Replacement windows

[javadog]

I've replaced all of mine with Pella Windows. Going on 18 years with no problems. They have several different product lines, with different features and prices. You'll find their entry level stuff in the box stores. I used the higher end series. You can get them in an endless array of styles and sizes. You can combine all sorts of windows into one unit.

I'm not a fan of internal blinds. Most women like window treatments, so consult your female before deciding that blinds are the way to go. There are two types of screens, each has it's pros and cons. Pick an architectural style that suits your house. Large, plain windows that are not divided seldom look good on any house. My neighbor just replaced a really large window on the first floor of a Tudor style house and he put in a fairly cheap window that looks like **** from 200 yards away.

JR

[flipper35]

She does not want internal blinds so that question is answered.

Thanks for all the responses so far.

[flipper35]

Here is the current window. Best pic I could find at the moment.

[pavulon]

What am I missing here?

They have a sort of membrane in between the glass that reflects the sun (heat) in summer and allows the rays (heat) in the winter to enter.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by flipper35

She does not want internal blinds so that question is answered.

Thanks for all the responses so far.

My window sales guy always talked me out of the internal blinds because they eventually break (some sooner then later). then you are stuck or replace the glass.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by pavulon

What am I missing here?

Low E coating

[85eurocarrera]

Originally Posted by pavulon

What am I missing here?

Sorry, I wasn't very clear . Look 171 is correct.

[David]

What's the consensus here on replacement windows? Install into the existing finished opening or remove all the trim down to the bare 2x4 frame?

I'm thinking of replacing the bedroom windows for something better insulated against my neighbor's barking dog directly across from the bedroom.

The house is brick so I don't want to disturb the bricks but I'm not sure how to get the aluminum frame out without removing all the trim inside the window? Any tips?

[bob deluke]

Pella, period. We installed Pella slider about 25 years ago with shades. Never a problem. Wood is solid Doug fir, not finger jointed. We put two additions on our old farmhouse with all Pella. Our distributor dropped the Pella line for Eagle. Bathroom window always sweats, had glass replaced twice, still sweats. I wouldn’t waste money on them. Can’t beat Pella, pricy but trouble free after 20+years...

[dad911]

Wow is our experience different. We've been ripping out rotten pella windows, some less than 20 years old.




typical pella rot around here.

Same generation Andersons are fine.

My Anderson tilts and casements from '92 are all fine.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by David

What's the consensus here on replacement windows? Install into the existing finished opening or remove all the trim down to the bare 2x4 frame?

I'm thinking of replacing the bedroom windows for something better insulated against my neighbor's barking dog directly across from the bedroom.

The house is brick so I don't want to disturb the bricks but I'm not sure how to get the aluminum frame out without removing all the trim inside the window? Any tips?

Post some pics.

You don't want to disturb bricks. Why don't you want to pull trim inside? It's certainly easier.

[drkshdw]

Our old place had Pella windows and patio door from 1984. NEVER again! By 2004 they were rotten, leaked, the winders (casement) were all broken, they warped, the glue holding the cladding on the patio door outside had melted and let the cladding sag preventing the door from opening, all the gas inside had leaked out and clouded the windows. Basically if it could go wrong, it did on every single window in the house.

Also, hardware is Pella exclusive and ridiculously overpriced. Casement handles that stripped out after a year were $60 to replace...JUST the handle. The locks (that broke right off because the wood had swelled and you were required to use the lock to close the window) were $180 EACH. And you had to special order all of it which took a month or more to get in.

I seriously have no idea how they are still in business and why people pay what they do for them. They are worse than Chinese garbage. My current house has the original wood double hung windows from 1898 in them. They work just as good now as they ever have. And with storm windows outside, they are more energy efficient than any vinyl window you can buy (but look 100 times better on an old house).

[David]

Originally Posted by dad911

Post some pics.

You don't want to disturb bricks. Why don't you want to pull trim inside? It's certainly easier.

I'm not opposed to pulling the inside trim and certainly won't pull any bricks but I've seen some window installations where they don't even pull the inside trim. It appears they remove as much of the window as they can maybe even leaving the frame in place. Then they slide in a smaller window that clears the inner trim, screw it in, and caulk it. Seems kind of half-assed to me but if that's all it takes, I can do that in a couple hours.

[dad911]

Yes. I forgot you had aluminum.

If you can make a standard size work, it's alot cheaper.

Around here Silverline is popular. Decent Vinyl window, bought and now labelled as 'by Anderson'

Anderson has been pushing replacement windows(renewal), but they are very expensive.

[MRM]

Andersen and Marvin are close to equal and are probably the best nationally available brands. Andersen's mainline product is a vinyl clad wood window. They bought Silverline a few years ago to add a vinyl product to their line and they bought Eagle to add an aluminum product. They invented a composite material they call Fibrex and use it in their A Series window, so they now have a product in every category. They sell varying grades of each type. I can't remember which one it is but one of the vinyl windows sold at Home Depot is a rebranded Silverline/Andersen window. Andersen is primarily a new construction product. Their replacement-only product is Renewal by Andersen. They do the installation and sell you the product all together. It's a very nice product but expensive. Andersen's wood windows only come in standard sizes. If they fit your openings you can use them for replacement, not problem. If they aren't the right size, you have to use something else. The durability of a window that's built to a standard size is very good because the manufacturing process is fully automated and the tolerances are fine. Andersen's vinyl, aluminum and fibrex products can be ordered custom sized. Eagle is considered one of Andersen's premier brands. I once worked on a $42 million mansion on Palm Beach Island that had all Eagle windows and French doors. They were replaced with a solid mahogany window from Germany called Tischler.

Marvin has all that and fiberglass products too. Their market niche is that all of their product is custom built so they can fit any opening. That's why you'll see a lot of Marvin used in remodeling projects. I'm not as familiar with their product as I am with Andersen, but the quality is equal. Andersen has a nailing flange that is fully integrated into the vinyl cladding and is a lot easier to install and is very robust. Marvin has miter corners that needs a flashing strip to prevent water entry. Not a big deal, just a little difference in the design.

Pella has a strong brand but they aren't the quality of Marvin or Andersen and they cost about the same. Kolbe & Kolbe have improved in past years, but they're a notch below, along with brands like Windsor. Crestline is a lower tier brand. Jeld-Wen competes with Marvin and Andersen but I like Andersen and Marvin better.

Go to any decent sized distributor before you hire a contractor and you'll get the best price and they'll lay out all the options for you. I suspect what would be cheapest and would still look nice is a custom sized vinyl window with as much glass and as little frame as possible. They can cut the old windows out and install the replacement one directly to the existing framing without disturbing the brick. The interior trim just pops off and will go right back into place.

[cabmandone]

Simonton is a good brand for replacement windows. I installed Certainteed windows several years ago. I wanted to use Simonton because they have a decent reputation and have been making replacement windows for many years. The supplier I went with highly recommended Certainteed. A few years later I needed two more windows and Certainteed was no longer making them. The new company that took over Certainteed windows doesn't make replacement panes for the older Certainteed windows and now I have one that lost the Argon gas.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Simonton is a good brand for replacement windows. I installed Certainteed windows several years ago. I wanted to use Simonton because they have a decent reputation and have been making replacement windows for many years. ...

Simonton is what I have for windows, and Anderson for my slider. My neighbor's cousin is a real pro and installed mine and Simonton was his choice (and I think it's all he uses). Might not be high-end like some y'all are talking about, but works for me....very happy with both.

[cabmandone]

I'd like to add that I have put windows in my house twice now. The lifetime warranty is meaningless if the company making them doesn't last. I went with the distributor's recommendation of Certainteed thinking that's a solid company only to be disappointed less than 10 years later when one of my windows lost its argon gas. My parents have new construction Andersen windows that have lost the argon gas in them. My parents call Andersen and they get a new pane. My brother has Simonton in his entire home. All are better than 20 years old and NONE has lost the gas between the panes.
When you choose a window with a lifetime warranty, you might want to consider the company making that window.

[porsche tech]

I would vote for Anderson Renewal replacement windows. We had all ours replaced on our Virginia house and were totally satisfied. We also had a large picture window in the living room with a double hung on each side of it. My wife had them replace it with three double hung units that were the same size as the other 2 double hung units on the front of the house (2 front bedrooms). They were a composite material with the color impregnated into it. They also covered the outside frame and sill with aluminum. We felt like it was money well spent.

[MRM]

A few years ago there was a defect in the glass produced by the company that supplies most of the glass used in residential windows. It affected the entire industry. Andersen sourced their glass from the same company so there is an era of Andersen windows that is prone to seal failures and losing the argon gas. Apparently argon has extremely small molecules. The elements in air have larger molecules. The coating on the glass was porous enough that the argon could escape as the gas heated and expanded, but the larger environmental molecules were too big to replace the argon. Eventually a vacuum forms and the seals can break. In extreme cases the window itself can break. I knew a house (not with Andersen windows) where the homeowner kept getting broken windows. He thought he was being targeted by some hate group or something. Eventually the window repair guy was in the house as a window broke and he was able to track the problem down.

With the larger reputable companies seal failures are 100% covered by warranty and changing our the sash is a piece of cake.