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Vinyl Replacement Windows - Upgrade over wood windows?
So I have WOOD double hung windows now. They are not the greatest for usabilty since they don't tilt for cleaning and there is a storm window you have to open as well. If I replace them with a higher end white vinyl replacement window, will people looking to buy my house look at it as an upgrade? Not sure if they will they think, "oh look, cheap white vinyl windows doesn't go with the house" or "oh look, bright clean looking windows must be brand new." Putting in a combarable wood window is not even financially possible. I should have added that my home was built in 1995...so I don't know if they already think the existing windows are fine. 100% virgin vinyl won't yellow. I'm looking at upper end vinyl windows which are half the cost of a comp. wood window. You have to spend $1000-$1200 per window for wood windows. I guess if you have a half million dollar home it makes sense. I did more research on the yellowing, and that is an old scare tatic that came up 15 years ago for small start-up vinyl window companies that are no longer in business. Companies like Gorell and Soft-Lite do not have those issues....there'd be lawsuits all over the place. If you see yellow on a vinyl window its called nicotine. I should have added that my storms are wood and the windows have a poor sill design so alot of the storms have rotted or molded up. I've tried to strip them and repaint but the mold comes back due to the moisture...no weep holes!
Public Comments
- We replaced old aluminum windows with really high quality vinyl double hung windows, and never regretted it. The ones they make now are nice and much more affordable - so I'd advise, just don't think too much about it since you don't really have a choice, and go for the best quality vinyls you can afford. You can also get ones that have variations on the white - cream and/or putty colored were our choices, aside from white. We went for the white ones, and they looked clean, tidy, and pristine - and that was after five years. When you go to resell, I think people understand the expense of wood windows, and actually might prefer the low-maintenance of vinyl...that's a good selling point actually.
- Well, of course new windows are always considered an upgrade. That being said, if they don't fit with the house, then don't do it. I myself prefer aluminum to vinyl windows. Much more of an upgrade as vinyl sonner or later yellows.
- First, 100% virgin vinyl most certainly will yellow. Vinyl requires additives to keep it from yellowing. It is the type and quantity of the additives that determines how long your windows will stay white. Titanium dioxide is the best additive but you will be hard pressed to find out what stabilizer is used or how much of it is in the vinyl. Not that they would not want to tell you, just not something the sales people generally are made aware of. Your best bet to avoid yellowing is to stick with a manufacturer that has been around for a while and perhaps looking at some windows that have been installed for a while if you can.
Now, you really don't give enough information to answer your real question. Why do you think vinyl might be perceived as being out of place? Built in 1995, so there should not be any historical significance. Log cabin or rustic wood siding perhaps? In either case, you do run the risk of detracting from the charm that might attract a buyer that would not otherwise be interested. It is something to weigh in your decision.
Are your existing windows in good condition, other than the non-tilt and the storm windows? If they are in poor condition, a replacement might pay off. Even then it is iffy. If they are in otherwise good shape, you have little chance of recovering your cost when you sell. If a buyer doesn't see the existing windows, they have no reference for comparison to give you credit for an upgrade. For this reason, I would be reluctant to replace them now unless there are major problems.
If you do decide to replace, find a good company with several good references. Check with the BBB, but don't accept a good rating there instead of references. Most people that have problems do not report. A bad rating, of course, is a bad sign.
As for the windows themselves, look for welded sashes and frames instead of mechanically joined, they will hold up much better. Double hung (both sashes move) instead of single hung (only bottom sash moves). Full screen instead of half screen so the top sash can be left open a bit if you wish. Double pane glass, you will never recover the cost difference of triple pane glass -- it is more marketing than energy efficiency. Low-E glass is usually a good investment unless you are very far north.
- Be_a_lert makes some really good points. Most vinyl windows on the market will yellow, especially the low-end ones. You can get vinyl windows that are well made and won’t yellow, but at that point you’re looking at high-end (high-priced) windows and they will still be white plastic windows replacing wood windows.
To get a window that matches your home style and looks more like wood, you could get a composite window like Fibrex from Renewal by Andersen. These windows are made using wood and vinyl. The materials are blended together to make a better window than wood or vinyl alone. Fibrex doesn’t need maintenance like wood and it won’t rot. It won’t yellow like vinyl and it’s twice as strong, so you run a much lower risk of your window failing. Fibrex comes in several colors, plus you can get optional wood interiors for some of your windows to match your existing room décor and trim.
When it comes to price, you have some good options available to you. First, when you buy and install qualifying windows this year, you’re eligible for a tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500. You have to choose windows that meet new energy-efficiency standards. You can read more here:
http://www.mrrogerswindows.com/news-item.php?id=23
Also, any Renewal by Andersen dealer will have financing options available. You can find dealers in your area here:
http://www.renewalbyandersen.com/rba/find-a-showroom/default.aspx
In the long term, it’s better to spend more on windows. You’ll save more on energy bills, you’ll be more comfortable in your home, and you’ll avoid the possibility of doing the whole thing over again in a few years because the windows failed or yellowed. Hans Andersen, the founder of Andersen windows said it best: “Only the rich can afford cheap windows.”
