windows, even if you have a combination of new construction and replacement windows.

If you’re dead set on all of your windows looking exactly the same in both the existing portion of your home and the new addition, an option would be to have only new construction windows installed throughout your home. This will cause the project cost to go up, since the existing walls will need to be opened up to expose the studs, and then the exterior walls will need to be repaired after the new windows are installed. But if you were planning on redoing the siding or stucco on your home anyway, this could be a good option to pursue.

Styles and Features for New Construction Windows

New construction windows come in many of the most popular styles that we install in San Diego homes, including single hung, single slider, picture windows, and geometric windows. All of the windows we sell are made to order, so you can get any size you need and add any features you want, such as decorative grids, upgraded sound suppression, or an improved energy efficiency package.

If you’re not exactly sure what features would work best in your home, we can help! Our helpful and experienced team can walk you through all your options and help you decide which ones you need and which ones you can do without.

Summary of Differences between New Construction and Retrofit Windows and Doors

Contact BM Windows to Set Up an Initial Appointment

If you’re ready to get the process started of having new windows installed in your San Diego home, contact our office. We can set up an in-home appointment where you can get all your questions answered and have measurements taken so you can receive a quote on the complete cost of new windows. If you would like information on financing, let a BM Windows team member know, and he or she can help you get approved.

At your appointment, you won’t be pressured to sign a contract right then and there—we don’t believe in using high-pressure sales tactics! Rather, we’ll provide you with a quote and let you take all the time you need to think about it. You can call us back when you’re ready, and we’ll get your new windows ordered right away. Once your windows arrive, we’ll get you on our installation schedule for a time that works best for you.