Al Gore wants me to get new windows

June 13, 2006 8:30 AM

How can I find out how much people are paying for premium windows in my area?

I (foolishly) caved in to a hard sell from a window company last night. We need all new windows badly. He's charging a little under 15k for 20 triple-paned vinyl windows with argon and a double low-e coating. The windows are manufactured by Gorell, which has been an EnergyStar partner of the year for the last 3 years. We didn't put any money down, and I can still get out of the contract, I just want to know if there's a way to find out how much we're being taken for a ride.

Thanks!

posted by amarynth to home & garden (4 comments total)

It depends. Prices on windows vary. Are the windows a custom size? Are they vinyl or wood trim? Are they large or small? Do they slide side-to-side or up-and-down? etc.

The only way to know if you are being taken for a ride is to get a competing quote for windows and installation from another retailer or installer. Don't go asking your neighbours (unless you live in a tract subdivision and somebody with your floor plan replaced their windows recently), because they will have different sizes of windows in a different configuration.

For reference, the (normal, cheap, and I think double-pane) windows that we are using to replace our standard-size windows run $150 apiece without installation. The custom window costs more (closer to $500? I can't remember).
posted by crazycanuck at 8:57 AM on June 13, 2006

The only way to know if you are being taken for a ride is to get a competing quote for windows and installation from another retailer or installer. Don't go asking your neighbours (unless you live in a tract subdivision and somebody with your floor plan replaced their windows recently), because they will have different sizes of windows in a different configuration.

That's true, but once you get in the neighborhood of 20 windows, it starts to even out a bit. But yes, competing bids (three, preferably) is definitely the way to go.

$15K for triple-pane low-e windows sounds pretty reasonable to me, as long as that includes installation.
posted by LionIndex at 9:06 AM on June 13, 2006

It does include installation. They're custom, vinyl, mostly sliders with one bow window that will be 5 windows.
posted by amarynth at 10:05 AM on June 13, 2006

Typical Name Brand windows run about $700 to $750 apiece installed, provided they don't exceed a maximum size (Figured in UI United Inches). That being said the average store bought all vinyl window (medium grade) is about $150 to $200 apiece (I just bought 8 of them). So the price is about average. If you want to save $ compare the window you are buying to the Home Store windows, and ask about installation. I've heard they run about $50 to $60 each for installation.
posted by Gungho at 10:12 AM on June 13, 2006