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    Choosing Replacement Windows

    Choosing Replacement Windows

    New windows can make your home quieter and less drafty—in short, more comfortable. And many new double-hung windows are easier to clean and maintain than their older counterparts fitted with combination screens and storms. On top of all this, new windows also can enhance your home’s curb appeal.

    Installing replacement windows is a common way for homeowners to achieve those benefits. Typical replacement windows (sometimes called “pocket” windows) fit inside the existing window frame, minimizing installation costs. But many replacement window lines are also available as new-construction windows that require the removal of the entire old window, including the frame, sill, and trim. As a result, these usually cost more to install than the pocket type.

    Read on for more about the cost of replacing windows, how to choose energy-efficient ones, available window styles and features, and important things to consider when shopping for windows. Also check out our replacement windows ratings, based on our scientific testing, to help you choose the best ones for your home.

    How Much Do Replacement Windows Cost?

    Whether you choose pocket windows or new-construction types, buying and installing replacement windows can be a significant investment. The average national price for a professional to replace just one single-hung vinyl window—a lower-cost replacement type—is around $550, according to Fixr, an online marketplace for local services. And the national average to replace the old windows in a 10-window house with new vinyl double-hung, low-E (high efficiency) units can cost between $3,500 and $10,500, with a majority of people paying around $7,500, Fixr reports.

    Your actual cost for replacement windows will depend on where you live, the materials and styles you choose, and factors such as the window sizes and location. Labor is a major factor in the price: Installation typically costs from $100 to $300 per window, according to Angi, another online marketplace for local services.

    What do you get for your investment? Aside from savings on energy (which will vary depending on how efficient your old windows were), replacing windows can also add to your home’s curb appeal. In 2023, a vinyl window-replacement job was among the top eight home projects in terms of return on investment, according to national estimates by Remodeling magazine. Sixty-nine percent of a vinyl window-replacement job is recouped in the selling price, Remodeling says. For new wood windows, that figure is 61 percent.

    Are Energy-Efficient Windows Worth It?

    Replacing an old window with any newer, better-designed model is likely to save you some on energy bills, but if you want to ensure savings, buy an Energy Star certified model. The Energy Star program, which is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, estimates that installing new Energy Star certified windows can save the average homeowner 12 to 13 percent on their home energy bills. Every new window includes a label indicating its energy efficiency, including whether it’s Energy Star certified.

    How much you save will vary based on where you live as well as what type of window you’re replacing. For example, in the EPA’s Northern Zone of the country—roughly the northern half of the U.S.—replacing 10 inefficient single-pane windows with new Energy Star models could save homeowners an average of $366 a year in heating and cooling costs, a 22 percent savings. But homeowners in that region would save only $134, or 9 percent, if they were replacing double-pane windows. The cost of energy is also a factor: In Connecticut, where the average annual energy bill is about $1,875, your savings would be about $225 a year. In Colorado, where the average annual energy bill is $1,104, the estimated annual savings would be $132.

    You can save more by installing a replacement window from Energy Star’s Most Efficient Window list. Through 2032, you can claim a 30 percent federal tax credit on that expenditure, up to $600 a year, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022. To maximize the credit, you could stagger your window replacements over several years and get the credit each time.

    Replacement Windows Can Have Style

    Value-conscious consumers are no longer captive to standard, fat white synthetic frames that scream “replacement window.” To satisfy buyers on a budget who want a wood look, some manufacturers offer wood replacement windows with vinyl- or aluminum-clad exteriors; the wood looks pretty inside and the other materials protect the windows better on the outside. Others are available in durable composite frames, some made of fiberglass, others a combination of wood and plastic. 

    And those frames come in a variety of colors, not just basic white. Black exterior frames are gaining popularity because they add depth and visual interest, design experts say. Even dark-colored interior frames are gaining adherents. “I love black window frames for their moody interior design,” says Mariya Snisar, head of interior design at Renowell, a Toronto-based renovation contractor. She’s also seeing interior frames in maroons, dark olive greens, bottom-of-the-lake blues, and deep jewel tones. 

    Homeowners’ interest in maximizing light and views is spearheading another trend: replacement windows without muntins, the vertical and horizontal grids that split a full pane of glass into sections, Colonial-style. Slimline windows with narrow sashes—the part of the window that holds the glass—also are gaining traction. “These narrow profile windows are excellent at delivering a super-clean aesthetic,” Snisar says.

    What to Consider When Shopping for Windows

    Decide How Much Window Needs Replacing
    If the window jambs—the vertical sides of the window frame—are in good shape, you could buy and install just a new “sash pack,” which includes just the upper and lower sashes that hold the glass in place. The more common “pocket” replacement includes both the sashes and frame; once the old sashes and the tracks they run on are removed, this type of window fits inside your existing frame. New-construction windows, requiring the removal of the entire old window, sill, and other components, are appropriate when the window frame is rotted or damaged; they’re the most costly type of replacement. Windows in Consumer Reports’ ratings include both pocket-replacement and new-construction replacement windows.

    Read the NFRC Label
    Before you buy, look on the window you’re considering for a label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), an industry group. It will have a black arch in the top left corner, framing a sun shape. The figures on the NFRC label give you a snapshot of the window’s energy performance, which you can use to compare it with other windows on the market. That information includes the U-factor, which indicates how well the window keeps heat from escaping from the house, and the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), which indicates how well the window prevents heat from the sun from penetrating the house. In both cases, lower numbers indicate greater effectiveness. The sticker includes other information that can have an impact on energy efficiency, too. Check CR’s guide to making sense of a replacement window label for more details.

    Look for the Energy Star label
    The Energy Star logo and zone map you see on a window won’t tell you how much that particular model will save you compared with others—as it does with major appliances—but it will tell you whether the window meets Energy Star standards for your area of the country.

    As of late October 2023, Energy Star tightened its standards for certification. For example, under the new Energy Star criteria, U-factors must be no higher than 0.22 in the Northern Zone (encompassing most of the upper half of the country) and no higher than 0.32 in the Southern Zone (encompassing Florida and southernmost areas of Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, and California). The new criteria for the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient was adjusted to no less than 0.17 in the Northern Zone and no more than 0.23 for the Southern Zone.

    Find a Capable Installer
    Even the best windows won’t deliver the look or comfort you expect if they’re installed incorrectly. Professional installation is key, especially if you have an older home where, say, window frames have shifted over time and are no longer square at the corners.

    Many major window manufacturers train and certify installers for their specific brand of window. Using the same contractor for purchase and installation means that if a problem arises later, there will be no doubt who is responsible for fixing it; the window seller can’t blame the installer or vice versa. 

    Get multiple bids and look online for certification from the American Window and Door Institute or Installation Masters. Any bid you receive should include specifics such as window brand and model, number of windows, size, and type, plus any add-on features. Installation details should be noted and labor and material costs broken out separately. If your home was built before 1978, look for an installer who knows how to deal with lead paint on the sills and moldings, advises Tom Kraeutler, host of The Money Pit home-improvement radio show. The Environmental Protection Agency offers a database of trained and certified “lead-safe certified contractors.” A handful of states, mentioned on that EPA page, have their own programs.

    While contractors often have their preferred brands, don’t rely on the contractor to choose your windows for you. Check out our replacement window ratings for details on which did best in our tests for keeping a home comfortable and dry. 

    Mind the Warranty
    The window and your installer may each have their own warranty, with its own terms. A typical replacement-window warranty lasts 10 years, though some brands and models offer terms as long as 20 years or promise a “lifetime” warranty, says Andrii Gurskyi, owner of New York City-based Mr. Glazier Windows and Doors. Installation warranties, covering problems arising from poor workmanship, usually are shorter, from one year to five. Check the fine print carefully for exclusions, such as failure to cover glass repairs after five years or mechanism repairs for 10 years, Gurskyi advises.

    Custom Replacement Windows May Take Longer
    Replacements for oddly shaped windows or those requiring special features can take 6 to 12 weeks to arrive from the time you order them, says John Kolbaska, owner of Windows & Doors By The Men With Tools in Staten Island, N.Y. That said, a popular style may take less time, even if it’s custom-ordered. Michael Wandschneider, director of product management at Marvin, a national brand in Warroad, Minn., says several of his company’s top-selling window and door collections are currently available as soon as five weeks from the order date. And very basic windows are likely to be available relatively quickly.  “If you’re ordering a stock window right from the manufacturer—a basic white window that comes in a standard size—it should only take about a week or two,” Kolbaska says.

    How CR Tests Windows—And What We Learned

    Consumer Reports tests double-hung windows for resistance to wind and rain. (We don’t test single-hung windows because they’re less common.) Working with an outside lab, we subject the windows to heavy wind-driven rain and winds of 25 and 50 mph at outdoor temperatures of 0° F and 70° F. As our ratings show, we’ve found significant differences among brands.

    We test composite, vinyl, and wood windows at Consumer Reports. You may still find some all-aluminum windows, but their popularity has declined with the development of vinyl. All of the windows in our current ratings are double-paned, with the space in between filled with insulating argon gas.

    Our tests have found that the material a window frame is made of doesn’t guarantee performance, and neither does price. For instance, you’ll find excellent vinyl-frame windows that perform better than more pricey wood-frame windows. In fact, the highest-rated wood window in our tests is on a par, performance-wise, with a vinyl window that’s half its price. Here are the types of window materials to consider.

    Wood Frame

    Wood Frame

    This window frame type tends to be the most expensive. The entire structure is wood. But while the interior wood can be painted or stained, the exterior is typically clad with aluminum or vinyl, which protects the outside wood from the elements and prevents rotting and insect infestation. Cladding also reduces maintenance because you never have to repaint. Many wood windows are available in a variety of exterior colors, allowing you to pick a style that matches your home.

    Double-hung window Ratings
    Vinyl Frame

    Vinyl Frame

    Vinyl-frame windows are typically the least expensive—and typically white. Some models, though, come in limited exterior and interior colors, including laminate finishes that look like wood. Most vinyl frame windows can’t be painted or stained, so keep that in mind if you want to coordinate them with the exterior color of your home. Vinyl frames often have fewer hardware options than all-wood frames.

    Double-hung window Ratings
    Composite Frame

    Composite Frame

    These window frames are made from fiberglass or a combination of materials. They typically don’t need to be painted or stained. They may have some parts made of solid wood, laminated wood, or plastic with embedded wood fibers. Composite windows replicate the look of a solid wood window while providing an underlying structure that’s more stable.

    Double-hung window Ratings

    The Glass Menagerie: Types of Windows

    In addition to materials, variables include the number of panes, how the windows are hinged, how they operate, and how much ventilation they offer. Here’s a look at the various types.

    Double-Hung Windows

    Double-Hung Windows

    This is the most common type of window used in homes. The lower inside sash slides up and an upper outside sash slides down, improving air circulation and making full screens ideal.

    Most new double-hung windows allow you to tilt the sashes in for easy cleaning. They’re also a smart choice if you plan to install a window air conditioner, though many replacement types have a fairly high trim on the sill that may require significant shimming to stabilize the air conditioner.

    Some double-hung windows in our tests are better than others at keeping out cold air or water. That’s important if you live in a place where it’s chilly and windy, such as Chicago, or where it’s rainy, like the Pacific Northwest. 

    Double-hung window Ratings
    Other Types

    Other Types

    Awning-Style Windows
    These are hinged at the top and open outward. As with casement windows, the sash presses and locks against the frame, so they close very tightly.  

    Casement-Style Windows
    A smaller part of the market, casement windows provide an unobstructed view. They’re hinged on one side, and a crank lets you open them outward. When fully open, casements allow good ventilation and easy cleaning. They’re usually more airtight than double-hung windows because the sash locks tightly against the frame when closed. But window air conditioners can’t be installed in casement windows.

    Fixed Windows
    These are used where lighting but not ventilation is important. They’re airtight and are available with decorative glass accents and textures, or in unusual shapes.

    Hopper-Style Windows
    The opposite of awning windows, they’re hinged at the bottom and can open either inward or outward.

    Single-Hung Windows
    They look like double-hung windows but only the bottom sash moves. (They usually cost less as a result.) The top sash is sealed to keep out cold air and water.

    Garden Windows
    These project from the building to create display space for potted plants or a small potted garden. Either the left or right side of the projection can open.

    Double-hung window Ratings

    Video Buying Guide

    Watch our buying guide video below for more information on how to find the best windows for your house, and handy shopping tips for when you’re at the store.  

    Replacement Window Brands

    Andersen, Marvin, and Pella are the leading window brands. Many leading manufacturers in the window industry market multiple brands. Andersen and Marvin sell some lines only to authorized installers, and home centers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot sell multiple lines. Use these profiles to compare windows by brands.

    Alside vinyl windows have several replacement and new-construction lines, including double-hung, casement, bay windows, and garden windows. Alside windows are custom made to fit existing window openings. They’re sold predominantly in the eastern and midwestern parts of the country at independent home centers.

    Andersen is one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of windows. Renewal by Andersen windows are available in multiple replacement and new-construction lines in widely sold double-hung and casement styles, as well as bay windows. Andersen window lines include wood, clad, vinyl, and composite construction, and also low-emissivity (low-E) and argon-filled (gas-filled) glass for high efficiency. The company markets a line of stock sizes and has extensive special-order and custom options. Its windows are widely available through independent home centers, dealers, and Home Depot. Andersen also markets a line of composite windows under the Renewal by Andersen name through certified installers.

    Atrium vinyl windows have several replacement and new-construction lines, including double-hung, casement, sliding, bay/bow, and garden windows. Atrium offers a wide selection of custom-built vinyl windows in a variety of styles and colors, as well as a variety of glass and grid options, including low-emissivity (low-E), argon-filled, and triple-pane glass. They are sold at independent home centers and through Lowe’s ReliaBilt service.

    Jeld-Wen is one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of windows, which are available in multiple replacement and new-construction lines in widely sold double-hung and casement styles, as well as awning and bay/bow designs. Jeld-Wen window lines include wood, clad, vinyl, and aluminum construction, along with low-emissivity (low-E) and argon-filled (gas-filled) glass for high efficiency, and are sold through independent home centers and dealers.

    One of the leading manufacturers and marketers, Marvin offers windows in multiple replacement and new-construction lines in widely sold double-hung and casement styles. The brand also sells awning and bay/bow casement windows. The company’s window lines include wood, clad, and composite construction, along with low-emissivity (low-E) and argon-filled (gas-filled) glass for high efficiency. Marvin markets a line of stock sizes and has extensive special-order and custom options. They’re sold through independent home centers and dealers, and are premium-priced.

    One of the leading manufacturers and marketers, Pella makes its windows available in multiple replacement and new-construction lines in widely sold double-hung and casement styles, as well as less-common awning and bay designs. Pella window lines include wood, clad, vinyl, and aluminum construction, plus low-emissivity (low-E) and argon-filled (gas-filled) glass for high efficiency. The company markets a line of stock sizes and has extensive special-order and custom options. Its windows are widely available through Pella company-owned stores, dealers, independent home centers, and Lowe’s. Pella also markets a line of windows under the ThermaStar by Pella name at Lowe’s.

    ReliaBilt vinyl windows are available in multiple replacement and new-construction lines in widely sold double-hung and casement styles, plus low-emissivity (low-E) and argon-filled (gas-filled) glass for high efficiency. ReliaBilt windows are available in stock sizes and extensive special-order and custom options. They’re sold at Lowe’s.

    Simonton vinyl windows are available in multiple replacement and new-construction lines in widely sold double-hung and casement styles, along with low-emissivity (low-E) and argon-filled (gas-filled) glass for high efficiency. Simonton windows are available in stock sizes and extensive special-order and custom options. They’re sold at Home Depot and through dealers.

    Window World is one of the leading manufacturers, dealers, and marketers of replacement windows. The company sells a variety of window configurations, including double-hung, casement, and bay. Window World offers a variety of stock window sizes and provides installation. Its windows are sold at Window World retail centers and through partnerships with independent home centers.

    Weather Shield wood-clad windows are available in multiple replacement and new-construction lines in widely sold double-hung and casement styles, along with low-emissivity (low-E) and argon-filled glass for high efficiency. Weather Shield windows are available in stock sizes and extensive special-order and custom options. They’re sold through dealers.