New windows

[Elisabeth]

Has anyone recently replaced the windows in their home? I want to replace our windows because we are bleeding heat this year. We moved in around new years so our first bill was 15 days and over $100. I am getting insulation for the attic this weekend, but curious if anyone has had a good experience with new windows. I am guessing it will be about $15k for the whole house. We have windows with the storms, except that a lot of the storm windows are missing, and even the ones that are there are not doing a good job.

[zolotiyeruki]

Can you be a bit more specific about your questions?  Are you looking for recommendations of window brands?  Are you wondering what effect people have seen from replacing windows?  If we better understand what you're looking for, it'll be easier for those of us with experience (not me) to answer your questions :)

[jba302]

I have done some window replacing. Replacing an old window is Not That Hard as long as you match frame sizes.

[ShoulderThingThatGoesUp]

I've paid for replacement windows. The winter part is nice, but the real benefit in my case was the windows opening easily in the summer.

[paddedhat]

This is one area when there are mind blowing profits to be made by unscrupulous sellers, and it doesn't matter I they are national and spend tens of millions on advertising, or just some smuck with a pick-up truck and a ladder.

On a typical replacement job in my part of the world. I can, working with a helper, remove the sashes from an existing window, install the replacement, and complete all the necessary caulking and trimming in less than an hour per unit. Since the new units typically run under $200 for a quality product, they are worth about $3-350 installed. I have met folks who have paid to have the same work done, and ended up paying well over a grand per unit.  At $15K for your house, unless you have 40 or 50 of them, you not only need to shop around, but also keep in mind that the payback in energy savings, from such a purchase will probably exceed the lifetime of the new windows, and increase the value of your house by a small fraction of the expense. This job, BTW is well with the skill set of any modestly experienced DIYer.

[Elisabeth]

Good to know. I'll see if my husband feels like doing the work himself :) Looking for brands and any brands to avoid. The old house had some windows less than 10 years old which had busted seals so they were all clouded out. Looking to avoid that.

[archben82]

I would look at a quality brand like Marvin if you can afford it.

[Greg]

It depends on the age of your home and current windows.  Most older wooden windows, especially ones with storm windows, can be refurbished and will perform well.  A wood framed window in good shape with a storm will perform almost as well as a new double-glazed window.

Most vinyl windows are pretty basic and crappy.  Good quality ones will have lifetime glass breakage warranty, Milguard for instance.

I also like Marvin windows, I used the wood interior/fiberglass exterior Integrity line in my own home.  I would recommend their all-fiberglass Ultrex line.  Fiberglass windows will last many times longer than vinyl, and in addition to the factory colors, they can be painted.  With vinyl you're stuck with the color they were made in.

Although you didn't ask, you can have a large effect on your heat loss if you use simple caulking and seal all around all the trim in your home.  This air-leak sealing is tremendously effective and is a recommended first step in home insulation improvement.  If you windows are wood, look at repairing any bad weatherstripping as well.

[Rage]

I was looking to have my windows replaced last summer.  I got quotes from Home Depot, Lowes, Champion and Renewal by Anderson. 

I can walk down the aisle of Home Depot and see a window that is the same size as most of mine, and appears to be of approximately of equal or better quality as mine were originally (they're 20 years old) for $108, not even on sale.  But not installed either, obviously.

Champion and Anderson were both $1500 to $2000 per window, installed.  Completely insane.  Anderson talked a lot about how their windows are made from this sort of combination vinyl/wood material that is awesome.

Lowes was the only one that would separate parts and labor.  Window costs X, install costs Y.  They had the best prices overall.  But even then I think it was around $1000 per window, on average. Home Depot wouldn't even break down the prices of individual windows.

The Home Depot guy was a total dick.  Alternately acted like I was an idiot (for acting a little shocked at the prices), reckless (for suggesting I might just buy the reasonably priced windows at Home Depot and hire someone off craiglist to help install them), or wasting his time (for being dumb enough to ask for a quote, I guess).   Slammed the door on the way out, if you can believe that.  Having a bad day maybe.

In all cases, the salesmen made a big show of measuring the windows but didn't really care about the measurements at all ("a technician will be out to take more precise measurements if you decide to buy windows from us"). 

All of them, if I understood correctly, use replacement style of installing a window.  A "new construction" window has a nail fin which goes under the house sheathing.  Easy and water-tight.  You can use a new construction window if you're willing to remove a bit of siding or trim.  The installers are, of course, unwilling to do this, so they cut the fin off your old window, leave the fin, remove the window, stick the new window in, and use a bit of wizardry with some flashing to try to make it water-tight.  If possible, they try to tuck the flashing behind the old fin on the top and sides.  If it wasn't water-tight before, it probably won't be with the replacement window.  If the space around the window wasn't insulated well, it won't be afterward either.   Maybe none of this is a concern (or maybe I misunderstood some of it), but pulling off the trim, peeling back the sheathing, removing the old window, installing the new ("new construction") window properly, and making sure some up-to-date insulation is in there seems to me like the right way to do it. 

There are problems however with using new construction windows.  Mostly that if it was framed for a 48" by 36" window, it might have shifted, and a 48" by 36" new construction window might not fit anymore.  Also, if your house doesn't have trim around the windows, it can be a hassle or borderline impossible to use a new construction window.

But whatever the case is, replacement windows are basically used because they are the easiest to install.  So why does the easiest possible approach to installation cost about $1K for just installation per window?  Seems like a bit of a scam.  The first clue was the fact that no one would give me a quote without sending a salesman out to my house.  Because they need to take measurements to give me an accurate quote.  It's all bullshit.

So I'm going to be installing some windows this summer. 

[Greg]

A good contractor, someone who's accustomed to remodeling etc., would likely want to do the installation right, meaning removing exterior trim, custom size window if needed, flashing and sealing details, reinstallation or replacement of trim. 

The quick-and-dirty replacement style installation Rage described is indeed a scam, especially at that price.  The finless method of installation likely voids any manufacturer's warranty as well.

I would recommend folks pursue this kind of thing through a contractor rather than a window salesperson.  Installers who work through big box stores are paid a flat fee per window and so try to be as quick as possible.  As always, get referrals and check references.

[QajakBoy]

Before you jump into this, just please be aware that it is very rarely worth replacing windows solely to save energy.  The ROI is probably somewhere around 80 years.  Energy saving-wise, you'd be much better off fixing existing storm windows.
Replacing windows that don't work or have broken seals is a much better reason for replacing windows.
If you want to reduce heating/cooling bills concentrate on improving the air sealing and insulation in the house.