vinyl replacement windows...

[Hugh Heifer]

In my first house I used Caradco Zap Packs. I dunno if they make them anymore but they were easy, fit well and were very efficient windows. I think the whole house cost me about a K.

I think they are Jeld-Wen now and call them Sash Packs.

 

[Lavarock64]

Local menonite/ Omish business builds and installs vinyl replacment windows. We had them do our whole house. The price was $300 a window installed. Size of the window does not change the price much. Come to find out there are only a few glass makers out there and all the window companies buy their glass from them.

They are all low E/ Argon filled double pane. This is the minimum to get the energy credit on your taxes (make sure you save your paperwork). They all flip in to clean and have locks. We went for 1/2 screens to add versitility (a/c units, clearer view).

Good Luck

 

[AJP]

You may want to consider fiberglass windows. Stronger than straight vinyl ... I bought "Inline Fiberglass" windows for a cottage/home on the east side shore of Lake Superior. Went in last year although I am still "under construction" and so far they have held tight .. the horizontal sliders facing the lake have been draft free which is pretty much unheard of in this area. I will use them again on any future installs. There aren't a lot of companies selling fiberglass ... but my experience is very positive. My contractor and the neighbours are impressed too given their experience with vinyl, wood windows..

 

[webelk6]

Brian

Had my whole house done about 15 yrs. ago and used these guys
Great Lakes Window®

Just had 6 windows and a patio door done by these guys

Milwaukee, WI Replacement Windows

The first cost me 10k , the second cost me 5k(sister-in-law works there)

IMHO the andersons are great. I can't even here cars go by anymore, and there is ABSOLUTELY no air coming in.

I am a contractor, not windows, and I say you can really beat these guys up. The salesman is marking em up at least 40%.
Plus I think they will come down on pricing based on the current crap economy...

 

[spressomon]

FWIW: Our new home (7.5 years old now) came with AMSCO vinyl windows. Begged the builder to let me upgrade to Pella or similar to no avail. This is my first and last experience with AMSCO and vinyl windows. Absolute garbage. And our home is 100% stucco so replacing now would be a royal PITA and/or costly.

The weather seals on the vertical sliders let in dust...and if dirt is getting in copious amounts of air are getting in/out. The bottom track allows wind driven water and dirt...that turns to mud...to enter.

I don't know if all vinyl windows are like these...but the larger windows have an incredible amount of flex...I can push on the middle of the window and get 2" of total in/out movement! Fun in a windstorm .

Just my $.02 on vinyl.

 

[nuclearlemon]

wasn't going to speak up, but i will in case anyone is considering thermotec. (they have the ads for free window, you just pay install on tv here in colorado and probably elsewhere). if you have standard size windows, avoid them. the windows will not make your home more energy efficient as they claim. i went from single pane glass windows and poorly installed double (you could feel the air blowing almost unhampered from around the windows) and there was no difference in my bills (yes, i was comparing usage).

if you have odd sizes, they may be worth it if you are looking for a window that actually slides up and down (unlike the doubles i replaced) and have looked into having custom sizes made (i don't have one normal sized window in my house.

to have one double large window (they actually made it into two windows; lower side sliding with a thin solid window across the top), three large windows, two med windows, two small windows and one custom mini window installed on my house was 6k. the people that do windows for thermotec are local contractors (i can see my contractors house from where i'm sitting right now), so quality there depends on the contractor (i was extremely pleased...5 hours, no leaks around the windows and they cleaned up).

i now have windows that slide up and down and drop in for cleaning, new screens that also slide out of the way and they look nice, so for me it was worth it.