Advice on Replacement Windows

Hi B.:
This past fall, late summer had our windows replaced with Harvey windows. They have many choices that you can choose from with colors that match many siding colors to complement your look and feel. They also have many choices in types of glass with argon or krypton gases, double, triple pain windows and different U-ratings. The higher the U-rating the better the heating and cooling losses. Also buying higher U-rated windows are tax deductable up to $2000.00. The person that did the installation was very informative and professional. He was quick, clean, reasonable and did all the finish work around the windows that needed to be done.

The people next door to us liked the look and work that was done that they had their upstairs windows replaced and this year they are having the downstairs windows replaced.

I love my new windows and the savings on our oil bill this year was great. We couldn't hear the wind...no rattling of windows and we didn't have to have the heat up and saved a lot on fuel charges. I was very fortunate to have changed our windows this past fall with the winter and oil prices this year. Make an informed decision because there are a lot of types of windows out there and different levels of quality.

Mass Port uses Harvey windows in their replacements to families that live in the noise reduction areas around the airport.

A little about me: I work at a community college in Boston. My husband is retired and we are the parents of a 25 year old son, Christopher

We were in need of windows and had various estimates for Harvey windows, the Home Depot, NE Sash and Window World.
Window World was recommended by a family friend and their estimate came in the lowest which was very budget friendly. We did 9 windows and a big bay window for just over 5,000 all with the argon gas. They were great!!! Instalation went really well and we were so happy with the product. I was really leary about the company and how inexpensive the product was but I had no camplaints with quality or the amount of window space lost.
Hope this helps.

Hi there,

Our home has Caradco windows (now owned by Jeld-Wen), which have wood on the inside and vinyl on the outside. These turned out to be awful windows; the turning mechanisms are all slowly failing, and because the windows were unfinished at the tops (not painted or sealed), moisture got in and is rotting out the wood interior of each window. Here is a link detailing other peoples' similar problems with these windows. We are trying to pace ourselves financially, by replacing only one window a year, since it is very expensive. We are upgrading to Anderson windows, which I believe (from the research I've done) to be the best out there. They have vinyl interiors, so we shouldn't have to worry about rot. Also we are having them installed by a very good and reliable carpenter from a wonderful (and unfortunately expensive) local contractor. I am crossing my fingers that this major investment will improve the value of our home, as well as prevent the problems we've had related to crummy, poorly-installed windows: loss of heat during winter, water leaks, difficulty opening during warm season, etc.

Good luck!

I know that if you currently have anderson windows their
replacements are suppose to fit into the same size space. Maybe some of the other manufactures are the same. Good luck

HI B. B . . I AM A REMODELING/ DESIGNER . . I WOULD: CALL TWO OF THE BEST LOCAL
CONTRACTORS ( HOPEFULLY A FRIEND OR FAMILY HAS USED ) AND ASK THEM THESE
QUESTIONS . . ALSO, IF THERE IS A GOOD HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE OR TWO, I WOULD
CALL AND ASK FOR THE HOURS OF THEIR BEST WINDOW EXPERT AND ASK A COUPLE OF
THESE FOLKS . .
THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL PRICE DIFFERENCES IN THE CHOICES YOU NOTED . .
OFTEN CONTRACTORS HAVE A FAVORITE AND WORK WITH ONE OR TWO BRANDS ALL THE
TIME . . THIS IS GOOD BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THOSE INSTALLATIONS.

DON'T RELY ON JUST OTHERS ADVICE, ALTHOUGH IT CAN BE HELPFUL . . . GET A PROFESSIONAL TO GIVE YOU THE PROS & CONS AND GET MORE THAN ONE QUOTE . .

YOU MAY ALSO GLEEN SOME INFO FROM THE ON LINE SITES.
www.diynetwork.com www.bejane.com www.bobvilla.com

GOOD LUCK . . D. L.

We replaced our windows with Pella windows, vinyl outside/wood inside as I wanted to keep the natural woodwork in my home. I did not feel that we lost glass space by doing the Pella replacements, but I do have rather large windows as my home is probably 70 years old (Dutch Colonial). I think they are like 30 X 54. We actually did the replacements ourselves, and it actually went quite smoothly. It was nice that the Pella people came out and measured everything to insure sizes. I love that they are so easy to clean as they are tilt-and-wash. I didn't have that before.

As our house is vinyl sided, we did have a small strip around the window on the outside that we had to cover with white metal. It was maybe a half inch. We covered it so we would not have to paint it.

I rent in Hebron, and our landlord just replaced our windows this past winter. She used Harvey windows and i think they're great! Sooo easy to clean, and it seems so much brighter inside now. I love them!

When we bought our house, I loved the look of the Pella windows the previous owners had installed. Like you mentioned, they were wood on the inside and vinyl on the outside.

Unfortunately, over time I've grown to hate our Pellas. It seems that (at least the ones we have) are designed badly. The screens that came with them are one piece, so you can't raise just the bottom half without removing the whole thing. If we forget and leave a window open and a summer shower moves through the wood on the inside of some of them gets wet--a problem for the wood, of course. The grain has been raised on a couple this way. It's especially a problem on the couple we have that swing out to open. And don't get me started on the slider!! ARG! The screen on the *inside* so that all the bugs come in when you try to close up for the evening!

BUT, we have replaced several windows with Harvey vinyl windows which I LOVE. They have been fabulous! Function well, easy to clean, built-in secondary locks--I couldn't be happier. In fact, we will soon be replacing out second Pella slider with another Harvey slider and I can't wait!

Yes, the Pella's were pretty but after living with them I can't say that I'd ever buy another one. The Harvey's, on the other hand,have been a great buy all around. We had Chuck DeRossi from DeRossi Classic Homes do ours and he was exceptionally fair, professional and the quality of the work was terrific.

B.,

I know of an amazing builder who does windows. If you give him a call he can probably give you the best advice. He is always talking about the different windows and what is the best, but I never seem to remember what he says. His name is Jack Bindig of Amerigen Contractors. ###-###-####. Good luck!
Tell him K. Acton gave you his info.

Hi
I too am looking to replace my windows. I had an estimate done by Newpro which was way out of my budget, $19,000 for 12 windows! I'm not saying that the windows weren't beautiful but they were very pricey! I will be having Home Depot over to estimate as well and hopefully they will be cheaper. So far that is my experience with replacement windows. Good luck to you :)
-A.

Go with Harvey window replacements; they're great. If you need a really good installer, I recommend Jim Mancini, ###-###-####. He's an insured general contractor, who's done loads of quality work for me and my sister. Although Jim is from Framingham, he'll go where you are. Good luck.

I have used Harvey windows in my home and I love them. They look great and are energy effiecient. I used Ultimate Interiors out of Exeter,NH.1-###-###-#### or www.ultimatint.com