Posted: 9/14/2006 1:13:53 PM EDT
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We will be replacing all the old orginal windows in da home shortly and while I really like Pella or Anderson windows there are a couple local companies that specialize in windows. http://www.gillwindow.com is the only one I can find on the web. What should we look for in replacement windows & are vinyl windows any good when compared to traditional wood replacement windows. |
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Windows are a major upgrade for your house. I don't know what windows you have, but in my old house, we had original (circa 1951) wood windows that leaked like crazy. We had new mid-grade windows installed and saw an immediate dramatic improvement in our heating/cooling bill, and we didn't have the drafts and whatnot. We got vinyl welded windows and they were very nice. If those guys are local to you, I'd recommend seeing if you could visit a showroom... BTW side note: I canNOT believe the crappy windows builders are putting in to new construction homes these days... you can push them in the middle and visibly move them 1/4-1/2" ... that became one of my tests for other houses we looked at. If it barely budges, chances are it's a decent window... |
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The quality of vinyl windows varies dramatically by vendor. Handle and operate any examples you are thinking about purchasing. If using a smaller shop ask for references to see actual installed products. I currently have these in my home: http://www.milgard.com/ Quality seems decent (after 5 years) and they definitely keep the house cooler. |
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Andersen and Pella (very nice)= mo money. I replaced my windows with vinyl ones custom made to the opening size. Just make sure that they are double paned, low-e coating helps keep radiant heat out in the summer and in in the winter. They are even selling them w/ argon gas between panes. You replacing them yourself? Mark edit: Anderson's lower line uses a vinyl clad wood to the exterior, same as most of their sliding glass doors |
I live in a nice townhouse that was built in 2002, I love it, but the windows are the biggest POS I have ever seen. They are super thin, drafty, noise flows right through them and to top it off they are crank open windows which are constantly get stripped. |
I don't doubt it... I was looking at new construction last year on a lark ... we went to 6 or 8 developments including some that we couldn't afford at all, just to look at them... and every single one of them will need new windows in 5-7 years. My wife works with a woman who had to replace all her windows - $14,000 worth - in a brand new home after (IIRC) 7 years because they were so cheap... I'm just glad the previous owners of my new house replaced the windows for me a few years back with Anderson (!)... I don't even know if **I** would have replaced them with Anderson if I'd been in their shoes! |
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I graduated from Central College in Pella, IA. The Pella Rollscreen company is a big employer there. Growing up in Iowa, our house had Pella windows. Top notch quality, super tight seals, and perfect for your cold Wyoming Winters! My current home built in 1988 still has the original alum windows. When I replace them, it will be with Pella windows. I sure do miss those crank open Pella windows with the roll-up screens. |
My auto mechanics instructor in college was from Pella & I'm organally from Marshalltowwn, we have a Lenox furnace now and I'd really like to get Pella windows depending on how expensive they are 
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Vinyl is final! I am replacing all of my windows with vinyl replacement windows. First floor is done. This weekend I will finish the second floor. I waited for a deal through Home Depot. Open a credit card and you get 0% interest and 0 payments for 12 months. I also had a coupon for 10% off my order. I bought 11 windows for my home (including basement) as well as a new fiberglass door. I bought the following: American Craftsman Double pane Extra thick glass (reduces outside noise) Argon filled "Low E" Efficiency rating Pane dividers are on the inside between the panes (trust me, get this option. When you want to clean them it makes it a lot easier.) Built in security locks Once you put in one yourself they are easy to install. Just make sure you measurements are right and on the small side by one quarter of an inch. By the way. Save your receipts for tax time. You may qualify for a tax deduction when you buy energy star rated doors and windows. |
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Spend the extra $$ on real windows.Andersen or Pella or whatever. The vinyl replacement windows are shit and they will not outlast a real window. Don't cheap out on the windows,unless you are planning on selling in the near future. The vinyl replacements will look like shit in 2-3 years. ETA:Don't buy the vinyl or real windows from the contractor,buy them yourself and pay someone to install them.They will charge you per window.Works out cheaper.Those vinyl replacements are so cheap,all the contractor does is mark up the price of the window and then charges to install.RIPOFF |
This isn't necessarily true... Midgrade vinyl windows will last plenty of time and look great... You're right though, don't cheap out, but at the same time Pellas and Andersons are very good windows... but very expensive windows... |
You mean "real" windows that are made of wood and will rot? Do what you want, but I have installed nearly *every* brand of windows in the homes I build. The worst? Marvin Integrity. The seals were so bad, I nearly didn't pass my blower door test on that house. The best? Certainteed XT series. No problems, callbacks etc,. Used them on MANY houses. My own home? Andersen. Somewere in the middle for quality, very near the top for price. I will not use them again unless a client is adamant. |
Closest Certainteed dealer is 75 miles from here, what other brand of windows can ya recomend & how do Pella stack up 
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I have a 9 year old house with double pane "cradco brand windows" that company is now called Jeld Wen. 90% of the windows have some rot. The frames were constructued of engineered wood. ie finger jointed pieced together junk. You can paint them yearly and you still aren't sure that it's going to hold. I contacted the MFG and they were unresponsive. I've had good luck with both pella and anderson in the past. On other homes. I'm probably going to have to go back down that path. |
We have a jeld wen place here in town and up till now they were one of the ones we've been looking at. However, no longer are they on the good list!! |
| I had 17 windows replaced including a large picture window and a sliding glass door installed made out of the same double pane low e or whatever kind of gas. These are the ones that open from the inside and tilt in so you can also clean the outside from within, probably very handy on a 2 story house. I don't know what the electric bill was before, but this summer we averaged $130 with every day in the 90 degree range. We have a 1,800sqft ranch home built in 1955. They were $7,000 installed. On a hot day you can tilt in a window and the outside pane of glass will burn your hand while the inside pane is still room temperature. Another benefit is that these block UV rays. My parents home built around 98 doesn't have UV blocking windows and their wood floors and furniture already have faded from the sunlight. |
They are all my trim carpenter uses. I would assume well, he gets BIG bucks. The ones in my house are 3 years old (half, 1 year old other half) and they still seal and act like new. Have had no issues. We get a LOT of sun out here and a lot of wind. They work fine. I got mostly crank outs because I like that style and some of them are escape windows (they open on a hinge so they truly open 90 degrees) and they are cool. I just had him replace this total POS garden window (it sticks out to put plants in it, was not a vinyl window) and I think the window was $240 bucks, it is hinged on the top and opens from the bottom, really cool. Low - E, double paned, his install was like 2 hours and I have to paint the outside trim. What a deal. |
| im a contractor and have replaced a lot of windows, vinyl replacements, anderson, pella etc. if you want a quality window for a reasonable price go with vinyl. vinyl can be made to any custom size you want. pella, anderson, etc will only be made in certain sizes, and you will have to have a rough opening that will fit these sizes. depending on the age of your window this may require aditional framing for these "real" windows to work, framing=$$$. also it would be pretty easy for the average DIY to replace vinyl windows with a few saturdays. if you do use vinyl get ones that have welded (fused) seams at the corners, and the glass is sealed with a butyl rubber (automotive style glazing). this makes a stronger window frame and a glass seal that will last much much longer. |