House Windows Upgrade

[Targa Me]

Hello Everyone,

I'm considering upgrading the windows in my house.
Is this something left up to the professional installer or is this something I can tackle on my own (with helper)?

I just got a quote on windows today, we're looking at 10 to 11k. Ouch !

What's your opinion.
Thanks.

[cabmandone]

Not hard to do. Depends mostly on what you're replacing.

[masraum]

I've seen some videos. It looks pretty easy. And I suspect once you've seen one pulled out, you could probably do as good or better a job almost as fast. That said, I've never done it myself.

I think the key is having good measurements and getting the right size replacement windows.

[Evans, Marv]

No experience with replacing/upgrading windows, but I'm sure you are looking at low-E, dual pane. When I built my house, I also learned new construction in my area required tempered glass. Don't know your exact area, but that might be a requirement.

[vash]

hell, even i did it!!

i did all my old house double pane windows. i chose a retrofit system from Marvin..they call it the tilt-pac. seriously, the hardest part was doing the measuring before the order. ask questions!! i almost blew it on a few windows..that lower sill angle messed me up.

i did also replace to double panes with a casement(that what they call it?)..it was even easier!!

if you have 1970 era alum windows now...i dunno. not in my wheelhouse.

[biosurfer1]

I will have to replace several windows in my house soon. Biggest pain is I have stucco on the outside of the house which complicates things.

I'd love to find a retrofit solution.

[Tidybuoy]

I just replaced 7 windows in my home.

Mine are double hung windows in wood frames. There are several youtube videos that show the process. Basically, remove interior trim, remove lower window, remove center stop, remove upper window.

Seal surfaces with caulking, insert new window assembly, center, plumg, and level than screw into place, replace interior trim.

When measuring windows, measure opening, subtrace 1/4" from legnth & width.

[FPB111]

It also depends on the type of siding on your house.
I did our cedar shingled house using Anderson casement windows (20).
I pulled the inside trim off and measured the rough openings then compared to the Anderson window catalog. That also allowed me to order the new windows one or two at a time so that I could space the installations on my schedule.
Most of the windows were in stock at our local lumber yard and or Window World stores.

[rwest]

I’ve done several now and they are pretty simple as long as you have a standard size, otherwise you might have to reframe or make wider trim.

I also helped a friend put in the type where you just pull out the double hung guts leaving the frame in place and that took us less than an hour- did it in the middle of a MN winter.

For what the window companies charge, they must make huge profits on the job.

[Scott Douglas]

I remember the day we had ours replaced. Hot, windy (Santa Ana's blowing) day in Aug. I know we didn't pay that much for them since we don't have that kind of money. We got Milgard Low E, pretty simple windows and a new slider for the family room. They insisted on tearing out the old slider framing and putting in new, which now that its been done I'm OK with and glad they did. NO leaks from it and the step over isn't as bad as it would be if they'd left it in. Once I saw how easy it was to put the windows in, I was kind of wishing I'd done it myself, until a window almost got smashed from the wind. It would have been on their dime not mine to replace it. Our windows are a joy to open/close now as the old aluminum ones were really in pretty bad shape. The noise abatement is fantastic with the double pane too. The Low E has it's drawbacks as we quickly learned how much heat we gained during the winter from the sunlight coming in. We've since had the HVAC system upgraded from wall furnaces to forced heat and a/c. The whole replacement job took them a day, including the re-stuccoing of the slider door frame.

[LWJ]

If you live somewhere with rain, please reconsider. I am a very DIY person and I would never do this in Oregon.

Probably would DIY in Southern California.

[look 171]

What kind of window and how are you installing them? If you are near LA, I can turn you on to a couple of people I use and trust.

[Scott R]

We had 48 windows to be done in November by Pella on a three story home. There was no way I would have been able to do it myself. It took the "pros" three install appointments to complete it working 12 hours each time.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by Targa Me

Hello Everyone,

I'm considering upgrading the windows in my house.
Is this something left up to the professional installer or is this something I can tackle on my own (with helper)?

I just got a quote on windows today, we're looking at 10 to 11k. Ouch !

What's your opinion.
Thanks.

Originally Posted by cabmando

Not hard to do. Depends mostly on what you're replacing.

I agree. Just dont fall off the ladder like I did. Week in the hospital. Another week in rehab. Five months, no work. Another 2 months before I could walk good. Still have metal rods and 13 screws in my leg. And still had to pay the installer to finish the job.