Community Chat

[Sweetbay magnolia]

Hi, all.  Had new windows installed recently?  I'm having them done and I'm a little stressed, even though I think I have a great contractor.  Going from wood to vinyl (blech) is a shift but I can't continue to maintain the wood.  I'm getting triple pane, so the heat/cool loss should be signifcant, but I was curious to what you may have been through.

[Jessa9]

We had our windows replaced last March from Window World.  Went from sliders to double hung vinyl.  Had a good experience and love them.

[Mom2Dogs]

We went from wood to vinyl and like you...not a fan but the wood on the windows would swell and we had trouble washing them....I'd love to have the wood back, if I could. 

Edited to add:  I find the vinyl impossible to keep clean on the outside.

[Carmie]

We had Crestline windows.  Wood on the inside and aluminum clad outside.  They rotted out under the aluminum and you could put  your fingers right through the sashes from the inside. They were beautiful, but junk recommended by our builder.

We replaced them with solid vinyl.  I liked the wood look ( stained wood) that matched my woodwork better and had to get used to white windows against stained window trim.

The experience was good.  It didn't take long at all.   I had to call the owner of the company once because one of his installers did not replace the rotten wood around the bottom of two windows.  The water that got in the old windows ruined the wood in the walls.  He came immediately and the work was done right.

We're happy with the vinyl windows and noticed right away that our house was quieter.  The new windows muffled the noise from outside.

I hope you love your new windows.

Adding:  My old and my new replacement windows tilt in for cleaning.  I have a two story house and we can wash both sides of the windows easily from the inside.  One window( glass)  got broken and the window company just brought a whole new bottom sash and popped out the old and popped in the new...it only took a minute.

My bathroom has frosted windows on the bottom....no see thru.  Love them.

[SilleeMee]

I got new windows several years ago. They are vinyl with gas-filled, double-pane low-E glass. I live at high altitude so they were manufactured locally to preserve the gas-filling. The two most significant things about them is how much soundproof they are plus they have lowered my energy bill a lot. I couldn't be happier.

[Sooner]

Be aware you may be getting green windows.  My friend had almost every window in her house beat out by baseball sized hail a couple years ago.  It took 18 to 24 months for many to get new panes.

When they got them they were a pale green glass--a government mandate for environmental issues.  There were a LOT of unhappy folks with green glass in some windows.  I think maybe whole new windows didn't have to be green--can't remember! 

[RedTop]

We replaced the wood windows with storm sashes that were installed when the house was built in 1981.  Very good experience and we like our vinyl replacement windows that tilt in for cleaning.  

Your lifetime warranty is only good as long as the company that did the installation is in business.  We also went thru a company like Window World, and they were here with replacement glass the day after our home was broken into.  Our dealings with them were very good, but the owners sold out years ago and the new ownership deals with a different window maker so they did not assume warranty on previous sales.

We now have 2 windows that are hazy and the plan is to have the local glass company come out to replace the glass on site.   

[FranandZoe]

We replaced our wood windows with vinyl ones about 20 years ago and they're still great.  Our house was built in the mid 70s and the original windows were very hard to open.  The vinyl ones tilt in and are very easy to clean.  Also energy efficient and sound proof.  Love 'em!

[Sweetbay magnolia]

Good to know!  Thank you for the answers.

If I had all the $$$ in the world I'd probably do things differently, but since I am fortunate enough to own a home and to be able to replace windows, I'll take my chances on these new vinly inserts.

We live on a quiet street but I think I will enjoy the soundproofing, and the reduced air leakage.  Wasting energy just seems foolish.

@Sooner , yes, these windows will probably have a slight tint, but that should help with heat gain in the summer.  It's harder to cool this house than it is to heat.  I had new patio doors installed a while back and I didn't find the low-e glass that much different to look through.

I'll rest a bit easier, too, knowing that I could get out in an emergency.  These old wood windows no longer operate properly.  I'm excited to get an awning window for the kitchen - hinged at the top, opening outwards, so you could even leave it vented in a light rain.

I hope the facade is not too changed.  I had to go with a creamy exterior, not screaming white; I am hoping it blends well enough with the old pale yellow siding.  Good grief, maintaining a home can be exhausting!

[qualitygal]

We're due to get new LR windows put in very soon.  We will be getting called as to when, soon, I should say.