Repairing a Broken Double Pane Window Glass Rich Sinclair who lives in Hainesport, New Jersey emailed me asking the following question: "Can you replace only one broken pane of a double pane window?" The answer is simply: No Double pane, or insulated glass, is made by taking two pieces of glass and separating them with Read More »
Window Restoration A fellow amateur radio operator sent me a photo of a wood window that’s in his girlfriend’s bathroom. The window is suffering from some rot and the sash frame is starting to separate. While I don’t have the epic enhanced observation powers exhibited by the Shawn Spencer character in the popular and funny Read More »
Replace Aluminum Windows With Vinyl Windows Podcast - Click to Listen to Podcast 43: Tim Carter talks with Gary in a small town south of Atlanta, Georgia. Gary lives in a concrete-block house and needs to replace his crappy aluminum windows with vinyl windows. Gary is 70+ years old, handy, and just needs a nudge Read More »
New Window in Stucco Wall - A Mistake Can Cost You Big $$$ How Do You Install a New Window in a Stucco Wall? You can install a new window in a stucco wall any number of ways. The best way is to get a new window to fit within the confines of the existing Read More »
Deck-Building No-No QUESTION #1: Tim, I need your help. I contracted with a large home center to have a deck built. I came home from work and saw that the carpenters had toenailed an outer joist to the side of my home. Many of the nails are close to the edge and I can already Read More »
"That remarkable simple and effective building detail is being sacrificed at the altar of Build-it-Faster." Window Flashing Tape Leaking I’ve been wanting to write this column for years. The topic has been a burr under my saddle, but I needed to base the column on proof, not speculation. That proof arrived last week in a Read More »
A-Frame House Problems - They Can be Aplenty QUESTION #1: I’d like your honest opinion, Tim. A-frame houses have always appealed to me and I think I want to build one. I’ve done scads of research on these unusual homes and I’m convinced it’s the right decision. I want you to be the devil’s advocate Read More »
Stop Water Vapor Now QUESTION #1: Hey Tim, I’m flummoxed. I’ve seen videos and read online articles about needing a vapor barrier in the walls of my home and possibly under concrete slabs. My builder says these things are a waste of money. I need your vote of confidence and written words to give me Read More »
Skylight Melting Siding Can and Does Happen It's possible for a skylight melting siding story to be in your local paper or here online. I know it's possible because I've felt the searing heat on my own face from sunlight that's concentrated and reflected by the slightly concave glass on my own skylight. I was Read More »
Bathroom Privacy Window Film - Many Styles I installed bathroom privacy window film for my wife in the past year. As a result, she's happy as a clam! Many years ago older homes all had actual pressed privacy glass. The actual glass had tiny patterns in it that obscured your vision through the glass. The Read More »
When you are looking for the best windows or the best replacement windows, be sure to look for two industry certifications. These labels assist you in judging the best window quality and the energy efficiency rating.