Get those custom black windows you’ve dreamed of for less than a full replacement project.

Have you thought lately, “Wow, I really like that white house, black trim look… I wish our house could look like that.”? 

This look is all the rage and trending in most home improvement circles.  You may have also thought, “all new windows are really expensive.”

You’re right; they are!

What if I told you that you could have that fresh, modern clean look for a fraction of the cost of all new windows AND, told you that you could do it yourself? It’s possible with Fenster replacement window sashes.

Let’s start with what we already know.  Sure, you can paint just about anything nowadays. Paint technology allows us to adhere paint to just about anything, but can you really get a professional factory finish using a brush? 

My opinion no, but I’ll concede opinions vary. 

I want to focus on giving you the hints and tips to a professional quality project to update and refresh your home’s curb appeal without the expense and headaches of a full window replacement. Even if you shy away from doing it yourself, that’s no problem. This is a project any qualified handyman or contractor can perform with ease.

As much as I would like to take credit for the idea, it’s a recent customer that gave me the vision for promoting our products for this very popular home improvement project. She had originally ordered several Fenster white clad/wood casement replacement sashes as an affordable window replacement alternative for some windows that had fogged glass and rotten sash frames. This being our specialty, this was a typical order for us. She easily, and affordably solved her window issues without a major investment and the hassle of a drawn out dirty and inconvenient remodeling project.    

A few days later our customer contacted us as asked if it was possible to order black replacement sashes instead. You see, she had been contemplating refreshing her home with a new look. We said of course! That’s no problem for us. She even took it a step further.  She asked if she could really make an impact on her curb appeal by adding surface-applied grille bars to the glass. Again, an easy custom look to apply to Fenster casement replacement sashes. She was able to communicate the look she wanted and we promptly put her order into production which we recently finished shown here.

Maybe at this point, the wheels are starting to turn, “Hmmmm… maybe this could work for us too! But how do we do it?” 

That’s the easy part! Let us help you.

Step 1. Can my sashes be replaced? Yes, and easier than you might think. The sash, or the glass and frame enclosing the glass is the moveable part of the window. Casement windows crank out on a hinge while double-hung windows slide up and down. The sash is separate from the frame. The frame of the window is the casing that is attached to the wall. In the case of clad wood windows, the frame is all metal (typically aluminum) and conceivably will never have issues… except maybe being the wrong color, hence the point of this article. More on window frames later. The sash however is a wood frame with a metal skin on the exterior and is subject to rotting over time. Let’s talk about the glass. The glass is really where the efficiency technology lies along with the expense. Comparatively, the frame components are significantly less costly than the glass itself. When considering sash replacement vs. a full window replacement, why replace (and pay for) the parts that are not, or may never go bad when you can simply replace a rotted sash frame and/or failed glass for a fraction of the cost.

Step 2. How does it work? Sashes either operable or stationary can easily be removed from the frame by either, disconnecting the operating hardware, or in the case of stationary sashes, removing exposed screws or interior stops to expose brackets. Since the sash is separate from the frame, the sash can be removed and replaced without affecting or altering the frame in wall. Stationary replacement is the easiest. Simply unscrew the old sash and reinstall the new sash using the same screws or brackets.  

You might feel intimidated by all the hardware on an operable sash, but don’t be. Moving the hardware from old to new sash takes a little common sense and patience. If you can turn a screwdriver, you can replace a sash. Oh, but just in case, we have videos you can watch!

Step 3. What about the window frames? So, you have your new replacement sashes. They have a beautiful architectural black factory finish, but your frames and trim are still beige or whatever. Super easy! The frames are metal right? Well, we’re assuming. I’m speaking specifically in terms of clad-wood windows, but sash replacement for a color change can work for any type of wood window. So long before all the fancy paint came along, how did dad paint metal? Right, spray paint! Anyone can use spray paint. In the context of clad-wood, very little of the frame is exposed with the sash closed. Even a mediocre job is going to look good. Now if you really want to do it up right, prep work is key. Removing the sash and hinge tracks, prepping the surface and masking off the perimeter are all steps to a professional quality project that brings new life to your home’s curb appeal.  

The last thing I want to talk about is why sash replacement, color change or not, is such a great idea. Consider all the reasons why you’re contemplating spending $20, $30, $50,000 on all new windows. 

Don’t like the color? I think we covered that. 
Drafty? Okay, weatherstripping… that’s twenty bucks. 
Broken cranks? That’s $100 and fifteen minutes on a Saturday. (Note to self; need to shoot operator video. )
Anyway… maybe it’s poor efficiency? 

So think about this, I already talked about how the glass is the most important (and expensive) part of the window. The rest of the window is really inconsequential and spoiler alert, window construction hasn’t changed all the much in 40 years. So why pay for all that extra stuff, when all you need is better glass? 

Here at Fenster, we use the same modern technology glass all the big guys use. In essence, you’re achieving the same energy efficiency goals by just replacing the sash instead of the whole window. Plus, this is your opportunity to not only change the color but add attractive new options like internal or surface-applied grilles in all the latest styles that your original windows never had without the pain and expense or turning your house into Swiss cheese!

Visit us at https://fenstersusa.com today to see all that we can save you on your window project.