Budgets aside, what’s one home improvement project you wish you could bring to life? For some, it could be renovating their bedrooms to create more space, upgrading their kitchen to make it look modern, or remodelling floors to give them a polished look.
While these ideas can boost your home’s curb appeal and resale value, sometimes making smaller adjustments is what leads to a bigger return on investment.
One home renovation project you can invest in is replacing your old windows and installing enlarged ones. Not only will this increase the amount of natural light that comes in, but it also enhances the ambiance and aesthetics of the room.
So, what are the benefits of a window expansion? What does it cost? Keep on reading to find out!
Why Should You Enlarge Your Windows?
Aside from increasing your property value, window enlargement has numerous benefits for your home and overall well-being. Here are some in more detail:
Increased Natural Light
This is the biggest benefit of increasing your window’s size. Natural light is vital to keeping a healthy home environment because it has been shown to improve mood and increase productivity while reducing stress and certain health conditions.
Enlarging your windows also provides fantastic views of the outdoors, making your rooms brighter, more spacious, and more inviting.
Improved Ventilation
It has been reported that Canadians spend 90% of their time indoors. As such, proper air circulation is needed to ensure people stay healthy while inside their homes. Many homeowners also need proper ventilation to maintain good indoor air quality.
By enlarging your windows, you’re allowing air to circulate more freely, and this can help to remove indoor pollutants and allergens.
Increased Energy Efficiency
Bigger windows are energy efficient because they heat a room naturally, which can be especially beneficial during the colder months of the year. Not only that, but newer models of replacement windows—such as those fitted with Low-E coating—help reduce your energy bills and minimize your carbon footprint.
Additionally, ENERGY STAR-certified windows have been proven to be 20% more energy-efficient than standard windows and help lower energy bills by an average of 12%.
Not only that, but the Canadian government also offers rebates to homeowners who want to replace their windows with eco-friendly solutions.
Enlarging a Window: How Much Will It Cost?
The cost of enlarging a window ranges from $800 to $5,000. However, expenses still vary depending on several factors, including the size and shape of the window, the type of materials used, the complexity of the project, and the window’s location in your home.
Sometimes, you’ll also need to expand your walls or cut through an existing wall. This process, as we mentioned above, is complex and requires immense skill to finish—you won’t be able to DIY this home improvement project.
Although it depends on your unique needs, you also need to consider the following:
Materials
The cost of materials for window enlargements could set you back a few hundred dollars for basic materials to around one to two thousand dollars for high-end materials. The kind of window you want to enlarge and the types of sidings—such as wood, brick, stucco, or steel—could also affect your total costs.
Labour Costs
Expect to pay at least a few hundred dollars for basic window enlargement, with costs increasing for more complex projects.
Additional Costs
There may be more expenses to account for once you decide to expand your windows, such as building permits, window trimmings, and other necessary structural work or electrical upgrades.
Why Should You Invest in Basement Window Enlargement
If you’ve got a basement that’s currently being used as a storage room, consider turning it into a media room or a spare guest room. This will increase your home’s resale value and breathe new life into an old space that’s hardly being used.
However, before you can start tackling this project you need to ensure this room meets the standards set by the National Building Code of Canada. Egress windows, which serve as emergency exits in a home, are required in every basement. Although the rules may vary per province and territory, these types of windows need to be at least 24 inches tall and 20 inches wide with a net clearance of 5.7 square feet.
If you already have an egress window, consider enlarging it to increase curb appeal and improve the aesthetics of your room. However, this process is meticulous and requires a lot of skill to execute, so it’s better to call the pros and let them do the hard work.
Basement Window Costs
If you plan to expand your basement windows, expect to be set back around $1,450 to $2,600. This value includes the window installation and the potential of a concrete wall needing to be cut to fit the egress window. This window enlargement cost can fluctuate depending on the location of your basement window and the siding wall.
Window Expansion and Enlargement at Clera
You deserve to live in the home of your dreams, and we are fully prepared to make your home renovation dreams come true. Why not kick off your window enlargement project with energy-efficient windows from Clera Windows + Doors?
We are one of Canada’s most dependable window and door manufacturers. We’ve earned the trust of our clients through decades of experience, from manufacturing to installing replacement windows and doors.
Contact us today to learn more about our premier windows and doors, or give us a call for a quick estimate on the cost of enlarging a window!
