I need to know about windows and stuff.

[Captain Awesome]

I checked a few old threads here about Pella vs. Anderson vs. Marvin etc, but I'm not even to the point of trying to make that determination yet.

My townhouse, built around 1993, has 2 windows that don't really close all the way anymore - they'll be mostly closed, but can't be latched. There are other signs around the house that the place has settled over the past 20 years, including a long narrow crack in the basement that runs from the back of the house to the front (it was covered in carpet when I bought the place, but I removed the carpet and discovered it). I don't have any leaks or moisture as a result, so I'm guessing it's not a big deal. There are also a few drywall seams in the house that have shifted and the seam tape has buckled. (I've got the middle unit in a row of 5 townhouses, if it matters.)

I'm probably looking at replacing 8 or 9 windows (3 of which are in a bay window configuration - I haven't decided if I want to replace the window over the sink in the kitchen), and maybe the slider to the patio.

Anyway, since there's been obvious settling/shifting, I'm pretty sure that the frames are no longer square. How big of a deal is this? Should I plan for this to cost significantly more than if everything was still properly aligned?

What do I need to know before I start calling people out for quotes? Can I reasonably do the replacements myself, or is this likely to be complicated thanks to the frame issues?

[skiballs]

capt, aren't you in the DC area? If so I can hook you up with a good deal.

[BigDaddy]

Windows aren't that hard to replace, but you need the tools, time and skills.

If you lack any of those, go to your local lumber yard, get some names, interview some, get three quotes (with references) and then decide who to use.

No opening is ever perfectly square, so they invented shims. Every window ever installed has a shim or ten around it.

[Flyoverland Captive]

The window frames were probably never perfectly square to begin with; that's what shims and trim are for. You shouldn't need any re-framing work done, just shim it all level and square.


Edit: Doh! What BigDadddy said...

[Toadman]

Just did a remodel, and had a bunch of new windows installed. First know the different types of frames available. Wood, wood clad, vinyl, fiberglass composite, etc. Know the different types of panes, gas filled double panes, low E, etc. Then know the warranties. Most warranties offered are pretty decent from the big name mfg companies.

I can tell you that we took out a bunch of old double paned, metal framed, no UV protection, no inert gas filled windows, and wow! What a difference in thermal regulation. Not to mention we probably won't have the UV light fading the wood floors issues that we had experienced with the old windows.

IMO, it's money well spent for a high quality window.

FWIW, our room was south to SW facing, so lots of sun exposure.

[Alaskan Rover]

Just did a remodel, and had a bunch of new windows installed. First know the different types of frames available. Wood, wood clad, vinyl, fiberglass composite, etc. Know the different types of panes, gas filled double panes, low E, etc. Then know the warranties. Most warranties offered are pretty decent from the big name mfg companies.

I can tell you that we took out a bunch of old double paned, metal framed, no UV protection, no inert gas filled windows, and wow! What a difference in thermal regulation. Not to mention we probably won't have the UV light fading the wood floors issues that we had experienced with the old windows.

IMO, it's money well spent for a high quality window.

FWIW, our room was south to SW facing, so lots of sun exposure.
.

THIS^^^^^ Everything Toadman said. You will notice a difference if you not only replace but upgrade. Windows are so much more efficient now, Especially the gas-filled, double-paned ones.


And like those above said...shims fix most out-of-square window systems. They are not hard to replace yourself...once you take the window trim off, you'll see it's really quite simple....especially if your going to simply replace the whole unit, frame and all.


Check to see which windows receive the most sunlight to figure out which ones should be replaced with UV protective windows. I'd recommend double-paned, gas-filled for all as you can sometimes get some good deals on a package. But some panes will have an additional UV inhibitor applied to them and these should be put in any windows where you have bright, streaming light coming through.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Piggybacking on this thread to ask a quick question:

I have a metal framed double paned window where the outside pane is broken. Can this be replaced without replacing the entire window?

I want to fix this as cheaply as possible and couldn't care less about any other considerations.

[RootSkier]

Willie: the whole double pane will need to be replaced, but yes -- generally all window glass can be fixed. If you can remove the sash yourself, take it to any glass shop. If not, most glass shops will come out and give you a free estimate.

[RootSkier]

As for the OP, if you are asking this question, I highly suggest hiring someone to do the replacement. That person will be able to seal all the air gaps, and fix the exterior and interior trim all at once. As others have said, don't worry about the frame, it will be fine.

[Flyoverland Captive]

Piggybacking on this thread to ask a quick question:

I have a metal framed double paned window where the outside pane is broken. Can this be replaced without replacing the entire window?

I want to fix this as cheaply as possible and couldn't care less about any other considerations.

I had to replace about a dozen double-paned windows in my current house; the seals had failed and they had begun to fog inside. It was much easier that I thought it would be; the sashes com apart pretty easily. One window should take you about fifteen minutes to fix. Any good glass shop can make you a replacement.

[sb]

I paid a local contractor to replace the windows in our house, high efficency low E vynl units that have made a ton of difference in our older home. Also had the patio door removed and a large window installed with a normal steel insulated door.

Patio doors are so easy to remove that it should be illeagle to install them.

[Hugh Conway]

Get a mac.

[brice618]

Get a mac.

He'd like to be able to change the glass in his windows himself.

[Captain Awesome]

Sorry I've been slow getting back to this. Good info here, for sure. Based on BigDaddy's assessment, I may need to look at options other than DIY. I've got the time, and probably the skills, but definitely not the tools to do the job right. I love doing it myself where it makes sense, but maybe this isn't the time to experiment.

Skiballs, I'm in Northern VA (near DC), so I'll get in touch once I have an idea of a timeline/plan.

[Bunion 2020]

One quick question, in tax year 2013 will there still be a credit for High E windows?

I have been taking advantage of this credit the past couple years and it takes a bit of the pain away.

[Danno]

Sorry I've been slow getting back to this. Good info here, for sure. Based on BigDaddy's assessment, I may need to look at options other than DIY. I've got the time, and probably the skills, but definitely not the tools to do the job right. I love doing it myself where it makes sense, but maybe this isn't the time to experiment.

I had neither the time nor the skills, but got mine replaced last summer. Even if you have the skills and tools, if it isn't something you do regularly, it will take you a lot longer than the pros; they did all dozen windows in my house in less than a day. FWIW, we got 4 or 5 quotes, and they vary a lot. Part of it is the quality of the windows, but part of it is the quality of the install. The cheaper guys will probably do a serviceable job, but you will lose more window. The more expensive guys will take longer but you'll have a bigger opening.

[Tippster]

Patio doors are so easy to remove that it should be illeagle to install them.

Indeed.



We installed Pella replacement windows (slide into the existing opening) and they're awesome.

[farmer]

Windows?

At least you aren't looking for a mac.

[OFF!lax]

Just did a remodel, and had a bunch of new windows installed. First know the different types of frames available. Wood, wood clad, vinyl, fiberglass composite, etc. Know the different types of panes, gas filled double panes, low E, etc. Then know the warranties. Most warranties offered are pretty decent from the big name mfg companies.

I can tell you that we took out a bunch of old double paned, metal framed, no UV protection, no inert gas filled windows, and wow! What a difference in thermal regulation. Not to mention we probably won't have the UV light fading the wood floors issues that we had experienced with the old windows.

IMO, it's money well spent for a high quality window.

FWIW, our room was south to SW facing, so lots of sun exposure.

although vinyl clad windows are now being shown to emit some small amount of toxins ( those look like a vinyl window,excuse me if I'm wrong) also no real noticeable difference in floors with a new window. If you want to really protect them get a high quality window film. Anderson/Pella/Marvin/Loewen all make really good and really bad windows. All comes down to cost. I detest vinyl anything. Aluminum Clad wood are pretty much the best. We use triple glazed on some larger ones over looking ocean.

[Captain Awesome]

I finally did finish this project. Ended up with Okna vinyl replacement windows, installed by WIndows on Washington. As far as the windows go, I'm very happy with them - they are a huge step up from the 20-ish-year-old construction-grade aluminum windows that no longer opened or closed reliably. They look great, and make things much quieter (and less drafty) inside. As far as the installation, Windows on Washington was great, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone. It ended up costing a bit more than I'd planned (doesn't it always?), but I feel that I got a good value for what I spent. I might have been able to go cheaper, but I didn't feel good about the options at the lower price point.

Oddly enough, the whole reason I even looked into Okna windows was because I recognized "Okna" as the Czech (and apparently, Polish) word for "window", and was curious about the product. Turns out the company was started by some Polish-born contractors in NY. The window scores very well in terms of visible light transmission, U-value, and all that jazz. Admittedly, they've only been installed for 2 weeks, but I feel good about my purchase.

[KQ]

Replaced all the windows in my house with aluminum clad double hung windows by Sierra Pacific - absolutely beautiful.

[digitaldeath]

Stoke city!!!! Loving those treatments

[sb]

heady topper clone in the keg

[goldenshowers]

We redid our whole whose (13 windows) in Sierra pacific aspen casement and a Shasta door on the patio this past may. The original windows were from 1989.

I burn on average 4 chords a winter for the past 7 years. This year it looks like 2.5-3.

[KQ]

We redid our whole whose (13 windows) in Sierra pacific aspen casement and a Shasta door on the patio this past may. The original windows were from 1989.

I burn on average 4 chords a winter for the past 7 years. This year it looks like 2.5-3.

Yes! New windows and doors made a HUGE difference in heating/heat retention esp. after I had new Hunter Douglas double honeycomb blinds installed. So nice and cozy now. The house had horrible windows and doors from the 80s that offered no insulation and were quite drafty.

I went with Simpson doors (pine with glass inset ) and am quite happy with them (used Emtek hardware)