Replacement Windows

1075tech

1075tech

Where did I go wrong?
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In my old house, I replaced all 30+ windows with vinyl replacements from Home Depot. American Craftsman. They did pretty good for about 20 years before they started falling apart. I'd often wished I had torn half the house apart and replaced them with new construction windows

The windows in this house are vinyl coated on the outside, wood frame inside. I believe they are Marvin. 30 years old and getting drafty. Are today's replacement windows better than they were 30 years ago? Same technology? FWIW, the ones I used back then were insulated vinyl frames, argon filled, low-e glass.

Recommends? I have no issue doing the work myself
 
I brought an Anderson rep over to my current place and he looked at my current builder grade vinyl windows and told me new vinyl wouldn't do a thing except drain my account. He recommended a higher class of window than my house can justify, I'd never get the money back.

We had a much nicer quality house in Illinois. That place had 20 year old wood windows and they were super drafty. Replaced the back side of the house with metal clad Marvin and boy did that make an improvement.
 
1075tech said:
I believe they are Marvin. 30 years old and getting drafty
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Marvin are supposed to be good windows, but 30 years is a long time. Don‘t have a good suggestion for you, but we opted to keep the windows during our renovation. We have a couple where the seal failed and there’s condensation in the panes. Our GC says there’s a guy he uses that can replace the glass ad fix that for about $100.
 
Timfoilhat said:
I brought an Anderson rep over to my current place and he looked at my current builder grade vinyl windows and told me new vinyl wouldn't do a thing except drain my account. He recommended a higher class of window than my house can justify, I'd never get the money back.

We had a much nicer quality house in Illinois. That place had 20 year old wood windows and they were super drafty. Replaced the back side of the house with metal clad Marvin and boy did that make an improvement.
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My house in NY was built in 1930. Balloon frame, four-square construction. Wood lath and horsehair plaster walls. Single pane, wood frame windows with cast iron counter-weights in the walls. The curtains would move when the wind blew.

This house was built in 1990. My neighbor knew the builder and said he did quality work. There are little things that I have noticed that lead me to agree. The windows were probably very good at the time.

The glass is double-pane but only 1/2" thick. I'm thinking 3/4 or 7/8 would increase the insulation value. But not sure that it would be that cost effective. I might be further ahead with just replacing the weather stripping and locks
 
noway2 said:
Marvin are supposed to be good windows, but 30 years is a long time. Don‘t have a good suggestion for you, but we opted to keep the windows during our renovation. We have a couple where the seal failed and there’s condensation in the panes. Our GC says there’s a guy he uses that can replace the glass ad fix that for about $100.
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I had one that was cracked. There is a place local that replaced it for about that. I can tell that there are a few others that have had the glass replaced.
 
noway2 said:
We have a couple where the seal failed and there’s condensation in the panes. Our GC says there’s a guy he uses that can replace the glass ad fix that for about $100.
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Do tell. I have some double-panes that need the glass replaced in Raleigh; they are custom windows.
 
Had Baker do the new Pella windows along with Hardie painted siding, 33y old crap builder windows so bad, I caulked the window sashes to the frames, my gas bill went down $50 a month.

We have new Pella vinyl windows, low e and they are tight. No more drafts. House wrapped when resided.

Edit: Been two years since the job was done, windows and siding were delayed due to COVID and supply chain, job done a week before Christmas, we were locked in on pricing and our home done while new construction near us were six months after, same Pella windows.
 
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Red Marley said:
Do tell. I have some double-panes that need the glass replaced in Raleigh; they are custom windows.
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I called City Mirror and Glass when I needed some windows replaced. They said the frames, etc were still good and that I should just replace the glass. 25 panes were $4600 and they would have installed them for $55/pane. It was tough to find anyone else that would sell just the panes, so I couldn’t get other quotes (about a year ago).

Total replacements (12 windows) would have run us $38k, per the quote I got from Kelly Window and Door
 
Bocephus said:
I called City Mirror and Glass when I needed some windows replaced. They said the frames, etc were still good and that I should just replace the glass. 25 panes were $4600 and they would have installed them for $55/pane. It was tough to find anyone else that would sell just the panes, so I couldn’t get other quotes (about a year ago).

Total replacements (12 windows) would have run us $38k, per the quote I got from Kelly Window and Door
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I don’t know what type of windows they quoted you, but that is ridiculous. I’ve been selling windows for 20+ years and that’s the highest price I’ve ever seen.
 
We have cheap ass builder windows in the main 2 floors. I installed nice wood framed Pella windows (3)and doors (French) in the man cave. So quiet and tight in the man cabe it is quite a difference. We have Marvin at the mountain cabin and I am very impressed as well. I installed the Pella’s myself at home and crammed some serious insulation to the frames and install.
 
Etruett said:
I don’t know what type of windows they quoted you, but that is ridiculous. I’ve been selling windows for 20+ years and that’s the highest price I’ve ever seen.
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Agreed. I told the salesman that was a “I don’t really want this job but if they pay this, I’ll do it” price and what he could do with that quote
 
CZfool68 said:
We have cheap ass builder windows in the main 2 floors. I installed nice wood framed Pella windows (3)and doors (French) in the man cave. So quiet and tight in the man cabe it is quite a difference. We have Marvin at the mountain cabin and I am very impressed as well. I installed the Pella’s myself at home and crammed some serious insulation to the frames and install.
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Who installed the Marvin’s? I am looking for someone in Ashe that does window replacement for our cabin
 
Bocephus said:
Agreed. I told the salesman that was a “I don’t really want this job but if they pay this, I’ll do it” price and what he could do with that quote
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The best vinyl replacement windows on the market today for the money is Simonton. The quality and energy efficiency is equal or better than any other brand out there. Depending on the model, style and size, you should expect to pay $800-1200 for a quality window installed including wrapping the frames on the outside. That’s about 35% higher than pre Covid prices. Right now about 30-35% of my window sales are on houses less than 10-12 years old. That’s a sad but accurate figure. 90% of the “new construction” windows on the market are cheap cr but that is the market. Builders want the cheapest thing available. It doesn’t matter if you replace with new construction or replacement style, cheap is cheap.
 
22Rimfire said:
Who installed the Marvin’s? I am looking for someone in Ashe that does window replacement for our cabin
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The builder that built our house did those. Parsons, their office is right across from Ingles next to the gas station in West Jefferson. Ask for Isaac Parsons. If you have issues let me know. I can probably hunt down his cell #.
 
Bocephus said:
I called City Mirror and Glass when I needed some windows replaced. They said the frames, etc were still good and that I should just replace the glass. 25 panes were $4600 and they would have installed them for $55/pane. It was tough to find anyone else that would sell just the panes, so I couldn’t get other quotes (about a year ago).

Total replacements (12 windows) would have run us $38k, per the quote I got from Kelly Window and Door
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I just replaced 3 low E, Argon broken panes. More expensive than I expected, I think ~$150 each. They had them ready before the date given and were pleasant to deal with.
 
We’re installing Anderson’s on the new house. Thankfully we get a deal, or it would have been $250K for the windows, not installed. We’re set up as a dealer, we’ve only ordered for two homes so far.
I’ve a long time friend that’s runs Pella install crews.
 
Etruett said:
The best vinyl replacement windows on the market today for the money is Simonton.
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Do they sell direct to consumer?

Except for some high pitch roofing and taping sheetrock, I've always done everything myself. Never been in a position to afford to hire someone else
 
My replacement windows came from ABC Supply, and they have a limited lifetime warranty. They have probably replaced 10 various sashes ,upper or lower, in the last 5 years. Call them and give them the number off the window, tell them whether it’s a upper or lower, they order them for me, I install. I don’t remember the brand of window. But I recommend the warranty.
 
I have an ABC nearby. I'll take some measurements and see what kinda moneys I'll have to come up with.

I dealt with the local ABC supply when I was in NY. Good people.
 
elmostump said:
Tagged for interest, our house is almost 39 years old just like my marriage. Need to replace windows not wife. Wow not sure which one would be cheaper.
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Reach out when you’re ready for a quote.
 
We bought Window World mid grade and replaced our original wooden frame windows that were rotting. Vinyl windows with fuzzy looking material seals. They have a lifetime warranty and I have already had 3 sashes replaced as they fogged or molded between the panes. Takes about 8 weeks for them to get replacement sashes and both times I have had to call them after 8 weeks and inquire only to be told the replacements were in and when would I like them installed. Uh, yesterday. If it gets really cold outside, the windows are cold to the touch. We had Anderson quote and they were 3 times the price of WW.
 
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