OT-Need Replacement Window Advice

[Mad4Dizne]

Hi All!!
In an effort to stick to our budget and improve the house, we are looking into getting replacement windows this year. We have had quotes from $3,100 to $11,000. It is a dizzying process. We are stumped. We are committed to getting Energystar Windows, but are really at a loss as to which window to choose. Does anyone have a good replacement window in their house that didn't cost a fortune to get installed???? TIA!!!!

Thanks

 

[imsayin]

Don't forget that you can get a tax credit, up to $200, for energy efficient windows. Check out the irs site: IRS energy credit

 

[Yensid_MD]

One thing you can look at instead is Storm Windows. I know they talk about doing that on This Old House instead of replacing windows. They can save money and not cost as much.

We went with Renewal Windows by Andersen. They are great and are priced by size.

http://www.renewalbyandersen.com/se...5930&pagename=Renewal/Page/RbAHomePage&c=Page

We have fairly large windows and they were about $900 each.

You could look at replacing windows in key rooms versus doing them all at once as well which is what we did.

 

[T. Lynn]

We are getting either Pella or Anderson. We're also installing them ourselves. They are very easy to do and that saves us some money.

 

[punkin]

We are getting either Pella or Anderson. We're also installing them ourselves. They are very easy to do and that saves us some money.

How easy is it to do?

We have fairly new windows on our house, but they seemed to have been badly installed. There is no draft from the windows, but there is a huge amount of air leaking around the frames. I think the previous owners installed them themselves and did not know what they were doing. Reinstalling them is my next home improvement project.

 

[moniot]

We bought our windows and a patio door at Menards. They are made by Crestline. They are single hung windows, they have the coating to keep out the UV protection. I love them. Very warm for our freezing winters. Price is right and they work better then my parents very expensive windows they were even warmer...go figure.

I thought they were energy star but double check that.

 

[Littlemotherhaywood]

We were getting estimates of $20,000 and up (we replaced every window in our house) and we talked to a friend who owns rental properties who put us in a touch with a company that normally doesn't do stuff for owners, but contracters. They were very happy to take our money though and we only spent $5000 on 21 windows installed with several of those being special order windows (really old house). You might want to call around to some places like and see what they'll do.

 

[T. Lynn]

How easy is it to do?

We have fairly new windows on our house, but they seemed to have been badly installed. There is no draft from the windows, but there is a huge amount of air leaking around the frames. I think the previous owners installed them themselves and did not know what they were doing. Reinstalling them is my next home improvement project.

We haven't done ours yet, but friends of ours build houses and they told us to do it ourselves and they will come help.

The guy at Lowes and Home Depot even told us to intall them ourselves.

I'll have to let you know when we get ours done. We're going to fix our retaining wall first and then order our windows. I like one project at a time. DH gets projects started and then doesn't finish. This way, he'll have to do one before I'll let him start on another. I've learned!!!

 

[ohiominnie]

We had ours replaced a few years ago. Our old windows were wood frames that leaked like crazy. We actually did the rope caulk every year to try to keep out the drafts and it still didn't work.

We bought through Stanek windows (my mom had done boo-koo research and found theirs to be some of the best) They are argon gas filled, with heat mirror. I could not be happier. We got 18 windows replaced AND a front door with sidelights for about 18K. Since then our house has been MUCH more energy efficient.

One thing I would recommend. Get the kind that tilt in to clean. They are SOOOOOOOO easy to clean. My mom's salesman did not offer, so they did not know and now she wishes she had MY windows!

These also have a lifetime guarantee if they ever break (if you still live in the house) and 10 yrs transferred to the new owners (if you sell) They've come and adjusted windows that didn't stay up all the way and replaced one that cracked b/c it wasn't all the way closed and the lock caused pressure on the glass.

Here's the Stanek window website to give you an idea....they are only in certain areas though:

http://www.stanekwindows.com/

 

[ntink]

We replaced all of the windows in our house (approx 20) plus a sliding glass door and box bay windows in the kitchen and family room for under $10k in 2001. Our house is about 30 years old. We used a local company with an excellent reputation. They use B.F. Rich windows. We had also received quotes from Home Depot and Sears for over $20k but the high pressure sell was enough for me to say no to them.

I would definately recommend a reputable local company over a national chain based on my experience.

 

[pjupton]

We just had windows done too and were confused by all the widely varying estimates. We talked to the Pella store, Home Depot, independent contractors, etc and they all gave very different estimates.

FINALLY someone explained why some quotes were twice as much as others.

Some contractors do a "full tear out" and totally replace the interior trim, add insulation, and put in a window that is the same size as the old window.

Some contractors just "wrap" the old opening with vinyl and put a new window in.

We paid more and had a full tear out done. Our neighbors did not. IMHO, our look much nicer and seal out the cold better.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

To either Harvey Classic Windows with Low E and Argon or the Thermastar by Pella--these were the best deal so far....but we are still looking around. The Renewal by Anderson was the most expensive quote we received and they were the same basic window, energystar, etc as the pella--but with the fibrex (wood and polymer mix), not vinyl....they quoted us $1095. per window!!!

Thanks for the tips!! Keep them coming!!!

 

[bridget]

We replaced 7 windows in 2003. They average sized windows. We got Pella through the Pella store locally. Dh installed them himself with help of his dad. It was a HUGE project installing them yourself. They did a super job, but both have experience in home improvement/construction projects. It saved us lots!

Dh did some extra work that would not have been included on normal installation- such as adding the insulation, and then doing "stuff" with new brickmolding.

 

[DVC Sadie]

How easy is it to do?

We have fairly new windows on our house, but they seemed to have been badly installed. There is no draft from the windows, but there is a huge amount of air leaking around the frames. I think the previous owners installed them themselves and did not know what they were doing. Reinstalling them is my next home improvement project.

My husband installed all of our Pella windows in our home and he just told me it was very easy to do.

 

[babiesX2]

I'm not sure what brand the ones we just bought are, but we shopped at Lowe's and Home Depot. We ended up buying from an independent building supplier. Their prices beat the other's plus they give free delivery. We have a tri level home and 4 doors. Some of the windows are being custom made for our bigger picture windows. All of these windows and doors were less than $4,000. My dh has a carpenter coming to help him and we are paying him $15/hr for his assistance. Yes, we know it is simple to put the windows in ourselves, but with twin toddlers I can't be any help. We want to get done as quickly as possible once we get started ripping out and replacing windows and doors.

 

[Pigeon]

My dh has been replacing ours with Andersons. I love them. We did this in a prior house and the difference in heating costs was amazing. We do one or two every summer. Personally, I would only buy Anderson or Pella.