Homeowners in Des Moines or central Iowa often ask us, “how much do replacement windows cost?” and then request an estimate. Unfortunately, we cannot give an accurate answer in the moment without more information because the price depends on many factors. In this article, we aim to break down the main components that have the biggest impact on window replacement cost. Our goal is to provide you with sufficient information so that you can make a better-informed decision when it comes time for you to replace your home windows in the future.
The areas that we will cover are:
- Type of Window Installation
- Size and Location of the Window on your Home
- What Material is the Window Comprised Of?
- What Color are the Windows?
- What Type of Glass are in the Windows?
- Do You Need Custom Windows?
- Miscellaneous Costs Usually Not Considered
- Company Installing your Windows + Workmanship Warranty
Type of Window Installation
The first and one of the most significant differences in cost will be determined by how the window is installed. Let’s focus on three methods that are commonly accepted by all the major window manufacturers. Also, here is a link where I compared two of them years ago.
The first is called Full Frame replacement. During this type of window installation, the existing window unit is removed. This usually means removal of the interior and exterior trim. The second type of window installation is called Insert, or Replacement by some. This type of installation doesn’t require the removing of exterior or interior trim, and it also leaves the existing outside frame of the window. Finally, the third method is called Express installation. This requires replacement of interior trim, but no work is needed on exterior.
For those three ways to replace your windows, Insert, Replacement and Express are the least and middle expensive respectively, with Full Frame being the most expensive. The difference is due to both the materials and labor used in the process.
Size and Location of the Window on your Home
The price for labor will be different for windows on a third story of a walk-out basement home vs a ranch home. The cost of the installation may be impacted by both the window’s location and size as extra people or different equipment may be necessary to ensure for a safe installation. It’s also important to note here that the size of the window also greatly affects price as well; the larger the window, the higher the cost.
What Material is the Window Comprised Of?
There are many options for materials used to make windows, with the four most popular being vinyl, fiberglass, composite, or wood-clad. Yes, you can still get an aluminum or all wood window but you rarely see it in the residential market anymore.
If we were considering the cost of a 25X48 Double Hung white exterior and interior window, this is how they would relatively be priced. Vinyl windows would be the least expensive option, followed by fiberglass, then composite, and finally wood/clad. Please remember that this is just one factor of the many areas that will affect this overall price comparison in the end.
What Color Are the Windows?
In the last section, we talked about a white interior and exterior window, but more often than not colors play a role in the decision-making process. So many vinyl window manufacturers now offer more color options like tan, gray, or clay for interior and exterior. These solid colors don’t change pricing much, but there will still be variability. Those same manufacturer’s also offer dual-tone window options. A dual-tone option for vinyl might be white interior and black exterior. If we go back to compare this window to the white/white fiberglass, composite, or wood, the difference will be much less and actually may be more depending on the manufacturer.
The cost of fiberglass, composite and wood-clad will be affected by their color, but not as drastically as vinyl. Dual-tone fiberglass or composite will cost more, but the change will be a much smaller proportionate increase vs the one we see in vinyl. For the manufacturer’s pre-finished wood-clad option, staining will be more expensive than painting. For the most part, there are more exterior color options with wood that won’t change the price.
What Types of Glass Are In the Windows?
Since glass makes up the most of the window, it’s logical to assume it can also have dramatic effects on the price. The most standard is a Low/E Argon double pane glass package offered by almost all manufacturers. There are many ways where your window project can get more costly just by the glass option pick. Is your child disturbed by the noise from a busy street outside the bedroom window at night? You might want to upgrade to a sound protective glass package. Do you live in a very cold climate (such as a Des Moines, Iowa winter)? Triple Pane glass may be right for you and will most likely double to triple the cost of the glass in your windows. Is the window being installed in a bathroom by a tub? If so, it will need to be tempered glass which costs more than traditional glass. There are many tempered glass rules a reputable window contractor will be aware of. Decorative glass and obscured glass are additional glass choices that will increase the expense of your window replacement.
Do You Need Custom Windows?
This is where the train can get off the tracks! There are a lot of options to upgrade your windows to your liking. The amount will depend on the manufacturer, with some offering many more options than others. Here’s a partial list: grids in glass, foam filled frames, steel reinforcement, foot bolt lock for patio door, auto locks for window, blinds in the glass, fancier oil rubbed bronze hardware or maybe traditional spoon lock or stressed hardware. This is just a start, but as you can imagine all of these will raise the cost of your window unit. The good thing is, like the frame, glass and color options won’t effect labor cost.
Miscellaneous costs usually not considered:
Homeowners often don’t consider is the cost of tools and materials needed to install their windows. The overall cost of the installation can be increased by caulking, insulation, adding shim screws, egress requirements covering the exterior trim with either wood trim or aluminum coil.
Company Installing your Windows + Workmanship Warranty
What happens if your contractor makes a mistake? Improper installation can make sure your windows become very expensive, very fast. How about companies who offer 1- or 2-year labor warranties? You will be surprised how many big name brands only offer that length of workmanship warranty. Just after the warranty of the window expires, if something went wrong with the product, you now get to pay for it to be fixed along with any other work that might be caused by additional damage.
We really hope this will help you to understand the primary factors that can affect the cost of your window replacement. We suggest that you think about the long-term cost versus the initial expense when buying windows, as typically the charge to get a reliable company who offers a Lifetime Workmanship Warranty is lower than the cost of dealing with faulty installation later on. We’re proud to be Iowa’s ONLY Pella Platinum Elite Certified Contractor.