Replacement windows from big box store or lumber yard

[Coyote machine]

I replaced all my 1972 vintage Andersen Narrowline double hung and picture windows with double hung on both ends, with Marvin Ultrex from my local building supply/lumber yard. They have fiberglass frames, closer to glass of the window, so less thermal break; the fiberglass won't warp like vinyl, won't dent like metal, and no rot like wood. They won't give the same energy credit as windows in Florida do, unless they include true divided lites, at significantly higher upfront cost. They tilt in for cleaning, have low-E glass, thermopane, etc.
I started by replacing the large living room existing Andersen picture with double hungs on either side with a new Andersen with Low-E and a special coating to reduce reflection, since the blistering summer sun used to crisp everything inside the house. This window is amazing; it's the clearest view to the outdoors I've ever seen. It may have an additional coating to give it the true to life outdoor view, I don't recall, but whatever it has on it, in it, it is absolutely true to the outdoor colors. I went with the Marvins everywhere else on the entire house because of features, fiberglass frames and truckload price point. That was 2009. Absolutely no problems to date. I bought to keep the house for my life.

 

[chuck172]

No-one else here opted to for anderson combo units over the doublehungs?
Combo units are storm/screen units that simply replace the existing anderson screen units, and are held in place by caulking the top and sides, and about 5 screws.
Cost about $120. each.

 

[JDgreen227]

Haven't seen that with my (Pella) metal-clad windows, which are now well over 10 years old. But I'll be on the lookout for it now!

You may not have an issue like mine as the winters where you live are likely not as severe as what mid-Michigan experiences. The news here said recently this February was the coldest on record since 1978.

 

[Don H]

Exactly. And Simonton makes a very good vinyl window. You probably had another couple hundred bucks in trim coil, caulk and insulation. So for two days labor, you 'made' 6 to 10 grand you didn't shell out. You normally make that at work ?

For the most part, especially if one has standard, wood, double hung windows, installation is not all that tricky. Wrapping the outside trim is probably the hardest part for folks not used to using (or having) a sheet metal brake, and while that makes a much neater, more professional looking finish (IMHO), it is not a requirement. What is does is make the exterior nearly maintenance free, but if you don't mind painting, you can skip that part.

I worked for a window installation company for several years, and used to cringe at the prices they would charge people (and they had no standard price....it was however much the salesman could extract from the homeowner) knowing what they had in the window and my labor cost to install it. I later went out on my own and charged $60/window labor over the cost of the window and other materials, and made a dang good living for many years doing so.

If you want to save thousands (and I mean THOUSANDS, as above) and not do the job yourself, go find an aluminum/vinyl supply place that also sells windows to contractors like Sprinklerman did, and get the names of a couple of small contractors. Call them for LABOR only estimates (you'll likely find they will install them for under 100/ea even today), have THEM come measure ( I always preferred to work off my own measurements), you buy the windows/materials, and they come put them in.

I've owned my own home improvement / construction company for 25 years and have done well over 100 window replacement jobs. A typical 12 window job, replacing old wood sash windows with aluminum wrapping takes me and one helper takes about 2.5 days on location. My profit is usually about $2,000.

Out of that profit I earn comes, fed, state, local, SS taxes and accounting fees, business and vehicle insurance, advertising, licensing, bonds, maintenance on vehicles, tools, time on estimates, time ordering and picking up windows and materials, any screw ups, warrantee work, etc. Not to mention competing with illegals doing the work cheap because they have none of the expenses listed above.

There's a reason why most small businesses go under after a few years and it's not because they're making too much money.

 

[JRobyn]

There's only one potential problem with the low-e coatings. We bought nice low-e Sun windows for the new house (about $38k worth!!). In one of the window "sets" (see photo) the top 1/2 round developed a leak between the two panes and started to fog slightly. Sun quickly agreed to replace the 1/2 round at no cost to me, BUT they are now using a slightly different coating, so the coloration from the coating is different from the rest of the "set". It is only slight, but noticeable.

- Jay

 

[Creamer]

I have to agree that there is no need to spend a lot of money on windows on an old house but new windows is a great sales point. There are a lot of acceptable windows available. i sure would not spend the money on Pella - I did 20 years ago and have never been happy with them. Plus after the first year everything that I brought up was a charge and not a little one either. I would never again put Pella in even if they were an average cost window because of the company attitude.

 

[Country Geek]

There's only one potential problem with the low-e coatings. We bought nice low-e Sun windows for the new house (about $38k worth!!). In one of the window "sets" (see photo) the top 1/2 round developed a leak between the two panes and started to fog slightly. Sun quickly agreed to replace the 1/2 round at no cost to me, BUT they are now using a slightly different coating, so the coloration from the coating is different from the rest of the "set". It is only slight, but noticeable.

- Jay

I can tell the color difference but only because I looked for it since you pointed it out.

That window and wall is beautiful.

 

[JDgreen227]

I can tell the color difference but only because I looked for it since you pointed it out.

That window and wall is beautiful.

I truthfully cannot see any coloration difference.....and agree that the wall and windows are just beautiful !!! And here I thought I was a big spender by splurging for $5000 worth of Low-E glass 400 series Andersons.....:laughing: Before your post I had never seen the brand name of Sun windows. Did you go with stock sizes, custom sized, or a combination of both?

 

[Billrog]

I have had the same experience with a 5'X5' window JRobyn mine is much darker than the rest but we can live with it.

 

[Walkin Horse]

There's only one potential problem with the low-e coatings. We bought nice low-e Sun windows for the new house (about $38k worth!!). In one of the window "sets" (see photo) the top 1/2 round developed a leak between the two panes and started to fog slightly. Sun quickly agreed to replace the 1/2 round at no cost to me, BUT they are now using a slightly different coating, so the coloration from the coating is different from the rest of the "set". It is only slight, but noticeable.

- Jay

Was it the low e coating or the argon between the glass that caused the problem.