When Should You Replace Commercial Windows?

07/22/2019

As all things do, eventually your commercial windows will reach the end of their life. However, it may not be immediately obvious when windows need to be replaced. FacilitiesNet suggests monitoring 3 key performance metrics to gauge the health of your commercial windows, to decide if you need to replace them: 

1. The comfort of building occupants.

Thermal comfort is a common area of contention in offices, and complaints often spring from deteriorating windows. Look for leaks, drafts or difficult operation as signs that it’s time to replace your commercial windows. You may also see this reflected in your HVAC system – if your HVAC needs to run overtime compared to previous years, it could be a sign your windows are letting in more heat or cold.  

2. Visual wear-and-tear.

Cycling temperatures over the course of several seasons can create visible damage, including shrunken gaskets and seals; warped, faded or displaced frames; etched or fogged glass; and scratched, distorted, or clouded glass.

3. Maintenance and cost control.

The older your commercial windows become, the harder it may be to find cost-effective replacement parts or repairs. Older windows also demand more attention, requiring more hours spent fixing them. If you find your maintenance staff spending increasingly more time fixing commercial windows, that can be a sign it’s time to consider replacement.

If you’ve identified the problems above and know it’s time to replace your commercial windows, you have a few options. If you want to preserve the beauty of historic windows but without the deteriorating quality of outdated frames and glass, historic window replacement is an ideal solution. For most commercial buildings, you’ll also want to consider acoustic aluminum windows as a way to mitigate noise and increase employee comfort.

St. Cloud Window offers products and services for both of these solutions – contact us today to get started.