Replacing Windows...Advice welcome!

[Kathy B]

We are thinking about replacing all the windows in our house. Some are broken and none are very well insulated. Where to start? There are so many companies and varieties advertised. Neither DH nor I know much about handyman type stuff, so there is no way we can do it ourselves.

Anything you could tell me as to what to look for, companies that are good or ones that we should avoid, or even suggestions for ways I can research them would be helpful. We know that it will be pretty expensive, so we would like to get it right the first time. Any advice would be very welcome! TIA!

[Melman]

I wish I could send you the guy who put in my windows 3 or 4 years ago! He was wonderful!! I stumbled across him while having my tires rotated at the shop. The shop owner was talking to him and I was involuntarily eavesdropping (we were the only 3 people in the shop and I couldn't help but overhear.) Terry had just put windows in the shop owner's home...and he couldn't say enough nice things about him. The guy who did the installation has his own business...doesn't have a middle man or big company dictating any rules.

I wish I could remember all the "window-vocabulary" - double hung, whatever keeps the sunlight from destroying stuff on the inside of the windows...but I ran out of memory space in the brain. Sorry!!! Mine are by Simonton. I'm sure you could do a search on the web to find them.

They are VERY quiet! I can barely hear anything happening outside the house. The winter after I had them installed, we had a horrific ice storm. Trees and branches broke all over the place. The next morning, my back yard was literally covered with branches that had fallen out of the trees back there. Inside the house, I didn't hear much of anything. I think my power bills have gone down...I also had old, drafty, nasty windows before these too.

A couple of things...both the upper and lower portions of my windows can tilt in so I can clean the outside. I think there are windows where the top part stays stationary...I don't think those tilt in for cleaning (could be wrong about that though). You'll also get a choice of the panels that are between the two panes of glass (for easy cleaning). I chose no panes at all. I LOVE this look! I can see outside without anything being between me and the outdoors.

To pick someone, ask around. You never know who might have a reference for you. Get quotes from the obvious places like Home Depot and Lowe's. Check home improvement companies in your yellow pages.

Good luck picking out your windows and finding an installer. PS...I've done lots of renovations in my house from new carpet/floors, new solid wood cabinets in the kitchen, painted ALL the dark wood (formerly 70's style) to a lighter color, etc.....those windows are probably the #1 best thing I've done for my house! :D

[Canice]

Maybe this Windows 101 (http://www.window-specialist.com/windows101.htm) will help you get started. It's off the Web site of the company that replaced the windows in DBF's house. GREAT guy we worked with, but obviously of no help to you, 2000 miles away!
Because he lives in an extremely foggy neighborhood DBF went with the vinyl windows. To paraphrase Henry Ford, you can have them in any color you want, so long as it's white (and they can't be painted). Bummer.

[donleyk]

We replaced all of the windows in our last house. They were the old iron single pane windows and in the winter you could see the drapes move from the drafts! We bought the replacements at a hardware store. They were vinyl double panes and held up very well. Certainly not the best on the market but good. We did install them ourselves. It's not as difficult as you might think but probably not the best home improvement project to start with.

There seems to be a 1000 replacement window companies in our area. You can hardly watch TV without at least 2 ads during the morning news. If you have a home and garden show near you or something on those lines (like a home remodeling show...?) that would be a good place to start. Then hit Lowe's and Home Depot and compare. They both have reputable windows.

Vinyl and double hung should be fine in a standard home. Then there are the wood case. You can decide what look you want. Good luck!

Editing: Sorry Melman, I didn't read your post first.

[Vanessa]

HI!
When we built our house we choose Marvin Integrity. As we researched them the guys explained the line Integrity is for replacement. This is a great company and as we spoke to them they also explained that sometimes you don't need a total replacement. Go to their site it explains really well what you need to know if frames or other parets can be saved etc.
Their sliding doors are very nice too. We are very pleased with their products. We had really bad weather and high winds and the windows were ok. Their products are star energy and low e glass.

http://www.infinitywindows.com

[Laurielee]

I do energy analysis and state code compliance for my company and one of the main factors I work with is windows and their energy efficiency. Below is a great website on energy efficient windows and what to look for. Milgard is a reuptable window co that is used a lot around here, Its what I have in my house.

I would recommend a low e window with the proper solar heat gain coefficient and u factor for your area, and this site explains how they work.

http://www.milgard.com/getting-started/energy-efficiency.asp

The most important thing in not only selecting a good window manufacturer but the installer intself.

laurie

[alicerh]

I got Marvin Ultimate replacement for every window a few years ago. They are wonderful. They are metal outside and wood inside so the outside never needs painting. Easy to clean, very energy efficient. It is a very big investment so be sure to do it right. And now, some energy saving home improvements are tax deductable. I also looked at Anderson and Pella but liked MArvin best. I kept a log of electric bills a year or 2 before and 2 years after. Almost every month was cheaper after the windows were installed. Now I am tracking the energy savings after installing a tankless water heater last year.
Alice

[Laurielee]

here is another site that has good general info, its our gas and electric co. do a search for yours and see what they have, and they may also offer window rebates

http://www.pge.com/res/rebates/windows/index.html

If you want wood windows, Anderson, marvin and pella are all reputable high quality window manufacturerrs.


laurie

[krhm]

We replaced all 32 windows last year, and while it made quite a dent in our pockets, it was worth it. Our heating and cooling bills have gone down, all of the rotten wood was replaced, they look great, and we can maintain a healthier humidity level in the house.

That said, it is a huge cost, so do your homework and get several estimates and referrals from people in your area. We ended up going with the third company who came out to talk to us, partly based on referrals from others in our neighborhood. And it looks like you've got some great stuff to start with on this thread.

[Kathy B]

Thanks for the input. I have been checking out some of the links already, and I plan to have DH look at them as well.

One thing I read suggested getting an energy audit to determine if replacing windows is the most cost effective way to increase your home's insulation. Has anyone had that done? Does it cost much? Was it worthwhile?

[luv2cook]

We got double glass windows. They're also tinted to help keep the sun out and I've noticed they make a difference regarding the heat. Originally I was told E glass was the best but later was told it was double.

Also, the cost to install them can be pretty substantial. we replaced four singles and a double and it was $800 and I heard that was a deal!

[Peweh]

Kathy B, I just wanted to add that you can greatly reduce energy costs with window treatments. Our sunroom was a new addition by the former owners and has Anderson E-rated windows and I added double honeycomb pleated shades. The windows aren't drafty at all but the difference at night in the winter with the shades down is amazing, very cozy. The rest of my house has vintage 6 over 6 wood windows with the old 'wavy' glass and they're pretty good condition (although my Dad is always like "you need new windows! :p Dads...) I did get creative in the master bedroom which faces the West and hung exterior shutters, painted to match the trim, on the inside. They give a great look and in the summer I can close them to keep the afternoon sun from heating up the room.

I lived in an apt. that had 1/2 vintage windows with cellular shades and 1/2 "ThermoPane" windows with regular shades; the rooms with the newer windows were remarkably colder than those with the old & shades.

[stefania4]

Our guest room is SO much more comfortable with the new windows. It used to be absolutely freezing in there.

We used Home Depot, and the difference between their top of the line vinyl double-hung and the next level down was in noise (though not heat) insulation and transfer of the warranty upon sale of the house. Since we were only replacing upstairs windows, and the cost to transfer the warranty was only $50, we went with the next level down.

We're happy with the product but we won't use Home Depot again for any services. They cancelled the installation on us several times, at the last minute - it really messed with our work schedules. Then, after they did the installation, we had to have them out to do it again because not everything was properly aligned. Yet again, more last-minute cancelling. And every call to our sales guy triggered another Home Depot credit card offer in the mail.

[krhm]

Ooh, Stefania4, that would burn me up!

I forgot to mention how great the noise reduction is, in addition to all the other benefits I mentioned. Also, we found out that unlike some home repairs or remodels, replacing windows would add value to the house, and if we had to sell soon, we would recoup the cost of the installation about 95-110%.

If some of your windows are broken, it sounds like they need to be replaced no matter what the energy audit says. You would really be amazed at the difference.