A few months back, I gave y'all a peek into our new replacement window decision on the blog. Finally after four or so months of production time and a few weeks to get on the window vendor's installation crew schedule, I'm happy to report that we finally have our new windows installed! Today we'll talk through our final choices on finishes, and things to expect once the crew is finally out of the house and the windows are installed.
Replacement Window Installation Lessons From A Designer
To say we researched replacement windows for our home would be a vast understatement. About a decade ago we had two windows in our home replaced and at that time, I went with Marvin. Those windows have held up beautifully but when it came time to replace all the others, I still circled back to the start and researched other companies. I did at least a year long deep dive on the internet before visiting too many showrooms to count but you can never do enough due diligence in my humble opinion. In the end, after getting weigh in from the hubs, we selected Marvin Integrity Replacement Windows. One of the things I like about Marvin are the finish options finish options to choose from, both exterior and interior.
Interior & Exterior Color Selections
For the inside, we went with white overall since our existing trim is all painted white. We also chose white window locks - personally I want the lock to recede into the view rather than have it in an obvious finish like gold/brass. I did consider different options, but in the end, white won.
Marvin's exterior selections for paint options were decent but not exact. In the end I selected a color that was as close to our existing trim as possible. Will I eventually paint the new windows and doors to match exactly? Probably, if I'm being honest. Does it look bad? No. Can I spot the difference? Absolutely. The hubs? Not so much.
Replacement Doors
We went with replacement doors with a three point locking system which you can see below. We did have a little glitch, and by we I mean the window vendor, with the new door handles. Replacements are on order. The hubs loves them, but I'm reserving judgement until the replacement handles are installed. They do take a bit of getting used to in the way they lock, but they are lovely and solid. I'll update after the new handle sets are installed.
New Window Treatments after Replacement Window Installation
We took the opportunity with the new windows to update some of the window treatments, so you'll see our breakfast area is currently sans shades. We installed tortoise bamboo material shades when we moved into this house 15 years ago, and I loved the texture and the color that they brought to our home. However, I never loved the cords for the top down, bottom up feature and back then cordless wasn't an option with the vendor I used. Fast forward all these years and the technology and options/materials has greatly improved. It's a domino decision for sure that went like this as explained to the hubs...
So when we update the windows and doors, we'll need to take down the old window treatments, not the shutters though. While they're off the window, and once the new windows are installed, there will be some trim repair and painting needed. Do you want to keep the old window shades and rehang them or do you want to refresh with something newer, cleaner, and well, better?
I'm not sure if I ever shared this before, but my hubs is a brilliant man on many, many levels. His response was: I trust you. Whatever you think best let's do. #winnerwinnerchickendinner
We also have plantation shutters on most of our windows. Those were not removed during installation meaning they removed the old windows first then inserted the new windows from the outside. In the end, all existing shutters fared well (I wasn't sure to be honest). None were hurt in the process ha. Those remain and after a good vacuum and wiping down, they're good to go...or rather stay. In other rooms, we're adding a couple of plantation shutters and in our primary bedroom, we're splurging on motorized natural grass shades that are going to be delicious under the layers of custom linen drapery panels.
Things To Consider That You May Not Think Of When Replacing Your Windows
Replacement Window Installation: IMHO, the second most important thing to consider besides the window itself is to really do a deep dive on the vendor you purchase the windows from. For me, it was important that the window vendor and the window installer be the same company because installation is key and just as important as the window itself. I'm waiting to include the name of the local vendor we used because we do have an outstanding item in the handles and I want to make sure everything is great before I recommend them. Check back though because I will be updating this once that happens.
Window Screens. To add as a line item or not? Note that we chose to only use screens on a few windows and rather than install on all windows. Why? Houston weather ranges from hot to hotter and hot as an oven so we rarely open the windows. We selected screens only for the windows that we routinely, and by that I mean rarely, open. If you're in a different part of the country, you might consider adding more screens.
Double versus Single Hung Replacement Windows. In my humble opinion, it's all a matter of personal preference. Having had double hung windows for 15 years, I can tell you that we never ever used that feature to lower the top part of the window down. Again, you might use this feature if you live in a climate with four seasons and you like fresh air. You do what works best for you and where you live.
If you have an existing wired alarm system, that is definitely something to discuss with your new window company before you move forward. If you don't know what kind of system you have, make a call to your alarm company to find that out, and then hatch a plan with your window company about your next move. If it's a wired system, you may have to drill into the new windows, and if you would prefer not to, you may have to invest in a new wireless system as well. Note: You'll need to verify what drilling into the new window does to your new window warranty because it most likely might null and void said warranty. Domino decisions are a big one with new windows y'all.
As you can see above, dings and nicks should be expected with this level of replacement installation, so don't forget to budget for new paint and possibly labor to fix these dings if it's not included with your installation and you're not one to do it yourself.
Your current window treatments may look worn out next to brand new windows, so don't be surprised if you hang those drapes back up and feel underwhelmed by the final look. Some of you may be completely fine with your current window treatments, and that is fantastic! I'm just warning you that you may want to budget for that upfront just in case. If you don't use those funds for that, it can be reallocated to some other home project or savings or a vacation - whatever makes sense for you!
When you get your quote back for new windows, sit down and take a breath before opening the estimate. It's probably more than 3x what you thought it would be - yes, they're all insane. Prices will vary by window size and shape and of course, the bigger the house, the more windows you're bound to have, the greater the investment. The least expensive window and the smallest one we installed this time around was ~ $1300 before installation. Installation ran around $400 per window for our home and that included demo and trash removal.
Bottom line, it's more than just a window replacement when you are investigating the investment costs...all of the details add up and it's definitely worth going through the included versus added options available from whatever window vendor you select. Just be sure to review your estimate multiple times and read the fine print to make sure you understand what's included in your estimate and what's not and what additional costs you might also need to plan for. For example, we paid to replace our existing brick mold to a composite wood material for less future maintanence as well as painting the new exterior trim. The window vendor did not offer interior paint services so that will be an added cost and a separate process.
If you have an older home with single pane windows, remember to analyze your heating and cooling bills to see what you're spending monthly there. It won't be a wash, but that will help you decide if the upfront investment is worth it! Check also to see if there are any tax credits available for replacing your windows. It's definitely an investment in your home but I personally believe that new windows will only add to curb appeal as well as a good return on investment with regards to resale.
The biggest bonus I'm looking forward to is little to no maintenance since we were repainting, repairing and rebuilding our old wood windows every 5 to seven years or so.
Bottom line, yes, installation was a hassle in ways that are unavoidable and yes, it was crazy expensive but overall I'm so glad that it's done. Even the hubs keeps mentioning how much he likes the new windows and the new doors and he rarely comments on anything around the house.
If you have more questions about this process, feel free to reach out. This is a much bigger undertaking than any of us ever really think it will be, so I'm happy to help answer questions based on our experience of replacing our old windows so you can make the best decision for your home.
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