Pella 350 Double Hung Windows
First, you reviews and homeowner responses have been extremely helpful in narrowing down a window replacement decision. I have a small older house we have been remodeling in Dallas, TX. It was built in the 60's and still has the original aluminum single pane windows. They are pretty worn out with loose locks at the sashes, air leakage and not much sound deadening. The sliding back door appears to have been replaced in the late 80's with a very nice thick glass door and is still in great shape.
The house is a single story with a full brick exterior and 8 exterior windows ranging from 72 x 44 to 36 x 24. The house is on a busy semi-main street and well shaded with large trees. None of the windows due to the shading get direct sunlight in the warmer part of the day in the Texas hot months (i.e. no west facing windows). Hence low sound and long term durability are much more important that thermal efficiency.
I have gone out and received several estimates initially looking at replacing 4-5 windows with potentially replacing the other later this year to now replacing all at once. Estimates are for all windows with Cardinal 366 Argon filled offset/dissimilar sound glass. Two of the smaller windows have obscure glass and one is tempered as it is close to a shower. My preference is to go with another single-hung, but some windows are only offered in double-hung or sound performance was much higher in double-hung (Pella). Target budget <$1000/window:
$9,300 for 4 bedroom windows - Renewal by Anderson/ Renewel Vinyl dual-pane (Insane Pricing)
$6,500 for 4 bedroom windows - Pella franchise/Pella 350 Vinyl dual-pane w/standard cam locks and sashes
$5,650 for 5 windows (Bedrooms + Living Room) - Pella through Lowes/Pella 350 Vinyl dual-pane w/autolocks and performance upgrade (steel reinforced sashes)
$6,830 for 8 windows (whole house) - Brennan Enterprises/NT Windows Traditions Vinyl single-pane
$6,825 for 8 windows (whole house) - McBain Windows/Don Young 8200 Aluminum single-pane
$6,500 for 8 windows (whole house) - Simonton through Home Depot/Simonton 6500 Series Vinyl dual-pane
$6,000 for 8 windows (whole house) - Energy Shop/Andersen 100 single-pane
I've narrowed it down to either NT Traditions or Don Young Aluminum. Both windows have great reputations and installers are highly rated. Warranties are pretty similar for both. Given that my preferences are long-term durability and sound performance, do you have any additional advice and what would be your recommendation?
Best regards.
Loren - Homeowner - January, 2021
Website Editor's Answer
Loren, I agree with your assessment of these two options being the best of the bunch. Long term durability is going to go to Don Young. Sound performance is probably equal between these two windows. I think the Don Young is probably the better window over the NT Traditions. That would probably be my call, but it's also hard to say given the difference in materials between these two windows. I just think DY makes a great aluminum window, while NT makes a good vinyl window (but not great...)
Editor John - January, 2021
Loren's Response
John, Dane, thanks for the follow up. I actually made the decision on Friday to go with Don Young. They brought a demo window by and it is the most solid window I've touch. I really like the construction with seals on every mating surface and the cam lock design. It is an all metal heavy cam lock, a high improvement from the plasticy locks on most of the windows these days. Absolutely no movement in the pane when it is locked.
It will be about 3 months before the windows get installed due to how busy Don Young is right now. Normally they like to be within 6 weeks, but running close to twice that for an offset glass window. All the other window companies had similar estimates. Will look at adding a couple contractor leads.
Thanks.
Loren - Homeowner - January, 2021