If you're planning to have new windows installed, you probably have a lot of questions concerning the process. After all, installing windows isn't a job you have done very often, and maybe you have no idea how it works. Here's a look at some of the things you might want to know. 

The Best Time To Install Replacement Windows

Windows can usually be installed all seasons of the year, but spring and early summer are the best. However, that is often when window installers are the busiest, so work may be more expensive then, and you may have to wait for an opening. The hot summer months and cold winter months are slower times, so you might find some good deals then. A professional can overcome problems with temperature extremes when it comes to installing windows. Once concern is the caulk. It may not cure well in very hot or very cold temperatures. Also, window frames contract when it's cold and expand when it's hot. This has to be taken into consideration when they are installed. The biggest downside to having windows installed in cold or hot weather is the effect it has on your indoor climate. For that reason, you may want to pick warmer than usual days in the winter, and days when rain is not expected in the summer if you want the work done in the off-season.

How To Prepare For The Installation

Window installers need to work inside and outside your house, so you should prepare these areas in advance. Take down your curtains and clear the area around the windows. Make sure there is a clear path from the door to the windows so the contractor can do his or her work without having to worry about tripping over a coffee table or pet. You'll also want to clean the frames around the windows as best you can before work begins, especially on the outside. By washing off dirt, dust, and pollen, the caulk will adhere better and there will be fewer problems with the windows. Plus, if the prep work is done before the installers arrive, then the work will go much quicker. You may even need to trim back branches and bushes so they don't get in the way of the installation work being done.

What To Expect With Cleanup

It's doubtful your contractor will leave a mess behind. If you put down drop cloths, there shouldn't be any paint chips or dust on your floor. The contractor will even haul away the old frames and glass so you don't have to deal with anything other than moving your furniture back into position.

If you're having several windows replaced, it could turn into a job that requires two or more days to complete, especially if the weather turns bad. Your contractor will prepare the timing in advance so you don't have to worry about your home not being secure due to windows being absent or not fully sealed. It's a good idea to be at home when the work is underway, but if you and the contractor organize the work with your schedule, it might be possible for all the inside work to be completed first so you can leave the home while the outside work is wrapped up.

If you'd like more information about what to expect when you get replacement windows, talk to contractors like Custom View Exteriors.