Not really knowing the specifics of the window..ie color, grill patterns, interior finish, what you were asking the installers to do such as replace interior trim Ilooked some old jobs we did and found a similar window with raditional ILT grills, whie exterior, primed interior, had to replace some custom trim inside for a very similar price. When you figure the company takes on all the headaches of the permit process for you and cleaning up he site and getting rid of your old windows afterward. You may be able to save some money if you can find your own conractor to install the windows for you, and talk to your local showroom about buying the indows yourself and having someone else install them, but as far as a company install the $1535 is not bad

My apologies, the windows are double hung 8 over six ILT grills exterior clad primed and painted, interior primed and painted. The windows will be installed between the jam and sill plate.

Thanks.

then that is not to bad of a price for an install job. Pella has been more than fair in their pricing, can beat out Marvin most anytime, and have found the service to be pretty good

To me thats a lot of money for a double hung window. I could get a Schuco or a Soft-lite for half the cost with ILT grills and the glass have a better U-factor. I would definitely get other estimates.

Hi Needwindows. Thanks for your comments. While I am well aware that there are cheaper windows available I'm not interested in vinyl replacement windows if for nothing else but aesthetics. (Vinyl siding on a house will always look like vinyl versus true clapboard or stone; vinyl floors may mimic but will not look like true tile.)

I'm hoping others on this board might be able to provide insight on a true "apples to apples" comparison w/ other wood/wood clad high grade windows on par w/ the Pella architect series.

I'm cutting and pasting some comments I found on the web that I think give a fair overview of the wood vs vinyl issues:

Their are major difference in not only wood and vinyl but also aluminum to vinyl. Window salespeople like to talk about R and U factors in discussing window insulation. Industry standard is approx .35, thats for wood, vinyl and aluminum. Here's the catch...that rating is at the center of the glass and DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE MATERIAL OF THE FRAME. Wood is a natural insulator, its an organic material...but also comes with the highest price point. Aluminum, obviously is metal so ambient temps which can reach below zero in our winters gives very little insulation from the frame. Vinyl has its problems in the opposite end of the spectrum, summer. Vinyl is PLASTIC, frame surface temps can reach 140 degrees...plastic begins to breakdown at those temps which is why vinyl is none for SEAL FAILURE. Seal failure=merky looking windows, white cascades on the glass...insulation is nil when this occurs. The cascades of white is actually moss build up from condensation.

Being in the field, I can tell you that wood holds up the best over the long haul. The price is damaging to the wallet and ego. Beware of insulation factors with aluminum but they are durable and have a niche with the cost concious. If you feel like saving money up front but have the means to replace windows every 6-8 years buy vinyl.

Another hint for you home owners- the reputable window makers have higher prices but also accomadate with the easiest payment programs. Don't let "cash on hand" be the deciding factor here...payment programs are the way to go and salespeople will actually give you a better prices if you use the payment programs.

Posted by: Jay at September 17, 2005 2:14 AM

I replaced 55+ double-hung, wooden sash windows with white vinyl windows and had not a single seal failure in over 8 years. I discovered a tiny crack in one pane, which was barely visible. No sash lock failure, either. The quality in the construction of these windows varies greatly, however.

Having said that, you can always tell it is a vinyl window and not wood, just like vinyl vs. clapboard siding on a colonial or Victorian. If I owned a $2 million brownstone, I might spend the money and go for the aesthetic appeal and insulating qualities of wood.

Hi Needwindows. Thanks for your comments. While I am well aware that there are cheaper windows available I'm not interested in vinyl replacement windows if for nothing else but aesthetics. (Vinyl siding on a house will always look like vinyl versus true clapboard or stone; vinyl floors may mimic but will not look like true tile.)

I'm hoping others on this board might be able to provide insight on a true "apples to apples" comparison w/ other wood/wood clad high grade windows on par w/ the Pella architect series.

I'm cutting and pasting some comments I found on the web that I think give a fair overview of the wood vs vinyl issues:

Their are major difference in not only wood and vinyl but also aluminum to vinyl. Window salespeople like to talk about R and U factors in discussing window insulation. Industry standard is approx .35, thats for wood, vinyl and aluminum. Here's the catch...that rating is at the center of the glass and DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE MATERIAL OF THE FRAME. Wood is a natural insulator, its an organic material...but also comes with the highest price point. Aluminum, obviously is metal so ambient temps which can reach below zero in our winters gives very little insulation from the frame. Vinyl has its problems in the opposite end of the spectrum, summer. Vinyl is PLASTIC, frame surface temps can reach 140 degrees...plastic begins to breakdown at those temps which is why vinyl is none for SEAL FAILURE. Seal failure=merky looking windows, white cascades on the glass...insulation is nil when this occurs. The cascades of white is actually moss build up from condensation.

Being in the field, I can tell you that wood holds up the best over the long haul. The price is damaging to the wallet and ego. Beware of insulation factors with aluminum but they are durable and have a niche with the cost concious. If you feel like saving money up front but have the means to replace windows every 6-8 years buy vinyl.

Another hint for you home owners- the reputable window makers have higher prices but also accomadate with the easiest payment programs. Don't let "cash on hand" be the deciding factor here...payment programs are the way to go and salespeople will actually give you a better prices if you use the payment programs.

Posted by: Jay at September 17, 2005 2:14 AM

I replaced 55+ double-hung, wooden sash windows with white vinyl windows and had not a single seal failure in over 8 years. I discovered a tiny crack in one pane, which was barely visible. No sash lock failure, either. The quality in the construction of these windows varies greatly, however.

Having said that, you can always tell it is a vinyl window and not wood, just like vinyl vs. clapboard siding on a colonial or Victorian. If I owned a $2 million brownstone, I might spend the money and go for the aesthetic appeal and insulating qualities of wood.

To begin with most manufacturers of all window quote an overall U factor which takes into consideration the entire window unit, not just the glass.

Secondly wood has an R value of 1.0 while vinyl has an R value of 1.2. Not a significant difference in materials and not one that should have any bearing on the choice of windows. Modern aluminum windows with an appropriate thermal break match the best wood and vinyl windows for energy efficiency. BTW it is appropriate to use R values when discussing a product which has a consistent material and not a combination ie. glass and frame and spacer etc.

There is ample evidence that seal failures have less to do with the framing material ie. wood, vinyl, aluminum, than the type of spacer used ie. aluminum, intercept, super spacer, TPS.

All framing and sash materials have upside and downsides.

Wood requires more maintenence and upkeep. Caulking, painting or staining. OTOH many like the traditional look of wood and don't mind paying the considerably higher prices than vinyl or aluminum.

Aluminum is very durable, less susceptable to expansion and contraction and can be painted any color the purchaser wishes. Downside is many don't like the look of aluminum.

With vinyl, as with wood and aluminum, you will get what you pay for. Anecdotal evidence is not a fair way to judge any product. If you purchase a quality window with an advanced spacer, it is extremely unlikely you will have the problems associated with a chep vinyl window. The big advantage of vinyl is it's less expensive generally than a comparable quality wood window and most of the better vinyl window out there turn in more impressive U factors than the best wood windows. The downside to vinyl is that it cannot be purchased in multiple colors, with the expectation that the colors will last.

Of course, given a choice, taking everything into consideration, you can't beat a good quality fiberglass window IMO.