Somewhat OT: Window Construction & Replacement

Re: Somewhat OT: Window Construction & Replacement

Jason Roehl in Mulberry, IN

>Another option to consider might be to replace the windows yourself. It's not terribly difficult. Talk to a lumberyard (or, if you must, a BORG). Much of that $18K-40K is labor and/or profit for the outfits that gave you the bid. Each window probably only takes a man-hour or two for them to install. To build one's own windows would be a tad ambitious in my opinion (not impossible).

Maintenance and proper installation details probably have more to do with longevity than construction of the window unit itself.

Jason

I agree!

Lee Schierer, McKean, PA

>I've replaced some of the windows in my house with 100% vinyl with insulated jambs and sashes. It isn't hard work unless the windows are really large. The vinyl windows I purchased were Great Lakes GOld replacement windows. They are air tight and easy to open/close and tilt in for ease of cleaning. They stay put where you let go of them, which would be difficult to accomplish wiht home grown windows. They also come with a lifetime warranty against leakage and breakage even if my lawn moer shoots a rock through them.

Just make sure your rough opening is (1) measured correctly and (2) plum and square to accept the new window. If you have to square it up make sure you hava accounted for the changes in your measurements. Vinyl windos don't trim down.

Our bay window (with two panels with doule hung sashes) even came with wood grain vinyl on the inside that matched our stained red oak trim quite nicely.

Lee

You're not nuts, BUT...

John in New Mexico

>its A LOT of work. Also very tough to get the seal right on the first few tries. Factory stuff mostly has the bugs worked out, so expect to have to re-do some stuff if you make your own.

I made 21 casement windows for our house out of incense cedar and western red cedar, as they were about the best readily available woods in my area. I would have loved to use black locust, spanish cedar, walnut, or mahogany but all were either price or location prohibitive.

We used 7/16" dual pane glass from a local shop, about 38"x14", around $40 each, low e or tempered will cost more. I made two of them tempered, as they were adjoining doors (those were $80 each).

I used butyl tape for a seal, and though it works, I found it very fussy to install correctly. If I were to do it over, I'd try another method.

So its possible. Maybe figure up a design you like and build one or two. Refine the design, build one or two more.

John

Re: Somewhat OT: Window Construction & Replacement *LINK*

Lee Gordon

>I'm guessing those estimates are for full window replacement. I don't know if it is an option in your situation, but I recently replaced only the "guts" of several windows, leaving all the interior and exterior trim intact. I used Marvin Tilt-Pac replacement units. They are wood windows clad with aluminum on the exterior. For the interiors I ordered 5 of them in clear pine ready for staining and 4 of them primed for painting. Including installation, they set me back about $600 each.


Marvin Tilt-Pac Windows

Re: Somewhat OT: Window Construction & Replacement

Mickey Elam

>I've looked at the Tilt Pac windows from Marvin, but they won't work because the current windows are all aluminum. The actual window frame on my windows is only ~1 1/4" thick, which just won't work with any wooden sash replacement.