If you're a homeowner and you haven't already faced the prospect of window replacement, you likely will at some point. Whether your windows are drafty, paint caked, difficult to clean, or you simply long for an updated look, it's an issue you're bound to explore.

When you do, we want you to know that along with the usual decisions about style and colour there is another lesser-known factor to consider. While 95% of all homeowners choose a basic window replacement -- removal of the original window sashes and screens and installation of a new replacement window that fits inside the existing wood frame or jamb -- there is another option available. Called retro-fit or full frame replacement, this procedure involves not only the removal of your current sashes and screens but also removal of the existing wood jamb, going right back to the rough stud opening or RSO. Of course, retro-fit may cost a little more, but the benefits make it worth looking into.

With a typical window replacement you can lose glass area, sometimes as much as 2" in both height and width. A retro-fit installation, on the other hand, maximizes your glass area because the existing jamb has been removed. It provides the opportunity to address the problems of insufficient insulation and wood rot, as well. In fact, at Aluminum Associates, this process is used when an overall structural change is being made such as the replacement of a small window with a much larger one.

Aluminum Associates has perfected the retro-fit procedure and we use only top quality products and methods. Unlike others who perform retro-fit installations without benefit of a new wood jamb or only a small jamb extension, we always use a one piece wrap-around wood jamb, thereby, enhancing structural integrity. No, we don't recommend using vinyl or a combination of wood and vinyl jamb extensions; when we secure the casing trim around your new window we want to be sure the nail hits wood, not a thin layer of vinyl.

The next time you consider new windows, think of it this way: Going from your old windows to new replacement windows is like dumping your old jalopy for a brand new, trouble free automobile, and if you take it one step further with retro-fit installation, then you've purchased the top of the line.

For further information regarding window replacement, contact an Aluminum Associates sales representative at 453-6400 or visit our 1801 Trafalgar St. showroom.