windows: have our GC install or sub it out on our own?

A GC we are considering to hire on an extensive renovation of our house would like to replace all the windows himself. The windows are original – 100+ years old. Is this a bad idea? I was thinking we’d get a company like Windows We Are and purchase from them and have them do the install. I guess we’d have to have the windows installed after demo but before the rest of the renovations take place, so coordinating perhaps could be tricky or result in lost time if we hire an window company ourselves? Also, any recent recommendations for window installers? Was thinking about Windows We Are, but their most recent reviews that I can find aren’t glowing. But, it seems like they were really good at some point. This is for a house in Bay Ridge, non-landmarked. Need about 14 of them. Finally, any specific window recommendations? Renovating on a strict budget so don’t want anything fancy-pants, but obviously, we want decent quality. House is attached on both sides, is wood-frame, has vinyl siding, and has steam radiator heating by gas.

ps158

in Doors & Windows 10 years and 8 months ago

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jbrew | 10 years and 7 months ago

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I am with Heights Historic Window and Door, we only do full brick to brick installations and we never disturb the shutters. Most GCs will come in and want to rip the entire house apart because they do not know what they are doing. We deal with Loewen products which are high end,comparable to Marvin, without the Marvin price gouge. Call Jeff 347-881-6962

ausgmblr | 10 years and 7 months ago

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I’ve spent the last 2 days educating self, and looking at prices etc.. on windows. What I’ve found may help u is. 1\. Consumer Reports Mag. this month has it’s recommended Co’s on Window Brands. The best for cost, no maintenance other feature I’ve found best priced is Vinyl. I’s selling more than Wood, Aluminum, Steel. Composite. CD rates Simonton I forget the model an 83 the best it gives, and it’s sold at Home Depot. HD will give u numerous installers to contact, if u want. Get a HD credit card get it 0% int. but that’s $260\. There’s a 73 at Lowes $190\. u can do same way. Check out mnf. sites, use google search for mnf. reviews. American Craftsman by Andersen 70 Series @ HD for rainy climate $170\. I’m ruling out don’t need in TX. but Andersen looks like 1 of best MNF.

Augustiner | 10 years and 8 months ago

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@just5581 with shutters you need to frame the windows The brick wall is quite deep behind the shutter frame

stuyheights | 10 years and 8 months ago

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I don’t mean to hijack this thread but I have a question that im sure most of you would be able to answer. We are replacing all of the windows in our home as well. The previous owner has hidious white replacements installed right now. Based on your advise, we have decided on a brick to brick installation. I have notified our contractor of this, who is totally fine doing it, but has told me today that if we do that, the original pocket shutters will not fit the new windows. How is this possible? How were windows installed 100 years ago any other way then brick to brick? So if the shutters are original, why wouldn’t they fit? I don’t get it. Pic attached- Our house is the ugly one with the white windows.

Hardcharger | 10 years and 8 months ago

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Have your GC do it. After pricing out wood Marvin’s at all the window places I had sticker shock and priced them direct from a lumber yard recommended on this site. After they gave me the runaround I went to Dykes and was willing to lay down for them. Dykes sold me Marvin’s for just $1000 each. Bay ridge wanted. $3500 with the install and the Landmarks paperwork. I was on my own for dealing with landmarks and they were so easy to deal with. In add a theatrical designer friend help with the pictures and draftings which are pulled from Marvin’s website. I don’t begrudge anyone business, but licensed plumbers charge less for two guys to work for a day in my house than these “window experts” do.

bxre | 10 years and 8 months ago

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Most if not all contractors on the East side of USA get there windows manufactured by Chinese Company, Crystal Windows and Doors with a showroom onsite. 31-10 Whitestone Expy, Flushing, NY 11354 (718) 961-7300 Anyone can walk in at this location and give measurements and place an order for as many windows as they wish. aluminum or vinyl Now if you want someone to measure and install windows, this company is the best of the best, they deal from small to big boy buildings throughout tri-state NYC. I’ve used Team before for a property, they did a 50 window job for me. bronze color aluminum window with installation and capping , $240 a window and they get there windows from sister company Crystal Windows. Team Windows 4120 College Point Blvd Flushing, NY 11355 (718) 321-8300

ps158 | 10 years and 8 months ago

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Thanks for all your comments. I didn’t realize it was such a controversial topic 😉 I love that people have differing opinions…Though admittedly, it makes me a bit more confused. As much as I love the idea of keeping the original details of the house intact, I think the windows do have to be replaced. Some aren’t even fully shutting, plus they just look really really bad. It looks like the wood is rotted in some places around the inside of the window frame. Maybe there’s someone out there who could restore them…But that seems like it could cost even more money than to replace them, even with great-quality new windows. Something tells me I’ve always had poor quality, bad windows in my life, so maybe I won’t even know the difference after getting the new windows! Will check out Bay Ridge Windows.

Augustiner | 10 years and 8 months ago

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If you have a good GC there is no reason to hire someone else for this job. It’s not exactly rocket science, but require some attention to detail. New quality windows are always better than old single pane ones. That is common sense, and if there is a study that states something different I would love to see it.

boredatwork | 10 years and 8 months ago

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I will second the recommendation for Bay Ridge Windows. We recently replaced horrible vinyl replacements in our (non-Landmarked) 2 family brick row house and are very happy with the Marvin’s we installed. We did not have the money to do the windows when we renovated 12 years ago so we waited until we saved up enough. The old windows were drafty, did not close properly and were ugly inside and out. The new are great and significantly improve our comfort. I am not sure, however, that we will ever make our money back. We pay less than $1200 per year to National Grid for gas for heat, hot water, cooking and the clothes drier. The 14 new double-paned, gas-filled, UV blocking windows (including several Marvin Magnums) cost in the range of $25K including installation. @ cate “a zillion times” more efficient? Thats a lot. 🙂

catboot | 10 years and 8 months ago

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prior to moving to our brownstone, we lived in a 160-year old wood frame Victorian with 17 windows on our floor (all original). The windows were fitted with storm windows and kept the draft out in the winter. I used to think old windows needed to be replaced, but learned by experience that it’s not necessarily the case.

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While I’m a big advocate of saving the original details in old houses, I just can’t get on board for keeping old windows. Maybe it’s because I’ve never found a contractor sufficiently skilled to re-build and re-fit them. We replaced the windows in our brownstone over 10 years and so used different brands and installers. The Marvin windows installed by EZ-Tilt in Bay Ridge (now called Historical Windows of New York) are superior in all ways. Heavy, wood windows that are completely draft free with well-insulated glass. They make a huge difference to our quality of life in winter. A non-profit did an energy survey of our house and said they’d never seen better performing windows. We also have Anderson windows which are fine. And we have Pellas which are horrible and I plan to replace — they have a thinner, more elegant profile than the other two but after a few years they stopped closing properly and are now very drafty. I will say Marvins are expensive and I’ve heard that Kolbe, Lincoln and Loewen are equally good. But perhaps most important is who installs them. A good product poorly installed will fail. That’s why I loved EZ-Tilt. Windows were their entire business and they really knew their stuff.

rh | 10 years and 8 months ago

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I agree with Catboot. Try Allied historic storm windows. Granted, they are not cheap, but at least you get to save your original windows.

cate | 10 years and 8 months ago

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Old windows properly maintained (caulked, etc.) plus storms are a zillion times more energy efficient than new double paned ones. The government did a study and proved it, and every landmarks and preservation group recommends keeping old windows. Plus of course they will last much longer than new junk made of plastic and metal. . As for who to hire to replace, a competent, experienced, insured GC should be just as capable as a specialty window company. We replaced our windows last year using one of the most highly recommended speciality window companies, and we have had problems with water leaks and mold ever since. . In addition, we are very puzzled to find the windows don’t seem to keep air out any better than the old ones (which didn’t actually shut). We are still using plastic over the windows in the winter, and the plastic billows out from air streaming in just like before. Not sure if there is something wrong with the window installation or if the air is coming through cracks in the new molding that covers the edge of the window frames or what.

catboot | 10 years and 8 months ago

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Keep the old windows if you can and add storm windows. I wish our house still had the original windows. Instead, we have cheap replacement ones that are about ready to fall out. Just because the windows are new, doesn’t make them energy efficient. Our are a good example of that.

nancyk | 10 years and 8 months ago

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original windows cannot by definition “work fine.” they are not energy efficient and will result in higher gas/oil and electricity bills. assuming you will live in the house long-term, they will pay for themselves. they will also add to the resale value of the home. replacing them now while under construction is logical. my general contractor replaced all of mine, as well as doors. windows and doors were purchased through brooklyn window and door on mcdonald avenue. i shopped them myself as a way to keep within the budget. however, let your gc purchase them as he will probably get a contractor’s discount.

stuyheights | 10 years and 8 months ago

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This is a good question and I would be interested in hearing the communities thoughts on this as well.

sethamin | 10 years and 8 months ago

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I would advise against ripping out the original windows if they are working fine. No doubt they are single-pane and not very energy efficient, but it will take a very long time for your new window investment to pay off. Also, the new ones will undoubtedly look worse. You’re probably better off putting in exterior or interior storm windows (heard some good things about Indow Windows, but haven’t tried them). If you do go ahead and replace them anyway, then I’d recommend Bay Ridge Windows and Doors. We contracted them directly, and they were one of the best vendors we worked with. They showed up when they said they would; finished early; cleaned up after themselves; and did a nice job.