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Advice Needed: Windows

wolverine68

wolverine68

Well-Known Member
Mar 30, 2007
2,575
68
48
Urbandale
www.gvc.edu
I'm looking at getting new windows for my house, I got a bid to replace them and the price seemed high. I'd like to find out what it should cost, and am I about to pay too much. There are 20 windows in my house and two sliding doors. I do want good energy efficient windows, I'd prefer fiberglass windows, and to be honest there is some rot around my windows so that me why the bid was higher than expected.
If anyone has experience with this, or has recommendations, any help would be appreciated!
 
I recently went with NuVu and am very happy with the end product. Had 7 windows replaced so not nearly the job you are having done, but they came in a little more than like a Home Depot but WAY less than Pella. I wanted to go to someone specialized so was willing to pay a little more to have them do it than Home Depot.
 
I did it myself a couple years ago. Can't help you much with bids.

But I had 12 average size windows and a set of 3 oversized double hungs put together to replace a 9' wide picture window. We got Peach Tree through the local Menards. Aluminum clad and plain pine interiors.

Total on the windows was just under 7K. Another 600 I believe for the aluminum trim kits. Sorry - no help on the sliders. I quoted out composite Marvin's and Vinyl Andersons. Composites were a bit more expensive, vinyl less. Maybe 1000-1200 either direction

Although the windows are really pretty decent and on the whole I'm happy with them - my experience with the company (now closed) and Menards in Clive pretty much sucked.

Get some rough measurements and go to menards or lowes and get a price. Isn't your bid broken down between materials and labor? I have no idea - but my guess-timation for justifying the cost was cost x 2 for labor.

Curious about the rot however? Do you have wood windows where the sash is rotting or something? That shouldn't matter at all if your replacing the whole window. Or are you putting replacements in the existing frame? Beyond that, where is the rot? Siding?

I had original, 50 y/o wooden windows. A few of them were rotten horribly. But there was really very little damage to the framing. But of course you won't really know that til you get it open.

Good luck.

As for recommendations, a number of people at my last job used NuView and had no complaints.
 
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I actually got the bid through Nu-Vu. They did they siding on my house and did and excellent job, so I asked them about the windows. I'd just love a ball park of how much people would pay per window, I'm trying to decide if I should replace them myself.
 
ianoconnor said:
I've yet to buy a house, let alone get new windows, but I'd get a bid from a competing company or three.
Click to expand...
That is my next step. I was just surprised by what they were asking. I replaced windows (myself) in a house that was built in 1908 about 14 years ago. Cost me about $500 (four windows $125 per). Now in a house built in the '80s they are talking about over $20,000 for 20 windows and 2 sliding doors. I want quality windows, but should it really cost that much?
 
wolverine68 said:
That is my next step. I was just surprised by what they were asking. I replaced windows (myself) in a house that was built in 1908 about 14 years ago. Cost me about $500 (four windows $125 per). Now in a house built in the '80s they are talking about over $20,000 for 20 windows and 2 sliding doors. I want quality windows, but should it really cost that much?
Click to expand...

$20,000 is quite a bit of money, but when dealing with windows, it pays to get better windows. There is quite a bit that goes into windows from Marvin or Anderson compared compared to ones that you can buy at Menards, Lowes, etc.
 
wolverine68 said:
I'm looking at getting new windows for my house, I got a bid to replace them and the price seemed high. I'd like to find out what it should cost, and am I about to pay too much. There are 20 windows in my house and two sliding doors. I do want good energy efficient windows, I'd prefer fiberglass windows, and to be honest there is some rot around my windows so that me why the bid was higher than expected.
If anyone has experience with this, or has recommendations, any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...

As one who worked as quality assurance with the largest insulated glass supplier in Iowa, I can tell you amongst Pella, Anderson, Windsor, Jeld-Wen, and others, Pella was the biggest pain in the *** when it came to window quality.

That should tell you something.
 
temperflare said:
As one who worked as quality assurance with the largest insulated glass supplier in Iowa, I can tell you amongst Pella, Anderson, Windsor, Jeld-Wen, and others, Pella was the biggest pain in the *** when it came to window quality.

That should tell you something.
Click to expand...

I can't tell if it tells me pella sucks or they're very picky and the quality is high.
 
Should've gone with a Mac and you wouldn't be having this problem.
 
I had Clear Choice put in windows a few years ago and they've been good. I don't recall the exact total, but for 38 windows it came out to around $8000 with installation.
 
I ordered all new Anderson windows for my house a few years ago and they are junk. Hard to deal with and blamed the inefficiency on the installer. I think they make some good windows but not ones I ordered.
 
wolverine68 said:
That is my next step. I was just surprised by what they were asking. I replaced windows (myself) in a house that was built in 1908 about 14 years ago. Cost me about $500 (four windows $125 per). Now in a house built in the '80s they are talking about over $20,000 for 20 windows and 2 sliding doors. I want quality windows, but should it really cost that much?
Click to expand...

Your paying for the labor, that's what is driving your cost up.
 
temperflare said:
As one who worked as quality assurance with the largest insulated glass supplier in Iowa, I can tell you amongst Pella, Anderson, Windsor, Jeld-Wen, and others, Pella was the biggest pain in the *** when it came to window quality.

That should tell you something.
Click to expand...

Pella used to have three levels of window collections. The lowest priced have been sold at the box stores and should be avoided.

Go to a Pella retail showroom and step up. We did and have been very satisfied

Wood frames with aluminum cladding.

Andersen another very good brand

Vinyl? Good luck We had Mill Guard and they were junk
 
I have had to replace several Pella Proline windows since I built my house about 17 years ago. Now they were covered under warranty so I just had to install the windows, not replace the entire frame. About a month before the warranty was up, the Pella rep came out and and sent me new ones because he said they might go bad in a few years. I still have several in my garage that I never out in.

So, high ratings for service, but I won't use them again.
 
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I've been looking into windows for a couple of years ....

Er, let me re-phrase that. :smile:

We've considered some window updates the past couple of years — about half our home has good windows, the other half are ancient (house built in 1950). I consulted a home expert I trust about expected cost --- an "average" installation is probably in $400 range per window, unless you're going super-cheap or entering hyper-energy-efficient territory.
 
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