Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

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grettman
Posts: 768
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:47 pm

Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by grettman »

Hi,

First time poster here. I have enjoyed reading the forum for the last several months as a troll. The advice given here is really good and I thought I would seek out some help with something I am struggling with.

I live in a home that only intend to live in for the next 4 years at most. There are many windows (7-10) which need to be replaced but I don't want to replace all (or any more than I absolutely have to). My concern is that if I get 7-10 new windows, they will look "odd" when I go to sell. In some cases, the windows in a given room would even be different. Any advice on this? I have never bought windows before can a window installer get new windows to closely match the old ones? Am I being too worried about them looking slightly different? Obviously I would wan the style and box sizes (the squares inside the windows) to be the same... Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Easy Rhino
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Location: San Diego

Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by Easy Rhino »

just out of curiosity, why would you want to replace only some of them? What would they do that the new ones wouldn't?

I hope it's not for energy savings, that probably wouldn't pay for itself for 4 or 10 years.
Topic Author
grettman
Posts: 768
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by grettman »

I am replacing these particular units because they have these "huge" (about 1/4 inch in some cases) gaps between the window and the sash (where the felt runs vertically along the side). I have been told that the windows were either installed incorrectly OR they are warped. To fix it, I have been told someone would have to pull the window out and install it properly. Problem is that most of the cost of this is labor so I am been thinking that the best thing to do is just replace (vice reinstall). Also some windows have broken pieces to them (the balancers? not sure what the right word is). So no ...I am not doing it as energy upgrade but I am doing it because they pull in a lot of outside air and frankly they will get dinged on a home inspection...

Bottom line up front: I want to do the smartest, least expensive way of fixing my situation while making progress to get the home ready for sale.
WhyNotUs
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by WhyNotUs »

In most places there is a window problem solver. If you call a local quality window dealer, ask them who is the "fixer" in your area and have them take a look before you do anything. Where I live the fixer charges by hour for consultation and has helped me find obscure parts, create a solution for a ruined sash, and get a window to close that I thought was dead.

If that fails, match the exterior and use the same material indoor and buy a common brand with a long standing look.
I own the next hot stock- VTSAX
Mingus
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by Mingus »

Are they wood windows?

If so, they can be fixed and made to operate as close to new as possible for less than it would cost for replacement windows. And everything would still match.
Leemiller
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by Leemiller »

Depends on the cost of your home, neighborhood, etc, but I don't think I've ever seen a house where the windows didn't match, especially in a particular room. We just replaced some windows and went with an inexpensive Anderson (but called something else) line from Home Depot. Unless your windows are really big, I think you'd be looking at a few hundred a window, including labor.
littlebird
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by littlebird »

More important than the windows matching within a room - mis-match indoors can often be disguised by window decor - is that they match when viewed from the outside. No one can see the front and back of a house simultaneously (I don't think), so 1 type of window in front and another in back would be unobjectionable, but windows on one facade must all match, or appear to.
littlebird
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by littlebird »

grettman wrote:Hi,

First time poster here. I have enjoyed reading the forum for the last several months as a troll. .
I think what you mean is a "lurker".
Rodc
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by Rodc »

Mismatched windows might not be helpful when you sell. Personally I would do at least all in a room to match.

Second the idea to see if the existing windows can be repaired first.
We live a world with knowledge of the future markets has less than one significant figure. And people will still and always demand answers to three significant digits.
Topic Author
grettman
Posts: 768
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:47 pm

Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by grettman »

WhyNotUs wrote:In most places there is a window problem solver. If you call a local quality window dealer, ask them who is the "fixer" in your area and have them take a look before you do anything. Where I live the fixer charges by hour for consultation and has helped me find obscure parts, create a solution for a ruined sash, and get a window to close that I thought was dead.
The idea of having someone fix the windows is one that I have abandoned awhile ago but now that you mention the idea of calling a quality dealer for "fixer" references --- I am reconsidering. The problem I have run into is that it is very difficult to "google" search for a window repair person. The hits I get all lead to window dealers. Very frustrating. A couple of years ago I had someone come out who was a handyman to get their opinion and he said it would be about 60 bucks an hour to "fix" and that would involve removing and reinstalling windows etc. I would rather find someone who knows something about windows to fix them. I leave in the Northern VA area and I think I will just call around some quality window dealers like you suggested. Thanks.

Oh and thank you to the person who said I am a Lurker not a Troll :) Hehe. I get the two confused! (obviously).
Rodc
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by Rodc »

grettman wrote:
WhyNotUs wrote:In most places there is a window problem solver. If you call a local quality window dealer, ask them who is the "fixer" in your area and have them take a look before you do anything. Where I live the fixer charges by hour for consultation and has helped me find obscure parts, create a solution for a ruined sash, and get a window to close that I thought was dead.
The idea of having someone fix the windows is one that I have abandoned awhile ago but now that you mention the idea of calling a quality dealer for "fixer" references --- I am reconsidering. The problem I have run into is that it is very difficult to "google" search for a window repair person. The hits I get all lead to window dealers. Very frustrating. A couple of years ago I had someone come out who was a handyman to get their opinion and he said it would be about 60 bucks an hour to "fix" and that would involve removing and reinstalling windows etc. I would rather find someone who knows something about windows to fix them. I leave in the Northern VA area and I think I will just call around some quality window dealers like you suggested. Thanks.

Oh and thank you to the person who said I am a Lurker not a Troll :) Hehe. I get the two confused! (obviously).
In our town we have a very active listserve where people ask questions like this looking for that special local expert or whatever. It is a great resource. Your town might have such a thing. Or if not perhaps something like Angie's List (which I have never used).

Best of luck
We live a world with knowledge of the future markets has less than one significant figure. And people will still and always demand answers to three significant digits.
carolinaman
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by carolinaman »

WhyNotUs wrote:In most places there is a window problem solver. If you call a local quality window dealer, ask them who is the "fixer" in your area and have them take a look before you do anything. Where I live the fixer charges by hour for consultation and has helped me find obscure parts, create a solution for a ruined sash, and get a window to close that I thought was dead.

If that fails, match the exterior and use the same material indoor and buy a common brand with a long standing look.
+1. I stumbled across this fact myself last year. I had a casement window with rotted wood. I tried repairing it without success and could not find a replacement window that matched (the window opening and window have to match and each mfgr is different). One window retailer recommended a guy who specializes in repairing windows. He took my window to his shop and replaced the section with the rotted wood. It looks great and you would never know it was repaired. It was a lot cheaper than a replacement window would have been if I could find one.

Talk to window retailers in your locale and find out if such a specialist is out there. I bet you will find one.
Valuethinker
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by Valuethinker »

I think there is a consensus here that just replacing some windows would look very odd. First appearances on a home are, unfortunately, quite critical.

So either replace the lot (or all that are visible from *any* one angle on the house, ie at least 2 sides) or try to get a repair of existing windows. Latter is preferable.

EDIT: it's probably OK to replace windows one room at a time, as per other posters advice. As long as the windows on any given room are the same style and age.
Last edited by Valuethinker on Tue Sep 30, 2014 7:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
dolphinsaremammals
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by dolphinsaremammals »

Mingus wrote:Are they wood windows?

If so, they can be fixed and made to operate as close to new as possible for less than it would cost for replacement windows. And everything would still match.
+1 Please try to save wood windows.

I had energy efficient storm windows put over my wood windows in my previous house. I couldn't afford to do all of them at once, so I did a room at a time. It would have looked odd, imho, to have unmatching windows in a room. It was a small house, so I could arrange things so that the outside looked consistent even though some sides were different.

I would like to know why windows and storm windows cost so much.
Valuethinker
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by Valuethinker »

dolphinsaremammals wrote:
Mingus wrote:Are they wood windows?

If so, they can be fixed and made to operate as close to new as possible for less than it would cost for replacement windows. And everything would still match.
+1 Please try to save wood windows.
Given with maintenance wood windows can last virtually forever, and plastic windows last 25 years or less (the frames discolor and get brittle) this is good advice (as well as environmentally sound advice).

Do be careful of old windows though, they may have lead paint. Lead is nasty in its effects, especially on children.
I had energy efficient storm windows put over my wood windows in my previous house. I couldn't afford to do all of them at once, so I did a room at a time. It would have looked odd, imho, to have unmatching windows in a room. It was a small house, so I could arrange things so that the outside looked consistent even though some sides were different.

I would like to know why windows and storm windows cost so much.
OK some guesses.

First they are sold, not bought. You have a big direct sales infrastructure and that has to be paid for. I suspect that a volume housebuilder pays a *lot* less for windows. It is a confusing market where it may be hard to make like-for-like comparisons, thus open to high charges. The energy benefits, for example, are often oversold-- typical payback is up to 20 years ( you should not replace your windows before you have to: when you do replace your windows, you should go for very energy efficient ones-- the extra cost will be paid back, most likely, given that you had to replace for other reasons, and you will certainly get greater comfort).

Second they are not always standard sizes. Anything with customization adds significantly to costs.

Third they are installed. The consumer is not just buying a window, they are buying an installation. Again that brings in labor costs and the opportunity for mark-ups.
Leemiller
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Re: Replacing Some, not all, Windows in House

Post by Leemiller »

Angie's List or Consumer's Checkbook should have some options. If you are in the DC area, check the website for dcurbanmoms, do a forum search and you fill find suggestions. I believe Blaine window will not only repair, but create
custom ones to match the original. We used them for a repair recently.
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