A windows question?

[robsterclaw]

Has anyone here replaced the windows in your house? Or maybe worked in the windows business?

We got a quote for $8,900 to replace all 13 windows in our house. It was built in '76 and the windows suck! These new ones are real nice vinyl, double thick double windows with gas in between. They are also coated.

It sure seems like a good deal to me, but since I've never known ayone who replaced windows before I don't know.

[Great-Kazoo]

call champion windows. they have good prices and decent customer service. or gravina's both on www.troubleshooter.com
tom martino's trouble shooter good guy list. i'd go there and check out who is or isn't doing the job as promised.

[7idl]

I had the windows in my last house replaced by Champion... they did the majority of it all in 1 day, IIRC. they sure changed the house.. warmer in winter, cooler in summer and way more quiet (lived with the back of the house facing mississippi ave in aurora)

[GearHead]

Hey 7idl
where bouts.. I'm in the 'hood north/west of Mississippi & Buckley

[Gman]

Get rid of your Windows and get an Apple Macintosh.

Oh...a question about glazing. Sorry, can't help you there. [buck]

[PsychoI3oy]

Damnit Gman, you beat me to it.

I was gonna say "yes, with Linux"

[HunterCO]

I just did all the windows in my house and years ago I took a break from the auto thing and did windows. That sounds really high to me hell the average window is $200 + labor and that includeds low E glass which I highly recommend. Unless your looking at bay windows and garden windows then it gets real expensive but to me that sounds very high priced for 13 windows.

Why not put them in your self they are really easy to do.

[7idl]

Hey 7idl
where bouts.. I'm in the 'hood north/west of Mississippi & Buckley

I don't live there anymore... was at norfolk & mississippi (just to the west of miss/buck.)

[robsterclaw]

I just did all the windows in my house and years ago I took a break from the auto thing and did windows. That sounds really high to me hell the average window is $200 + labor and that includeds low E glass which I highly recommend. Unless your looking at bay windows and garden windows then it gets real expensive but to me that sounds very high priced for 13 windows.

Why not put them in your self they are really easy to do.

That's very helpful to me. I know my windows are large (56x35) and we picked the kind that only half of it slides, the other stays put. But I have no clue on what's a good deal or not. Oh and they are low E glass. I'm thinking of getting another estimate too.

Thanks all for the posts. :mrgreen:

[robsterclaw]

Oh and putting them in myself isn't a good option. I totally screw up every home improvement thing I try. [roll]

[HunterCO]

I can get windows for 10% over cost. If you want to give me the measurements I can find out what I can get them for.

You buy the beer and I could help you put them in it really is not very difficult. It would take about a day to put them all in.

[JasonFRC]

call champion windows. they have good prices and decent customer service. or gravina's both on www.troubleshooter.com
tom martino's trouble shooter good guy list. i'd go there and check out who is or isn't doing the job as promised.

You realize those companies pay Tom Martino to be listed there. There have been very few companies actually removed from his list over the years. I find that to be a conflict of interest. HIS customers are the companies on his referral lists. Seems like quite a balancing act for the old Troubleshooter. Tom Martino makes a lot of money from those companies around the country who subscribe to his referral services.

I'm sure most of the companies on his lists are on the up and up, as they have agreed to be held accountable by Martino's group. But on the other hand, Tom Martino won't be alienating his own customers either.

In my humble opinion of course.

[robsterclaw]

I can get windows for 10% over cost. If you want to give me the measurements I can find out what I can get them for.

You buy the beer and I could help you put them in it really is not very difficult. It would take about a day to put them all in.

Wow, Thanks, that's a great offer. I'll measure and pm you. I'm still very scared about having anything to do with the work. I'm very very unlucky when it comes to any household improvements. Ask my wife, she's the one that has to fix my mistakes. [roll]

And yes I know they are Martino's advertisers on his list, but between that and a BBB check, it's at least a little more protection then just picking someone out of the phonebook. The thing I like is if we go throug one of these companies, they do the work first, and then get paid.

[devochka]

call champion windows. they have good prices and decent customer service. or gravina's both on www.troubleshooter.com
tom martino's trouble shooter good guy list. i'd go there and check out who is or isn't doing the job as promised.

Keep in mind just because someone hangs a Tom Martino plaque on their wall does not mean they will treat you fairly. All of the people on his list pay Tom Martino so they can be a referred shop. It pays to shop around and get referrals from friends and neighbors, not Tom Martino.

Also, it seems that Tom Martino is a shyster himself -- he gets the companies to pay for his endorsement, whilst claiming he researches their customer service history. In reality, it appears that he just takes their money and gives them a plaque for posting conspicuously in their establishments.

Westword did a series of articles on him a while back, detailing his sleazy behavior (and his even sleazier replies to the first article):

http://www.westword.com/Issues/2005-03-03/news/message.html

http://www.westword.com/issues/2005-05-05/news/message.html

http://www.westword.com/issues/2005-06-16/news/message.html

[KarlPMann]

What a SCUMBAG!!! :evil: Karl.

[Wallary]

I can get windows for 10% over cost. If you want to give me the measurements I can find out what I can get them for.

You buy the beer and I could help you put them in it really is not very difficult. It would take about a day to put them all in.

Wow, Thanks, that's a great offer. I'll measure and pm you. I'm still very scared about having anything to do with the work. I'm very very unlucky when it comes to any household improvements. Ask my wife, she's the one that has to fix my mistakes. [roll]

And yes I know they are Martino's advertisers on his list, but between that and a BBB check, it's at least a little more protection then just picking someone out of the phonebook. The thing I like is if we go throug one of these companies, they do the work first, and then get paid. Hey Hey Robsterclaw, I'm a do-it-yourselfer and I have replaced all the windows in my house, Hunter's right they're not that hard. The biggest concerns I'd have are making the correct measurements of the window openings. You need to do some research first, What kind of siding and trim do you have on the outside and do you have any unseen problems on the inside you may encounter? You'll most likely be doing some drywall work on the inside of the window openings. Some homes were built with a interior window seal formed with concrete that requires a lot of demolition and rebuilding of the opening. Also what do you do if you run into mold and rotten frame work? Most companies will probably cover up these problems and you'll never know unless you have trouble down the road and then it will be too late. I've always said if you want it done right do-it-yourself. I don't drink but, I wouldn't mind stopping by and giving you guys a hand. Larry

[robsterclaw]

Thanks also Wallary. I really appreciate those offers! What I didn't realize when I posted was, the wifey and me signed a contract to have them done, not just an estimate, like I thought. I just signed where the wifey told me to. It does look like we got a fair deal, even though I didn't realize we were locked into the contract, because before I realized it, the 3 days to cancel was over. We got 2 more estimates and were weighing them when I noticed we had initially signed a contract. All 3 were within a few hundred dollars for the same quality of windows.

The thing I might have changed had we not signed a contract as far as the 3 companies went, was I may have used Accent windows, because they would have done the entry way door at the same time for a reduced price.

But thanks guys, I think since so many here are handy, before I do any other improvements, I'll post here. Besides just beer, I'd grill some steaks! :mrgreen:

[GearHead]

I just bought 10k worth of windows from Champion. So, who's name should I give for the referral money?