Replacement Window Installation

The Central Texas Boom Makes Contractors Hard to Get

For those unaware, the strong economy has created a building/remodeling boom in central Texas over the last few years. The result is that good contractors and remodelers are busier than ever with no end in sight. Those who were thrilled to get $40,000 bath remodels are now only interested in $100,000 jobs and beyond. In fact, there’s so much demand for quality craftsmanship that the best contractors can pick and choose jobs.

Luckily, We do Our Own Replacement Window Installation

The hot economy has created a shortage of qualified, seasoned contractors to handle smaller work like replacement window installation. Fortunately, Ringer Windows maintains in-house employee installation teams so we’re not affected by this labor gap. In addition to this, we build all our windows and patio doors locally in our Taylor, Texas factory. This means, of course, that replacement windows we build are often installed by our own crews. However, since we manufacture and sell a lot of windows to contractors and homeowners, many are installed by others. Thus, if you’d like to purchase replacement windows but can’t find an installer, please let us know. We’d be happy to help! Lastly, please remember that we have thousands of stock windows on hand and make custom-sized ones as well.

Beware of Contractors Who Don’t Know What They’re Doing

Over the last year or so, we’ve had an alarming number of distress calls. They were from people with botched window installations by contractors who allegedly “knew what they were doing”. Apparently, the root of this problem are guys or companies that decide to try their hand at window replacement. When they do many think this work will deliver fast, easy money. But they have little regard for the complex skills required to achieve high-quality window replacement results. Consequently, there’s been a downward spiral in replacement window and patio door customer satisfaction over the last few years. In fact, some big local industry names have managed to earn only 50 to 60% approval ratings for their installations.

How to Get Satisfying Replacement Window Installation

#1 – Select the Proper Window Type(s) & Measurements 

Replacing windows isn’t rocket science, but it does require substantial product knowledge and skill to achieve excellent results. To begin with, selecting the right window type(s) and features is critically important. At Ringer Windows, we offer lots of choices and can help you find what suits both your taste and home’s needs. Next, it’s vital to gather proper scope and window measurements so your replacement windows fit correctly. In summary, you must start with good counsel to select the best replacement windows for your needs and budget. You also need accurate measurements done by a window professional.

#2 – Be SURE You Have a Highly Experienced Crew

The skillsets of a highly experienced replacement window crew are invaluable. They can make or break a company’s reputation. Unfortunately, the window replacement industry in central Texas is notorious for beating down installation labor costs. This is because the number one goal for most window company owners and sales staffs is to keep costs low. The result is that many highly skilled window tradespeople have left the industry due to low pay. Thus, we recommend being very careful selecting your installation team. Your installers need at least a few years of EXCLUSIVE window replacement experience. They absolutely must know how to deliver high quality results during the physical replacement phase. If not, they’ll leave your house in shambles with windows that look horrible and will never work well.

#3 – Hire a Reliable, Long-Established Company

Hiring a well established, reputable window company with long-term employees will help you succeed with window replacement. This is because most central Texas replacement window labor is low-bid subcontractors who happen to be available at the time. Unfortunately, the guys who do this type of work are available for a reason: they don’t do high-quality work. Believe it or not, most of these subcontractors only want to get in and out as fast as they can. We see evidence of this every day at Ringer Windows. Not with our crews, but from the desperate pleas of people begging us to fix windows others have screwed up.

#4 – Only Work with an Honest Sales Team

An increasing number of unscrupulous sales people and companies offer high-quality replacement windows which are actually cheap new construction stock. Unfortunately, the unsuspecting public often doesn’t know the difference between a builder-grade window and a good one. The truth is, they all tend to look similar to the untrained eye. What’s more, people selling builder windows as replacements know how easily low prices can get potential clients to pay attention. We believe Caveat Emptor has never been more appropriate than with knowing a little about windows!

Final Thoughts About Replacement Window Installation

Here are a few more thoughts on the state of replacement windows in central Texas and how things have changed. Also included are several suggestions on sidestepping pitfalls plaguing the window industry. To set the stage, Austin and the larger central Texas area is now a fairly big market. Thus, people have many replacement windows and patio door choices. There’s also no shortage of internet, radio, door-to-door, TV, and snail mail ads bombarding us daily. Sadly though, it seems that people have come to expect less from everything. It’s now commonplace to accept that nothing is as good as or lasts like it used to. As a result people anticipate and accept mediocre service as the norm. And businesses constantly preach to their staff to “do more with less”. Which is code for keeping up high standards while using fewer resources and working more hours. Unfortunately, the replacement window industry has largely gone along with this trend, lock step. However, I simply can’t end this blog with total gloom and doom! So, here are a few last things to consider when you buy and install replacement windows:

Deal Directly with a Real Window Company when Possible

Ringer Windows is a real brick and mortar manufacturing company located in Taylor, Texas. Windows and patio doors are all we do! We also have a really cool showroom and would love to give you a tour. In addition, we eliminate middlemen and sell directly to everyone. Seriously, how often have you purchased directly from a real brick & mortar business? Does your window company or window person have an office, or do they work out of their home? Lastly, consider the potential quality of their follow-up if you ever need service from them. It’s hard to track someone down if they only have a cell phone or P.O. Box.

Read Window Company Reviews

I want to urge you to go online and search for all the reviews you can possibly find on window companies. Then review and evaluate these companies based on the totality of what you find. Also be alert for bogus entries and reviews that look like they’re fabricated. Believe it or not, many online reviews are posted by the companies themselves. It’s dishonest, but it happens all the time. So, look at online reviews as much as you can including those from established sites like BBB, Angi, and Yelp. It’s easy to hide poor service “here and there”, but in time you can spot the good and the bad. Lastly, it takes work and effort but the results are worth it!

Educate Yourself About Replacement Windows & Installation

Learn about the technical side of windows and challenge your sales consultants with questions that matter to you. Surprisingly, it won’t be difficult to know when you’re dealing with a talking head. That would be someone who’s memorized a few bullet-points vs. a professional who knows the science behind their windows. Please also know that if you’re reading my blog feel free to call me for advice. I’ll spend five minutes on the phone helping to guide you through a few salient points. The best time to catch me is between 9 and 10AM CST, M-F. Identify yourself as a blog fan and I’ll share some important information!

Talk to Your Friends

The most important thing you can do to learn about windows and window companies is to call your friends. If they’ve made a window purchase, were they happy or unhappy about it? Ask them to evaluate the installation quality as well. When evaluating windows, you may find it easier to compare the same series of windows side-by-side online. It’s also critical that you fully evaluate actual installation results on the local level. This is important as many window companies are franchise operations. Therefore, some locations are better than others with service.

I hope that this article helps you with your window search. Thanks for supporting Ringer Windows, you can learn more about our company at www.ringerwindows.com

– Greg Ringer, Owner