Good or bad experiences with window replacement? (Mesa, Scottsdale: rental, HOA)

[rgscpat]

After looking at several dozen homes and making offers on at least a dozen, we have what will be a rental home for us in Mesa. The home has old single-pane windows most of which can catch lots of sun, so we might want to replace them.

We did so on our New Mexico home about 15 years ago for only a few thousand dollars by finding a reputable local company... a national window and door chain wanted more than twice that much.

Has anyone had particularly good or bad experiences with window replacement? (It would be presumably for the best to let the guilty remain anonymous in the public forum but I'd be happy to get a pm that outs them... or a private message that names the good guys.)

[ReadyFreddy]

I replaced the southern facing windows in one house with nice vinyl, double pane ones from Home Depot. I don't think they made much difference in energy bills (you really need to do the whole house for that) but they looked and slid much better, which was my main goal at the time.

If energy efficiency is your goal, talk to SRP. They might be able to tell you shade screens or trees or something are a better course of action. I'm not sure but replacing windows is expensive so I'm sure it takes many, many years to pay back, if at all.

[Kentstate57]

Would love this information too. Our chicken wire and stucco home has double pane windows, but several are dirty on the inside and drives my wife nuts. We did have the builder replace a couple when we did the walk thru, but others weren't noticed or have grown worse long after warranty ended. I'm wondering if there are single pane windows that are as energy efficient?

BTW We have roller shades on all windows and doors on the sides and back of our home. The builder who controlled the HOA at the time would not allow them on the front tho. Expensive, but super security and great sun control.

[ReadyFreddy]

I'd like more info on the exterior roller shades. Anyone know about what those cost, or know a company that does them here?

[Juram]

Be careful when buying windows. The window industry is one of the shadiest and most sketchy imaginable. There's a lot of marketing companies out there that exist only to tele-market and send out mailers, send out a salesperson to your house and then hire some guys hanging around outside Home Depot to do the install. References are nice but often times a company will only give you the customers that they want you to talk to, not the customers you should be talking to.

Verify every single contractor you contact on the AZ ROC website(Arizona Registrar of Contractors) and never pay an absurd amount up-front. Realistically a company should be able to do the install a series of payments, say an initial downpayment of 20% to get the ball rolling.

Also don't rely on the BBB which is generally worthless, you'll find companies with 10...20...30 complaints who have A ratings because as long as the company "responds" to the complaint, that is all the BBB generally cares about, a company really has to screw up to have their rating docked.


Be aware of high-pressure tactics too, if they start pounding the table and telling you that they have a special price that's good only today, do yourself a favor and cut bait, no legitimate company operates in such a fashion, get a quote, tell them you'll get back to them and don't get backed in a corner, any price that a company can offer you on a Tuesday, they can offer you next Tuesday as well, regardless of what sort of reasoning or pressing fire-sale or volume-buy they have coming from the manufacturer.

[stevek64]

From experience, I would go with external shade screens or window film. We went with external shade screens and it made a huge difference in keeping the house cool(home built in 2003). I made my own buying materials that are commonly available.

Found this publication from APS to be very useful in helping me make my decision.



http://www.aps.com/_files/services/R...treatments.pdf

[Kentstate57]

OK - Not sure if we are allowed to mention firms here, but sure they will edit if not.

At our old home we used American German Rollshutters in Scottsdale. Sometime after that a worker split and Roll Shutter Systems evolved. Both companies still exist. We used Roll Shutter Systems on this house. Cost was $12,000 in 1997. We wanted the builder to incorporate the boxes inside the walls as they do in Germany, but he refused probably not knowing how to do it. He did allow them to install all the necessary wiring for the electric shades while the house was being framed which supposedly saved some money and tearing up walls. We got the entire south facing patio enclosed with 3 large electric operated rollershades. It was cheaper than putting individual shades on each window and door facing the patio and provided a bonus in the winter to allow us to bring sensitive plants unto the patio for proetction if a freeze was projected. The patio temp seldom dips below 50 degrees even on the coldest nights with the shades down. Both companies are still in business, but we find Roll Shutters cheaper and faster on service. (Still expensive tho. Cost over $800 recently to replace a motor on one of the patio shades. However most other repairs have been minimal since 1997 - such as replace a broken pull strap, etc. The electric operated ones are more expensive to install and maintain.)

American German is oldest and Roll Shutter is 2nd oldest in Valley, but there are other companies listed in the yellow pages. Do shop around.

[ReadyFreddy]

Cost was $12,000 in 1997.

Thanks! Looks like I'll be sticking with shade screens.

[Skywayy2001]

I'm curious as everyone always says window replacement (to nice double pane windows) is so expensive, but what are we actually talking about in terms of cost? Granted, I know it depends on the # of windows (sizes/shapes) etc. but I'm just curious.

[ReadyFreddy]

I'm thinking mine averaged around $700/window, installed? It was 10 years ago.