Replacement vinyl windows...

[TORQUE THIS]

Anyone have experience w/ the ones from Home Depot or Lowes? How about the companies in the local papers and on TV?



I want to get new windows before the cold weather hits.

 

[TowPro]

Not yet, but My house needs all the vinyl windows replaced, everyone of of them has a seal leaking, which caused the windows to fog up.



I can remove the double pane glass, and replace both pieces in each window for $70. 00, or replace the complete windows for around $100. 00. Problem is with the cheeper route is the glass is glued in with this black stuff, and its hard as hell to get out. YOu almost have to chissel it out, unless somebody out there has a better idea?



I was reading on the internet that the life expectancy of a double pane window is only 10 years, makes me think about going with single pane, and storm windows.

Originally posted by TORQUE THIS

Anyone have experience w/ the ones from Home Depot or Lowes? How about the companies in the local papers and on TV?



I want to get new windows before the cold weather hits.

 

[CFAR]

I've used them quite a bit, for the price the quality is pretty good, some of the frames are a little weak, but overall not bad, just becareful when shimming them.

If they are properly installed I would expect them to last between 5-15 years, the hardware usually wears out before the window start to leak etc.



For the price they are a pretty good deal.



steamers?

 

[lpearson]

Vinyl Windows

I have a building in which I installed vinyl windows, I love them. They will not warp or rot or twist like wood can and they don't transmit heat and cold like metal windows.



The seals on the glass itself is what one needs to watch out for. My understanding is that there are two kinds. 1. a tar type seal (cheapest one) and 2. a rubberized seal (one to get and costs more).



Someone may chime in and correct me, but the rubberized seals can last a long time without having a problem.



Also if I were you I'd get "low e" glass with the windows, ---works well.





Vinyl windows can be extruded thinly or very thick. Lowe's and Home Depot don't sell the thickest type or the best and most expensive vinyl windows. Check around sometimes individual companies can come very close to the cost of Lowe's and Home Depot and give you a better product.



Sometimes they are twice as much without better quality. I would negotiate very hard with individual companies, most of them have big mark-ups. Maybe work out a deal for them to install it included in the price. ----------------Anyway, good luck.







Regards,

Lowell

 

[CFAR]

Most of the places that sell and install are very high priced, not all of them use quality windows, I assume you want to install the windows yourself? You can also order custom sizes from Home D or Lowes.

 

[TORQUE THIS]

I want to have them installed, I would consider taking on the job myself. I am a cabinet maker / carpenter by trade, but haven't been around the tools in a few years.



Has anyone put them in themselves?

 

[daveshoe]

What determines quality

I have been installing for thirty years and can address what you need to look for .

First [and most important] is the BALANCE. This part lifts the window and also holds the upper sash up when unlocked. Look for a balance made from a nylon roller and a . stainless steel ''tape measure style''spring. These are increasingly available across many brands of windows , and no plastic pasts to beeak. Stay away from balances that have spiral windings or strings attached. Look for these balances by tilting the window in.

As far as fogging and other quality issues, believe it or not, since I have been installing windows with this balance , not one failure in 15 years and over a hundred windows. Over all quality must be better when the manufacturer spends more on the small stuff.

I would buy from someone who actually installs the product himself. I do it from $350. 00 to $400. 00 depending on the style and size. I could check if the companies I buy from have branches and installers close to you if you wish. PM me if interested.

Ain't trying to sell nothin' just tryin' to help

 

[QRTRHRS]

Be very careful with those companies that specialize in replacing windows. Letting one of their salespeople in the door may be like letting the devil in. Not knowing much about it, I asked one company to send someone over. It quickly became apparent that I was in for a sales pitch kind of like a car dealer will try. Okay, I let this clown run through his routine. Then when he thought he had me, I did like I do with car dealers. I said I would have to think about it and would he please leave. These people deviled me to death with phone calls. Best part, the price kept dropping. Substantially. I sold the house as is/was.



If you choose to have it done, find a private contractor and check his reputation, references, etc. You know, some one who works alone or maybe with one helper. Find out whose windows he uses. Check out that company too. Some of the window places make their own. Finding info on them is like comparing mattress prices. No two places sell the same exact one.

 

[daveshoe]

What QRTRHRS said . pretty much describes what I do. I can buy windows from commercial wholesale supply houses-- probably 20 or 30 models in all. There are two brands I like and recommend to all my customers. These supply houses do not sell to the general public. There is some skill involved in measuring the job correctly and the supply house will not eat your mistakes. The other skill involved involves using a metal brake. This can make or break a job. I would recommend that you specify a vinyl coated aluminum coil stock to make your trim from -- well worth the extra cost.

You may see a privately branded window at a remolelers show,and they may even have their ''brand '' imprinted on the sash locks. Fact is, they are doing such a volume that they get the manufacturer to supply them with branded hardware-- then they act as if THEY are the manufacturer. Hope this helps

 

[Bertram65]

Bringing this back up,

I had a rep from Andersen come out last night to give me a proposal for Andersen Renewal windows, apparently they only sell them installed, and only direct. I was very impressed with the window frames they are made from some engineered material, they are very strong and not made from vinyl, they are also very thin so they do not cut down much on the size of the actual window. 20 year warrantee. The downside was the price, they were about $1200 each installed, I have 35 windows in my house so I would like to find a lower cost option but still good quality. Any suggestions?

 

[RandyHamilton]

Last year a good friend of mine got the opportunity to listen to the sales pitch from a window sales guy. Jeff wanted ONE window replaced but this guy wanted to replace them all (of course). Jeff is a patient guy but when the sales bubba told Jeff these windows were 100% impervious to UV rays, Jeff held up his finger and said, hold that thought I will be right back, walks into his garage and comes back with a UV Laser, (he works on them for a living) plugged it in and pointed it at the window glass. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise the laser light went right through the window. . I guess my point is,, don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see. .

 

[Signal73]

Wow this is an old thread, but if you havent done them yet Mark I am your man!

 

[TowPro]

Wow this is an old thread, but if you havent done them yet Mark I am your man!

It sure is an old thread. I put mine in several years ago. Pella from Lows. I bought "new install" and just pulled the siding off, pulled the old windows out and put the new ones in. First thing we noticed is the plants that were near the windows started to die from lack of sun light.



Heating bill went down as well.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

daveshoe,



A couple of my mothers windows cracked after about 4 years. What do you think caused it?



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...only/68786-newer-thermo-windows-cracking.html



#ad

 

[JLEONARD]

I put in 26 replacement windows about 7 years ago. I found that the paces that advertise heavy are pretty big rip offs.

I shopped hard and probably compared 20 or so different brands/companies.

I finally bought them from a small local shop. I liked the guy, he was honest, the windows were made locally in New Britiain, Ct (15 miles away), had all the same construction features that I liked, and he demostrated the installation of one window.

Wife and I got good at replacing them... we had it down to about 1 hour per window after we did a couple of them and had all the tools out. The woindows we replaced were the old double sash style (circa 1910) with the iron weights.

So shop hard, compare features and don't necessarily buy the big name brand.

 

[Bertram65]

I put in 26 replacement windows about 7 years ago. I found that the paces that advertise heavy are pretty big rip offs.

I shopped hard and probably compared 20 or so different brands/companies.

I finally bought them from a small local shop. I liked the guy, he was honest, the windows were made locally in New Britiain, Ct (15 miles away), had all the same construction features that I liked, and he demostrated the installation of one window.

Wife and I got good at replacing them... we had it down to about 1 hour per window after we did a couple of them and had all the tools out. The woindows we replaced were the old double sash style (circa 1910) with the iron weights.

So shop hard, compare features and don't necessarily buy the big name brand.

What type of window did you go with? wood or some other material?