As the winter months creep closer with each setting sun, the savvy homeowner is looking at a few key winterization projects that can save a few bucks on heating bills.
Windows and doors.
One of the easiest — though sometimes costly — projects is the replacement of balky doors and windows, which probably haven’t seen maintenance in many a year. But don’t bet that new ones are better than what you already have.
Assess.
Sliding patio doors can run as much as $10,000, especially for solid wood varieties. Take a look at what you have and decide what’s at issue. Do they not operate as smoothly as you’d like, or are they so cracked and broken that replacement is a foregone conclusion?
Price them.
Instead of new doors, consider first a tuneup, such as new gliders, rollers or other adjustment. What might be a $4,000 replacement job might be a very affordable $200 tuneup that lets you keep what you already have — and have it work like new again.
