OT: Replacement windows?

[Casey in Ky]

I know some of you guys get tired of the off topic threads, but this is one of the best places on the internet to pick peoples(at least intelligent) brains.

As some of you know I just bought a forclosed house and an needing to replace the windows. I"m on a pretty tight budget so cost is a big factor. So far I"m looking at Reliabuilt at Lowes, Rodgers Windows at another local building supply, and Silverline by Anderson at another local building supply. Price qoutes are all about the same, with maybe the Rodgers being(maybe) a little cheaper(salesman still hasn"t got back with me to finalize the qoute).

Does anybody have any experience with any of these brands?? Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[Gun guru]

If you are going to live in the house go with a quality name brand. I built my home in 1999 and I got Great lakes brand windows....They Suck. Within 5 years I have had 3 of the 16 windows have seal cracks and need to be replaced. I paid out a total of $3,200 for all the windows.
Anderson, Pella, Marvin, Oxbow are all quality names.
The $149 vinyls are junk.

 

[Janicholson]

Anderson is reliably good also Peach Tree. JimN

 

[Anonymous-0]

Definitely check out Marvin. They have various lines that go from super expensive to economical. But they are all excellent windows. The cheap vinyl ones you get at the box stores are junk.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I agree with gun-guru Anderson, Marvin, Pella. If your frames are good, you could consider inserts. Will save money and installation headaches, but don't even consider it unless your frames are good to excellent.

 

[Don L C]

Don't shop just price......you will have them a long time......

 

[Sid]

I put Atrium vinyl windows in my old House. Do not go buy name brand only. Windows have performance ratings regarding air leakage, thermal resistance, solar gain and such. check them out. I am not able to explain it to you but go with the highest rating you can find to fit you budget. In my opinion name brand windows have not so top of the line windows that are junk. My opinion based on some bad experiences I have seen with name brand windows. Again regardless of brand asked to see the ratings given as result of test performed on windows. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I put reliabilt in my house and the leak a little bit of air in a strong wind. They are a hundred times better than what was there but they aren't the best. I have an Andersen that the two panes have sucked together and touch in the middle. That causes a cold spot where water condenses and frost forms.
If you are doing drop ins...When you take out the old sashes, drill a bunch of holes through the window frame (where the new drop in will cover the holes) into the cavity behind and pump that space FULL of expanding foam. Then put in the new drop in and foam it in all the way around. That will stop a lot of air leaks that get blamed on the new window.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I don't care for great lakes windows. They seem a little on the lite side. Two brands I would recommend are Alside , and Certanteed. You don't want the cheepies. You want middle of line or better. Middle of line are good. That's what I bought for my own place. Alsides middle of the line has double thickness glass , which makes the stronger. In return , they vibrate less , meaning less noise transfered through from outside. When I say double thickness glass , I'm not talking about duel panes. I'm talking about the actual glass itself. Also , the screen beading faces inside so that the sun doesn't work at it. They have steel reinforced window sashes. The sashes will not sag over time. Dual locks on all windows. Cheaper brands only have one in the middle. Check them out.

 

[fixerupper]

Are you using double hung windows or crank out?
I have all Andersen's, some are cranks and some are double hung.

The double hung windows are great, they seal well and work well, but the crank-outs are hard cranking and after awhile the crank mechanism conks out. They do seal well. These are ten years old, and maybe the cranks have been improved by now.

If the window is installed right you should only have to use fiberglass insulation around the frame. I've been told expanding foam might force the window frame together and make it too tight to slide right. Jim

 

[M Nut]

I put in all new Silverline windows last year, and my brother is building a new house and we just put in Silverline windows in his place today. We have been happy with them.

 

[John M]

Brinmar in my house installed for $2800, and they trimed the outside in aluminum. The yare triple pane, Low E, aluminum outside, wood inside. That was 6 years ago and not one problem, they are the tilt in type. I dont recall what the ones were I looked at at Lowes, but they were going to be about the same price as what I had put in. Let me also add that 6 of my windows are custom sizes.

 

[john d]

I replaced windows three years ago. The old ones were nearly 100 years old, and in pretty good shape generally, but did leak a lot of air when it was windy. I put in vinyl Crestline windows from Menards. They were among the most inexpensive I looked at, but the deciding factor was that they came in sizes that required the least adjustment to the holes the old ones left.

Regardless of the brand you choose, pay close attention to the ratings on the tags, and take the time to put them in straight. That can sometimes be a challenge in an older home, but you'll get much better life and performance out of the new ones if they aren't in a twist or bind.

 

[dave guest]

I like Anderson. Cheap, did em myself and I sure don't know anything about windows.

 

[Leland]

We bought some jen welds at menards on sale 6 years ago ,been pretty happy with them and they are not that expensive either .

 

[Anonymous-0]

Whichever ones you get DO NOT use expanding foam! Even the "non-expanding" stuff WILL expand. We used to do warranty service for several window companies (including the 3 largest). If we found foam, there had to be a HUGE other reason the window was "out of wack", or the company would refuse to warranty it.
Companies will tell you that the use of ANY foam MIGHT not affect your warranty, but 95% of the time it DOES. Vinyl OR wood.

 

[Foxtail]

We have some Great Lakes replacement windows and would not recommend them, but think TEMCO makes a good replacement window. I think they are only sold through lumber yards.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I won't suggest any brand name as we have seen trouble with them all for the most part.

I will tell you this, in the last three years I have heard the words---NOT DESIGNED FOR HIGH WIND from three different homeowners when they had the company rep out to look at the problem windows. They said they were instaled correct.

I havve been fortunate using the non expanding foam for probably ten years, since it first came out. I have used the expanding before that, and never had any troubles. I think the key is to leave room for it to expand, and come back the next day and trim out the window. It could however be just pure luck.

My question is does anyone live in a low wind area? Who knows, it could just be a easy out for the window companies.

Quality is alot of salesmanship for the most part. Price? I'm not real sure is the only factor to consider.<p<p

>>Linsey window in MN are very pricy, my brothers daughter, and her husband work there and complain about quanity out the door as the most important part of the work day. There was mention of intentional scratches in the shipping department because they were short on help, and managment could not understand, rather just demand. Therefore intentional scratches made them go to the scratched pile for salvage. I have however instaled some, and was satisfied.



In todays world you must realize that if any company has major problems with warrenty, they will indeed have a different name ont the product so warrenty anymore is roraly a joke at best.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Windy in Kansas, south central. We started putting in Pella's double hung, double pane, low E and they are wonderful windows. paid I believe around 200 apiece and am going to use them in the rest of the house. follow the directions they give and you won't have any trouble been 5 yrs. now on the oldest and we are 3/4 way around the house got 6 more to go. we also put in two sliders one Anderson and one Pella. Got the Anderson on sale a home peepot for approx 250 bucks and now wish i had put in the Pella like other one we put in, paid approx the same and it is vinyl...the windows are the Pro line and alum clad outside, wood inside. used foam and fit right in no problems. I believe it took me longer to take the 60 yr old ones out than to put in the new. If you are going to live in the place, put in the best you can afford and do like we are doing, as we can afford to. I will be done this summer for sure.
good luck with your project, just Love fixeruppers, Kent

 

[Aaron Ford]

Ordered M&S through Lowes and like them very much. Double pain, double hung wood. 140 a piece for 36x54.

 

[Anonymous-0]

When I built new in 93 after having worked for a builder for 10 years and the word at that time was "Anderson". I said I'm not paying for a name there are a lot of good windows, and I put in Caradco which was supposed to be as good as Anderson. Well, Mr. Caradco should be in jail!
Its now 15 yrs later my windows have been sh!t since 97. Yet, my friend has Andersons and he got warranty on several panes of glass that lost their seal and were 25, yes, 25 years old. Me? I can't get sh!t from Caradco and my sashes are rotten after 15 years. So, you see? the name was worth it.
As a remodel, my folks put in Marvin casements 12 yrs ago and they cut their heat bill by 1/3. they weren't cheap and if I had seen them when I built in 93 I would have used Marvin.

 

[GA Dave]

In 1990 I built a 1200 sq ft house and went with Lowes GAPCO double insulated windows. 10 year guarantee. Well, they did last ten years. GAPCO should have told me something. David.

 

[Jimmy King]

My house is 21 years old and since it took 4 years to build it the windows are older. They are Anderson and I am well pleased with them, no problems.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Jimmy, are your Anderson windows the 200 or 400 series?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Too much information.

sealed lips save ships

 

[rrlund]

Hey,in all seriousness,Colby and Colby. I replaced every window in the house with them. Cheap,extremely easy to install. You don't have to disturb the old casing. No drywaling or cobbling siding to match. Honest to God,it takes longer to take the old windows out than it does to put these new double panes in!

 

[teddy52food]

I believe Marvin will even build them to fit your rough openings. I have Marvin triple panes in my house. No problems. Easy to heat.

 

[Spook]

I have Pella and Marvins put in a few years ago. I think the marvin's are better. I had a Anderson doorwall, but it lost its seal after about 8 years, replaced that with a marvin about 10 years ago. No problems.

 

[J.C.in AZ.]

The replacement windows we installed in our 1962 Arizona territorial style house are low E Milguard Vynil in the cedar color and am so glad we opted for them rather than others sold here. The original windows were aluminum sliders which were pretty much standard practice and still is for the most part here. We expect a long life with them. They along with 12" Fibreglass Insulation in the attic and 12" Slump block walls with Stucco finish makes our house a warm and welcome spot when it gets cold and a welcome retreat from the heat which is starting now.JC

 

[JK-NY]

I put Silverline replacement windows in most of my house about 10 years ago and so far so good.The latches are kind of cheap, but the windows themselves have been OK. I can still use the old storm windows with them for a little extra help in the winter. Before you make a decision , I would pull the trim off the inside of one window and see what you have for a rough opening , and if there is insulation around the old window frame. If not, you'll want to insulate that area, and if you have older windows they might be held in place only by the int. and ext. trim and could easily be replaced with new construction windows (with the nailing fin), especially if you find some rot in the old frames and sills.

 

[Jimmy King]

Vern I can't answer your question all I know is I have 3 crank out windows two in the basement and one upstairs in the kitchen the rest are double hung.

 

[sherburne]

I'm looking at Integrity Ultrex by Marvin for $320 each. 56" X 30" R.O. I bought one surplus for $190 and installed it. Then I bought a Harvey for $210 but couldn't use it comparing it to the Integrity. Men and boys. What's a triple pane Marvin run?