What Every Homeowner Ought to Know About the Replacement Window Business

What Every Homeowner with Drafty Windows Ought to know  about the Replacement Window Business. Some plain talk about a simple replacement project that often sounds complicated.

Highlighting 4 considerations for deciding on window upgrades

1. Is replacing windows a good investment?

My ninety six year old neighbor knows everything that happens on our street, yet she very rarely leaves her home. She loves her windows! I often wonder what she thinks about the walls that block her view to the world. "Tear down the damn walls!"

A standard wall in your home might have a R-Value rating of 13-19 (R-Value is resistance to air flow; higher is better). A single-pane window is rated 1 R-Value or less. A gas-filled double-pane window can achieve a R-value of 3. The improvement in windows technology in recent years has created the triple-pane, gas-filled windows that would have even higher R-Value, of course, at  high price.

How much should it cost? According to the National Energy Association’s Energy Assistance Survey, 37% of household pay $2000 or more in home heating cost each year. Windows installation typically cost $350 to $700 each. (Decide on the options you want then settle on a price within this range and you would do fine). Assuming an average window replacement cost of $525 for each 3’x 4’ window and with ten windows to be replaced, you are looking at spending at least $5,250. "The $189 advertisement for replacement window is a bait and switch."

How much will it really save? Let’s assume a 2000 square foot house (45’x 45’) with 8 foot ceilings. The house would have 5,440 square feet (ceiling, floor and wall space) of which 120 square feet represent ten 3’x 4’ windows. If your window has a R-Value of 1 and the rest of the building envelop is rated at R-13, your building’s average R-Value would be 12.73. Replacing your windows with windows rated R-3 would increase this to 12.78 or 0.4%, saving a couple of dollars per year on your heating bill, probably not worth spending $5,250 you might think.

How much of the investment could be recoup?  There could be additional reasons to justify replacing your windows, especially if your old windows are drafty. You would be adding curb appeal and value if you are planning to sell in the near future. You would recoup 78.8% of your investment, according to Remodeling Magazine 2014. You would be losing far more heating through them than a few dollars per year. In addition, you would be giving up indoor comfort, healthy air quality and the growing need to foster greater energy-efficiency in homes, considered priceless in growing numbers.

2. Should you borrow the money?

Borrowing to replace windows makes a lot of sense. First, you get a cozy comfortable home and beautiful windows now! The energy and maintenance savings will help offset your monthly payments. For most homeowners, a loan can be arranged so that interest costs are tax deductible, providing additional savings; savings, which will continue as long as you own your home.

So, is replacing your drafty windows a good investment? If you are one of the last one on your block, yes, because it is not always about the financial cost.

There is also the social cost. You are being gossip about, perhaps, even being pitied for not being able to keep up. You are being left behind, negatively affecting neighborhood property values (there goes the neighborhood, as the saying goes). It is the nature of things in society. Some plain talk here...

3. What to look for in a window consultation

A consultation should last an average of 60 minutes. Replacing your windows is a simple project; the consultation should be, as well. It involved the advisor doing three things:

(1) Inspecting the existing window and frames (2) Measuring the opening (3) Discussing and advising you on your options. Then, allowing you to choose, not rocket science by any means and should not last more than one hour.

Some Major Don’ts and Dos

Three Major Don’ts. If he does not respect your time and intelligence, he is only there to make a sale by any means necessary.

(1) Don’t be nickel and dime for what you want or expect in a replacement window.

(2) Don’t give in to his showmanship; if you feel uncomfortable with the process, it is wrong.

(3) Don’t fall for the “Bait and Switch” scam (If it sounds too good to true it probably is).

Some Major Dos. The most important Do is to be educated (why we are publishing this information). (1) Know that you get what you paid for; the cheaper the price the lower the window quality. (2) Know that the installation cost per window can range between $100 - $120 including disposal of the old window for the mid range windows. (3) Know that your window shopping experience should be a pleasant and pressure free experience.

So, what to look for in a consultation? You should get the feeling immediately that the advisor is there to help you solve your problem. You invited him in because the memory of last winter is still so painful that you never want to go through another cold uncomfortable winter in your home again.

You invited him in because the memory of last winter high heating bills is still vivid in your mind; you don’t want to spend that much money to heat your home again.

4. What is a good warranty/guarantee

Most window manufacturer offer lifetime full replacement warranty that is transferable at least once on average.

For instance, a lifetime glass breakage warranty extended to the original single family homeowner is a standard guarantee. This is limited to the furnishing of replacement insulated glass panels and does not cover or include any labor costs.

In addition, transferable lifetime limited warranty on Vinyl and moving parts such as balances and locking mechanisms are being standardized in the industry. The more "customer centric" companies will provide these.

How to Get More of This Plain Talk, Eye Opening Information

Admittedly, this is not the complete list of the top considerations; that would take pages. All we have tried to do here is set down answers to some of the common questions that are asked us. And we have excluded some of the things many people are curious about.

For instance, there is the installation process- what is the normal procedure? Or maybe you would like to know about the make up of the window- what makes it energy efficient.

Terminologies such as Low-E, Argon gas, Krypton gas and many others we have had to omit, so as not to overwhelm you here.

If you would like more information, we would be happy to help.

No Cost! No Obligation! Just contact us at:

Email [email protected] or Phone 857-615-4899