Misconceptions You Might Have About Residential Window Repair and Replacement

Residential windows can often be repaired rather than replaced when damaged if the damage is minimal and there are no outright holes in the window. Having glass window repairs can mean avoiding the cost of new windows and also means windows without unsightly chips or cracks.

However, sometimes that damage is beyond repair, even if the windows are not actually broken. Since many homeowners have some common misconceptions about residential window repair and replacement, note a few of those here, so you don't put off having window repair and replacement done when necessary.

When windows get dull and dim

If your home's windows seem very dull and dim, and you feel like you can never get them clean, you may want to have them repaired or even replaced. This dulling of the glass often happens when windows suffer minor scratches over time, and dirt and dust then get trapped in those scratches. These scratches are usually too small for you to see, but this build-up can make the windows seem very dull and will also block some light from passing through. Also, because the dust and dirt is settled into those cracks, the windows may always seem dirty, even after having washed them. A window repairer may be able to buff out those scratches, or you might consider getting new windows so that they look bright and clear.

Tinted glass

If you're afraid that tinted glass can't be repaired, note that this often depends on how the colouring was applied. If the tint was applied as a film, this film typically cannot be repaired; it would need to be reapplied over the window once the glass is replaced. However, if the glass itself was dyed or stained during its manufacture, a window repairer can often use matching materials that repair the glass while maintaining an even appearance on the tint.

Fog

If you have double-glazed windows and a fog develops between those two panes, this often cannot be fixed. Those panes have a layer of air or argon gas between them, and those panes should have been sealed to keep out dust, debris and anything that might cause fogging. Trying to remove that fog can mean further damage to the seal, allowing that air or that argon gas to escape. When double-glazed windows show fog between those panes, they need to be replaced. Consider, too, that you might ask your window installer how to ensure your new windows don't fog up in the future to avoid this happening again.

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