New Home Windows

Cherokeekid88

Cherokeekid88

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2007
Location
High Point, NC
Who do you guys recommend? Our windows need replacing. We have 2 bay windows downstairs that desperately need replacing and probably all the other windows as well. Preferably a place that does financing.
 
Cherokeekid88 said:
Who do you guys recommend? Our windows need replacing. We have 2 bay windows downstairs that desperately need replacing and probably all the other windows as well. Preferably a place that does financing.
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Don’t use US Home Exteriors! They hire independent crews to do the install. Apparently there was some beef between the company and the installation crew hired to do our house & the company canned them. We were their last job. They decided to remove the existing windows by throwing hammers through them. I put a damn quick stop to that. Installation job was total shit. I had them send out a new crew 3 times to repair/replace trim. We had 3 windows lose their seal and now there’s moisture & mold between the panes. Steer clear of this company!
 
In 2014 I used a few recommendations I got here on NC 4x4. For windows, I went with Window World & Siding Co. right out of Charlotte. [704-535-1260] They use the same Andersen Renewal windows, that Andersen charges 3 times as much for! I got quality windows & screens, with quality work! They carried off all the old windows & debris, & cleaned up inside as well!
 
Cherokeekid88 said:
Who do you guys recommend? Our windows need replacing. We have 2 bay windows downstairs that desperately need replacing and probably all the other windows as well. Preferably a place that does financing.
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There's a lot to unpack here. I used to work for Pella in Greensboro. Are they casement (crank out) or double hung windows (two glass panels that slide up and down)? Depending on the condition and makeup of the windows will dictate whether they can do a "pocket" replacement where they just replace the sashes and place windows inside the window stops (the wood pieces that hold the sashes in place). If the boxes are in poor condition, replacing the entire bay window as an assembly would be the next best bet. Is there a roof over it or a soffit? Also, is there anything underneath it? Pella and Anderson will probably be some of the higher quotes you get, but also, they are usually a wood window with aluminum clad exterior.

Is this your "forever home", or is this a home that you may plan to sell? If this is your forever home, I would go with a higher quality with a good warranty (Pella's is pretty good, but it's not the best out there). For a flip house, I would do decent quality vinyl replacement windows. In my house, I have Thermastar by Pella for the windows I replaced and Pella Wood Designer series for the windows I put into new construction areas. I've been very impressed by them and installed them all myself.
 
Window replacement companies are mainly scammers. It's very easy to do in most cases but sounds like two big bay windows you have may not be. Take your time and get educated before signing a deal.
 
I'm going through this right now. Stay away from companies like Champion, Universal Windows direct or Window Nation. Their business model seems to be hit you with the highest price imaginable, then the manager suddenly finds a "rebate" and your price comes down several thousand dollars to some arbitrary number that is still too high IMO. You then feel like you've got a good deal. Got several other quotes from local companies with good google/facebook/yelp/etc. reviews and their quotes were thousands less than the big names. This is why any company that hits you with a "today's price" is trying to rip you off. They're hoping you'll sign and do no research.

Get multiple quotes. Do lots of research. Be sure they specify if it's a full frame replacement (down to the studs) or an insert replacement like Mangler described.
 
shawn said:
In most cases, this isn't going to yield much in terms of energy savings.
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Depends on what's there currently. We replaced a lot of single pane windows that had storm windows and having a double pane of glass with argon between them actually see a significant increase (not just in the field, but in our own house with real-world savings not just hypothetical "these windows will pay for themselves" crap). Replacing double pane with newer double pane, I'll agree won't see a significant savings. If you have double pane windows that are cloudy (cloudiness is between the panes and cannot be cleaned), means the seal has broken and the argon or other inert gas is gone and are no longer as efficient.
 
Carolina Country (electric co-op magazine) says that you'll never "make your money back" in energy savings by replacing properly sealed single pane old windows + storm windows with newer windows. Air sealing is way more important than the negligible insulating value of double pane argon filled windows.
 
awheelterd said:
Carolina Country (electric co-op magazine) says that you'll never "make your money back" in energy savings by replacing properly sealed single pane old windows + storm windows with newer windows. Air sealing is way more important than the negligible insulating value of double pane argon filled windows.
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That's the hitch. "properly sealed" single pane windows about never exist. Most were builder grade windows that had gaps around the sashes that I could fit a tri-fold pamphlet in-between. Very easy to demonstrate in older houses. If the window rattled at all, I usually had a pretty easy sell. Yes, the storm window typically provided all of the energy savings that the builder grade windows lost, but who wants ugly-ass aluminum storm windows on the outside of their house?

If energy savings is ALL you are after, then typically repairing what is leaking and properly sealing them will solve the problem. 99 times out of 100, however, the homeowner is looking for an aesthetic upgrade as well and replacement windows do that. Many times, homeowner is also looking for a maintenance-free exterior and a wrapped aluminum clad or vinyl exterior does that, too.
 
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ManglerYJ said:
Depends on what's there currently. We replaced a lot of single pane windows that had storm windows and having a double pane of glass with argon between them actually see a significant increase (not just in the field, but in our own house with real-world savings not just hypothetical "these windows will pay for themselves" crap). Replacing double pane with newer double pane, I'll agree won't see a significant savings. If you have double pane windows that are cloudy (cloudiness is between the panes and cannot be cleaned), means the seal has broken and the argon or other inert gas is gone and are no longer as efficient.
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If it's a >40yo wood window in a wood frame, you can replace the sashes with a solid piece of polystyrene and there's still a big ass air gap all the way around it.
 
awheelterd said:
It's hard to believe that those are still allowed by code.
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ManglerYJ said:
That's the hitch. "properly sealed" single pane windows about never exist. Most were builder grade windows that had gaps around the sashes that I could fit a tri-fold pamphlet in-between. Very easy to demonstrate in older houses. If the window rattled at all, I usually had a pretty easy sell. Yes, the storm window typically provided all of the energy savings that the builder grade windows lost, but who wants ugly-ass aluminum storm windows on the outside of their house?

If energy savings is ALL you are after, then typically repairing what is leaking and properly sealing them will solve the problem. 99 times out of 100, however, the homeowner is looking for an aesthetic upgrade as well and replacement windows do that. Many times, homeowner is also looking for a maintenance-free exterior and a wrapped aluminum clad or vinyl exterior does that, too.
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We have noticed for the past couple of years or so that the wood around the windows is just falling apart. Yes aesthetics are partially the reason for wanting to replace at least the 2 bay windows we have, but also, they are drafty as all get out. I have gone around a sealed them as best I could and even did the window film two winters ago to try and trap some of that heat in, bit its also coming from below the windows as well.
 
Cherokeekid88 said:
We have noticed for the past couple of years or so that the wood around the windows is just falling apart. Yes aesthetics are partially the reason for wanting to replace at least the 2 bay windows we have, but also, they are drafty as all get out. I have gone around a sealed them as best I could and even did the window film two winters ago to try and trap some of that heat in, bit its also coming from below the windows as well.
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Do you know what brand the existing windows are? It sounds like you are definitely looking at a full tear-out down to the studs to replace it. Different window manufacturers have different "standard size" windows and Pella for example is the worst when it comes to their standard sizes. Typically their standard sizes were in odd numbers (35" wide for example) so to replace one in a house with even numbered standard sizes (36" wide for example), you had to build out the opening slightly or order custom sized windows which jacks up the price. Two dimensions you end up working with are frame width/height and rough opening width/height (typically frame size plus 3/4"). That small of a difference doesn't sound like much except his means adjusting the interior casings and either the brick-moulding or trim on the exterior.

Bear in mind when you are looking as well what you want the exterior to be as far as finish. Do you want a maintenance free exterior? If so, look at a clad exterior or vinyl. Are you looking to stay with a wood interior and either paint or stain them? If so, you will want a clad exterior and wood interior. A vinyl window will look plastic on the inside and outside, so be prepared for that.
Since these are bay windows, are there "roofs" over them, or did they build out and cantilever them into the wall? The Pella bay windows that I sold were wood and clad were HEAVY and required either the wall to be built up or a cabling system built into the soffit/roof to support the weight and keep them from sagging.
 
ManglerYJ said:
Do you know what brand the existing windows are? It sounds like you are definitely looking at a full tear-out down to the studs to replace it. Different window manufacturers have different "standard size" windows and Pella for example is the worst when it comes to their standard sizes. Typically their standard sizes were in odd numbers (35" wide for example) so to replace one in a house with even numbered standard sizes (36" wide for example), you had to build out the opening slightly or order custom sized windows which jacks up the price. Two dimensions you end up working with are frame width/height and rough opening width/height (typically frame size plus 3/4"). That small of a difference doesn't sound like much except his means adjusting the interior casings and either the brick-moulding or trim on the exterior.

Bear in mind when you are looking as well what you want the exterior to be as far as finish. Do you want a maintenance free exterior? If so, look at a clad exterior or vinyl. Are you looking to stay with a wood interior and either paint or stain them? If so, you will want a clad exterior and wood interior. A vinyl window will look plastic on the inside and outside, so be prepared for that.
Since these are bay windows, are there "roofs" over them, or did they build out and cantilever them into the wall? The Pella bay windows that I sold were wood and clad were HEAVY and required either the wall to be built up or a cabling system built into the soffit/roof to support the weight and keep them from sagging.
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Yes, they both have a roof over them
 
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