Category: Selecting an Installation Company

Tips and tricks for selecting a replacement window installation company.

DaBella Exteriors Windows Reviews

Here we have DaBella Exteriors windows reviews and more info about the windows they carry, their alleged connection to Penguin Windows, lawsuits and more.

As we get started it’s important to note that my company competes with DaBella Exteriors in some markets. We operate with completely different business models, but we’re offering similar products so feel free to take that for what it’s worth.

DaBella exteriors windows reviews

What windows does DaBella Exteriors offer?

If you’re not familiar DaBella Exteriors is a replacement contractor, primarily operating in the Northwest. They sell Preservation windows made by Associated Materials.

We’ve reviewed Preservation windows before (link above) and in my opinion they’re decent windows, but often overpriced. The Preservation Reserve window model would be my favorite model, over the more expensive Preservation option. Read the reviews of those windows for more info.

The Preservation window line was designed to be sold through higher priced dealers around the country. That’s its purpose and it comes with the fancy marketing and sales support to meet that goal.

Overall, in my opinion the windows are perfectly decent, but you might want to get another quote or two in order to make sure the pricing is decent as well. See our section below on DaBella window prices.

Is DaBella Exterior connected to Penguin Windows?

This is a little tricky. I had heard that there was some connection between these two companies but I didn’t really know anything about it until researching this post.

You can see this page, on which a commenter says that DaBella is owned by the wife of the former president of Penguin Windows. I haven’t independently verified that.

Penguin Windows was a large window company in the Northwest that went out of business. See clip from a news article below.

Is DaBella Exteriors related to Penguin Windows? It's hard to tell.

Typically when a large window company goes out of business the employees from that company will start up more companies in the area which will also sell windows. That makes sense as it’s a business that they are familiar with and a fresh start might help.

It is a positive sign that the article mentions that the Penguin customers who had pending orders would still get their windows. That doesn’t always happen when a window company goes out of business.

So, is DaBella connected to Penguin? I don’t know, there’s talk about it online, but that’s unverified. If you have any info about this post a comment below to let us know.

What about DaBella Exteriors lawsuits?

Overall I’d say it’s a good sign that you don’t see too many lawsuits relating to DaBella exteriors. We found one relating to a trademark case. It seems a company in Nevada was using a very similar name for their window company. I’d say that case isn’t a big deal.

There was another case from a former employee that appeared to be related to employment discrimination. It’s hard to say what’s going on there.

Overall as a relatively large home improvement company I’d expect to see more lawsuits. In my opinion it’s a good sign that you don’t see more cases relating to DaBella Exteriors.

How are the prices from DaBella Exteriors?

This is where we need your help. I know Preservation windows like the type sold by DaBella are often sold at relatively high prices, but I don’t have any info on the prices charged by DaBella.

If you’ve recently recieved a window quote feel free to post a comment to share your experience. I’m sure other readers of the site will be interested.

What should you do if you think I’m wrong about something?

That’s easy, just post a comment below and let us know. It’s always my objective to share facts as I know them to be true and my opinions. If you think I’ve missed the mark on anything I would LOVE to hear from you. Please post a comment and I may follow up by email too. Thanks for taking the time to contribute to the site!

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows. You can find my company here and you can find recommendations of other companies in other parts of the country here.

Other posts you might find interesting:

Crown Windows Reviews

If you’re looking for Crown windows reviews you’re probably in Michigan as they claim to be “The Michigan Window”. In fact they talk quite a bit about being the Michigan replacement window on their website. Are they offering a good deal? Let’s find out.

Before we get too far into this review I should note that my company does offer windows in Detroit and Grand Rapids. We don’t offer Crown windows so one might say we’re a competitor. If you’d like an easy online quote from my company we’d be happy to help. We can send a quote by email with no pushy salesman. Welcome to the future.

In looking at their website a few things jump out. First they say they manufacture and install the windows. They also say they’ve been in business since 1955. These sound like great reasons to work with them. They might also be downsides. In my experience the small local manufacturers who produce and install their own windows are some of the more expensive options around. I also write a lot about the risks of small manufacturers and those same risks would apply to Crown Windows.

The next thing we notice in working on the Crown windows reviews is that they make a lot of qualitative statements without much info to back it up. Here’s one example:

crown windows air infiltration

As you can see they say they “stop air infiltration”, but without an actual rating it’s impossible to know if they’re doing better than any other window. If you’re considering Crown Windows my advice is to ask them for the specific rating for the window you’d be getting. Generally speaking an air infiltration rating under 0.10 is pretty decent and under 0.05 is better. If the air infiltration rating is over 0.10 it’s not so great after all.

Here’s another example:

crown windows foam filled frames

You can see they say their special foam offers exceptional resistance to thermal transfer but we don’t really have any information about what that means. If you’re considering these windows ask for the U-Factor to understand how these windows will compare with other options. To be Energy Star rated in the northern climate zone the U-Factor needs to be under 0.30 and there are other ratings, like the SHGC, that will also be important to consider.

What else to consider with Crown Windows reviews?

There are several other selling points they use that may sound fancy but aren’t really unique. These features will be offered by many companies. Features like Super Spacer, or high-performance vinyl are very widely available and aren’t really unique to Crown at all.

If the salesman goes on and on about how they offer these super special features I’d discount most of what he has to say. These are fine features but really not very special at all.

Are Crown windows the same as Earthwise windows?

Yes. Crown is a manufacturer that makes windows under the Earthwise brand.

crown windows earthwise reviews

We’ve written about Earthwise before. As you can see in the comments on that page, some of the Earthwise salespeople don’t always agree with my assessments. That can be common. At the end of the day I don’t think it’s a great program.

What’s the bottom line?

Crown windows are perfectly fine, but there’s nothing about them that is particularly remarkable. The risks of working with a small window manufacturer are substantial. I’m not aware of any reason to take the gamble. The features they offer are perfectly nice but not unique.

If the salesman hasn’t explained why you should take the gamble of working with a small window manufacturer I’d suggest looking elsewhere. You can get the same replacement window features and many more elsewhere.

How can you find a great window company?

When shopping for windows I do always suggest finding a great installation company before you fall in love with any particular window model. There are plenty of great window options out there but not as many local companies that are great to work with.

To know which companies to avoid you can find common window sales tactics here. That’s become one of the most popular sections on the site.

Remember, for more great window company info you can find our suggestions for the best local companies in Michigan and beyond right here. There’s no need to work with a company that gives you the run-around or makes the process difficult. There are plenty of fish in the sea as they say. The best way to get started is to check out our list of great window companies here.

Should You Finance New Windows? Find Out Here.

If you’re considering buying new windows you know it can be a considerable expense. In my company our average replacement window order is over $10,000 and sometimes up to $30,000 or $40,000. That’s a pretty big amount to be laying out so you might be wondering if you should finance new windows rather than paying in cash.

You’ll see most larger window companies will offer some sort of financing. This usually comes with promotional plans like 0% for some amount of time, or fixed rates or deferred payments. Are those options a good deal? Usually they are, but sometimes they’re not.

Should you finance new windows? Find out here.

Sometimes customers tell me that they don’t want to finance new windows and they only pay cash. That’s completely fine, nobody is unhappy with that. We do also know that some folks have several projects going on, a lot of money going out the door. Financing new windows, especially at 0% can be an attractive offer.

With a fair financing program you can spread out the costs over time to make the windows more affordable and get the new windows sooner. It can be a win-win scenario.

So is it a smart move to finance new windows?

The answer there depends on the financing offer. For example, right now my company is offering 0% for 12 months with $0 down to finance new windows. This will change over time but that’s the option available as of today and that’s a pretty good deal. (send us a message to get the current promotions)

There’s no interest or finance charge or anything. The 12 months doesn’t start until the windows are installed. If you like the idea of spreading out your payments this is a great offer.

There are companies out there offering subprime type financing for home improvement projects and that’s generally not a great option. If you’re seeing interest rates of 10%, 15% 20% you might want to look for another option.

Some companies even have in-house financing departments. They’ll often times use a different name so you don’t know that the same person owns the home improvement company and the financing company, but they’re out there and usually not the best deal around. If it’s a bank you’ve never heard of then I’d be cautious. They’re not all bad, but some aren’t great.

Some companies offer longer term financing, how does that work?

That’s where things can get a little tricky. For example, we could offer 0% for 48 or 60 months like you’ll see advertised from some window companies on TV. The important thing to keep in mind is that nothing is free in life. Those long term plans will come with higher costs to the comampny which leads to higher prices.

If we were to offer 0% for 60 months that could easily cost us 20% of the total contract amount. That would be pretty substantial and maybe not such a great deal for you because we’d need to raise our prices in order to offer that.

In a scenario like that a $10,000 order would have a $2,000 financing cost to the company. They won’t be able to absorb that cost so the order that would have been $10,000 will now be $12,000 and the salesman will focus much more on payments than on interest rates or total cost. Paying $2000 additional to get “0%” financing is not the best deal to put it lightly.

Typically a plan that was longer than 18 months or so will come with some interest rate and as long as that’s a reasonable rate then it’s a perfectly fine deal. It’s actually more transparent that way because the rate is not hidden in the cost of the windows.

Should I get a cash discount?

We’re going to be writing a whole post on cash discounts soon so stay tuned, but the short answer is no. If you’re offered one price for cash and another price for 0% financing then you’re not really getting 0% financing, the finance charge is the difference in the two prices and advertising that as 0% is a little deceptive. Spoiler alert: Window companies can be deceptive so watch out.

That’s why we don’t advertise or price our products like that but that doesn’t stop many companies from pricing their products that way . It’s tricky and it happens all the time and you should watch out for it.

What does it cost a window company to offer financing?

Not that much for most plans. For example, my company also accepts all credit cards and the financing programs cost about the same as accepting a credit card. It’s just a cost of being in business and basically every larger company will offer financing. It leads to more business over the course of a year. Ultimately it would cost us more money to not offer financing when you factor in the lost orders.

Sometimes people think the price should be lower if they pay by check vs credit card because the company does need to pay a fee to accept a card or to use financing. That’s true but only for the smallest of companies. As our business got larger and larger we found that dealing with checks was a real hassle.

Someone needs to make sure the checks are the right amount, that they get to the bank on time, someone needs to deal with it when they bounce and then we need to do it all over again when the project is completed and the final payment is due. That can be a bit of work, someone needs to get paid to do that so it’s not free. Accepting checks comes with a cost too so I wouldn’t expect a price difference between cash and credit card from a larger company.

Some companies will intentionally price their products high and plan to offer a discount. During the sales process the salesperson will be looking for what motivates you. If you’re a school teacher or a veteran or a first responder he’ll likely have a “school teacher discount” or “first responder discount”. It’s not real, just designed to make you feel special.

If you’re making a big deal about how you’re going to be paying cash it’ll be a cash discount. The idea is to make you feel special with the name of the discount. You would have received that discount no matter what as it’s part of his closing process and the goal is to make you feel like you’re getting the deal of the century even though you’re getting the same deal, or a worse deal, than everyone else. Those door to door sales guys can be pretty good so watch out.

Why don’t all companies offer financing for new windows?

All larger companies do, but often times small outfits don’t. The banks will have requirements that the companies need to meet in order to offer financing options.

Small companies won’t qualify (even if they don’t look small). Also owners with bad credit won’t be able to offer financing.

For example, if they declared bankruptcy last year and just reopened with a new name they might look and sound great, but the banks won’t want to deal with them. They won’t be able to offer financing. Spoiler alert: this happens more than you might expect.

I’d say whether or not you end up using the financing, just the fact that it’s available tells you the company is at least a little more substantial than some others.

How should I decide whether or not to finance new windows?

I’d make sure you understand the financing offer that is available to you. Make sure you understand what the payments will be and be confident that they’ll fit into the budget. Companies may offer multiple options so it’s worthwhile to ask questions if the option presented doesn’t seem like the right fit.

If the options they offer to finance new windows come with a high interest rate, say over 12% or if they’re playing games with cash discounts and the numbers keep changing then you’ll want to try to nail down what the final offer is.

Usually any reputable company will make the pricing and the payment options very clear. If you feel like a company is being slippery with the info or the options it’s probably best to look elsewhere.

If the offer seems like a fair deal, fits into the budget and the pricing and financing info are clear and easy to understand then financing new windows can be a great deal.

So, what’s the bottom line?

Don’t get distracted by the super special discounts or silly claims by salespeople. Understand the choices and if you’re not sure if they’re making you a decent offer, compare with someone else or get a quote from our company and ask our rep any questions that you’d like.

To find our company or other recommended companies in your area check this section. You can also find window reviews here and information about the tricky window sales tactics that many companies uses here. We hope you enjoy the site!

2021 Replacement Window Prices – Real Info

If you’ve been considering buying new windows for a while now you may have noticed that window prices have changed over the last year or two. 2021 replacement window prices are a little higher than prices of years past and that’s just the way it is.

It’s not just windows that have seen increasing prices. All building products are up and luckily windows have been much less volatile than roofing or siding or lumber. At least that’s good news.

window repair, glass replacement and screen repair

Since my company offers windows all over the country we deal with a whole lot of customers. Many people order windows right away but some folks get a quote and then come back 2 or 3 years later to place an order.

One challenge we run into in those cases is that prices just aren’t the same now as they were in 2018. Prices for most things tend to go up over time (remember when an iPhone cost less than $1000?). So, it’s not completely unusual but something to be aware of.

What should replacement windows cost these days?

As you’d find with any custom made product there are a pretty wide range of prices out there. We find that 2021 replacement window prices tend to lead you to pretty good quality windows with a great professional installation in the $600-$800 range. There are both less expensive and more expensive options and that tends to be a common range.

Now before you get out the calculator and start multiplying keep in mind that there are many factors that contribute to the prices. If you get fancy windows with different colors and triple pane glass and challenging installations the costs can easily be higher.

Just a few minutes ago I helped a customer with an order for windows that averaged to over $1200 per window. That’s what he picked and it’s a great value for what he’s getting. Different strokes for different folks.

Are more expensive windows better?

Well, better is a little vague. You’ll often times see the door to door sales type of companies selling windows that aren’t great at all for higher prices. There’s a company near my house that sends out groups of kids knocking on doors trying to sell windows that aren’t very nice at all for over $1,400 per window.

My company would offer something similar for closer to $600 so that company is offering a pretty bad deal. They can get away with it sometimes by telling a great story. That’s the type of company you want to watch out for.

As a rule of thumb, the door to door sales companies are just about always a bad deal. See more info on that here.

They tell people that they have the greatest windows in the world, but they’re really not very nice at all. Some people must buy them, but more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better.

Are less expensive windows less good?

Generally yes. Every company is basically playing with the same deck of cards. Windows cost what they cost, installers cost what they cost, in-home salespeople are expensive, sales managers and advertisements are expensive too.

So, if a company is selling things on the cheap they’re cutting costs somewhere. It’s important for you to understand where. Until you have that info it’s pretty much impossible to make a smart decision on what to buy.

A less expensive product might be just fine for your project. We work with landlords and house flippers too and those folks are generally more price focused than most. There’s nothing wrong with that, you just need to understand what you’re not getting in return for the lower price.

As an example, our company is able to cut skip the in-home sales process in most cases and that leads to lower costs. We can charge less than someone else offering the same quality because we’re not paying that higher commission. So the thing you’re not getting is the pushy salesperson and most folks tend to be just fine with that.

But I’ve seen people writing about lower prices, what’s the deal?

Astute readers of this site will see that over the years we’ve never been afraid to talk about replacement window prices and costs. Sometimes people I’m working with will email me back to say they saw me write on the site about lower costs. Keep in mind that was probably 4 or 5 or 6 years ago. Things change.

Our company always strives to be as competitive as we can. Business has been absolutely booming so I’m confident we are very competitive. We’ll even email you the current pricing without sending a salesperson into your living room. If that doesn’t demonstrate confidence in what we offer I don’t know what does.

To find our company or other recommended companies in your area check this section. You can also find window reviews here and information about the tricky window sales tactics that many companies uses here. We hope you enjoy the site!

What is the You Deserve it Close?

Now remember, I generally really like sales consultants.  I post videos like this because I think you might want to know what kinds of maneuvers are being taught by the home improvement sales trainers out there.

When you’re inviting a sales person into your house you may think they’re just there to measure the windows or to give you a bid.  In reality they’re likely to be trained professionals who have worked on their closing strategies and have practiced all of the possible scenarios so they can close the deal tonight.

Of course this is the old fashioned way of doing business, but it’s out there and it’s happening every day.

You don’t need to deal with companies that use these maneuvers, but it can be hard to figure out who the good guys are.  If you’d like you can check out our list of great window companies from around the country here.

For now, check out this funny video on the you deserve it close.  Maybe you should buy those new windows before you die.  Ha.

These guys are really still out there training salespeople at some of the largest home improvement companies in the country.  I suppose it’s good for my company that so many people still act like it’s 1970, but it’s bad for our industry as a whole when salespeople are too pushy and aggressive.

Have a question or comment, post it below.  You can also find our explanations of other common sales tactics and replacement window reviews here.  Want to get a quote from a reputable company?  Find our list of fantastic window companies here.

Why Do Most Salespeople Sound the Same?

You may not know this, but there are window sales consultants all over the country teaching salespeople the “best” ways to separate you from your money.

home improvement sales tricks

When you invite a home improvement salesperson into your house you may be getting someone who has spent years honing his craft.  He’s worked on various closing strategies, he’s practiced handling your objections, he has a plan to drop the price at a certain point after you’ve said no enough times.  He’s going to call his manager at just the right time to make you think you’ve really warn him down.

Every day people ask me why these companies require both the husband an date wife to be present for the quote or why window salespeople are all so pushy.  One of the reasons is that they all learn from the same sales consultants.

You may think you’re just having someone come over to measure your windows at 6:30pm when you get home from work without understanding exactly what you’re getting yourself into.  Before you know it you might have signed a $20,000 contract for windows that could have cost $8,000 after a 3 or 4 hour sales pitch.  It happens every day, don’t let it happen to you.

Now I should say that I typically really like sales consultants.  I like anyone who takes their work seriously and tries to do better today than he did yesterday.  Unfortunately I think some companies and salespeople spend too much energy on getting the order at any cost rather than providing a great value and that leads to our whole industry getting a bad name.

It’s certainly the case that there are many good people in the home improvement business, but it can sometimes be hard to separate the good from the bad.

Here I’ll show you a handful of videos about these closing strategies.  Notice the people in the audience, sitting there taking in this info.  These are the salespeople that work for many of the largest window companies in the country.  These are the people who could be sitting on your couch tonight for your free window quote.  Or maybe they just left with your deposit last night.

If you have any questions or comments about these videos or any sales tactics feel free to post a comment.  This might become an interesting section on the site!

What is the you deserve it close?

What will they do if you want to think it over?

Why do they want the husband and the wife to be there for the quote?

Have a question or comment, post it below.  You can also find our explanations of other common sales tactics and replacement window reviews here.  Want to get a quote from a reputable company?  Find our list of fantastic window companies here.

Should You Replace All the Windows in Your House at Once?

I was recently talking to a very friendly and capable reporter for a window industry trade magazine (yes that’s a thing) about partial projects.  That’s the term for projects that include some, but not all of the windows in the house.  The conversation got me thinking that this is a topic our readers are probably interested in.

It happens pretty frequently that people will want to only replace a handful of windows that have a specific issue and leave the rest for later.  Is this the best strategy?  As with most philosophical questions, the answer is “it depends”.

Replace some of your windows now and some later
Mismatched windows can be a style choice for some. Ha!

Before we get into the meat of this topic I’ll suggest that if you’re considering a partial project because of the cost you may want to make sure you’re talking to the type of company that offers fair and reasonable pricing.

We frequently hear from folks who think they can only afford 5 windows due to an astronomical quote they received from an old fashioned high-pressure company.  Companies like ours will offer much more reasonable prices so the customer who thought they could only afford a handful of windows might be able to afford the whole house.

When should you only replace some of your windows?

Folks typically want to do this when they have an acute problem with some of their windows.  Maybe they have seal failures causing foggy or cloudy glass or windows that don’t operate properly.  Sometimes folks do this because one room or area of the house gets very cold in the winter or hot in the summer.

This can be a great strategy, but you’ll want to consider the risks.

What could go wrong when replacing only some of your windows?

First, you’ll want to understand the costs of your project and how the cost will vary based on the size of the project.

For example, in most of our stores you get the best labor pricing when you order at least 5 windows.  The windows cost what they cost, but the labor costs more on a small project.  The per window price is then the same for projects between 5 and 200 windows.  That means if you replace all of the windows except one and then you decide to do the one remaining window later it’ll cost a little more.

In fact, just today I got a text from one of our field reps who was working with a customer for whom we had just completed a $15,000 project.  That customer wanted to replace two more windows and he was upset that they would cost more.

The answer is that’s just how it works.  Replacing one or two windows just costs more on a per window basis than replacing 20 windows.  I’m never happy to have a customer who is not feeling great, but we need to pay the installers for their work or they won’t stick around.  If we want great quality results we pay for great quality team members and that costs a couple bucks.

If this customer had split up the projects into groups of 5 or more he would have been a happier camper.  I asked our rep why he didn’t suggest that and it turns out the customer was planning on closing up those windows and has since changed his mind.  It sounds like a situation where there wasn’t much we could have done and ultimately the last 2 windows are going to cost a little more.  Sometimes that’s just life, but if you’re thinking about a partial project this is something to consider.

Will you be happy if the windows look different?

Another factor to consider when replacing some of your windows is that they’ll look, operate, and feel different than your old windows.  You’ll have some that are new and pretty and efficient and some that are not.

That might bug me as I like things to match and feel the same.  You might not care about that, but you want to be aware of it.

partial window project
Here’s an unusual look. If I had been working with this customer I would have suggested replacing both sides of this window.

It’s also possible that the window manufacturer makes a change to the model so your plan of buying some windows now and some later will result in them being similar, but not quite the same.  This is not a big deal to a lot of people, but you’ll want to consider how you’ll feel about it before making that choice.

What about the hassle factor?

It’s also important to remember that any home improvement project can contain a little bit of hassle.  I know in our company we try to make the process as simple as possible, but we’re going to need to make at least two trips to your house (one to measure and one to install).  There may even be a service call needed.  That’s 2-3 visits to your house.

If you replace all the windows at the same time you’ll then be done. If you split up the project into two phases you’ll be looking at 4-6 visits.  That’s not the end of the world, but those are days that you could spend doing something a little more fun (edit: don’t get me wrong, windows are pretty fun!)

So what should I do if I’m considering a partial window project?

First, check with the company to see what the pricing will look like if you do part of the project now and part later vs doing it all now.  A company probably can’t guarantee what the pricing will look like in a year or two, but they can give you an idea.

Next, consider how you’ll feel if there was a style change and the windows can’t match exactly.  You can also ask the company if they’re aware of any upcoming change or if there have been any recent changes.

Then, look at financing options.  Many companies offer 0% financing that might make the project a little more affordable than you imagined.

So what’s the bottom line?

Ultimately only you can decide if replacing some of your windows is better than replacing all of your windows.  I know many of our customers decide on partial projects for a variety of reasons and ultimately it makes no difference to us.  If you’d prefer to do some windows now and some later we’d love to have that business.  I just want to make sure that you know the pros and cons so you can make the best decision for you.

If you’re looking for more info on replacement windows you can check out our list of common window sales tactics here and you can find our detailed replacement window reviews here.

If you have any questions or comments about this article post a comment below and I’ll do my best to get back with you.  Have fun out there!

What to look for in a Window Warranty

Replacement Window Warranty Factors

When shopping for replacement windows, one of the majors factors that folks consider is the window warranty.  The warranty coverage on your new windows is significant for many reasons, not the least of which is that you want some security in knowing that you will have long term support on a purchase of thousands of dollars. Like many things in the marketplace, window warranties are part real concern, and part sales and marketing. I like to break warranties down to two primary areas: Product Warranty and Installation/Workmanship Warranty.

Product Warranty:

The product warranty on a replacement window is exactly that. It is the length of time that a manufacturer will provide warranty coverage for manufacturer defects. Generally that will not include items such as damage from abuse, failure to maintain, etc.  However, it does provide for replacement parts should anything fail due to a manufacturer defect. Common items include failed glass seals in an insulated glass unit, defective hardware, warpage, etc.  Some manufacturers offer accidental glass breakage as part of their coverage as well. Most vinyl window manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty, while wood windows generally have some variation of a 20/10 warranty, meaning 20 years on glass and 10 years on everything else including the wood.

Things to watch for:

Transferability  is important if you are considering selling the home any time soon. This means that you will be able to transfer the product warranty to one or more future owners of the home. Proration is an often overlooked factor. “Prorated” means that while there is coverage for the entire warranty term, it goes down over time. This is similar to a car battery or roofing shingle, where you have 100% coverage for say the first 10 years, then the coverage starts dropping in increments where you are paying an increasing portion of that as time goes on.  Ideally, a warranty that is fully transferrable and not prorated is best.

What product warranties typically do not cover:

Abuse, acts of God (ie: fires, storms, etc. that would be covered be homeowner’s insurance). Product warranties typically will not cover any labor needed to install the replacements parts. That falls on you as the homeowner, or on the installation company if they offer that service, whether it be paid or at no charge to you. The “fail to maintain” provision can be tricky on wood windows where condensation can damage or rot the wood before the 10 years and potentially be denied as a claim.

Workmanship/Labor/Installation Warranty:

The installation warranty on your replacement windows while important, can vary wildly from one dealer to the next. One company may offer one year on workmanship/installation, while the next offers lifetime, and a third still somewhere in between. The fact of the matter is that most installation related issues will manifest themselves visually within the first year or two after install, so something like a 5 or 10 year warranty is generally adequate. That said, many companies offer 20+ years all the way through lifetime. A lifetime workmanship warranty may sound great in marketing, but remember that the installation warranty is only as good as the company offering it. If all else is equal, certainly a longer term only benefits you as a consumer.

Things to watch for:

Service call/diagnosis charges, coverage to install the parts that are provided under the manufacturer’s warranty and for how long, a list of items that are included or excluded.

What installation warranties typically do not cover:

Installation warranties are intended to cover any poor or defective installation practices. Therefore common things that would be considered maintenance items like caulking, cleaning tracks and such which could hinder operation, etc., are typically not covered or the coverage is limited.

BOTTOM LINE:

Every window warranty is not created equal. “Lifetime warranty” whether on product or installation may not mean the same thing from one company to the next, so take a look at the details and make sure that you are getting the protection that you are expecting. Also keep in mind that those warranties are only as strong as the companies offering them. Company history and reputation are important tools to look at. Lastly, “Lifetime” does have a quantifiable definition in most states. Here in Wisconsin, “Lifetime” for warranty purposes is defined as 30 years. It is recommended that you determine how this is specifically defined in your own location.

Brandon Erdmann is the owner of HomeSealed Exteriors in Milwaukee, WI.  He’s a window installation expert, a supporter of this site and an all around great guy.  If you’re in the Milwaukee area and you’re thinking about new windows you should give Brandon a ring.  You’ll be glad you did.

How Much Should Replacement Windows Cost?

Homeowners often come to this site looking for advice for specific models of replacement windows, recommendations on a local window installation company or advice on how to avoid these sales tactics. One of the most common questions asked is (of course) all about the money: how much should replacement windows cost?

To answer this question, you’ll have to look at a few things to compare apples to apples… or windows 🙂 by answering three basic questions:

  • What style of windows are you wanting installed?
  • What make and model of window are you choosing?
  • What material is the window made of?

What style of windows are you wanting installed?

First, the most commonly used window is a double hung window. They’re versatile, beautiful and easy to clean. Though double hung vinyl windows can vary widely in cost, look to spend between $450 (basic double pane energy star rated) to $600 or $700 for double hung windows installed with all the bells and whistles (triple pane, reinforced frames/sashes, double strength glass, foam filling etc).

double hung replacement windows
Here are some beautiful double hung windows that were recently installed by Zen windows in Central PA.

Next, casement windows (aka “crank out” style windows) and awning windows are a bit more expensive than a standard double hung windows mentioned above. Although casement windows tend to be more efficient than double hung windows, look to spend a bit more per window .

Bay and bow windows tend to be the most expensive. A quality vinyl bay or bow should range from $4,000 – $6,000 depending on options, colors, sizes and styles. Some bays and bows do not need a roof installed because they are under awnings and can be installed into the soffit. If a roof is required, that will add to the cost.

What make and model of replacement window are you choosing?

Though we won’t spend a ton of time discussing different makes and models of windows since you can check out dozens of them here, there are a few basics to consider when considering a replacement windows cost structure.

Ask yourself:

-Am I paying for a quality window from a reputable manufacturer or am I paying for an expensive marketing campaign?

-Has this company been manufacturing windows for a long time and do they run the risk of going out of business (and therefore will not have any warranty?) You may even want to ask if the manufacturer is a debt-free company.

-Am I paying hundreds of extra dollars per window simply for a brand name or could I get an equal quality (or better) quality window from another reputable manufacturer?  (think about when you’ve chosen a generic prescription at the pharmacy rather than an expensive brand name) 

What material is the window made of?

Finally, the cost of your replacement windows can also hinge largely on the type of material you choose.

Expect to pay more for wood windows, composite windows and windows with cladding of different materials.

Other legitimate factors that can cause the price of your windows to go up are:

  • If your home was built prior to 1978. Due to EPA guidelines, companies that work on homes build before 1978 are required to be certified. There are added charges associated with the installations.
  • A window that is one color on the interior and a different color on the exterior substantially increases the price. Though beautiful, expect these charges to increase the cost of your project from $100-$200 per window.
  • Some companies have a surcharge for any work that is completed above two stories. Though my company doesn’t charge this fee,  other companies do.
  • Even reputable companies often have minimum orders they will accept to install usually ranging between 2 to 5 window minimum orders. If you are under than minimum order, you may be charged slightly extra so be sure to ask to avoid these charges.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post! We welcome your comments and will do our best to get back to you with any questions you may have!

Andrew Zahn is the owner of Zen Windows in Central, PA.   Andrew has worked in home improvement sales, marketing and public relations before opening his own window company.  If you’re in central PA and you’re thinking about new windows you should reach out to Andrew.  He’ll be the easiest window company you’ve ever dealt with. 

Understanding Window Prices

Recently the owner of one of our favorite window companies told me that a customer who had found him through our site was confused or unsure about my pricing examples so I wanted to clarify things a little bit.

This potential customer met with the owner of the company and when he showed her how the pricing would work for her project she said that Dan at TheWindowDog.com told her it would cost less and she thought he was offering a bad deal.  I know him to be an upstanding guy, so I need to try to fix this situation.

It’s important to keep in mind that when I’m throwing out examples of what a window project should cost I don’t know anything about your house, your old windows or the options you’d like in your new windows.  I know a lot of things, but I don’t know as much as the person who has taken the time to learn the details of your specific window replacement project.

As you’re reading my reviews it’s important to remember that most of the time when I’m talking about prices I’m talking about a plain, simple project with white double hung windows as that’s the most common scenario we deal with.

If your project requires extra work to fix a problem or if you’ve picked out windows with fancy options the prices will be higher.  For example, if you’re ordering triple pane windows with a nice exterior color, a woodgrain interior and etched glass it will cost a bit more than any estimate I’ve thrown out there as those are expensive options.

This is why I repeatedly suggest starting with either the companies that we recommend here.  You can be pretty confident that they’ll treat you well and give you an honest assessment of your actual project.

Folks do contact me with questions regarding specifics relating to their project and I try to help as much as I can, but without being directly involved in your project all I can do is guess.

I hope that helps to clarify any misunderstanding.  If there is ever anything I can do to help just drop me a line with the contact link at the bottom of every page.

Thanks!
Dan