Replacement windows

I live in Seattle, and my mother lives on the east coast. She's replacing all the windows in her house - they are leaky and were of poor quality when they were replaced before. We don't know what brand.

Mom is by herself, and has gotten a quote. The brand of window that they are recommending is "Mastic Windows". All windows are double hung, and she's saying that she wants vinal so she doesn't have to have the windows painted every few years.

My question is - what brand of window should we go with? She wants quality first, value a close second. She feels like she wasted money about 15 years ago when she put these in. They have had problems from the beginning.

I don't know much about windows - and can't be there to help out.

Thanks,
Bruce

 

Bruce,

I personally like Simonton windows

http://www.simonton.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1

but any window can be installed in a crappy manner and cause a bad job.

 

Thanks Andy,

I think that most of the problem was with the last installer - he's no longer working doing installations...

I know nothing about windows. I've heard Anderson windows are good, but I think (Total guess) that they are much more expensive.

If anyone knows a place the rates window manufacturers, or at least talks about pro/cons I'd love to hear about it.

Thank again

 

Bruce,

Andersens are fairly expensive in replacement situations, they are made for new construction and won't build a window to fit a hole that you have now, so you get into buying a smaller window or modifying your hole......both get into a lot more labor, and the windows aint cheap to start with......

All the vinyl windows on the market I've seen don't have $25 difference in them if you ask me......Simonton use a fairly thick extrusion I like and I just seem to have few problems with them than some others I've used in the past......But the measurement and installation are key points no matter whose window you use.

 

I bought my 32" x60" windows at Home depot for $90.00 each and am very pleased with them
I ripped out all the old rotted windows/trim and started over.
The rough openings MAY be suitible for new constuction windows, I got lucky and only had to trim the rough opening a little to make mine fit.
They also have replacement style windows but they are more costly and must be custome ordered.
Alos sometimes replacing just the sash part is a no-go due to substantial leakage aroud the frame/trim.
It all really depends on each induvidual house, get a general contractor to look at it, not a "window company" that does a lot of advertising on TV.