Home reno - New windows, more windows, skylights, skytubes, solar panels
November 2, 2020 7:59 AM Subscribe
I would love to find a ranch style home. I also need light. In the ones I've seen, some of them have low ceilings and short or few windows. Some have also had solar panels on the roof. A few have not had any windows on one wall and if they did have windows they would look directly into the next home. I'm wondering how much it cost to add windows, extend windows, and add skylights.
Is it possible to remove a solar panel and replace it with a skylight? Does that even make sense?
What if the solar panels havent been paid off yet?
If a wall has one window, can you add another window or 2 right next to it?
Can you lengthen a short window?
Also what if the existing windows are all old and need to be replaced anyway? is it more cost effective to get them replaced and add the new windows at the same time? seems like it would.
I recently learned there are things called solar tubes. Are they a good alternative when you can't fit an entire new window into a space?
And more importantly, what do these kinds of projects range from in cost? I went to some sites like home advisor but they ask for an email and I dont actually own a home just yet. I dont want to initiate any unnecessary contact with sales people just yet. I'm trying to figure out if it would be worth buying a home that has unpaid for solar panels, older windows, feels dark, etc.
Is it possible to remove a solar panel and replace it with a skylight? Does that even make sense?
What if the solar panels havent been paid off yet?
If a wall has one window, can you add another window or 2 right next to it?
Can you lengthen a short window?
Also what if the existing windows are all old and need to be replaced anyway? is it more cost effective to get them replaced and add the new windows at the same time? seems like it would.
I recently learned there are things called solar tubes. Are they a good alternative when you can't fit an entire new window into a space?
And more importantly, what do these kinds of projects range from in cost? I went to some sites like home advisor but they ask for an email and I dont actually own a home just yet. I dont want to initiate any unnecessary contact with sales people just yet. I'm trying to figure out if it would be worth buying a home that has unpaid for solar panels, older windows, feels dark, etc.
I recently moved into a ranch style home and have been doing similar projects.
The thing you need to be aware of is: structural parts of the house. Exterior walls are load bearing, and cutting into them is a serious process requiring engineering and permits. Anything can be done, of course, but when you start adding windows to load bearing walls the costs multiply, very quickly.
The best bang for your buck is skylights. Ranch houses tend to be truss roofs, and you can install a 2'x6' skylight in between trusses (if they are 2 feet on center) for under $3k. Skylights also let in the most light; they let in something like 60% more light than a similar sized window. They also add to the resale value, and everyone loves a (partially) lofted ceiling.
If your roof is trussed, you can't actually loft the ceiling, and skylights will have to be in a light well. Modifying trusses is insanely expensive, and will also require a lot of permitting and engineering work.
Replacing windows is easy, because they have already been framed out in a structural manner. Adding new windows is always expensive and difficult, because you have to redistribute the house load and create new structural framing.
My suggestion: spend $15k on skylights, you'll get yourself at least 5 of them. Could easily be upwards of 60sq/ft of skylight. That would look MARVELOUS, it would probably increase the value of the house by $50k alone, and it's something you can have done in a weekend.
posted by weed donkey at 8:30 AM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
The thing you need to be aware of is: structural parts of the house. Exterior walls are load bearing, and cutting into them is a serious process requiring engineering and permits. Anything can be done, of course, but when you start adding windows to load bearing walls the costs multiply, very quickly.
The best bang for your buck is skylights. Ranch houses tend to be truss roofs, and you can install a 2'x6' skylight in between trusses (if they are 2 feet on center) for under $3k. Skylights also let in the most light; they let in something like 60% more light than a similar sized window. They also add to the resale value, and everyone loves a (partially) lofted ceiling.
If your roof is trussed, you can't actually loft the ceiling, and skylights will have to be in a light well. Modifying trusses is insanely expensive, and will also require a lot of permitting and engineering work.
Replacing windows is easy, because they have already been framed out in a structural manner. Adding new windows is always expensive and difficult, because you have to redistribute the house load and create new structural framing.
My suggestion: spend $15k on skylights, you'll get yourself at least 5 of them. Could easily be upwards of 60sq/ft of skylight. That would look MARVELOUS, it would probably increase the value of the house by $50k alone, and it's something you can have done in a weekend.
posted by weed donkey at 8:30 AM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
In many jurisdictions, adding an exterior window will trigger more complex approvals and permits, so beware of that.
Skylights can be nearly trivial, or a giant pain in the ass. The easiest route are solar tubes, which handy homeowners can install themselves if they know WTF they're doing with roofing materials and sealing (my brother-in-law has installed six in his own roof). Some of these are somewhat flexible, which really helps in trying to avoid roofing joists and interior walls. Solar tubes are pretty cheap (~$300 for the basic model) and they're not very big so if you're trying to avoid an existing solar panel installation they're going to be a clear win over traditional framed skylights. They're particularly good for things like hallways.
Drawback: solar tubes only transfer light, not views. You cannot see the sky through them, and some models cannot be shut off (if it's bright outside, then it's bright inside; some pricier models have "butterfly" metal panels inside them that can be opened to block the light somewhat).
posted by aramaic at 8:47 AM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Skylights can be nearly trivial, or a giant pain in the ass. The easiest route are solar tubes, which handy homeowners can install themselves if they know WTF they're doing with roofing materials and sealing (my brother-in-law has installed six in his own roof). Some of these are somewhat flexible, which really helps in trying to avoid roofing joists and interior walls. Solar tubes are pretty cheap (~$300 for the basic model) and they're not very big so if you're trying to avoid an existing solar panel installation they're going to be a clear win over traditional framed skylights. They're particularly good for things like hallways.
Drawback: solar tubes only transfer light, not views. You cannot see the sky through them, and some models cannot be shut off (if it's bright outside, then it's bright inside; some pricier models have "butterfly" metal panels inside them that can be opened to block the light somewhat).
posted by aramaic at 8:47 AM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Don't do solar tubes! They suck! They are half the price of a skylight, and NONE of the coolness. They are just a light fixture that is powered by the sun. Sorry to be harsh but no one likes solar tubes, or will even know what they are because they just look like a light fixture.
You'd be better off literally just installing another light fixture and a solar panel, rather than a solar tube.
posted by weed donkey at 8:49 AM on November 2, 2020 [3 favorites]
You'd be better off literally just installing another light fixture and a solar panel, rather than a solar tube.
posted by weed donkey at 8:49 AM on November 2, 2020 [3 favorites]
Don't do solar tubes! They suck! They are half the price of a skylight, and NONE of the coolness. They are just a light fixture that is powered by the sun. Sorry to be harsh but no one likes solar tubes, or will even know what they are because they just look like a light fixture.
I love solar tubes. Skylights are relatively notorious at leaking, and get damaged in bad weather often. Solar tubes also fit in confined spaces, like laundry rooms and hallways where a skylight won't fit. The cost is also different, which I detail below. Skylights also heat up whatever room they are put in, especially if you live in the south or west.
BTW, I have installed windows (mostly do them myself if the exterior work isn't difficult - they are easy to install), and the estimates to do so are extremely variable, so shop around. My last one was $950 for 2 windows in brick wall (which I accepted) to $6000, mostly due to the brickwork. I did a Velux skylight a few years ago, it was $1200.
I have solar tubes. The company that specializes in them charges $500 each.
BTW: don't worry about windows looking directly into your neighbor's home. You can't really see that much, and it's not a good reason not to install windows. Also check the elevation differences and distance - mine is 12 feet window to window, and I've seen my neighbor through the window like 3 times ever.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:59 AM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
I love solar tubes. Skylights are relatively notorious at leaking, and get damaged in bad weather often. Solar tubes also fit in confined spaces, like laundry rooms and hallways where a skylight won't fit. The cost is also different, which I detail below. Skylights also heat up whatever room they are put in, especially if you live in the south or west.
BTW, I have installed windows (mostly do them myself if the exterior work isn't difficult - they are easy to install), and the estimates to do so are extremely variable, so shop around. My last one was $950 for 2 windows in brick wall (which I accepted) to $6000, mostly due to the brickwork. I did a Velux skylight a few years ago, it was $1200.
I have solar tubes. The company that specializes in them charges $500 each.
BTW: don't worry about windows looking directly into your neighbor's home. You can't really see that much, and it's not a good reason not to install windows. Also check the elevation differences and distance - mine is 12 feet window to window, and I've seen my neighbor through the window like 3 times ever.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:59 AM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
If a wall has one window, can you add another window or 2 right next to it?
Not necessarily. Windows have headers window framing and the size of the header is dependent on the width of the window, the wider the window, the larger the header. So, taking out a window to put in more or bigger windows requires room for the king studs to hold up the header, involves more demo work, and depending on how many windows and the spacing you want, it turns into more work and gets more expensive. I mean, yes you can do anything, but it gets more expensive.
Can you lengthen a short window?
Yes, the T-framing below a window is not load bearing, and you just cut the interior and exterior and put in a shorter frame base for the window. I've done this too - but it was a long time ago. $2000 for 4 windows on a 2nd story that was wood framing.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:04 AM on November 2, 2020
Not necessarily. Windows have headers window framing and the size of the header is dependent on the width of the window, the wider the window, the larger the header. So, taking out a window to put in more or bigger windows requires room for the king studs to hold up the header, involves more demo work, and depending on how many windows and the spacing you want, it turns into more work and gets more expensive. I mean, yes you can do anything, but it gets more expensive.
Can you lengthen a short window?
Yes, the T-framing below a window is not load bearing, and you just cut the interior and exterior and put in a shorter frame base for the window. I've done this too - but it was a long time ago. $2000 for 4 windows on a 2nd story that was wood framing.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:04 AM on November 2, 2020
I've seen a couple ranches where they raised the ceiling to be peaked (follow the roofline) instead of flat, and added skylights, in the main living area. A $15,000 job that adds WAY more than that in property value.
posted by amaire at 9:12 AM on November 2, 2020
posted by amaire at 9:12 AM on November 2, 2020
An option to avoid any cutting any stud in a load-bearing wall (as all external walls are), are narrow windows between studs. They'd probably have to be custom made. Or you could install glass blocks between studs.
posted by ShooBoo at 9:14 AM on November 2, 2020
posted by ShooBoo at 9:14 AM on November 2, 2020
Final thing about windows: nearly all windows are custom sized, the ones on the shelves in big box stores are not used in new construction. They aren't that much more to build custom sized windows, so don't worry if someone says 'custom windows'. BTW, using the most basic white vinyl windows, just replacing the windows (no framing, no extra work) is about $500 per window in window cost and labor.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:16 AM on November 2, 2020
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:16 AM on November 2, 2020
I’ve got to disagree with weed donkey.
We have a one story home and the main living area was shaded with an outdoor attached patio enclosure.
We added a solar tube and it’s made a huge difference in the natural light.
It’s also cool at night when there’s lightning!
posted by kittygrandma at 10:45 AM on November 2, 2020
We have a one story home and the main living area was shaded with an outdoor attached patio enclosure.
We added a solar tube and it’s made a huge difference in the natural light.
It’s also cool at night when there’s lightning!
posted by kittygrandma at 10:45 AM on November 2, 2020
I've been looking into doing some of this in our house.
Lengthening a short window is often very doable, especially in a house with siding - as long as you're keeping the same header (i.e. not making the window any wider). In a brick or stone house, it's trickier and more expensive, and you are likely to be able to tell that such a job was done - but it's still doable. Estimates I recently got were that the extra labor to lengthen the window would add $400 per window to the installation cost [so, $400 + normal installation cost + cost of window]). Obviously this varies by market. Many brands of windows are cheaper if you use standard sizes, which is something to keep in mind. You also will have to replace your window casing inside, which will increase cost (that wasn't included in the above estimate, which was only for the exterior work).
Adding more windows is much harder. You'd be cutting into an exterior load-bearing wall, which involves all of the structural work that that sounds like. As before, it's easier in a house with siding rather than a brick or stone house. If you're re-siding the house at the same time, that will be the most cost-effective thing. The labor bids that I got were in the thousands ($2000-4000) per window (not including the cost of the window). This didn't include interior work (plaster/drywall repair, casing). Obviously, as before, labor prices vary somewhat dramatically by market.
In response to your question, you might get better bids for any of this work if you're also replacing windows at the same time (or doing any other renovation), because contractors typically like larger jobs rather than smaller jobs.
I have never had skylights installed, but my sense is that they add significant value to the home. I believe they are slightly cheaper to install when getting the roof done. My guess is that skylights are probably cheaper than having new windows installed, and more expensive than lengthening short windows. There will be interior work to be done as well, especially if you don't have cathedral ceilings. I think especially in a ranch with low ceilings, they might likely fit well with the feel and make a huge positive visual impact. (I would be a bit more cautious with how they would fit with houses from the 1920s or before.) I would go for the name-brand skylights (Velux?) and splurge for the top models with moisture sensors (that close when they sense rain), etc. FYI, I have read that skylights increase heating/cooling bills more than windows.
Whether any of this makes economic sense for you depends on property values in your area. These kinds of alterations are probably going to be in the tens of thousands - maybe mid-five figures if you get a decent amount of them done, although you could do a few window cut-downs for much cheaper. My feeling is that you live in an area with houses under, say, $250k, you likely won't get your money back. If you live in an area with high property prices (maybe $700k and up), you could potentially get more than your money back if you make choices that are broadly palatable. It all depends on the cost of what you're planning to do, how much that is relative to the value of the home, what sort of scope your home has for improvement, and specifics about what precisely you plan to do and how that will affect the aesthetics of your particular home. I would keep a keen eye on what aesthetics are going to result, hiring an architect if you think you need to. All of these changes dramatically affect the look of your house, and can look natural or strange depending on how they're done. I would pay particular attention to how the look of the house will change from the outside, especially from the front. Will lengthening or adding windows look odd, or change symmetry? In general, do the changes you're proposing fit with the house's era and feel? Etc.
There are also arguments for doing it beyond financial. If you plan to stay in your home for, say, 10 years (or more), and you're willing to pay $X/10 per year extra to live in a bright home (where $X is the cost of having the work done), that can make a lot of sense if you can afford it, even if you don't recoup it all on resale. (The hassle and frustration of having work done means that if you're planning to sell in under 5-10 years, I personally don't recommend it.) Additionally, if you must live in a particular neighborhood (commute, schools, etc.), and that neighborhood doesn't have the sort of bright houses that you like, that might especially counsel for having the work done if you can afford it, even if you don't recoup the cost (if the neighborhood has the sort of houses that you like, I would advise to wait for one of those rather than get the unsuitable candidate that needs work).
I keenly follow real estate, am familiar with values in various different markets, and am fairly familiar with renovations at this point (feasibility, price, and how much of the cost is likely recouped). If you want to memail me with the link to the house you're considering, I'd be happy to give you my opinion about how possible it will be to add light to the house and whether it will be worth it in terms of resale in your area.
posted by ClaireBear at 11:03 AM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Lengthening a short window is often very doable, especially in a house with siding - as long as you're keeping the same header (i.e. not making the window any wider). In a brick or stone house, it's trickier and more expensive, and you are likely to be able to tell that such a job was done - but it's still doable. Estimates I recently got were that the extra labor to lengthen the window would add $400 per window to the installation cost [so, $400 + normal installation cost + cost of window]). Obviously this varies by market. Many brands of windows are cheaper if you use standard sizes, which is something to keep in mind. You also will have to replace your window casing inside, which will increase cost (that wasn't included in the above estimate, which was only for the exterior work).
Adding more windows is much harder. You'd be cutting into an exterior load-bearing wall, which involves all of the structural work that that sounds like. As before, it's easier in a house with siding rather than a brick or stone house. If you're re-siding the house at the same time, that will be the most cost-effective thing. The labor bids that I got were in the thousands ($2000-4000) per window (not including the cost of the window). This didn't include interior work (plaster/drywall repair, casing). Obviously, as before, labor prices vary somewhat dramatically by market.
In response to your question, you might get better bids for any of this work if you're also replacing windows at the same time (or doing any other renovation), because contractors typically like larger jobs rather than smaller jobs.
I have never had skylights installed, but my sense is that they add significant value to the home. I believe they are slightly cheaper to install when getting the roof done. My guess is that skylights are probably cheaper than having new windows installed, and more expensive than lengthening short windows. There will be interior work to be done as well, especially if you don't have cathedral ceilings. I think especially in a ranch with low ceilings, they might likely fit well with the feel and make a huge positive visual impact. (I would be a bit more cautious with how they would fit with houses from the 1920s or before.) I would go for the name-brand skylights (Velux?) and splurge for the top models with moisture sensors (that close when they sense rain), etc. FYI, I have read that skylights increase heating/cooling bills more than windows.
Whether any of this makes economic sense for you depends on property values in your area. These kinds of alterations are probably going to be in the tens of thousands - maybe mid-five figures if you get a decent amount of them done, although you could do a few window cut-downs for much cheaper. My feeling is that you live in an area with houses under, say, $250k, you likely won't get your money back. If you live in an area with high property prices (maybe $700k and up), you could potentially get more than your money back if you make choices that are broadly palatable. It all depends on the cost of what you're planning to do, how much that is relative to the value of the home, what sort of scope your home has for improvement, and specifics about what precisely you plan to do and how that will affect the aesthetics of your particular home. I would keep a keen eye on what aesthetics are going to result, hiring an architect if you think you need to. All of these changes dramatically affect the look of your house, and can look natural or strange depending on how they're done. I would pay particular attention to how the look of the house will change from the outside, especially from the front. Will lengthening or adding windows look odd, or change symmetry? In general, do the changes you're proposing fit with the house's era and feel? Etc.
There are also arguments for doing it beyond financial. If you plan to stay in your home for, say, 10 years (or more), and you're willing to pay $X/10 per year extra to live in a bright home (where $X is the cost of having the work done), that can make a lot of sense if you can afford it, even if you don't recoup it all on resale. (The hassle and frustration of having work done means that if you're planning to sell in under 5-10 years, I personally don't recommend it.) Additionally, if you must live in a particular neighborhood (commute, schools, etc.), and that neighborhood doesn't have the sort of bright houses that you like, that might especially counsel for having the work done if you can afford it, even if you don't recoup the cost (if the neighborhood has the sort of houses that you like, I would advise to wait for one of those rather than get the unsuitable candidate that needs work).
I keenly follow real estate, am familiar with values in various different markets, and am fairly familiar with renovations at this point (feasibility, price, and how much of the cost is likely recouped). If you want to memail me with the link to the house you're considering, I'd be happy to give you my opinion about how possible it will be to add light to the house and whether it will be worth it in terms of resale in your area.
posted by ClaireBear at 11:03 AM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
We put solar tubes into our very dark 1966 ranch this year. Cost for two was about $2000 and much of the cost is covered by a solar tax credit. They are bright and low profile. It took about two hours to install them and the ambient light increased significantly. I may put in a couple more next year.
posted by chuke at 12:08 PM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by chuke at 12:08 PM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
BTW: don't worry about windows looking directly into your neighbor's home. You can't really see that much, and it's not a good reason not to install windows
This is going to depend on your home's location etc. I am typing this at my desk which looks into my neighbours' dining room and we wave all the time, and I have also witnessed them ah, using the table to express their love and devotion, and one time my child was vomiting and I was half dressed and turned the light on, not realizing the blinds were open and...let's just say it's a good thing we all get along. We live in a dark climate with small lots and yes, we all have blinds.
posted by warriorqueen at 12:24 PM on November 2, 2020
This is going to depend on your home's location etc. I am typing this at my desk which looks into my neighbours' dining room and we wave all the time, and I have also witnessed them ah, using the table to express their love and devotion, and one time my child was vomiting and I was half dressed and turned the light on, not realizing the blinds were open and...let's just say it's a good thing we all get along. We live in a dark climate with small lots and yes, we all have blinds.
posted by warriorqueen at 12:24 PM on November 2, 2020
I live in a ranch house where 1 solar tube and 1 skylight were installed by the previous owner, so I can’t tell you about the cost. I can tell you that we have spent the past 8 years dealing with the previous owner’s handiwork (he was a self-employed handyman), and when skylights fail, they fail spectacularly. We ended up with a leak in the flashing around the skylight (which handyman had tried to fix with silicone caulk, which failed), which ruined the drywall around the skylight and the ceiling, plus caused mold to grow in the attic insulation. That cost well over $1000 to fix.
It is pretty nice to have a skylight in the bathroom, and my friend who cares about makeup was really envious that I could do my makeup in natural light (joke’s on her because I don’t even own makeup!).
The solar tube is in a windowless hallway between our bedrooms and the bathroom, and it does add a nice glow of natural light to that area. It also is an entry point for hundreds of boxelder bugs every fall, but I finally sealed off the hole with plastic wrap.
So my vote on these things would be yes? Assuming you have a very capable worker doing the installation...
posted by Maarika at 1:29 PM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
It is pretty nice to have a skylight in the bathroom, and my friend who cares about makeup was really envious that I could do my makeup in natural light (joke’s on her because I don’t even own makeup!).
The solar tube is in a windowless hallway between our bedrooms and the bathroom, and it does add a nice glow of natural light to that area. It also is an entry point for hundreds of boxelder bugs every fall, but I finally sealed off the hole with plastic wrap.
So my vote on these things would be yes? Assuming you have a very capable worker doing the installation...
posted by Maarika at 1:29 PM on November 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
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Price estimates on home projects are hard to get because there are so many variables involved. Multiply this by ten when you're trying to get estimates in the abstract (without a specific house in mind), from people who (obviously) haven't seen the house in question, and who are most likely in a different part of the country or world than you are. I think it's fairly safe to say that this kind of project will be expensive, because you can look at what people pay just to replace existing windows, and then add a substantial amount for the design and construction needed to add windows where there are none. I know that's not satisfying. I am often in a similar boat, wanting to get a ballpark idea of how much an idea will cost before going down the path of actually engaging with contractors. But I've also learned the hard way that such abstract estimates are just not very useful.
At a high level it is of course possible to add more windows to a house. But it's possible that you will run into things in the walls like electrical, plumbing. HVAC ducting, structural members, etc. that complicate placement. A lot of those things aren't typically run in exterior walls unless they need to be, but sometimes they need to be and also older houses are rarely "typical." It's not safe to assume that you can just cut a hole and put a window in any arbitrary location without some effort. Again, variables requiring having a specific house in mind and looking at it in person.
People do major renovations to houses all the time because they can't find the exact thing they want. I'm not going to tell you not to do it. But be prepared for it to be more expensive, time consuming, and stressful than you expected. Given the choice of spending more time looking for a house that comes closer to meeting my needs (or spending more on such a house) vs. buying a house now and doing major modifications, the former will win every time.
posted by primethyme at 8:29 AM on November 2, 2020 [2 favorites]