Home Improvements/Replacement windows - Don't fall for the hype

[pianoman9701]

Hey Gang, many of us have double or triple-pane windows that have lost their seal over the 20-30 years they've been around. Window replacement guys come around and show you how great new replacements will look, offering credit and always, "good guy discounts" with any hesitancy from the homeowner on the sticker shock for such a job. If you're thinking of selling a home, this may be just one project of many that you're planning. Don't do it! There's another way (sorry if there are any window replacement sponsors on here).

Call your local glass company and ask for pricing on new panes. The panes are sealed, so removing the old panes and replacing with new panes restores the windows to their original benefit, and for about 1/5th of the cost of full window replacements. They cut the molding inside the frame (from inside and outside the home), pull out the old panes and put in the new. We just had this done for all of the windows in the original house - 4 large double-pane, 2-sided (sliders) - for $1500 installed with a veteran discount on materials. It took all of about 30 minutes per window.

A good mortgage guy in conjunction with an honest contractor can save you lots of money on home improvements because of prior experience with house prep for sale or just plain improvements that you need. 

[CascadeCruiser]

Damn. I could have used this advice a couple months and $14k ago. 40 year old house with aluminum framed windows needed an upgrade. Got 10 new windows and 2 sliders all trimmed. Hopefully someone will benefit from your sage advice.

[pianoman9701]

Damn. I could have used this advice a couple months and $14k ago. 40 year old house with aluminum framed windows needed an upgrade. Got 10 new windows and 2 sliders all trimmed. Hopefully someone will benefit from your sage advice.

This one I just learned myself. Sorry!

[WAcoyotehunter]

great tip- thank you!

[CascadeCruiser]

Damn. I could have used this advice a couple months and $14k ago. 40 year old house with aluminum framed windows needed an upgrade. Got 10 new windows and 2 sliders all trimmed. Hopefully someone will benefit from your sage advice.

This one I just learned myself. Sorry!

Nothing to be sorry about, my friend!

[trophyhunt]

Yup, my cousin replaces windows, I broke one of my panes and he had it replaced in 1/2 hour and 125 or 150 bucks. The well water we have has ruined all our windows, tried acid had a professional come out and they said we will have to replace all of them.  I'll do a few at a time before we sell.

[Sandberm]

We did something similar to what you did Pianoman. Similar work on south facing windows. The wife comes home tonight I can have her find the receipt.

Yes, I was shocked at what replacing a whole window costs, so we just replaced a few panes. They worked on some windows trying to get them to slide up and down better. That was a waste of time. Basically some of the sliding windows in our manufactured home will never be able to go up and down easily because they are not square anymore.

We have a really nice, well taken care of 20 year old manufactured home....but its still a manufactured home.

[Igor]

Hey, pianoman.....correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that if you upgrade the double-pane-aluminum-framed windows in a 40-year-old house with vinyl, you basically could re-coup the cost when you sold the house.

[Boss .300 winmag]

I’ve done this a couple times, kid broke one, and a gutter broke one. Had a company come replace the outside pane.

Have one now that lost its seal, but it doesn’t bother me.

[pianoman9701]

We did something similar to what you did Pianoman. Similar work on south facing windows. The wife comes home tonight I can have her find the receipt.

Yes, I was shocked at what replacing a whole window costs, so we just replaced a few panes. They worked on some windows trying to get them to slide up and down better. That was a waste of time. Basically some of the sliding windows in our manufactured home will never be able to go up and down easily because they are not square anymore.

We have a really nice, well taken care of 20 year old manufactured home....but its still a manufactured home.

There nothing wrong with manufactured homes. There are even a few lenders who will refi them or fund purchases if they're still on their original foundation. And their value, although not the same as a stick built house, still increases as long as they're kept up.

[pianoman9701]

Hey, pianoman.....correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that if you upgrade the double-pane-aluminum-framed windows in a 40-year-old house with vinyl, you basically could re-coup the cost when you sold the house.

If you're talking about an energy improvement tax credit, I believe you're correct. But I'm not a tax advisor, so you should ask your accountant or give the IRS a call.

[turkeyfeather]

I used to work in a window factory. Here's another tip.....NEVER pay for the argon gas. It's a scam.

[pianoman9701]

I used to work in a window factory. Here's another tip.....NEVER pay for the argon gas. It's a scam.

Good to know.

[Igor]

Hey, pianoman.....correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that if you upgrade the double-pane-aluminum-framed windows in a 40-year-old house with vinyl, you basically could re-coup the cost when you sold the house.

If you're talking about an energy improvement tax credit, I believe you're correct. But I'm not a tax advisor, so you should ask your accountant or give the IRS a call.

No, I'm just basically talking about spending say, $18,000, for vinyl replacement windows.  When the time comes to sell the house, it will be worth around $18k more than it would have been with the old aluminum-framed windows.  Or so I've been told...................

[b0bbyg]

We have Milgard windows and they are coming out next week to replace 2 panes that have lost their seal.

Installed in 2005 and they are replacing for free as they are covered under warranty, I was expecting to pay a couple hundred for the two glass pieces to be replaced. Point is if you are original owner or know who installed them call and ask, might get a nice surprise.