Door and Window Repair Can Save You Money and Keep Your Property Safe

Repairing your doors and windows can save you money, prevent destruction and keep your property safe. Some repairs are more difficult than others.

If you notice water stains or structural damage, or frost on your windows or doors it's time to repair the damage. If left unattended, these problems can lead to structural damage, mold, mildew, or wood rot.

Glass Panes Broken

Glass panes that are broken in windows or doors affect the security of your house and can prevent effective weatherproofing. Based on the type of door or window, replacing cracked or missing glass can be a daunting and time consuming task. While you can attempt to fix these issues at home using a range of simple tools and materials, fix the result might not be as satisfactory and it is often more efficient and safer to contact an expert for repairs or replacements.

Wear thick gloves and eye protection before you begin working on a glass window that has been broken. There are tiny, almost invisible splinters that are present in glasses that have been broken which can cause injuries. It is recommended to work from a scaffold tower instead of climbing a ladder and work in a calm environment so that you are able to stay clear of dangerously windy conditions.

Typically, single-pane glass is held in place with double glazing in putty as well as metal double glazing points. Wear safety glasses and pliers if you need to remove old putty or points. This can be a messy work and requires care. Heating guns can be used to soften the putty and allow you to remove it using the help of a chisel.

When you are ready to put in the new pane, be sure it is cut to the exact size of the window opening. You can bring your measurements to a local glass or hardware store and let them cut the pane for you. It is essential to reduce the size of the pane, particularly in a wooden frame, so that the pane will fit snugly and allow for the seasonal expansion or contraction of the wood.

When you install the new glass, be sure it is secured by using a small wooden batten, which is attached to the edges of the frame and to the top of the window sill. This will hold the new pane in place and prevent it from being forced back into the frame when the window is shut and opened. You can also wrap the window in polythene and protect it from weather.

Wood Rot

The appearance of wood on a building's exterior and interior is a stunning accent however, it can be a place which is susceptible to moisture-driven damage such as rot. Wood window shutters and trim work, door jambs and soffits can easily become waterlogged by moisture that seeps into cracks or voids in the structure. If moisture is allowed to persist, it can cause rot and eventually lead to the necessity of replacing wood.

There are a few telltale signs to help homeowners distinguish between wet wet and dry rot. Wet wet is usually darker than dry rot and the fungus may have white sheets of material on its surface. Additionally, wet wet rot can make the wood feel as if it's spongy. Wet wet decay may also produce fruiting bodies that appear like toadstools or mushrooms.

Both wet rot and dry rot require that a house owner take action to fix it. In order to do so, the first step is to remove all of the decaying and loose rotted wood. The next step is to treat the remaining wood using a borate treatment, such as BoraCare. The product is absorbed into the entirety of the wood, rendering it unattractive for insects and fungi and eventually inhospitable to them.

To prevent or limit the impact of moisture you can also open your windows frequently and apply a dehumidifier around the structure to reduce condensation. Also, making sure that the caulking around windows and doors is in good condition can aid in stopping water from getting into places that it shouldn't go.

While both wet and dry rot are serious problems that can cause expensive structural damage to homes, they're fairly easy to identify and stop. If homeowners are vigilant, they will be able to prevent the rot from ruining their homes and continue to enjoy the beauty of wood for a long time. If you see any signs of rot in your home call an independent owned and operated CertaPro Painters(r) near you for quick repairs to your carpentry.

Structural Damage

Windows and doors in a house will deteriorate with time, whether it's due to wear and tear or simply natural wear. The resulting cracks and gaps can affect a home's energy efficiency, and cause issues with the overall stability of the structure, and provide a convenient way for water and pests to get into the home.

It is often difficult to identify structural damage, and it could be more severe than it appears. If your home has cracks in its structure or indications of movement, you must seek a professional inspection immediately.

The stability of a structure is dependent on the load-bearing walls and roofs, as well as the framing. If they're damaged, they could put the entire structure at risk and could even be a safety hazard.

Cracks in walls and ceilings are common structural damage. Hairline cracks are common as buildings settle over the years. However, large horizontal and vertical cracks that appear in an arc of stairs above doors are a severe warning and indicate that structural damage has been caused.

Structural damage may be caused by ground subsidence. This could be caused by tree roots that are invasive or the removal of soil by builders, or even heave and uplift caused by the fluctuation in moisture levels in the soil underneath a concrete slab foundation.

Other indications of structural damage include flooring, ceilings, timber lintels rotting or falling apart or sagging corners on windows or door frames (which suggest movement) and bay windows that are not tied to the main structure.

A window or door that is stuck isn't a huge issue, and is usually ignored until it becomes more serious. A stuck window or door is an indication of a structural problem that is only fixable by an expert. If ignored, could cause irreparable damage and compromise the safety of family members and employees.