Colorado Springs Vintage Homes Blog
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The biggies
I’ve found my perfect house, now what should I look at?
- Top 5 Remodeling projects
- Free local money for home improvements
- Colorado Springs home Improvement — it’s all about the windows
What should I be looking at in a house is a common question I get from Colorado Springs home buyers. I always tell them if they 
like the neighborhood and the floor plan, then they need to look at the items that are going to cost them a lot of money. Here are the seven big items (and one smaller one) to look at.
- Roof - How does the roof look? Are there shingles missing? Look at the valleys in the roof. Are the shingles curling on the edges? Is there one or two layers of shingles? (or even 3 layers). This gives a general idea of whether the roof is going to need to be replaced in the next few years.
- Windows – Are they old? Do they need replacing? How is the wood around the windows? How well do the windows seal? Do they open, or have they been painted shut? Is there condensation between the panes of glass?
- Exterior siding or woodwork - Is it rotting or do pieces need replacing? Or does the exterior just need painting? If the house is stucco, do you see any major cracks in the stucco? If it’s vinyl siding; is the siding still in good shape? Read the rest of this entry »
Colorado Springs home Improvement — it’s all about the windows
Windows
Colorado Home Improvement Part I
With a major snowstorm in the works in Colorado, I thought it may be a good time to talk about windows — as they are an investment in your home. If you are considering purchasing new windows, here are some ideas and tips you might consider:
Reasons to replace: If your house has ugly, older aluminum, steel or cheap warn wood windows, replacing your windows can definitely enhance your home as well as provide a major energy savings. There may also be all types of other reasons you want to replace them …….if you only have single pane windows …… if they are cracked ……..if the seals are broken ……. if you can feel a cool breeze around them.
In the Colorado Springs area, there were may houses that were built in the 80’s that included lower quality wood windows. When you look at these homes now, many of the the windows don’t slide open, and the wood has warped; hence some of the seals are broken. I can’t imagine they are very energy efficient. All good reasons to look into replacing them. Also, some studies show that 25% to 40% of the heat in your house could be reduced with a window replacement.
Materials: There are many, many different options including wood, clad wood windows (wood on the inside and vinyl or aluminum on the outside), vinyl windows, aluminum windows, and steel windows. Each type has different benefits and costs associated with them. Read the rest of this entry »
