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Windows Design Dilemma

Full House Window Replacement Help

Samantha Fortner

2 years ago

We're currently renovating a 1980's Tudor in NC. Right now all of the windows are the original wood casements with removable interior muntins and they are in rough shape. The home is southern facing and gets beat on by the sun every day. The previous owners silicone caulked most of the windows shut (I'm assuming they were leaking) and kept painting over wood rot. Most have broken thermal seals as well. So there is no hope for repair, replacements are our best bet. I personally love the diamond grids, but i'm learning it's $$$ and to get them our only options seem to be wood-clad. With 51 windows to replace, wood-clad windows are definitely not in budget. We have to re-side the top half of the house (leaking/rotted EIFS siding) so trying to do the windows at the same time.

I'd love to hear thoughts on the various window recs, as well as the type of window we should be considering. I've already accepted I may need to switch to a colonial style grid, but hubs really wants no-grids and I'm worried that will be too modern for the house. We're also pretty settled on keeping all the windows casements. With the height of the first floor, DH isn't an option for most brands.

I'm mainly looking for solid windows that are low maintenance and long lasting. This is the forever home and I don't want to be doing this again in 10 years.

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Comments (5)

apple_pie_order
2 years ago
What is your total budget for 51 windows? That will narrow down which brands and types.
Samantha Fortner
Original Author
2 years ago
I don’t have a set number. I’ve never replaced windows before so idk what’s reasonable. Not the $217K Anderson quoted me for A-Series windows haha. Granted, they were trying to keep the Diamond grids, but that’s a hard no. I was quoted $90K for Pella Impervia, but that still feels a little high. I was hoping to re-side the top half and replace all the windows for $80-$90k at most.
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20% would be pretty extreme IMO. Glass loss may be a little more than a "non-issue" in some cases, but 20% is high, and furthermore there are many times where it can be truly negligible. Think about an old double hung window with an aluminum storm that sits on the blind stops and measures about 2.5"+ from frame to viewable glass. This is extremely common (at least in my area), and that is just about where a reasonably slim lined replacement window can measure for visible glass as well, within a 1/4" or so. I think we can agree that the measurement of viewable glass on the prime window sash of that original wood window is irrelevant if it is impeded by the view of a storm window frame. Is 20% loss possible? Sure. Depending on the window coming out and the window going in, but I tend to agree that the glass loss is indeed overstated, and that the number would generally be far less than 20%.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
Do you love the Tudor style ? I think removing all the tudor trim and getting nice bronze windows would be a totally new look . I have no idea about price in your area.51 windows are a lot of windows so I would expect to pay big bucks.
Samantha Fortner
Original Author
2 years ago
I love Tudors!! So I’m not changing the exterior. We have to fix the siding due to water damage, but this home is in a historic neighborhood and I don’t want to strip it of its character.
apple_pie_order
2 years ago
Since you know your total budget includes both siding and windows, talk to your general contractor about window and siding choices. They may have several suggestions based on companies they have worked with.

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