Tell me about window replacement!

[The Mad Monk]

Lancer, how long should it take to replace one window that way?

[Lancer]

If you have good tools and the windows in hand a few hours each. You never know though what you'll run in to.

Come to think though, the flange on the new windows will go over the studs so you'll need to remove the exterior trim and put them in from outside. If you are very lucky you might not have to remove the interior trim at all.

Make sure you put new tar paper over everything and caulk the heck out of it. Certain silicon caulks can't be painted over so be aware of that.

There's alot of things that can get you involved time wise in renovations and each situation is usually different. The only way to find out is to do the job.

Call your power co too, there might be a government rebate for thermal pane instalation.


You could post pics as you go to get advise.

Also pamphlets are available at home centers and even classes on how to do shuff that is more recent than my experience with window replacement.

[Lancer]

Search this and there might be some stuff that will help you.

vinyl window installation instructions

[The Mad Monk]

Thanks Lancer!

I'd better look into this. I've been planning having contractors do the replacements, but that is really pricey (if I read an in-store sign correctly, installation is $300 per window at Lowe's), and if it isn't that difficult, I might give it a shot.

[Lancer]

Try one and see how it goes.

[Aeson]

Modern vinyl windows are pretty heavy, so it's nice to have a second set of hands around if you're installing them. (Especially if you end up going with larger ones.)

The windows in the addition are all vinyl. Some of them are designed to sorta have the same look as the original windows, but it's a very cheapo attempt at it. The 3 pane "mock" look on top just looks silly to me. It's just a plastic spacer imbetween the panes. Not my choice though.



The originals look much classier, inside and out, but are only single pane and not as weatherproof.



It sounds like you have some time to spend fixing things up. If you refinish your windows it'll be a better look. Basically everyone who comes to the house comments on the windows now, even have had a few people passing by come over to talk about how we refinished them. Not as energy efficient though.

I'd go with refinishing myself, but it's easy to say that now that it's done, and living in San Diego county.

[Lancer]

It depends really on whether MM lives in a cold or warm place. Also there's a fair amount of maintenance of wooden windows. Replacing grout, trying to keep paint on them. These things might not be too bad in areas where freezing is not a problem. However the expansion and contraction that comes with real seasons can make having wooden windows a real pain in the posterior. I agree on how the fake panes look crappy. I'd just go with the clear windows.

[The Mad Monk]

Kansas is like New Jersey, only moreso and without the coastal stability.

Colder in the winter, hotter in the summer, spring and autumn are crapshoots, and you can have low 80s one day and five inches of snow on the ground the next. It all depends on how the jet stream is whipping around at the time.

[The Mad Monk]

The wooden window DO have storm windows protecting them. Several screens are missing and a rose bush tore two others to shreds before I even bought the place, but the storm windows are all intact.

[Lancer]

Post pics

[The Mad Monk]

Will do, it'll be a couple days.

[Arrian]

SO, if anyone here has experience in repairing or restoring windows, please tell me about it. Do-it-yourself or hiring a contractor, chain or small shop, I don't care, i want to see all the options.

We hired a contractor and used Harvey windows. They're good, but less expensive than Anderson windows. We were pleased with the results.

-Arrian

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Why are you bowing face up?

I'm a foreigner.

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by Arrian


We hired a contractor and used Harvey windows. They're good, but less expensive than Anderson windows. We were pleased with the results.

-Arrian

I hadn't heard of Harvey windows, who is the distributor?

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by SpencerH


I'm a foreigner.

I see. I thought maybe you got confused and were limboing before his man skills instead.