<p>We have a big old more-or-less Victorian house with over-sized windows equipped with very leaky 30-yr-old storms.</p>
<p>Options are
a) Replacement windows.
b) Replace the weight/rope system with screw-type mechanism and stuff the weight pocket with insulation, then either caulk/stuff current storms to improve performance or replace storms.</p>
<p>Depending on the replacement window selected, the cost would probably be in the same ball-park per window.</p>
<p>Anyone have any experience with either of these solutions? Brands?</p>
<p>Option A: Better thermal and light characteristics. Since replacing the windows you can opt for different styles and sizes of the replacement without too much trouble.</p>
<p>We replaced a few bedroom windows with Anderson several years ago and have been quite pleased. About $550 each from Home Depot. In addition to better light and thermals, you should also be able to find windows which can do a good job at blocking out noise if that’s an issue. A neighbor replaced some windows and noted that there’s much less noise coming in from outside.</p>
<p>The problem is that we are talking about 35 mostly oversized windows, mostly 8 over single. I don’t think we can spring for the wooden replacement windows, which means vinyl. I hate plastic windows. ARGH! </p>
<p>Noise is not an issue for us. We live in a semi-rural small town on 3 acres.</p>
<p>BTW, did you know that the Anderson-label windows made for Home Depot are not the same Anderson label windows sold elsewhere? Apparently they are more cheaply made–which is why they sell for less.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. We only replaced two of them several years ago so I’ll look a little more closely when we replace more of them. There are another 13 that I’d like to do when convenient (it would be nice to take a month off from work to fix things around the house).</p>
<p>At any rate, they perform far better than what they replaced and I’m quite pleased with them so far.</p>
<p>Consolation: Marvin has a line of fiberglass windows which are priced between high end vinyl and good quality wood. The frame work is stiffer and stronger than vinyl which means that the framing is more narrow so that you don’t lose any glass area for a given size window as you do with vinyl. In addition, fiberglass is fully paintable just like wood and I think may be available in a textured finish that gives a wood like appearance. Well worth looking at if you go the replacement window route.</p>
<p>I recently replaced my old basement windows with some from Pella and am very happy with the results. In my case, I thought the vinyl window construction had a larger frame area, leaving me with a smaller glass area and much less light coming in. I also hate vinyl.
You don’t say what part of the country you are from and how important energy efficiency is in the face of rising energy costs. If it’s very important, I don’t think that replacing storm windows alone is a good idea. It leaves you with with an air-filled space. An Energy Star replacement window will have an argon filled space and be more insulating.
When pricing out windows, I found the cost per window to be variable depending on the manufacturer. These were all Energy Star windows, too.
Comparison shop and negotiate.</p>
<p>^^I live in Maine, so obviously energy efficiency is very important. (If it weren’t, I wouldn’t be contemplating replacing the windows at all, given the huge expense…) You are correct, replacing the storms alone wouldn’t be worth it. That’s why the storms option I described includes replacing the ropes and weights with a screw balance, which enables one to go into the weight pocket and stuff it with insulation. The problem is that this puts the cost right up there with replacement windows…that is, if the replacement windows are not too mind-blowingly expensive. The nicest wood ones are.</p>
<p>Another fan of Pella here. We recently replaced 19 old Pella windows (1/4 of our windows) with new Pella. The frames inside are wood but outside are no-maintenance vinyl. No storms required because they’re double pane (and the ones we chose have the blinds inside). They can custom make to any size and they also do all the ‘finishing’ around the new windows after installation. Depending on your budget, of course, they’re an excellent option.</p>
<p>I live in Minnesota and have Andersen Windows - we’re going on twenty years with them and haven’t been disappointed. I have heard though that Marvin is the choice of Remodelers, at least here in Minnesota. They offer wood windows and custom sizes : [Replacement</a> Windows - Window Replacement - Window Installation - Insert Windows - Sash Replacement - Marvin Windows and Doors -](<a href=“Windows and Doors | Window and Door Manufacturer | Marvin”>Windows and Doors | Window and Door Manufacturer | Marvin)</p>
<p>I can understand that you would want to keep your older home historically correct but keep in mind that the vinyl clad windows have wood interiors and really do save on maintenance. I used to work on the Andersen brochures - I’ve toured the factory and been through their dealer training so I’m a big fan . I don’t know if this is still true but Pella used to have a heavier look with more wood surround and less glass area and Andersen has a more Swedish look with thinner more refined wood surround and more glass. It’s interesting that all three have been mentioned - they have historically been considered the top three national window companies and are all made in the upper midwest - Andersen in Bayport, Minnesota, Marvin in Warroad Minnesota and Pella in Pella, Iowa. Any one of the three would be an excellent choice.</p>
<p>^^During a renovation seven years ago we also replaced with Pella windows the same as those described above. We have been very happy with them. They can be flipped inward so they also clean easily.</p>
<p>“Any one of the three would be an excellent choice.”</p>
<p>That’s good to know. In my area (upper Northeast), Marvin and Anderson market their products. I have heard of the Pella brand but I didn’t associate it with Windows. It might be a good time to pick up a few shares of these companies if they are public.</p>
<p>Over the years, we have replaced all of the windows, bay windows and patio/deck sliding doors in our house with Pella and have been very satisfied. We recently replaced the windows in an investment condo with vinyl because of the price point. During this process we reacquainted ourselves with the full line of products offered by Anderson, Pella and Marvin as well as a load of vinyl replacement companies. We selected the Crusader line of windows by Northeast Building Supply because they are the “cadillac” of vinyl windows but still at a vinyl price point.</p>
<p>If I were replacing windows in my house today and didn’t have budget concerns, I would look at Marvin and Pella wood windows clad on the exterior with aluminum. If price were a concern, I would seriously look at Marvin’s fiberglass windows for the reasons I suggested in my earlier post. Pella also makes a fiberglass replacement window that is cheaper than Marvin’s but, frankly, it has a crude, uneven finish and is not built nearly as well as Marvin’s.</p>
<p>Aside from the national brands, there are also dozens of locally-made window brands. When we chose the replacement for our kitchen “window wall” we went with a regional brand that “fit” better with our other trim. First, we picked an installation company with a great local reputation (using Angies List), and then worked with them to pick the window. A LOT of the quality of the window gestalt has more to do with how well the installation is performed than the window itself. Our new window looks great. Our neighbors went with the “two guys with a pickup” company, and their windows look like they were installed by 9th graders.</p>
<p>WashDad’s point about selecting the right installation company is an important one. We have learned the hard way to limit ourselves to an installer that has a local store front in our community, has been in business a long time and uses its own employees, not subcontractors. There’s usually more accountability, better service and often a broader product line to choose from - although there’s plenty of independant contractors out here, it’s just tougher to weed out the good ones from the fly by nights.</p>
<p>The windows generally have a lifetime (ownership) warranty. We have gone thru 2 sets of picture windows of the same brand and looking for another set when we get irritated enough looking through the fagged windows. I really don’t think its the installation or the window itself but the fact that we have a southern exposure that gets the winter wind and cold with the summer’s heat. </p>
<p>At the coast, I have seen brand name, heavy duty windows destroyed from sandblasting wind which etches the windows and breaks the window seal. Wind loads can be tremedous on semiflexible seals.</p>
<p>I also agree with Washdad’s advice to find a good installer because it affects how the window performs. I think their are differences in quality though when comparing a regional brand to a national one - I doubt the regionals invest in research and product development like the national companies do. I would consider the warranty as well. This is purely anecdotal but I have noticed that a lot of the homeowners that went with their builder line of windows
( regional) also are the ones that have had to replace or repair them. That’s not to say that you can’t find a quality line, only that those regional builder lines exist for a reason - they tend to offer a window to help builders keep their costs down and that generally means lesser quality. Find out what the local high end remodelers are using in your area and that will give you a good indication of quality. There really are differences in building products and you tend to get what you pay for - it’s not just marketing hype.</p>
<p>We have friends who have been renovating their own version of “this old house” for a long time. They really wanted to get real mullion windows for a long time and so didn’t do windows until recently. They chose a local (but very prominent) installer and vinyl replacement windows. They look TERRIFIC. They got the mullion look, but have fully insulated windows that open and close easily. Their heating bill is much lower and there are no drafts in their house at all. Most of their moldings inside are painted, and the white vinyl looks great. There are several rooms with wood stained trim and the windows look great. Bottom line is that most anything would have looked and felt and operated better than what they had before. Once they got past the “we want old windows” hurdle, they have not looked back and are very happy with their new vinyl replacement windows…which they wish they had done ten years ago.</p>