Home Page link

Should I reglaze or replace my windows?

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 3 of 4       < 1 2 3 > last >> Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
Should I reglaze or replace my windows? Joe 06-17-2008
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by dpb on June 17, 2008, 6:04 pm
Joe wrote:
...
> Well, I don't mind spending money on new windows but I'm going to feel
> foolish if my fuel usage stays static with the new windows and the
> real problem was the walls. How can I find out where the heat is
> escaping?

Follow ransley's advice and get an energy audit. Your PowerCo may have
it as a service or the heating fuel source distributor...

If it's a 50-yr old house, it's almost certainly under-insulated by
today's standards unless it has been relatively recently upgraded
significantly. Of course, you can look at attic, basement, etc.,
yourself and see what's there. The walls and finding the air leaks,
etc., are where it can really help plus a good inspector will spot any
unique features of the particular building.

--

PexSupply Full Banner
Posted by dpb on June 17, 2008, 6:17 pm
dpb wrote:
...
> Follow ransley's advice and get an energy audit. Your PowerCo may have
> it as a service or the heating fuel source distributor...
...

I intended to add that if the windows are in as good a condition as they
appear from that picture on the outside, I'll venture they're not going
to have a very quick payback at all.

I'm virtually positive I'd reglaze and (perhaps) look into
higher-quality storms as those appear to be pretty inexpensive aluminum
ones as the cheaper and more cost-effective route.

But, the audit will tell you where you're big-ticket items are and how
far down on the list the windows are in comparison.

--

Posted by Red Green on June 17, 2008, 10:56 pm

>> Joe wrote:
>> >I have a 50 year old house and 50 year old windows. This winter I
>> >noticed that the original glazing had been chipping off and the only
>> >thing holding some of the panes in place was paint so I resolved to
>> >reglaze the windows this spring (no summer). Should I just replace
>> >them? They are pretty air-tight and I did not feel much of a breeze
>> >coming through them except for the coldest and windiest days of the
>> >winter and a lot of that I attribute to the old glazing. Each window
>> >has a storm window but the inside window does feel very cold to the
>> >touch in the winter so I'm not sure how much they help. I'm trying
>> >to weight the cost of replacing the windows with the savings that I
>> >will realize for replacing as opposed to the savings I will get from
>> >reglazing.
>>
>> >Here's a picture of the window
>>
>> >http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4526/windowtl5.jpg
>>
>> >What would you do in this situation?
>>
>> Got a picutre of the outside glazing compound? Big damn difference
>> in putting in putty vs.
>> new windows. It would be a good deal of work to reglaze, but it
>> isn't rocket science. I
>> would be inclined to keep the existing windows for esthetic reasons,
>> but fuel costs are
>> the issue of the day
>
> Well, I don't mind spending money on new windows but I'm going to feel
> foolish if my fuel usage stays static with the new windows and the
> real problem was the walls. How can I find out where the heat is
> escaping?

You may not mind but it's still a lot of bucks. If you make the decision
to replace that's only 1/3 of it. You need to get good windows AND they
need to be installed properly according to the mfgrs specs. Get that in
the contract. They won't put it in the contract they they won't put it
in the walls.

Had a couple of bathroom windows (oh the moisture!) in a NE house where
it gets -25 some winters. Ice so bad you could skate. Enough wind to
iceboat on that ice.

I put in a couple of Andersons - windows, window foam, rubber flashing
tape, silicone on window wings and final trim...followed ALL the mfgrs
steps with no "aw you don't really need that"s. No more ice, no drafts,
no cold bathrooms and one happy lady. Now she says the rest of the
windows in the house suck. I moved back to NC.

You get good windows with a hack install or visa-versa and you WILL be
disappointed.

BTW, being 2x6 walls, the windows required jamb extensions. The Borg
does not stock them. Special order to the tune of weeks. Went to local
building supply. Special order also. Came in in 3 business days.


Posted by aemeijers on June 17, 2008, 8:02 pm
Norminn wrote:
> Joe wrote:
>
>> I have a 50 year old house and 50 year old windows. This winter I
>> noticed that the original glazing had been chipping off and the only
>> thing holding some of the panes in place was paint so I resolved to
>> reglaze the windows this spring (no summer). Should I just replace
>> them? They are pretty air-tight and I did not feel much of a breeze
>> coming through them except for the coldest and windiest days of the
>> winter and a lot of that I attribute to the old glazing. Each window
>> has a storm window but the inside window does feel very cold to the
>> touch in the winter so I'm not sure how much they help. I'm trying to
>> weight the cost of replacing the windows with the savings that I will
>> realize for replacing as opposed to the savings I will get from
>> reglazing.
>>
>> Here's a picture of the window
>>
>> http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4526/windowtl5.jpg
>>
>> What would you do in this situation?
>>
>>
> Got a picutre of the outside glazing compound? Big damn difference in
> putting in putty vs.
> new windows. It would be a good deal of work to reglaze, but it isn't
> rocket science. I
> would be inclined to keep the existing windows for esthetic reasons, but
> fuel costs are
> the issue of the day.

Reputty as needed, fix up or replace the exterior storms, and (if you
are feeling ambitious) pull the interior casing, and fill the voids with
LOW-expansion foam-in-a-can. (The regular stuff will bend the window
frame and jam them shut.) On a windy cool day, check each window with a
punk stick or cigar smoke, for air leaks, and fine-tune the
weatherstripping as needed.

The above will give most of the payback of new windows, at a much lower
price point. I was in a very similar situation, crunched the numbers,
and the payback on new windows (including the assumed payback at resale)
was way longer than I plan to be here.

--
aem sends....

Posted by Tony Hwang on June 17, 2008, 9:31 pm
Norminn wrote:
> Joe wrote:
>
>> I have a 50 year old house and 50 year old windows. This winter I
>> noticed that the original glazing had been chipping off and the only
>> thing holding some of the panes in place was paint so I resolved to
>> reglaze the windows this spring (no summer). Should I just replace
>> them? They are pretty air-tight and I did not feel much of a breeze
>> coming through them except for the coldest and windiest days of the
>> winter and a lot of that I attribute to the old glazing. Each window
>> has a storm window but the inside window does feel very cold to the
>> touch in the winter so I'm not sure how much they help. I'm trying to
>> weight the cost of replacing the windows with the savings that I will
>> realize for replacing as opposed to the savings I will get from
>> reglazing.
>>
>> Here's a picture of the window
>>
>> http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4526/windowtl5.jpg
>>
>> What would you do in this situation?
>>
>>
> Got a picutre of the outside glazing compound? Big damn difference in
> putting in putty vs.
> new windows. It would be a good deal of work to reglaze, but it isn't
> rocket science. I
> would be inclined to keep the existing windows for esthetic reasons, but
> fuel costs are
> the issue of the day.
Hi,
Where do you live? Windows and wall, ceiling(attic) insulation is
important for energy onservation.

Page 3 of 4       < 1 2 3 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
How to replace aluminum windows with "fin" ?? August 2, 2005, 5:12 pm
replace basement windows February 14, 2008, 8:14 pm
Repair or Replace Corroded Windows? December 19, 2006, 12:54 pm
Anderson windows, difficult to replace glass? July 25, 2005, 11:48 am
Can we replace our windows and retain the marble windowsills? January 18, 2006, 12:45 pm
Need to replace Electric Baseboard Heating Units & Replacement Windows January 27, 2007, 11:29 am
Condensation inside double-paned windows - replace glass or whole window? June 10, 2006, 10:52 am
small 'bulging bay windows' for plants, to replace single hung window,called what? July 19, 2005, 12:57 pm
Are Storm Windows a reasonable approach for newish vinyl windows? October 29, 2005, 10:43 am
Termopane windows or double windows? July 17, 2005, 8:15 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap