Do We Have To Do Anything Special To The Wood Windows In Our Home?

Q:

We have wood windows in our house, is there anything special we should be doing?

A:

When you have wood windows in a home, wood windows that are wood in and outside, usually painted wood on the outside, there are certain things that you will need to do to guarantee that you get the maximum life expectancy out of them;

Inspect them

• At least once a year you should be inspecting each window on the outside of your home for signs that the paint is starting to fail and that water is penetrating into the wood behind it.
• In the summer months you should be opening the windows of your home and inspecting if the operators are working correctly and that the window doesn't stick during opening or closing.
• Once a year you need to inspect the outside around the windows where they meet the siding, you need to make sure that the caulking is secure, not peeling or cracking and that there isn't any spaces where water or bugs can enter.

Paint them

Painting windows and doing it well can be a difficult thing, especially if you are not comfortable with ladders. If you don't feel comfortable doing it then you should be hiring a professional painting company to come out and paint the windows.

The windows will require re-painting every so many years. There are many factors that affect the length of time that paint will survive on a window outside;

• Which direction the window is facing. South facing windows take more sun on them and have their paint peel earlier because of UV rays.Where windows that face towards the prevailing winds will have more water damage to their wood and paint from driving rain and snow.
• How large your overhangs are; this will dictate how much sun or rain your windows will see. A larger overhang on a house will protect the windows where a small or non-existent overhang will give little to no protection from the elements. 
• The quality of the paint that was originally used on your windows. Usually higher end windows use a higher end paint that it is more weather resistant and also can come with a UV blocker. Windows with this sort of paint can go longer times between being re-painted.
• Damage. Storm damage, rodent or bug damage or trees and plants brushing against the windows will shorten the life span of the paint.

If you do this inspection and repaint whenever the windows require then there is no reason for your wood windows not to last as long as vinyl or aluminum windows. It just takes a proper maintenance plan to achieve it.

Rob Abbott

Village Builders Inc.