Windows. What to do?

[Mommy&Will]

So we have gotten quotes for new windows - anywhere between $6,600 and $12,000! :

Anyone have any advice on what to look for in windows and where to save money and where to spend money?

[cristeen]

Ask them if they have customers who are willing to give them recommendations, then follow up on them. Make sure the people you speak with have had their windows at least a year, but preferably longer. We had a couple windows put in and within 2 years they were a problem. We had the rest of the house done (different company), and 3 years later, no real problems <knock on wood>.

Also be sure to ask them about site security, clean-up and the like. If it's a 1 day job it's not as big a deal, but if it's a 2-day job are they going to leave gaping holes overnight or what?

[2busy2clean]

Some things you may want to consider:

insulation value: double pane vs. single pane vs. triple pane (yes $$ but with heating/cooling costs, in some climates it is justifiable)

tempered windows are great in locations that get abused - we put one in our basement bedroom - and were glad that we did when dh let the ladder fall heavily against the window.

When you have double pane windows in hotter/colder climates you do want to have thermal break between the panes. A thermal break will keep the outside temperature from pulling into the house through the windows material. Probably didn't explain that well at all.

Of course you want windows that look good from the street and from the inside.

I agree with pp - do make sure people are happy, several years after they are installed, with the brand of window you go with.

[rgarlough]

Could you DIY?

Dh and I bite the bullet and went ahead with replacement windows from Home Depot and did the installs ourselves. Saved us THOUSANDS of dollars. Average per window cost was $140 a piece for Low E w/argon Double paned/insulated, double hung, tilt in vinyl windows.

We live in a house from the 1940s and the single paned glass was very ineffecient in MN even with our storm windows. We've had many compliments from our neighbors which has made us proud of our accomplishment!

Careful measuring is the hardest part as installation was really a breeze... Less than an hour start to finish from removing the old window to adding the foam weatherstripping/insulation and putting the trim back up.

[Starr]

You want windows that are Low E with Argon

Vinyl windows are going to be cheaper than windows with a wood finish inside.

Skip grilles to save more money.

As far as what type of window to get, slider and casement are the best at forming a seal, double hung windows are easy to clean but they generally have more air gaps to make them so movable.

Go to the nearest stock size instead of doing a custom window to fit the rough opening you have.

Make sure your window estimate also includes all the pieces needed to complete the window such as brick mold, receptors, extension jambs, caulking...

Have a licensed contractor install. Depending on the window company if you install them yourselves you lose your warranty if something does not work properly. A big part of the warranty is making sure they are installed correctly all the way down to your house wrap.

Depending on which windows you are replacing some of them may need to be tempered glass, have someone come out and look and they will be able tot ell you what you need for code.

There are certain brands that I prefer over others and also some that I would stay far far away from. For the most part name brand windows that have been around for a long time are good, hence why they have been around a long time. I would be leery of going with a brand of windows that has been going for less than 10 years.

[nattybo]

You will need tempered glass if you have a low hung window...If your knee can touch the glass (while standing on the floor) then that window has to be made out of tempered glass. Which will be about an extra $100 a window.

I read online that window brands that boast having insulation in the sill of the window are dumb/silly. You want to have the insulation in between the panes of glass itself in the way of argon (or even krypton) gas and what kind of spacer (You do not want metal!) is used b/w the 2 (or even 3) panes of glass. And you want the low E film too. I think that they called it glazing. And you want at least the double glazed.

We had builders grade 30+ yr old Anderson's and replaced them with Schuco's. The difference has been huge. Now we only shiver (in the winter) if we are in a room with an outside door (we couldn't afford to replace those too)
We also got a wide range price estimates too. We went with a middle of the road price for the best quality product.
What we didn't expect to get was a quiter house. The old windows conducted a lot of outside noise b/c they were made out of glass and aluminum. We paid $8k for 12 windows, 2 with tempered glass. Triple paned/glazed with krypton, half screened, double hung, tilt-ins with no grills, vinyl and white (inside and out).
hth

[gmvh]

Along the DIY lines is if you have double hung windows you may consider sash replacement kits. I think they're pretty cheap. We've replaced all the windows in our house and did off the shelf windows downstairs and sash replacements upstairs. Our heating bill is so much prettier (also combined with the new furnace and insulation...). Good luck - they're expensive!