Seal Your Windows and Doors So You Won’t Open Your Wallet

Nov 30, 2023

Now is the time to hide or shield ourselves from the cold inside. To ensure we remain warm, it’s important our doors and windows are working properly. If not, we risk not only fighting the chilly temperatures, but also making our heating and cooling system work overtime, driving our energy bills up.

“There are several steps you can take at home to prepare your windows and doors for winter and prevent costly winter repairs,” said Scott Cline, co-owner of J & B Construction. “Properly functioning windows and doors can save you up to 30% on your energy bills.”

Feel around your doors and windows for air

Door and windows should be completely sealed with weather stripping, which protects your home not only from cold air, but also excessive moisture and mold. “The weather stripping must be replaced every few years, as it often becomes damaged from outside elements like insects and even the sun,” said Scott.

Look at the details

Test your windows and doors by opening and closing them a few times. Are the door hinges and rollers adjusted and tight? Are the window locks strong and the tracks clean? “These might seem like small, nit-picky things, but they can make a huge difference. The strength of your windows and doors is equivalent to the strength of its parts and pieces,” Scott said.

Check your frames

As you check your windows and doors, examine how they fit inside their frames. If the frames and the window or doors don’t seem to match, it may be something to pay attention to. “If a window or a door is not properly attached to the frame, that can be an early sign of a foundation problem,” said Scott. The foundation can change due to soil shifts, plumbing leaks, or just plain age.

“In addition, regularly inspect windows and doors and be sure water drains away from the house,” he said. “Cut back plants and change the drain placement if needed.”

J & B Construction’s team members are experts in windows and doors. They are happy to inspect yours and help with repair suggestions. If you notice your windows and doors have substantial air leaks, peeling paint, condensation, or won’t easily open or close, it might be time for a replacement.

J & B Construction, based in Germantown, provides homeowners throughout southeastern Wisconsin only the best replacement windows from some of the industry’s most trusted manufacturers—Pella and Marvin. These replacement windows offer beauty, durability, and energy efficiency. To get started replacing your windows, contact J & B Construction at 262-437-0537.

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Enjoy Peace Of Mind

The only complaint I have is when I have J&B do my roof in another 30 years or so, is Dave their sales man (a great guy) would not guaranty I could get the same great crew I had this time. They did a fantastic job. Much better than the last roofing company did. A nice bunch of guys. Did a very nice job cleaning up. I'd give them 10 stars but 5 is the limit. If you need a roof done this is the company you want to do it. One more point I need to make. The guys that did the chimney flashing are artists. I went up on the roof when they were done and was very pleased with not only the roofing job but the sculptured sheet metal work. It's kind of a shame it's on the roof and not hanging on the family room wall :). You get the point. Hire em. You'll like em.

Dave H

We live in a historic designated neighborhood and recently had our 30 year wood shingle roof replaced with another wood roof and new gutters. From Day 1 of the project to the final day, the entire team was responsive, professional, and very competent. When some minor changes were proposed by us they quickly and effortlessly complied. After going through this experience with J&B, I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a roof and gutter replacement, whether it be a simple or complicated project.

John Lamb

J & B did an amazing job from start to finish. The initial meeting at my home took place exactly at the time that was agreed upon and Scott was thorough in his explanations and transparent about costs. When the time came to begin the project, the team that showed up was friendly, professional and timely in getting the project done. The cleanup afterward was such that it looked like they hadn't been there at all. The roof looks great, there were no surprises and Scott came by to inspect the work and explain the warranty upon job completion. I would highly recommend them.

Kenneth Simons

My neighbor had their roof replaced and I was really impressed with the speed, carefulness and quality of the work I saw. Asked her for her experience and she told me she would highly recommend J & B. I called Scott to set an appointment. He showed up on time and was very thorough in his assessment, also letting me know about some other issues and advise on where to get help. J & B is a fantastic company to deal with - their people are incredibly careful about the work they do, clean up and leave the property in the same condition as when they started, were careful about plants and the house, and work very efficiently. The office staff is great about following up, checking in and very responsive to anything that comes up. I was happy with the price charged. If you are looking to replace your roof, you should be calling J & B to get the job done.

David W.

We had work done by the J&B team at a commercial property and were very pleased with the whole process. Their estimator met us onsite and communicated with us every step of the way. They went over the scope in detail and the work performed exceeded what we were expecting. They found some additional concerns during the installation that were quickly addressed and communicated to us and to our surprise, there was not an additional charge. Our tenants reached out to share how respectful the employees were during the installation and how clean everything was left afterwards. As the project was wrapped up, we were walked through the completion paperwork and provided the warranty information. Very impressed with the professionalism of this company and would not hesitate to refer their services or use them again in the future.

Jessie C.