Hey guys, I work with a homebuilder in the coumbus ohio area and recently purchased a 1930’s craftsman style house. The house is currently outfitted with no less that 22 double true divided light casement windows that appear to have been manufactured onsite and work like miniature french doors. I love the look, but am hating the drafts and energy inefficiency. I’ve been looking around at new build windows to replace them with, but was staggered by the price of Pella’s and the sort. I’m currently looking at Marvin Integrity windows with mullions, but still am feeling the price crunch. I was wondering if anyone had any insight on a good Vinyl casement manufacturer with affordable pricing and a decent range of stock sizes. Any help would be appreciated.
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Replies
I just odered some.
With truckload pricing for contractor's, it was about $290/ea
Andesrsen Windows.
They have a lot of pricing options and size changes price too. These were with factory applied muntins in and out in the 400 series, with screens. I priced a similar window in total vinyl that actually looked slightly better but it was $325/ea
Excellence is its own reward!
Edited 3/2/2003 9:54:14 PM ET by piffin
That's not bad. With the Integrity's I was looking at around 450 bucks a pop. I'll have to check out andersen's.
I edited with more info above.
Andersen is widely regarded as one of the best values in windows going. I also like Weathershield and Norco for midline value in windows. Pella is off my A and B lists unless an archy specifies it..
Excellence is its own reward!
I always thought Andersen's were a quality window as well, but each time I price windows, it seems like less and less stores are carrying them. I know the carter lumber stores in my area recently stopped carrying them as well. What retailer do you go thru?
I use a local in the mid Maine coast, Viking Lunber.
You can find a dealer in your area
http://www.andersenwindows.com/dealerLocator/.
Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks for all the info, I'll definitely price it out with andersen's before I order the integritys.
I priced out andersen's through a local supplier (ironically named The Anderson's general store) anyhow, for a 400 series double casement in the size I need, it was 6$670. Ouch! That 450 dollar Marvin Integrity is lookin' better and better! I've thought about going with a vinyl slider window instead of casements to save money, but I just don't think it would do the house justice. Oh well, looks like it's time to get out the old pocketbook.
That sounds like the full retail price! Nobody ever pays that. you should be able to do it for 20% to 35% off list. Keep looking.
Excellence is its own reward!
I installed a full house of Andersons (see my website below for pictures) that had the factory installed grills on the outside and pop in grills on the inside. It looks great from the street but up close several of the grills on the exterior don't touch the frame 100% if that bothers you. It gives the window a nice shadow line looking at it from the street but up close it is also hollow between the grills if that also might bother you.
All in all for what they cost I think its the best value....Marvin is a second runner up. Also look into the MArvin "kit" windows and compare the price. In your case after you remove the windows my guess is you'd have to install frames before using the "kit" windows which shouldn't be a big deal
Be insulated
Namaste
Andy
"As long as you have certain desires about how it ought to be you can't see how it is."
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
thanx for the info. One of the nice things I saw while on the Andersen web site last night also was that their slider windows have two operable panels (doublehung) as opposed to just one operable panel (single hung) like the marvin's.
you may also want to look into the tilt ins for a few more bucks on the upstairs windows.
a"As long as you have certain desires about how it ought to be you can't see how it is." http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
you mean tilt in as in a 'hopper' style window?
I believe he was referring to the tilt in feature for ease of cleaning the outside of the window. They operate just as a normal double hung but can be dropped into the living space from the top, the bottom of the window acting as a hinge.
ok, I see what you're saying. wasn't looking at it in that context I guess b/c I was speaking about a slider window to begin with, thus no tilting action.
for windows that unique.....if they are in decent working order.....I'd be inclined to weatherstrip and storm window them.
On average.....less than half a houses energy loss is thru the windows and doors.
something like 30%.
Money might be better spent....on a house of that vintage....on tracking down and sealing up the rest of the leaks and insulating.
And I'm by no means a "restoration..don't touch anything old" guy. In remodeling..I tear out the old and replace with the new and improved every day......
I've just come to learn that reworking old windows is a viable option.....if they warrent that consideration.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
I agree with Jeff on this one. If you're not up against rot and termites, and they're properly flashed so they don't leak around the jambs, then rehab and weatherstripping will get you better windows for far less money. Google an outfit called Resource Conservation Technology, they're the best source for weatherstripping that lasts.
If you do take them out, try not to hurt them too much. You might be able to find a buyer for them to offset your new window price.
-- J.S.
you make a good point. One that I was rolling with when we purchased the house, but b/c the windows were probably site built and the fact that they actually swing into the room and take up valuable floor space, I'd like to go with the casements. The windows currently in the house are definitley unique. I'll have to try and get a couple pics of them to post.
As for saving them, that is in our plans as we hope to build a small cabin by a pond on my parents farm for weekends up home. File that one under the "when we get a few extra bucks" categeory too!
The 30% figure you quoted may not be as accurate in our house as I would guess that almost 50% of our exterior wall space is windows. It's an old summer vacation cottage near a lake and I'm more and more getting the feeling that they just didn't take the Ohio winter into consideration when they built the house.