Replacement Windows?

[Colleen27]

We just moved into a very old new house (1880) that has the original windows. So of course I'm looking to replace them by the time winter rolls around. I've already gotten a quote from Lowes just for the windows, assuming DH will do the installation since it is something he's done professionally, but several friends have told me that some of the replacement window services are inexpensive enough that it might not make sense for DH to tackle the job himself during his busy season at work. So I'm looking for experiences, reviews, and any advice from folks who have had replacement windows installed - what to look for, what to avoid, opinions, any advice at all would be helpful!

 

[NattysMom]

We just had 10 windows replaced. The prices increases a lot when you factor in getting them professionally installed so if there is any way that your husband could do them I would really suggest that! We had about 5 quotes and a few companies were super hard sale and slimey. I was shocked at how expensive they were. We had 33 year old originals replaced so we just wanted decent windows not the "Cadillac" version!
There is also currently a tax credit of up to $1,500 for energy efficiency. Check out this website.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=windows_doors.pr_taxcredits

We got quotes of up to $800 a window and as low as around $300 installed. (This is a ballpark.) We went with a small local place but we liked Home Depot because they had a good quality window (around $400 installed I think).
Good luck!

 

[renateb]

I had all the windows replaced about 7 years ago. It was expensive, but I wouldn't go with the low cost windows. I did have those low cost windows put in an outside building and they are fine. With an old house, wouldn't you want to try to keep to the style of the home. In my neighborhood (and the houses are about 20 years old) the houses that went with the inexpensive replacements stick out.

I'm sure your husband knows what to look for. What I experienced as two different types of installs. One just replaced the windows, leaving the existing frame work. The other install method removed everything back to the brick or framing. The difference in appearance is huge. The first method the actual window glass was smaller, with a lot more framing material around the window. They just look like replacement windows.

I was also told by a few people to not have spray (expanding) insulation but to only used the rolls of insulation. Something to do with the spray stuff causing the windows to not operate properly over time because of how it expands and causes pressure. Spray insulation is a lot faster for the installers to put in.

And like anything - you get what you pay for. It's your house and the windows will last a very only time if they are a good quality and properly installed.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I may be the only person on this thread who can say this... but I have brand new windows all through my house, and 3 of them are from Lowes, the rest aren't.
After the window guys installed the 3 from Lowes I told them to stop. I then called around and I arranged my primary question. My question went from "How much?" to "How well are they made and are they Lowes crap???". My bedroom is a corner room. We had the 2 brand new windows for the bedroom installed from Lowes. OK, read this clearly... The window in the bath connected to the bedroom is from a local guy. It's NOT from Lowes; it's the same as the rest of the windows in the house MINUS the 2 in the bedroom. Our bathroom does not have a door. It has a keyhole shaped entry way and a thick Moroccan tapestry with a pull rope. So if I open the tapestry completely, it's as if the bathroom is part of the room. The heat/AC vent is under the Lowes window, so it has an advantage. Even with the vent directly under the window, the Lowes windows will be HOTTER in the summer, and COLDER to the touch in the winter than the other window in the bath!!! The one in the bath is on the same wall facing the sun the same as the one from Lowes. We had 3 of the Lowes windows installed, and NONE of them work!!! They all are a pain in the butt to open or close, and they are a nightmare to lock. The windows from the local guy are like a 2009 Mercedes and the Lowes windows are like a 1979 Granada.
It's like I've always said... people who know quality avoid Lowes and Home Depot. People who don't know any better do otherwise. The guys in our area who shop at Lowes for windows are jacklegs, and DIYs, and the guys who are professional will quickly tell you that they would shut down shop before they would sell you a Lowes window.
I'm a plumber. I should have known better. I won't buy or install their crap. It's cheaper made, the parts are more expensive and harder to find, and the quality is a joke. Even the Delta faucets are cheaper made than the same model Delta at a reputable supply house. The ones at Lowes have a retail letter beside the number. They have plastic parts and thinner copper tubes.
My electrician said that Lowes sells factory seconds on electrical, and he said it was suicide to buy electrical from there.
I can also tell you that when you look at the windows from outside the Lowes windows look a LOT cheaper. The work was sloppier as well, but that wasn't Lowes fault. That was just guys who were less professional. I asked them before the job to not use Lowes windows. They insisted they were just as good. I should have went with my gut feeling and bought from the local guys who sell a higher quality window to begin with. I only saved $25 per window. It was so not worth the headaches.
I plan to replace the Lowes windows in the near future. As far as whether ot not he can do it, I'd say just pay someone. They earn every penny. It's not as easy as it looks.

 

[wall*e2008]

What kind of exterior does your home have. Do they have to remove siding to put them in. With bricks, the job has to be done from the inside and is even more costly.

Get quotes with and without installation and compare it to your DH's salary for the time and see if it makes sense to pay or have him to the install.

 

[wall*e2008]

I may be the only person on this thread who can say this... but I have brand new windows all through my house, and 3 of them are from Lowes, the rest aren't.
After the window guys installed the 3 from Lowes I told them to stop. I then called around and I arranged my primary question. My question went from "How much?" to "How well are they made and are they Lowes crap???".

I am with you. When we built our home we did not look at any box store windows. The quality is not there. We installed Marvin windows. We got them from a local lumber company. We got most of our building supplies from them too.

 

[PinkRhombus]

We are repeat customers of a local window manufacturer. They also do doors and vinyl...gutters. Go with an older local company if you can.

If there are issues, they're usually quickly remedied.

 

[mjkacmom]

I had all the windows replaced about 7 years ago. It was expensive, but I wouldn't go with the low cost windows. I did have those low cost windows put in an outside building and they are fine. With an old house, wouldn't you want to try to keep to the style of the home. In my neighborhood (and the houses are about 20 years old) the houses that went with the inexpensive replacements stick out.

I'm sure your husband knows what to look for. What I experienced as two different types of installs. One just replaced the windows, leaving the existing frame work. The other install method removed everything back to the brick or framing. The difference in appearance is huge. The first method the actual window glass was smaller, with a lot more framing material around the window. They just look like replacement windows.

I was also told by a few people to not have spray (expanding) insulation but to only used the rolls of insulation. Something to do with the spray stuff causing the windows to not operate properly over time because of how it expands and causes pressure. Spray insulation is a lot faster for the installers to put in.

And like anything - you get what you pay for. It's your house and the windows will last a very only time if they are a good quality and properly installed.

I agree - with an old home, you really need to use good quality windows - the cheap ones really do stand out. Our home is about 100 years old, and we ended up just getting new storms, because we can't afford good replacement windows (our windows are beautiful - solid chestnut frames - just not energy efficient). My parents' home is more than 200 years old, and they still have the original windows/storms.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

We (ok mostly DH have replaced all the windows in our house over the past 10 years. We priced it way back then and was definitely cheaper for him to do it. (Though with the current economy, you very well may find better deals on labor.)

One thing I'd have strongly considered though was having someone install the larger window units. (We don't have picture windows, but have 3 units where they were 3 windows attached together- for all intents as large as picture windows. Plus a bay window.) Those suckers were heavy and I was so nervous we'd drop them. I'd have paid to get those ones installed!

 

[Aristocath]

Are you doing wood or vinyl? Are you replacing aluminum windows or original wood windows?

We recently replaced our old aluminum windows with wood windows from Pella. I can not begin to tell you what a difference this has made in the comfort level of our home.

We did extensive research comparing windows, manufacturers, etc. If this is a long term home for you, I'd get the very best you can afford. Prior to getting our Pella windows, my husband installed a "test" window in our bedroom from Lowes. It was a horrible window and I could never open it and it never had a good seal.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Colleen27]

We're going to be doing the house in sections, for budget reasons, so the ones we do this summer/fall will be something of a test case. We have 3 that NEED to be replaced immediately, due to broken sashes or other major problems, then 3 that we'd like to do soon because they don't open properly, all on the second level. Since the current windows and trim are wood-painted-white, I'm willing to go with vinyl. On the main floor, where the interiors are stained to match the ornate mouldings/doors, we'll have to go with wood, and that part of the project can wait until we have the budget to do it right.

The original windows are wood single-hung. At some point, a previous owner installed ugly-as-sin aluminum storms on the exterior (probably at the same time they installed the ugly-as-sin aluminum siding over the original wood).

We'll be removing the old windows right down to the framing to install the new ones.

Right now, the ones looking the most attractive are Thermastar by Pella with the low-E/argon/sun-shield glaze to meet the tax credit standards, but I'm still in the early stages of pricing/comparing. As much as I'd like to go with top-of-the-line, I don't think the few that are non-functional can wait until that's in the budget.

As far as installation goes, DH has installed windows in new construction, but he's only done aluminum as replacements. So depending upon the cost of installation and how his schedule looks as far as time to put them in without passing on paying jobs, the question of installation could go either way.

WallE - You've been happy with your Marvin windows? That's one of the brands we will be getting a quote on later today from one of the building supply warehouses DH uses for roofing and siding materials.

 

[ameraumi]

We went with a local home improvement company to have our windows replaced. We actually know them but I know we did not get much of a discount. For 9 windows (double hung with grids), 1 basement window, and installation was $3250. I know the breakdown was $2000 for windows and $1250 for installation.

I could not be happier with the guys that came out and I love these windows. They are so much better then what the "box" stores have.

 

[TRICKY_TINK]

Find a Champion Window dealer near you. They make an install their own windows. No matter who you use, you must be a deal maker to get a good deal. I just had 12 windows done for $5800.00 his qoute was $7,000 I talked him down twice. One of my windows is a 7ft by 4 1/2ft picture window the rest are standard double hungs. I will get the tax credit of $1500.00 too since they are energy compliant. Good luck.

 

[PrincessDreams2]

I just had 10 windows replaced in my home. I got 7 estimates (yes, 7!!) Do not go with a Home Depot or Lowes. As other posters have said, they are overpriced and crap. I went with a local contractor who was a referral from a trusted friend. I have the Great Lakes series 5000 windows and I love them. It was around $3800 for the entire job. And I will also get the $1500 credit. Now is a good time to do windows.

The Home Depot estimate for the same (though not as nice of a window) was $6900. Crazy.

 

[wall*e2008]

WallE - You've been happy with your Marvin windows? That's one of the brands we will be getting a quote on later today from one of the building supply warehouses DH uses for roofing and siding materials.

We love our windows. We got wood true divided light windows. They are not cheap. Also Marvin windows are extremely easy to install. The wood frame gets attached. Then you install the glides (which can be replace if they go bad) and then each window (double hung) just gets placed in to the tracks.

Be warned they can be expensive windows.

 

[adventure_woman]

I don't know where you are in Michigan, but we used Jack's Wholesale Windows for all of our windows. It took us 5 years to replace them all, but we are FINALLY done! We paid about $375/window - that is installed, capping around the outside, and a lifetime warrenty. They are great windows (much better than Lowe's, even the other name brand ones that have their own stores). They are Soft-lite windows (www.soft-lite.com). If you are interested, PM me and I can let you know the name of our guy and you would get an extra discount. Windows I would say it pays to get better ones.

 

[StephMK]

We are doing windows similar to you, OP. The front ones we replaced last year were wood to match the exterior & neighborhood. I just got a quote for 2 back bedroom windows that we plan to do vinyl, side sliding to match the existing look. It was $1200 from Pella and the type qualifies for the rebate. I wasn't sure if $600 was a good quote but they are good sized.

 

[cristella]

eek i got an estimate from sears for my home replacement windows ..13 vynil energy saving windows and a patio door- im in az
............. 26,000 with the discount came down to 20 342.
yikes

 

[pmdeve]

We live along the turnpike and I would like to install new windows to reduce the traffic noise. Any one have suggestions of what windows to install?

 

[buzz5985]

I live in a home built in 1870. We replaced all 34 windows 17 years ago. We went with Anderson, vinyl outside, wood interior, double paned, double hung. Back then - it was top of the line. We almost went with Pella, but at the time they were having failure problems with the blinds in between the panes. I just wanted to let you know - not one of these windows has failed.