Atlanta window repair is more common than you might think. The need can be brought on by everything from a settling home, which can damage and shift window frames, to the neighbor kid taking pot shots at a squirrel with his BB gun. Whatever the cause, damaged windows can be frustrating, an eyesore, and worst of all they can dramatically reduce your home's energy efficiency, costing you financially through increased utility bills. That being the case, your best bet is to fix damaged windows as soon as possible. ServiceMagic.com tracks window repairs and installations of all sorts that originate as contractor referrals through our system, and with the information we gather, we can give you a pretty good idea of what to expect if a window repair in Atlanta is in your future.
Types of Window Repair in Atlanta
As mentioned, the world of Atlanta window repair is a big one. Broken glass is the most common and needs to be addressed immediately for obvious safety reasons. Other common problems include sticking frames that can be caused by everything from a settling to house to poor initial installation, and mechanism failures in old and new windows alike. The nature of your problem will determine who to call for your Atlanta window repair. Window installers and contractors who specialize in glass replacement are the people to call if you need a new pane of glass for your window, a carpenter is in order if your window needs to be re-set, and companies that specialize in the restoration of older windows are the ticket if you have an older or historic home. Not sure who to call? Start by contacting a contractor that specializes in general window installations and repairs. If they can't help you, they'll be able to point you in the direction of someone that can.
Window Repair Costs in Atlanta
As we've already pointed out, ServiceMagic.com keeps tabs on the jobs that originate in our system, largely through post-job customer surveys. Drawing from that data, we can provide you with some figures so you know what you're likely getting into with different types of repairs or installations. Keep in mind, however, that final costs for window repair in Atlanta can vary significantly depending on the nature of the job at hand. While these figures are representative of the numbers in our database, your Atlanta window repair could easily cost more or less than the average. Talking to a few contractors to get estimates and bids is the best way to figure out what your specific Atlanta window repair needs are going to end up costing you in the end.
Glass Repair and Installation—The cost of a new pane of glass is determined by the type of window you already have installed. If you've got an older, single pane window, you're going to get off cheap with probably a hundred bucks or less for a standard sized window. Double and triple glazings can raise that price significantly, however, since you'll have to replace the entire unit because of the way multiple glazed windows are manufactured. Multiple glazings usually have gas fill or are vacuum sealed between the glass to increase energy efficiency, so even if the baseball you picked up at the Braves game only shatters the exterior pane of glass of a double glazed window, you're going to be stuck replacing both in the process. Our average for glass repair and installation in Atlanta tallies up at $750, though keep in mind that this figure includes homeowners who replace glass in multiple windows for aesthetic and energy-efficiency reasons, as well as those who just need to fix a broken window.
Frame Repair—Frame repair is more costly than most people realize because it usually entails more than just hammering a few shims below the window frame to straighten things out. Often the entire window will have to be removed and re-set to solve the problem. Add to that the fact that in a house that's experiencing settling multiple windows are likely to have problems, and it becomes clear why the average for repairing window frames in the ATL is a pricey $1,080.
General Window Installations, Repairs, and Replacements—Because of the wide range of window repairs out there, ServiceMagic.com lumps all other repairs into a single category, and includes installations with these figures as well since often the best repair of an old window is to replace them with new models altogether. If you think it might be time to replace those old windows with new ones, you're looking at an average cost of about $500 for a single window, and about $5,000 for an entire house. Of course, that figure is often offset by the potential energy savings you'll get from installing new windows throughout your home, which by some accounts can save you up to 40 percent on your heating and cooling bills. When you look at it that way, investing in new windows is one of those home improvements that will actually pay for itself over the life of the product.
Final Thoughts on Atlanta Window Repair and Contractors
While Atlanta window repair isn't something that any homeowner wants to have to deal with, it is one of those home maintenance issues that is sure to raise its ugly head at one time or another. And considering the nature of window installation and repair, this is a job that most homeowners choose to hire out. If you do end up calling in the pros to address your window repair needs, be sure to collect bids from at least three contractors, and check their references to ensure you get the best deal and quality workmanship. It takes a little more work on your part, but it's well worth the time spent, especially in Georgia where there aren't any licensing requirements for contractors to ensure that only qualified professionals are in the business.
Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.
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