Acrylic block window is one replacement option

Designers have used glass block for years because it creates a striking focal point in a room.

Remodeling contractors choose it to replace old windows in rooms where you want to bring daylight in but also maintain privacy. While many glassblock windows are solid, an opening block window provides ventilation, making it a solution when a rotted window sill and framing is beyond repair.

A window installer will charge $2,026, which includes the labor and material, to replace a window with a new 48-by-48inch acrylic block unit. A homeowner with experience in carpentry can do the job for $1,050, the price of the unit. But this job requires serious carpentry skills, construction knowledge and the tools to do the job. If you have any reservations, this job might be best left to a professional.

Nothing beats a screen door for keeping pesky bugs out and nice cool breezes coming in. Traditionally screen doors swing on hinges or slide in a track. A newer version is a screen door that retracts and blends into a door frame housing, providing a clear, unobstructed view. Just think of it as a window shade on its side and you get the picture.

You’ll find retractable screen door kits that mount inside a door frame with either a left- or righthand operation sold at home centers and online. The components include the screen housing, a top and bottom track and sill plate, and two door pulls. The retractable screen doors come in several colors and sizes to fit most single, double and slider doors. For the unit to function properly, all corners of the door must be square or less than out-ofsquare.

A handyman service will charge $220, which includes labor and material, to install a standard height retractable screen. If you have carpentry experience, you can buy the unit for $145 and install it yourself, saving about 34 percent.

Have an accurate sketch of your door with measurements of its width and height. Go to

to see instructions and a video of how a Brisa retractable screen is installed. You’ll need an electric drill with bits, a Phillips screwdriver, hacksaw, file, carpenter’s square and measuring tape. Since you’re working at the top and bottom of the door, it’s useful to have someone help you line up the tracks while you’re installing them. Assuming the door frame is square and free of hardware, it’ll take an hour or two to install the screen.