replacement windows

hi all.

just bought a new house and has 3 basment windows and 10 main floor windows to replace.

the house has compresed wood siding on it now and we were planning on putting level wall over this and then siding it with a vinyl siding. I was planning on having the windows installed but i have been considering replacing them myself. i have done a fair number of home renos/ diy pprojects but i have never attempted windows. I am wondering how easy it is to replace windows and if i should replace the whole window or if i should just get insterts.

I have found full replacement windows at a local discount hardware store and the company seems reputable. The windows are different sizes than i require but i think the cost savings may make it worth while to enlarge the window openings to accomidate the larger windows.

the costs of the windows are
24*36 145
32*30 165
30*40 165
36*48 195
32*54 200

the company is Vinyl Window Designs ltd in ontario

can anyone coment on if these are good prices and if the company has a good name as well if i should do complete replacements or inserts as well as how dificult it is to properly install windows. Is it worth while to get the windows at that price and enlarge the openings and frame them or is it better to just get the size thats there. i have done doors with no problem.. just no windows

thanks for any input

scott

 

I'll only comment on the installation. I'd suggest that you go with the total tearout and installation of a new construction style window that comes with a nailing fin. Since you will be installing siding, you'll be able to resize openings with the windows you are looking at. The installation of such a window would be very easy and I'm confident that with your experience, you could handle it.

The only caution I'd give is that usually homes look the best asthetically if they have windows that are of just a few similar sizes. For instance, on a one level home, you might have a short window in the kitchen and bathroom.... a long window in the living room and dining room, and medium length windows of the same size in all the bedrooms. On two story homes, the windows upstairs are usually a few inches shorter than the longest ones downstairs. But if every room in the house has a different sized window, it might look a little haphazard.

 

thanks for the info.

just to clarrify, the different sizes aren't what i plan on getting, they are just the pricing list that i found. i have to figure out what windows to use if i go with them and resize the openings. i would deffinetly use 1 or 2 sizes for the windows on the main floor.

do you think those prices are fair, or are they just average?

thanks

 

If price is your only requirement, then yes, that sounds fair. However, I have a Ford pickup sitting out front of my house that I'd sell to you for $250. Would you buy it based only on the price? Probably not because you have no idea what shape it's in. In fact, for $250, you'd probably assume that it's a piece of junk! What I'm getting at is that I have no way to tell you if that's a good deal without seeing the window, seeing it's quality, etc. I'm not trying to be funny, just want you to understand where I'm coming from when I say the price sounds fair.

 

fair enough. i actually kinda figured that out a bit aftter i posted and was surfing the archives. i have some more research to do.

thanks for the help

 

When using new construction windows with nailing fins, you need to be somewhat accurate on the size of the rough opening. The fins are narrow and a rough opening that is too large will not work. Good luck.

 

Wirepuller is right about that. I usually take the exact window measurement and add an inch to arrive at the rough opening. In some cases, adding 3/4" is better. If everything is square and level, that would allow 3/8" on each side which is the perfect size gap, in my opinion.