Changing our View of the World (AKA The drama of window replacement)

Yesterday we had new windows installed.  Almost all of them....that's over 40 windows.  It was a huge undertaking, and an enormous expense.  I don't say "investment" because that would mean we hope to get a profit off it one day.  Not going to happen, for two reasons.  #1- We aren't planning on selling our house anytime soon and #2- no one would pay us more than $25,000 for windows. And we would need to make more than that.  Yes, it was ridiculous, the amount we paid.  However, we had to do it.
Here are some examples why:

These windows were shot. 20 years of neglect, abuse, and an empty house had ruined them. We knew we wanted new ones when we bought the trash dump  house four years ago, but it took time (and money) to be able to.  Fortunately, due to a generous home equity loan and two-year same as cash financing through Home Depot, we were able to go ahead with the best replacement windows for the cost, IMHO, Andersen 100 series.
These windows are made from Fibrex, a wood-vinyl composite material that has all the benefits of both materials, without the drawbacks.  Plus, they are extremely efficient, are coated with a dirt-repelling substance, and are GORGEOUS.
I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to open every window without banging on it repeatedly and giving up. (That may have happened a few times around here with our old wood ones.)
We chose the Home Depot because they offer a lifetime (as long as you are in the house) installation warranty.  This is extremely important, because the installation has so much impact on the performance of the windows.

Now, before I sound like a commercial for the Home Depot or Andersen (they aren't paying me for this review...yet...hint, hint!)  let me tell you a few negatives:
1) They are extremely expensive.

2) They do not offer a lifetime warranty on the window frames- it is 10 years.

3) The frames are wider than wood, and wider than Renewals by Andersen, the higher-end product.
4) They do not tilt in for cleaning- and are single-hung rather than double.  This was okay with us because we didn't care about double-hungs.  See #3 below...
5) They are extremely expensive.

Here are some benefits:

1) They are beautiful.  No seams, weird molding or ugly hardware.  They have a very stately look, and not the cheapy look of vinyl.

2) They are made with the high efficiency glass (hardly lets any UV rays through) and coated with a protective coating that actually reduces the need for cleaning. See #4 above.
3) They do not tilt in.  This is actually (unbeknownst to most of the general public) an advantage.  First, trying to tilt in 25 pound windows (at the smallest- most of ours are over 40 pounds each sash!) does not sound fun to me.  I can see myself trying to hold it up as I wipe it down and my two-year-old is clinging to my leg while my five-year-old is screaming "MOMMY! I AM HURT!" Not a pretty picture.  I think the window might just get smashed. Also, tilting the windows in to wash them weakens the hardware and they often will get off track, which requires adjustment.  Not something I want to get involved with.  Secondly, tilt-wash windows are only held into the frame by the two plastic clips. Although they are strong, anyone wanting to get in could easily kick at the clips and break them, thereby removing the entire sash.  We have about 20 ground-level windows.  I would rather have thieves have to come through a broken glass thank-you-very-much.  Finally, single hung windows have about a 25% discount over double. Thanks. We'll take it.  And, they look identical to double-hungs, by the way.
4) The frames are virtually indestructible.
5) Home Depot offers a lifetime glass breakage guarantee.  Bring on the baseball!
6) They do not leak air.
7) I cannot see the outside light coming in around the frame.
8) Our home will be infinitely more cool in summer, warm in winter without all those breezes through the gaps.
9) They are just plain gorgeous.

So there you have it.  We actually had about 10 window salespeople in for interviews, and decided to go with Home Depot. We saw every reputable window company in the area. You can read about that insanity here.



Andersen 100 series- here are some shots of the completed windows- GORGEOUS, DAHHLING, JUST GORGEOUS!