It's been a number of years since I lived in a new house and depending on your location that doesn't sound high. Something to add in is this is not a one time expense, those windows will have to be replaced every 10 - 20 years. If you have an older house (pre 1950ish) and have wood windows, repair don't replace.

RBA (the replacement arm of Andersen) is notoriously expensive for what is just an average window and average material (even despite all the marketing on it...I know, it's hard to believe).

For reference we replaced 9 double hung windows (~32”x72”) Last month with Marvin Elevate. Installed cost with new interior stained wood trim was ~$1400 per window. We are very happy with the windows and install.

We are usually about half what Andersen Renewal comes in at. They are very expensive. Marvin would be a better product for likely less $$. If you were quoted Andersen 400 series your price would be relatively close to a Marvin price. 100 series doesn't make a double hung.

The labor to install varies depending on the complexity of install.

I suggest looking for a Marvin dealer and get a price from one of their reputable installers. My selling price for a white Marvin Essential custom sized insert 28x43 is $432.

Good Luck!

you might want to consider a quality vinyl window , black exteriors and white interiors are available.

Mostly good feedback above, other than the comment about needing to replace windows every 10-20 years. That will apply if you choose poor quality (generally low price), but a good window will last 30 years+.

As far as the pricing, as alluded to above, Renewal is generally found at the higher end of the spectrum. There are many details that can change the price by hundreds of dollars per unit even dealing with the same company, but $2k is at the top of the range even for a Cadillac option package and complex installation.

If you like the concept of composite windows the Starmark from Okna is a better performer, otherwise as also mentioned, a quality vinyl window from a variety of manufacturers (softlite, Okna, sunrise, Polaris..) will likely deliver a great result for you.

I've used mid-range Pella windows, wood interior with vinyl outside. twenty years is the max on those in an area with hot summers and high UV exposure. My wood windows are approaching 200 years - no replacement needed and so much better looking and better built.

Sadly, that wood that is in 200 year old windows...is not representative of the raw materials that are available now. There are 200 year old windows that you can't drive a nail in because the wood was so dense and from older timber strand. Now...that is not the case.

Windows - that's one reason why old windows shouldn't be ripped out to put it "new must be better" windows. The OP hasn't stated why they're changing the windows.

Well...there aren't that many 100 year old homes, let alone 200 year old homes.

Playing the averages, its a safe bet that his windows are some sort of original construction level of quality that probably require replacement. Anything that is 50 years old or newer isn't really worth trying to save.

Depends where you live. This area has entire neighborhoods with the majority of homes in the 100 year range. Yes, anything over 50 usually isn't worth saving. Fortunately the addition to my home that is 30 years old used all wood windows and they are worth saving.

@User, Pella doesn’t have a wood interior vinyl window. That said, I agree that most of their products fall into the category that DO need replacement in under 20 years. I’ve actually pulled many out in the 9-12 year range. The roll formed aluminum sash cladding was a terrible design that often caused them to rot from the inside-out, and any modern wood window will need attention and maintenance of the finish to extend the service life.

Are pre-1940-ish windows worth saving and reconditioning in some cases? Certainly. Rarely anything after that though for the reasons that WOW mentioned.

Id agree that there is information that was not presented here by the OP that would affect whether or not that (restoration of original) is feasible in his individual case, however he also didn’t ask for guidance on that. Unsolicited commentary on whether he should consider keeping his original windows could still be helpful, but inaccurate generalizations such as “those (new) window will have to be replaced every 10-20 years“ is not. There is a broad range of what his original windows could be, as well as a broad range of potential replacements.

Maybe Pella doesn't now but twenty years ago I have divided light double hung wood interior (I painted them) vinyl or aluminum clad windows installed. My new wood windows were probably made by a carpenter, not manufactured, they have individual panes and sash weights.

All the other new windows I've had failed due to gas hazing the inside, not a fixable problem.

They did indeed have aluminum clad and still do. I detailed the issue with that design, which they have taken some steps to fix very recently.

Failed seals in insulated glass are not only fixable, they are covered under warranty any new window. The duration of that warranty depends on the manufacturer, but generally from 20 year at minimum up to lifetime.

If you had new windows made by a carpenter with individual divided lites and sash weights that sounds very nice, provided that he used a harder wood than the typical pine used today. The cost on something like that wood likely be prohibitive for most folks considering window replacement

Many of our windows are from the mid 1800's and some of them (mostly the upper floor windows) are too far gone for a refurbish. They are all single pane and some fo the wood is in poor condition. We are in the Hudson Valley (2 hrs north of NYC), so winters get pretty cold and we also get quite a few wind storms. Since the house is quite old, its not insulated well (or at all in some places), and thew window are a source of heat loss.

Doesn't hurt to look up a window restoration company and have them in for a look to see what they say. They are definitely out there in Westchester as there a ton of your type homes and windows in that area.

You might be surprised what can be restored/insulated and keep the value of those windows. Here's one of the best resources: http://historichomeworks.com/

If you do remove the windows store them for a future restoration. Also, without the original windows the value of the house drops.

The value of the house drops based On the condition. The reality is these windows probably failed a long time ago. Often the reality to restore these window properly will cost you as much as replacement windows if not more. i probably more windows Then many contractors here and I understand both sides if the equation but let’s not sugar coat this.

Todd - you need to read John Leeke's "Saving America's Windows" he explains in detail why it is much less expensive to repair than to replace windows. Almost any homeowner can restore a window, fewer homeowners have the skills to install new windows. So both the companies that manufacture the windows and unscrupulous contractors push trashing great windows to install lesser quality windows.

Removing the original windows from an old home will greatly decrease the value of the home. Most old home buyers will skip over a house with replaced windows narrowing the field of interested buyers - makes it a tough sell.

I have read it. Yes , it is much cheaper with free labor. If a homeowner can rehab a window my guess is they can put a new one in. If you have ever restored windows you would no how time consuming and labor intensive it is.The old window is also dependent upon having functioning storm window. These are usually in bad shape and are not cheap either, if you wanna go traditionally you could also rehab the original storm and screen panels. I think you are wrong about people skipping over houses , I see it the other way around. perhaps a little more unscrupulous to tell everyone how easy it is to do when its not, leave out the pitfalls and hazards, make comparisons using outdated performance numbers and leaving out the hidden Cost and inflating replacement Cost and benefits.

Yes, I have restored windows, it really isn't that difficult.

I had RBA install 6 windows and was about $2,000/window. I have no problems with the windows but would look for a cheaper option next time.

This disagreement has been going on here as long as the "Old House" forum has existed. Those of us that love old houses prefer to see all old windows (and old homes) saved. Those that just want to make a buck say trash old windows (and old homes). If you don't want to preserve an old house, PLEASE go buy a McMansion and leave the old homes to those that preserve and make the effort to not destroy!

For what it's worth, we just replaced 24 windows in our 100 year old four square with Marvin Ultimate double hung/a few casements in spots. With the wood interior and ebony aluminum clad exterior, we are very happy. We talked to our real estate agent who said buyers in our town would be very happy with this update. We are in a town with young families who want low maitenance. The panes in our old windows had large cracks in places and it would have been an extensive restoration. The biggest change is how much more clearly we can see outside our windows without having the storm windows. Our rooms get much more light. We don't regret our decision at all. We are also on a busier street and the traffic noise has almost been eliminated.

There is an ancient paradox called the Ship of Theseus that asks if you have a wooden ship and everytime the ship returns from a voyage a number of the wooden planks are replaced. If you reach a point where all of the planks have been replaced, is it still the original ship?

There is also a more modern version called Washington's Ax, that asks is an ax that once belonged to old George still his ax if the head and the handle have both been replaced over the years?

So a question for Raye Smith since you are clearly a restoration advocate...if an older window during restoration needed a stile replaced, or a stile and a rail, or two stiles and a rail, or even both stiles and both rails...or perhaps what if 50% of an original rail and/or stile was repaired using wood putty, or what if it was 90% repaired using wood putty....when does restoration become replacement?

If all four rails and stiles needed replacement with new wood during restoration, how would that differ from installing a new window as a possible option as millworkman suggested: If you had new windows made by a carpenter with individual divided lites and sash weights....?

Doesn't restoration become replacement when you pay for it all at the same time?

I am a believer in window restoration whenever possible which is the topic of an ongoing, sometimes heated, discussion with my business partner. He is of the opinion that buyers prefer new windows because they look great when looking at a house. However, a successful window installation (or repair) depends on having a careful and conscientious craftsman. Buyers are often blinded by the light reflected off the shiny new windows and don't notice install or product quality issues.

Window quality varies and I believe in staying approximately the same place in the range of products as found in the rest of the house. If the housing market is expensive, that also calls for a higher end product, If the windows were cheapest available product when installed, they may not be worth rehabbing.

Marvin Ultima‘s are one of the most period correct looking windows on the market. Nice window and spendy but typically not As expensive as Renewal‘s.