How to Save Money On Your Window Replacement Project
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Replacement windows, at least the ones worth buying in today’s market, aren’t cheap. There’s often some sticker shock when a homeowner gets that first quote. Between material pricing and labor shortages, the cost to replace windows isn’t what it used to be. To make matters worse there are many inferior products available to homeowners further complicating the buying decision. The word “premium” is used by nearly every brand in their product literature. It’s important to understand what you’re getting for your money and how to ensure your investment doesn’t result in buyers' remorse and unkept promises. But there are many ways to save money on your project without compromising quality.
Manufacturing has evolved ten fold over the last few decades and replacement windows are now designed with greater emphasis on energy efficiency and the ability to customize more than ever before. No longer is a window just a part of your home that allows you to see outside to watch your kids play in the backyard. No longer is a window just something you open for ventilation on a pleasant day. Windows are now a significant contributor to the overall comfort and energy performance of your home. Up to 30% of your home’s utility bills are directly attributed to the efficiency of your windows. That’s a big deal!
Most builder grade windows were the last thing to go in the home, and the last thing the builder wanted to spend any money on. So if your windows are the original or have lost their thermal benefit, then you’re probably spending more on your utilities than you should. The same can be said for many of today’s bottom tier windows that are manufactured with low quality materials. Take vinyl windows for example. Cheap vinyl windows are often made with a thin PVC construction, limited mainframe chambers, ineffective spacer systems, and a high air infiltration rating (the lower the better). Those windows won’t last long in our volatile climate that we see here in Tennessee. With the fluctuations in temperature, the heavy rainfall, the high UV impact, and the intense humidity, along with snow and ice, those cheap windows will expand and contract rapidly to force seal failure and open up voids around your rough opening that will lead to air leakage and water infiltration issues. So not only will you not be as comfortable as you thought you’d be, and your utilities won’t be as low as they could be, you’re also likely to need repairs and replacements done within the first 2 to 5 years of those windows being installed. Talk about a waste of money! So if you’re considering replacing your windows, don’t skimp on the quality. You can pay for it once or you can pay for it every single day. Remember: price is what you pay, value is what you get.
At Wallaby, we’re all about value. And we believe that value comes from offering great quality products at great prices. One of the best ways we can create value and save homeowners money is by customizing their windows to meet their specific needs. Here are a few ways we accomplish that:
- Choosing the right material for your needs and budget
- If you’re looking for the most cost-effective, the least amount of maintenance, and proven longevity, then look no further than vinyl.
- Alternatively, if you’re looking for a higher end window, wood clad with an aluminum extruded exterior or a fiberglass window will be a perfect fit, albeit at a higher cost.
- Operating style is another driver of project prices
- In today’s manufacturing landscape, double-hungs are mass produced and are often the most affordable operating style in the market
- Whereas casements and specialty shape windows (quarter rounds, half rounds, arch, octagons, etc) for example, all tend to cost more
- Window color plays a big part in cost
- There’s a reason why white vinyl is most prevalent; it’s the most cost-effective!
- Painted or laminated windows offer tons of value, and often with exceptional finish warranties, but do increase price fairly significantly
- The glass package you choose can impact pricing
- Dual-pane glass with LowE and Argon gas is standard for most replacement windows nowadays but there are upgrades that can help further optimize your energy efficiency
- Triple-pane glass packages offer increased thermal performance and noise reduction, but do increase cost and take longer to recoup costs
- Tempered, laminated, tinted, and privacy glass are all considered upgrades to the glass that result in higher cost of goods
- Features can dramatically improve curb appeal but require a heavier investment
- Details such as hardware, grids, screens, foam fill, and design pressure upgrades, amongst others, can be significantly impactful to overall price
- Exterior applied or Simulated Divided Light grilles add traditional beauty but average 25% to 30% more than in between the glass grilles, for example
As you can tell, each decision you make can play a big part in the total cost of your window replacement. The reality is that every project is different and every customer we serve has a unique problem they are trying to solve. Our approach is design-oriented and technology-enabled, allowing us the opportunity to collaborate with each customer to build the perfect solution to their needs and to educate our customers throughout the buying process.
We aren’t your typical window and door contractor. We specialize in custom projects and have access to dozens of name brands so that we can offer tailored solutions. Dreading the thought of having to get multiple quotes from different contractors? Don’t sweat it, we’re here to help as your one-stop-shop. As a full-service contractor with strong relationships across the industry, we’ve done the shopping for you so that you receive the very best your money can buy.
Wallaby Windows of Nashville is here to help educate and remove the stress within the buying decision so that we maximize your value, increase your curb appeal, help you save on utilities, and improve your overall comfort. Give us a call today or schedule your free consultation directly from our website. We can’t wait to get started!
