About Replacement Windows
We have all been in this situation. The phone rings or someone knocks on the door. Another window company is in the neighbourhood offering free, no obligation estimates for replacement windows. It doesn't matter who it is, they all have state-of-the-art products with the latest advances and features. And most of the time, when they give you the quote, you have to sign a contract right away to take advantage of the "limited time" sale.
Before the salesperson called, you probably hadn't even considered replacing your windows. Now, suddenly, the existing windows with which you were perfectly happy half an hour ago seem totally inadequate and you are willing to take on a five year debt, because the weekly payments are "easily affordable." Here are a few tips to cut the power to that neon "sucker" sign flashing on your forehead.
Do you need replacement windows?
Modern replacement windows are typically double or triple pane glass, often with an inert gas, usually argon, between the panes to add insulation value. And yes, these are very energy efficient, and can save you a lot of money on your energy bills in the long run, compared to the old single pane windows that most older homes have. Short term however, the savings may not be all that impressive. Replacing windows can be done as a do-it-yourself job, but for me, it was well worth calling in the professionals. They can do the job properly, they can do it a lot faster than I ever could, and their work is guaranteed.
Do you need all the "bells and whistles"?
I have had windows replaced in both of the houses that I have owned. The first windows I had replaced were basement windows of my first house where I got talked into buying top of the line argon filled triple panes. And boy, did I pay a premium price for them.
The salesman who gave me the estimate for the first floor windows of that house was very honest with me. He did not try to sell triple pane argon filled windows. He said that there would be no benefit to buy the "top of the line", because my front windows are sheltered by an awning, and my side windows are sheltered by my neighbours' houses. The only place I could justify that kind of expense would be for the back windows. In other words, he was of the opinion that I paid way too much for the basement windows.
The window installer that I had do work on our current house does not even recommend argon filled glass. He claims that in his experience, the window seal will eventually fail due to the pressure from the argon and any savings from the insulation factor will be negated by the cost of repairing the window. I'm not so sure about that, but he has been in the business longer than anyone else I've talked to and frankly, I cannot tell any difference between the windows he installed and ones insulated with argon.
What about the warranty?
I had the basement windows and the main floor windows of my first house replaced by two different companies. I got two different warrantees. The basement windows were warranted for as long as I own my home. The warranty was transferable for five years. The main floor windows were warranted for 20 years, fully transferable to the next homeowner at any time during that entire period. Which is the better warranty? Does the answer change when you consider that my wife and I were thinking about moving into a larger house in a couple of years? Does the answer change when you consider that the 20 year warranty is by a company that is located within five minutes of my house, while the other company offering the lifetime warrantee has only a sales office locally , and their customer service department is located about two hours away? Does the answer change when you consider that the 20 year warrantee is offered by a company that has been in business for fifty years, while the lifetime warrantee is offered by a company that has only been in business for ten? These are all things to consider before taking a warranty at face value.
What about the claims of added re-sale value?
Increased re-sale value is a popular sales claim. Often the salesman will tell you that the value of your house will increase by the value of the windows you have installed. More realistically, the value of your house may increase by about 50% of the value of the windows. One real estate agent tells me that the value of the house will likely not increase at all. Newer windows will, however, help sell your home a little faster. You will need to take into consideration the average market value of your home, the original sale price that you paid, and the cost of other improvements that you have made. Bottom line? If you are planning on selling your home in the near future, don't expect new windows to be an "investment" unless your old ones are in really terrible shape.
Compare apples to apples:
At my first house, I got three estimates for my main floor windows. The first was for $7500, the second for $6500, and the third for $5000. Why the wide variety? Because the window styles were different.
The first estimate was for argon-filled glass. The front picture windows featured casement windows on each side of a larger fixed window. The rest of the windows were double-hung sliders.
The second estimate was for plain glass, no argon. The front picture windows featured side sliders on each side. The rest were double-hung.
The final estimate was for the same as the second, except the windows were argon filled.
Considering that casement windows are more expensive than side sliders, it is easy to see why there might be a variation in the estimates. There are other factors to consider, of course, such as the warranty, and the quality of construction. Before making a decision based on price, make sure you know what you are paying for.
Some final advice:
I'm not sure who "they" are, but "they" say that you should never do business with someone who comes to you. Do your research. Make sure the estimates you get are for comparable products. Remember, whoever you hire will be working for you, so you should always feel in control of the deal. Finally, when the windows are finally being installed, inspect the work. Don't hover over the workers, but make certain that they are doing the job the way you want it done.