Customer's Frequently Asked Questions
Boise Replacement Windows

What are the benefits of installing a new door or window in my home?

A major benefit to improving your home's doors or windows comes when you begin to save money on energy costs. Most of your home's heat transfer occurs through its doors and windows. Older windows and doors can have poorer insulating qualities than new ones due to older construction standards and years of wear and tear around the door or window seals, which leak precious pennies every day.

The second big reason for replacing doors or windows is improved resale value. Your home looks cleaner and has greater curb appeal with new doors or windows, and the energy bills will tell the tale for a prospective buyer.

Lastly, for Idaho residence who fill out the state tax form 39R... For homes that existed, were under construction, or had a permit issued before January 1 of 1976, the ENTIRE cost of purchasing your new windows or storm doors AND the installation cost is completely tax deductible.

From Form 39R - LINE 4: "INSULATION OF AN IDAHO RESIDENCE"

To qualify for this deduction, your Idaho home must have existed, been under construction, or had a building permit issued on or before January 1, 1976. The insulation must be in addition to any existing insulation and can't be a replacement.

Insulation means any material commonly used in the building industry and installed to retard the passage of heat into or out of a building, such as fiberglass, rock wool, weather stripping, double-pane windows, storm doors and storm windows.

Insulated siding doesn't qualify unless the cost of the siding and the insulating material is separately stated, in which case the cost of the insulating material alone qualifies. The amount charged for labor to install the insulation is also deductible."

What can I expect the time frame to be from when I decide to replace my doors or windows to when the job is completed?

Anywhere from a few days up to a week and a half for stock doors and windows. Special orders can take two or three weeks, depending on the manufacturer. We normally don't schedule an install until we know we have the product.

How does the whole process of installing a new door or window work?

• The first step in the process is the measurement. Within a day or two of contact with Upchurch Installs, we will set up a convenient time to measure the space where your new door or window will be installed. This only takes a few minutes per door or window.
• The second step is to choose the door or window style and brand you would like. You might have a style or brand in mind before we measure, but if not, we have plenty of experience, knowledge, and information on several brands that we believe to produce quality products to help you make your decision.
• Once you know which door or window style/brand you would like, we handle the ordering process for you. Many times, a retailer will have the door or window necessary in-stock, but each situation is unique, and many times windows will need to be custom-ordered from the manufacturer. Doors tend to be much more standardized, but still, we want to measure every door to be sure. The time it takes to receive an order can be as little as two weeks. Thus, the order process is the longest in the entire install process.
• The final step is the actual install. Once we have received your order of new doors or windows, we will call and set up the most convenient time to install them. Upchurch Installs takes pride in the efficiency and quality of our install. Every situation is different, but on average, a single window can be removed and replaced with a new one between one and two hours. THEN PRESTO! - you have a beautiful new door or window that saves you money in energy costs, and increases the resale value of your home!

What do I look for in a new door or window?

Regardless of the brand, every door or window has an energy efficiency rating called an 'R-value'. The higher this insulating value, the greater the efficiency. With greater efficiency comes higher initial cost of the window, but the trade-off is greater energy savings in the future.

Besides the R-value, different brands offer different features to their windows, running the gamut between purely cosmetic features to function features. Different colors and handle designs are usually available. Special window coatings that reduce the amount of U-V rays from the sun can be ordered. Even windows with argon gas injected between the two glass panes to further increase the window's efficiency. The options seem to be endless, so we try to provide as much insight as we can to help you make the best choice.