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Random Quote: When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading.
I have to replace my 100 year old windows in my shore house. I got a quote for Andersen Renewal $10,900.00 for 16 windows with 6 over one exterior grills.
I just found out about Andersen Woodwright windows....wood interior, Fibrex exterior.
Any thoughts? I need good windows. I replaced three windows 7 years ago with vinyl and they're already toast.
__________________ "Land of the free, because of the Brave"
I know up this way Pella makes a darn good window......here we can only buy our's direct, they are not sold at HD or the like.
Something to think about if it applies........If your 100 yr. old glass is all rippled and with air bubbles in it you very well might be able to make a good buck off of ebay!
As one that is going thru the process of having French door and double hung windows replaced in our home (built in 1921), I can tell you there is quality stuff out there in wood frames. You do not need to settle for vinyl windows. Anderson, Pella, whatever... They all look the same. None of them look good in an older home.
We are having the wooden windows and french doors made locally by a guy that has the double-pane glass made (cooked) locally, too, and then he puts it in a wooden frame as if it were single-pane. They look just like the original wooden windows, but you can see that it’s with double-pane glass when you get up close. I'm sure there is someone in your area that makes similar product. Let your fingers do the walking...
And Garret is 100% correct about selling that old glass. There is a demand for that old, imperfect glass. Current reproductions of it are being made in Germany and imported into the US but it ain’t cheap!
I would suggest going out and actually looking at the various high-end windows, if possible.
The Pella "Architect" series is made in the fashion that Eyball is referring to. We live in a
200 year old antique, and have to have 6 over 6's custom made to match the originals,
and found the Pella to be the best for our application. Any of the high-end manufacturers
will make to your spec.'s and dimensions. I also agree there would not necessarily be a
significant cost difference to have them custom made locally.
Don't trash that old glass!! However, it's pretty hard to work with, so don't try to cut it either. In any case, windows are a very important element in the appearance of old houses (the "fabric") and I applaud you for trying to maintain the original appearance!
Weak fish -
we've used andersen woodwright on a number of houses and if a maintenance free exterior is what you want they would be a good choice. Andersen has about the best support should something need repair and the windows look and perform very nicely.
Pella Architect Series and Marvin Magnum windows are also very nice, high quality windows with good waranties, performance and looks. You can get them factory painted with a proprietary painting process that I believe comes with a 10 year warranty-they are more expensive than the Andersen Woodwrights generally.
We also use a custom manufacturer out of Maine called Little Harbor WIndows. They make their product out of mahogony and their biggest double hung windows can be raised and lowered with a finger. You will pay for these windows and they also need tobe installed in a 2x6 wall thickness so they may not work in all applications.
I am all for supporting a local craftsman but for windows you need to make sure they will be able to support their windows down the line. In Massachusetts all windows also must pass certain performance certifications and many small manufacturers cant afford the testing required for certification. Make sure about this aspect before you go the local route.
I tell all my clients that windows represent about the biggest cost in a house, they also can make or break the look of the house so choose carefully after much study.
Good Luck!
Marvin Window in 18th century house
Little Harbor Window in new house
Greg
__________________
1967 BW Nauset w/ 88SPL Johnson
Thanks for the replies folks. The Pellas are real nice, but they are clad in aluminum. I went to their store and got a quote and some detail. Aluminum exterior will pit in the shore environment. They even told me I'd have to wash the aluminum clad exterior several times a year or they would pit.
Vinyl shrinks and expands causing the sashes to become too loose or too tight.
I just got back from a lumber yard that sells the Woodwright windows. They look nice, I like the idea of real wood on the inside, but with the true divided light and 6 over 1 grills...it was $$$$$$$$$$. The wood on theinside was pine or you could upgrade to maple or oak, but again even more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
__________________ "Land of the free, because of the Brave"
Weakfish - Pella also makes a non-aluminum clad version of the window-not sure it is any less $$$ than the Andersen Woodwrights though.....
They didn't tell me about the non-aluminum clad windows at the Pella store. The woodwrights also range in price, with true divided light I'm looking at over $700.00 window. With snap in grills, it's more like $450/window, but then I'd need an installer and I'd be painting the inside of 16 windows.
__________________ "Land of the free, because of the Brave"
The development I live in is 12 years old, we just moved in a year ago. It's about this time that all of our neighbors are doing improvements, having the exterior of the house painted, new kitchens and new windows. We're not having any problems with our windows but they are wood with those miserable wooden window grids. Never before have I been jealous of a Pella sign in the neighbors lawn. Talk about an expensive, non-gratifying home improvement! Hope to get several more years before any major upgrades need to be completed.
...In Massachusetts all windows also must pass certain performance certifications and many small manufacturers cant afford the testing required for certification. Make sure about this aspect before you go the local route.
Really good point. Where I am we don’t see anything close to the winter weather you folks on the right-coast have. Don’t you folks get that mysterious white fluffy stuff that falls out of the sky? And water freezes, or something weird like that? Not where I live.
Also know that making double-pane glass is now a no-brainer. Any reputable window place should be able to order it for you, probably from a local maker. And the quality of double-glass panes today is 100-times better than it was 15 years ago. They figured out the best materials to use and the best method of making (cooking) the panes. The new stuff bonds better and makes a better seal than ever before.
For our wooden windows it is about making those wooden piece in the middle fit with a thicker double-glass pane. Otherwise it would be a replica of a window/French door design of 85+ years ago. If a pane gets broken or for whatever reason needs to be replaced, any glass place can order a new piece. It gets replaced just like with an old single-pane window. If the window maker goes out of business it will not matter to my windows.
I have no idea what Pella or Anderson or Marvin product costs. I hate those cheesy windows that are one big piece of glass with fake dividers to make it look like the window has multiple panes (lights). A pair of custom-made, 48" x 80", wooden, 8-light (16 lights for both sides), double-pane, French doors is setting us back about $1200/pair. That does not include install or any hardware (hinges, handles, locks, etc). We bought and dropped off the paint to the window shop so the doors arrive painted the color(s) of our choice, ready to go.
Weakfish,
The $$ numbers you mention sound about right for the Andersen product. The snap in grills do save money but most folks are not happy with their not too traditional looks and they tend to fall out over time so get removed by the homeowner after a few years. the Woodwright series while more expensive do look ver legitimate from 8 feet or so. We've done a lot of 6 lite over 1 lite division windos which save you some cash and still look tradtional as many 100 year old homes have this design.
Weakfish - sounds like you found a good local source which is not always possible. I like you were able to get them shop painted which is a real time and money saver in the long run for any multi lite window. I know that Weathersheild makes a very nice true divided lite window with insulated glass but they have not tested it becasue it will likely not meet our energy code requirements. All the individual insulated lites of glass mean lots of possible places for air infiltration. In warmer climates its not likely a big deal.
We are also getting hit with new hurricane regulations which will hit the window industry and the home owner hard in the wallet and will likely winnow down the small custom builders even more - remains to be seen.
greg aka mymojo
__________________
1967 BW Nauset w/ 88SPL Johnson
However, our window market is alot different..mostly aluminum single hung in concrete block. There are true impact rated windows that can be installed without secondary protection (shutters), and regular windows that must withstand the design wind pressures that apply. All units must be physically tested, a very expensive undertaking. Thus, choices are somewhat limited.
To me. the important aspect is service AFTER the sale..if you have a warranty issue, who will resolve it? Let's say a piece of hardware breaks, where do you get a replacement? As for appearance, "true divided lite" windows with muntins are visually more pleasing than the snap in grids, but more money. Some manufacturers can apply a fake muntin to both sides of the glass for a more authentic look.
Dealing with historic properties is never inexpensive. However, by owning one, you become the caretaker of a piece of our architectural heritage, and it should be treated as such. If you are in an historic district, or can have it listed on a local list, there may be tax advantages and write-offs available to you. For instance, if a "Fascade easement" is given to a local organization, ANY exterior maintenance can be treated as a contribution to a charity...including window replacement.
We put Hurd wood metal clad windows on our house when we build it about 8 1/2 years ago and they still look pretty good. 10-years warranty around here, product only with labor extra. Seem to be pretty good quality, but don't know how they would hold up in salt water areas.
__________________ jal
2009 Crestliner Superhawk 1900
175 Optimax Pro SX
Dodge Ram 2500 HD Cummins Diesel
We put Hurd wood metal clad windows on our house when we build it about 8 1/2 years ago and they still look pretty good. 10-years warranty around here, product only with labor extra. Seem to be pretty good quality, but don't know how they would hold up in salt water areas.
salt air eats EVERYTHING. I've had aluminum, and vinyl exterior light fixtures eaten to dust. The aluminum triple tracks in my current old windows are dust and the glazing turned to chalk. I think aluminum clad would get destroyed down the shore.
__________________ "Land of the free, because of the Brave"
Replacement windows 
