Windows - need opinions...

We are getting quotes to do our upstairs windows. We would obviously like to do the work before it gets really freezing...

We have 12 ORIGINAL double-hung windows with aluminum storms - all in bad shape, but not at all rotted.

Big companies - Green Bay Renovations, Thermo-tite are quoting us in the $6k range for 12 windows.

We had a small company come by today and they basically quoted us 1/2 of what the other guys were quoting for a similar product.

We are not looking at Pella or Anderson so it is difficult to compare brands.

We are looking at double-paned, low-e, argon, 1/2 screen, grid top with new window caping on the outside.

The guy from the small company told us that the bigger companies spend so much on advertising & sales that they need to recoup their costs and hence the higher price. We saw the sign of this small company on a nearby neighbors lawn and though we would check them out since they obviously do work in our area...

Please tell me what to look out for... We don't want to spend a million bucks on windows as we have already dumped so much $$ into this house - we just want to be warm...

Thanks for all your advice as always!!! Sorry so long winded...

Message edited 11/5/2007 8:48:08 PM.

Re: Windows - need opinions...

We just went through the process of weeding people out and went with Unified. We had thermo-tite come to our house and quote us 12,000 for the whole house to be done in low-e, energy star, double hung windows. As well as a bow window in the front.

Unified gave us the SAME windows for 6,000, so we went with them. Another company, United wanted 8 or 9 thousand. What's funny was that they all had the same window and Thermo-tite tried to tell us that no one else makes windows like them.

I can't wait to have them installed!!
Just to let you know...we didn't go with Pella or Anderson either...

Green Bay Renovations...is that in Valley Stream? If so, that's my dh's friend....

Message edited 11/5/2007 6:09:54 PM.