Vinyl Windows Replacement
We are looking to replace the windows in our house. Anyone have any recommendation as far as what is a good vinyl replacement window? or good windows company. Our budget is around the $300-$400 per window installed range. What is your take on Alslide windows? We are also trying to take advantage of the Energy…
We are looking to replace the windows in our house. Anyone have any recommendation as far as what is a good vinyl replacement window? or good windows company. Our budget is around the $300-$400 per window installed range. What is your take on Alslide windows? We are also trying to take advantage of the Energy Star tax reimbursement program so the windows would have to be energy efficient. Thanks in advance.
You are right BHS, Namah did not mentioned anything about the windows being metal. He was alking about good vinal windows.
Well, surely I would not put cheap looking vinyl windows in an old and maybe historic building.
But he also did not mentioned anything about the windows being wood. Or I missed something???
helppls mentionesd about his windows being made of steel.So when I was writing about metal windows I was commenting his post and questions.
Maybe I only got list somewhere with the post names of people and confused helppls with namahs. Sorry.
You are right BHS, Namah did not mentioned anything about the windows being metal. He was alking about good vinal windows.
Well, surely I would not put cheap looking vinyl windows in an old and maybe historic building.
But he also did not mentioned anything about the windows being wood. Or I missed something???
helppls mentionesd about his windows being made of steel.So when I was writing about metal windows I was commenting his post and questions.
Maybe I only got list somewhere with the post names of people and confused helppls with namahs. Sorry.
You are right BHS, Namah did not mentioned anything about the windows being metal. He was alking about good vinal windows.
Well, surely I would not put cheap looking vinyl windows in an old and maybe historic building.
But he also did not mentioned anything about the windows being wood. Or I missed something???
helppls mentionesd about his windows being made of steel.So when I was writing about metal windows I was commenting his post and questions.
Maybe I only got list somewhere with the post names of people and confused helppls with namahs. Sorry.
Joannabp, Namah didn’t mention anything about the windows being metal. S/he said they didnt appear to be 85 years old, which makes me think they may possibly be that old but just in surprisingly good condition though there may be other clues to age s/he didnt mention. This is a blog about historic houses in Brooklyn, and much of the housing stock was built before WWII if not 100 years prior, so there’s a good chance that most readers live in buildings that are “really historic” in terms of wood windows. That is, worth preserving depending on condition.
I think that probably everyone who may be wondering if they should repair their windows or replace them with a new ones , should assess what they are working with. That should make a decision easier. It is really hard to judge what may the best thing to do without seeing what we are working with. I believe that all the aspects like quality of the original frames materials, style, condition of the windows should be taken under consideration before a final decision is being made.
I do understand that in some cases, when the building is really historic and the original windows are in a good condition and were made of a very good quality materials from the beginning , then there is a sense in making an effort to restore them. I agree that some windows in very old buildings may have a very characteristic looks, style, casements have some types of patterns on them and in those cases maybe efforts should be made to preserve it.
But we should judge what are we working with and then decide if it is worth it to repair or maybe the old windows we have are truly not in a good shape (like rotten wood, average looking metal frames that are not energy efficient and could be really easily replaced with a new quality windows ).
I do agree that when it comes to good quality wood ( but I am assuming here that there were a good quality from the beginning. I do not see a point to fix something that is poor quality and falling apart) windows there may be a sense in restoring them and they can be improved and have a better performance. Wood is a natural insulator so those frames do not differ so much in their performance from the new ones. There is no thermal breaks to worry about in those frames. Maybe nowadays , new wood windows have more glass panes, gas filled spaces, or low E coatings etc… , but I guess you can try to make up for it.
When it comes to metal window frames (aluminum, steel), probably more changed in designs of those frames and their energy efficiency. Old or poor quality metal frames do not have a thermal breaks and that really lowers the performance of the window. I know how hot in a summer time and how cold in a winter time those frames without thermal breaks can get. I even used to have an ice on frames on inside of my house. And the truth is that there is not much that can be done to change the performance of that frame. You can change the glass ect…However no matter what you would try to do you will never bring that old metal frame to this same performance values as the new design metal frames have.
So unless you really live in a historic building with a very characteristically looking windows that can not be replaced with anything that is being made nowadays, I do not see a point to make an effort to try to improve really old metal windows. You will never get this same performance as with a quality mew metal windows. In that case I would just try to get a good looking, elegant, quality metal (aluminum, steel) frame windows with a thermal breaks, double/triple pane, gas filled space in-between the glass panes, good spacer and a low E hard coating. Commercial aluminum windows that I selected for my house have a U factor .43, heat gain coefficient of .37
I looked at the web page about restoration of old steel windows, and even with improvements they were not able to get that U-factor below .69. They probably improved the performance of those metal windows a lot from the original but it is far from what the new quality metal windows can offer.
So again, if metal windows have truly special style then maybe there is a sense to restore them. Otherwise I do not see a point, it is probably a time to update and get something better when it comes to performance.
What I would not do for sure in an historic building or a nice brick home, is to replace an old windows with a cheap looking American made vinyl’s. Those windows go probably only with a cheap looking, wood construction houses that are being build in many areas nowadays. If I would ever consider vinyl windows, those had to be an European design quality vinyl’s that are very difficult to find in this country.
And namahs was talking about his window casments being made of steel. That is a metal so I my previous comments were related in particularly to metal windows. I think he should assess what is a historical value of his windows, their condition,current performance , and that should help him decide decide if it is worth it to repair his windows or maybe it is time to upgrade to a new windows.
johannabp, in answer to your question, for old WOOD windows, once they’re in good repair, weather stripping, caulking, and storm windows bring them to close to the energy efficiency of double-paned,and of course better than modern vinyl etc windows that have been improperly installed or have failed. The John Leeke site that Vinca gave the link for above is a great resource.
The advantages of original wood windows are 1. easier to repair 2. cheaper to repair 3. aesthetics: keeping the appropriate window style for the house and the look of old glass, which is a bit wavy with imperfections.
I dont have personal experience in the realm of old metal windows but I have seen some gorgeous metal casements on buildings in Brooklyn.
helppls Also judge how historic your building is and if new quality aluminum windows or other types of windows would take away from its looks>get the estimates
I live in a condo that was build thirty five years ago> My windows are builder grade aluminum sliders that have no historical value> I would never even attempt to repair them> They never had good performance and I really do not see a point to make an effort to fix them> I rather add a bit more and get a new windows In our times when the energy bills are rising it is becoming more and more important to have energy efficient windows and proper amount of insulation>
My old windows are aluminum but they will not be even close in quality with the ones that will replace them>
I am not so sure if the windows so old can be made into truly energy efficient windows with a repairs
Yes you may be able to improve their efficiency but if it will compare with a new quality windows
First of all those old metal frames surely do not have thermal break>I know that heat and cold conductivity is unbelievably high> That can not be improved with repairs>The whole frame would have to changed> Then single pane windows are not being produced any more because they are not energy efficient> And then the other factors> Everybody can decide for themselves but I would probably try to change the windows that are so old and are already creating problems>
Europeans have many buildings that are much older than the buildings in this country> They are replacing all old windows> What is a matter of fact Europeans are doing that and they are far more oriented towards energy efficiency and ecology than our country is> Europeans are putting a lot of effort into helping people in making their homes truly energy efficient>They are doing a lot to insulate properly all the old buildings and replace the old windows>I think that I will try to follow them> I was in Europe in the apartment before and after the installation of insulation and replacement of the old wood windows to new windows> They difference in temperature and heating requirements before and after was incomparable>
I do not think that repairs can possibly improve the performance of the old windows to make it comparable with a new good quality windows that are using modern technology>
It is true that the new windows will be more expensive but I think that you will also get much better performance>
Well, in our country they do not give you really so many choices when it comes to buying a windows. Not that much too choose from if you are looking for quality of a frame, looks and a performance. If you want a good quality , you ether have to go for a high end price wood windows (if you have a lot of large windows in your house you can easily spend here 20.000-30.000), other option is to go with a quality aluminum windows. Most of the vinyl windows offered in our area are really nothing special when it comes to quality of the frame.
I did refuse to spend 2000 +/- (with the cost of the installation) per window to have my windows custom made .Plus of course , a patio door that cost a few times more than an average large window. It is very expensive to get a quality wood windows in the USA, I think that some of those companies (like Marvin or Andersen)are even not expensive but overpriced. And then , we have to remember that the windows by themselves will not do miracles here making your home super energy efficient. Unless you have a windows, proper amount of insulation (what most of the homes still do not have). Instead of spending a fortune only to get a windows , I rather put my saved money to improve other things like insulation.
Because Vinyl windows that most of the companies offers in this country are really not classy looking, what is a mater of fact they look cheap, I was not even considering it as an option.
In this case quality aluminum windows seemed to be a perfect choice. They look good, they are strong and durable (here no wood or vinyl can compare), and if selected carefully they may not be so bad when it comes to energy performance. Choose the ones with a thermal break ( outside part of the frame is separated from the inside part of the frame to prevent heat/cold conduction),make sure that you have double or triple pane filled with gas and a quality spacer to prevent it from escaping) select good quality glass with a low E hard coating ( and the glass makes the largest part of the window), and have them installed properly, and they will give you a good performance with a good looks and durability. Yes, maybe windows with aluminum frames will have a U-factor and NSGC factor that is a bit higher than in a wood or vinyl frames but I am not sure if the difference is worth paying the price. For example the rating of my windows ratings are .44. (those are a commercial grade aluminum frame windows with a thermal break, double pane glass with 1″ argon filled space in-between the glass panes it is better to have them installed in the wooden frame build in the window opening then seal the window frame and brick with a good quality silicone from inside and outside> Decorative molding can be applied around the frame from inside to cover up the silicon> That gives a nice finish>>
Quality commercial grade aluminum windows will not be cheap I would not consider that a cheap replacement windows
but I prefer to go with quality aluminum and spend the rest of the money for other energy efficient improvements like insulation> usually several factors will influence energy performance of your home> You can have best performing windows and you may still be loosing or gaining heat in different ways>
I would just stay from American maid vinyl windows cause not many companies offer really nicely finished product> They also do not look very durable> I would maybe go with an European design vinyl windows However those windows are not available in US
Repair doesn’t have to cost a “gigantic chunk of change” depending on what the issue is. Many people see some peeling paint and assume the windows are shot and need to be completely replaced. JOHANNABP’s story illustrates what happens often–the windows need repair, she thinks “new technology” is the answer, can’t afford top quality wood windows so buys aluminum windows that aren’t energy efficient. Sometimes a new coat of paint, or some putty are all that’s needed. The beauty of repairing old wood windows is that it’s something a homeowner or a handyman could do. I’ve been repairing mine one at a time and all of the materials are cheap (paint, putty, glazing points, glass, sash cord) but it’s the know-how and technique that comes over time. But many windows probably don’t even need that aggressive of a rehab, just paint, linseed oil, and caulking. Maybe I should post about my process to inspire others.