decisions

[mellowtigger]

Both companies sent me their quote to replace 4 windows upstairs. There's a 5th window that desperately needs replacing immediately, but it'll have to wait until I can more easily afford it. Sadly, I'm unhappy with my choices at the moment.

Read the details of the 2 quotes...

Option #1: MN Rusco (whom I used before and liked) gave me a quote yesterday afternoon. It was more of a high-pressure sale than last time, mostly due to one of the pair who showed up. His socialization efforts in general were more appropriate to the age of his time than now. He was significantly older than me. The guy who actually did measurements and wrote the quote was much nicer (and at my estimation was not thrilled about the pairing he had to work under). I would get similar triple-pane windows that they installed here earlier. Anyway... their quote ended up being about $7600 total.

Option #2: Renewal By Anderson gave me a quote this morning for the 4 windows. He did a much better job explaining the law about "egress" and why all 4 of my windows have to stay the same type as they are now. (More on that later.) As a sales experience, he came across much more trustworthy, as much as anyone can trust a salesperson. They offer only double-pane windows, but it includes extra material in between to stop heat transmission. Their quote was about $11,000 total.

That difference of $3400 may be only 1 to 3 months of rent for some people, but that's still plenty of money to me. I have to decide which option to use.

Egress law: I don't remember the exact inches that I was told by #2, but all windows must allow a certain unobstructed (other than glass) entrance for firefighters into a bedroom window. Apparently this law applies only to bedrooms. Since all 4 of my windows do not meet the minimum size, any replacement window must be the same type (casement or double-hung) as previously installed. Option #1 caught that restriction only for the spare bedroom. They planned the swap of styles for my main bedroom. Option #2 caught that restriction for all of my windows. I tried researching it myself, and according to this PDF, it's not required in residential occupancies for houses built before 1972 July 01. So they're both wrong?

The choice: If I get stuck with another casement window in that second room, then it will remain unusable as a bedroom (a pleasant one, anyway), since I cannot install a window a/c unit there. That's relevant, since the only other option is a much more expensive ductless air conditioning for the house, which I got quoted back in December at about $7K per "head". I'd want 3 heads, with 1 for each bedroom plus one in the living room. It all adds up. I still think it'd be cheaper overall to just tear down this house and start over with sustainability in mind, but that's it's own headache, and I don't want to live under a new mortgage if I can avoid it. For now, though, I have to make a choice.

Neither option wanted to give me a double-hung in that extra bedroom. So I guess my actual choice isn't really much of a choice. Take the cheaper option which also gives me the triple-pane product that I wanted in the first place. The guy from option #2 really was more professional, though, so I feel kind of bad at skipping them. I'll mull it another day or two and ponder whatever feedback anyone wants to provide.