Very well could be. But the time alone is probably a factor too. They make and install their own windows so they get 100% parts and labor. A carpenter would get most of their money from the labor and little, if any, on the window.
They tell you that they can get it done in a day or maybe two days.
On day one, they remove all of the windows and then they realize that they need to do a lot more work and the price is now twice as much as quoted and it’s going to take “longer” but they don’t know how long.
They need to “Special Order” parts, tools, supplies, equipment etc.
So, you have to live with no windows for an unspecified amount of time.
Maybe they duct tape some plastic over the windows that keeps falling off in the wind.
Every couple of days, a sketchy worker shows up and wanders around aimlessly before telling you that they don’t have the right parts, tools, supplies, equipment etc.
Eventually, after about 6 weeks, they announce that the job is finally done even though there are many obvious problems like the windows were installed upside down and backwards and they leak and the glass is a funky purple color.
Leslie's isn't even in the new pool construction business, so I do not know why they are included in the results.
They rely on existing pools, so fewer new pools might have some impact, but it should not be significant.
- Nov 12, 2017
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- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I don't know why it never occurred to me to look into DIY window replacement, as I DIY just about everything else. My windows are fine, not warped or leaking, they're not very old, they just suck. They are the up-n-down type, with springs (I forgot all the actual names of window components) and the springs are shot. I've looked into replacement springs, which five years ago were crazy expensive, like over $100 a window. Who knows now. That would be an easy job, but I'd still be stuck with the up-n-downs, which I hate, and are only going to get more ornery the older and weaker I get. Inserts would be a viable solution. I like sliding windows, so that's all I'd be after. That's not worth $50K to fix. It's not even worth $5K. They just bug me.
I could replace the springs for a couple grand, or try to find a more reasonable supplier. And justify the up-n-down effort as part of my workout routine! (Which is not as silly as it sounds. I little upper body would be good for me.)
Just thinkin' out loud...
I could replace the springs for a couple grand, or try to find a more reasonable supplier. And justify the up-n-down effort as part of my workout routine! (Which is not as silly as it sounds. I little upper body would be good for me.)
Just thinkin' out loud...
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,448
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- 29000
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- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
Sometimes there are two screws, one on each side, that tighten up the spring.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,040
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,448
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
The original point stands with a fellow industry on the construction side. The rest of it ? Well. We can't be left alone without adults around.
- Nov 12, 2017
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- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Another thread gone awry? How?I like how this turned into a window thread.
Pool construction is down --> effects of COVID --> costs are up --> financing --> Dirk found the thread --> Kerflooey
Oh...
Also. This is the coffee bar. Anything non-offensive goes.
I mean. There is talk above about 'the orange store'. That place makes my blood boil so bad I don't even want to say it's name. But it's not considered offensive or in bad taste.
I mean. There is talk above about 'the orange store'. That place makes my blood boil so bad I don't even want to say it's name. But it's not considered offensive or in bad taste.
I did my own full "new construction" Andersen window replacements. I removed the entire old window, cut the siding back (cement shingles), installed the new windows (from the outside), and installed trim around the outside of the windows over the nailing fin. Lots of sealant, flashing, housewrap and appropriate flashing tape. Also swapped out two of the mulled together windows (in the dining room and family room) with bow windows.
Not that difficult, just takes time, doing a window every weekend or so. Best investment was buying two 8' scaffolding stages for $200 off of Craigslist.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,040
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Did you ever get a 'pro' quote? How much did you save? (Not counting labor, of course. We never do!)
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I never got a quote to do a full swap out like I did. I did get a couple of quotes for replacement windows.
Renewal by Andersen was insane (and a hard sell as well). If I recall, I want to say they were around $1,500 a window. I had some other quotes in the $900 - $1000 range.
I did have a company do the large picture window with two flankers in my second floor living room. They replaced that with a 5 light bow. That one was a bit heavy for me to muscle around by myself (although they did it with just two guys working off ladders - it was pretty sketchy, but if they dropped it, its on them not me).
I used Andersen 400 series tilt-wash windows with unfinished wood interiors, except for in the laundry room and garage where I used pre-finished white interiors.
The windows were around $450 each + around $70 for the screens - So call it a savings of about $500 to $1,000 per window. I did 19 windows in my house. So it adds up.
You really cannot compare apples to apples though, because it ends up costing me more than just the window. Doing a full window requires replacing the casing around the windows, so that is going to run you extra. With a replacement they leave the casing in place. But my casing had 500+ coats of paint on it and was just a step above clamshell builders grade. So I wanted that replaced, but if you have expensive casing already, then that is something to consider.
The same thing goes for outside. If you have vinyl, then you likely have no need for siding modification. I have cement siding (except for the 4 windows I have set in brick) so that requires buying new exterior casing for the windows. But again, I wanted that detail and think it makes the house look a lot nicer.
An other factor to consider is that by doing it this way I was able to replace / inspect everything. The old windows were 100% removed and taken down to the studs / sill. The old windows were 1970s that had at some point been wrapped in aluminum and had storms attached. Some of the windows were rotting under the aluminum. All of that is now gone, and the underlying framing was all wrapped in tyvek and protecto-wrap with proper back dams before the new windows went in. Also, there is now proper insulation between the window and the framing, as opposed to the scrap of rock wool that was in most of them.
I was also able to get the finish I wanted on the inside - stained wood to match the floors. I pulled all the sashes and hardware in the garage and stained and finished everything before installing the windows (I also stain the casing before installing, and then just touch it up and apply a final coat of finish post-install)
So maybe I saved a little under $500 a window in real cash, but I also got a much better product for it.
And it was about $100 to tip the old windows at the transfer station, so there was that disposal cost as well.
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- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,040
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Nothing like the feeling of a job done well!
While you cannot always calculate the cost of your own labor, you also cannot always calculate the value of doing a job to perfection. You're lucky now to get it done to code, let alone with any pride. And like you say, now you know what the hidden stuff looks like, and can have confidence in that. No such thing when a contractor is working faster than you can observe. Good job!
I'm going to look for new ways to improve the performance of my existing, as everything except the action is fine. I'll look for that adjustment mentioned, and if there is none I'll get new springs. Maybe figure out some way to lubricate them a bit.
10s of thousands and months of labor are not on the table just yet.
While you cannot always calculate the cost of your own labor, you also cannot always calculate the value of doing a job to perfection. You're lucky now to get it done to code, let alone with any pride. And like you say, now you know what the hidden stuff looks like, and can have confidence in that. No such thing when a contractor is working faster than you can observe. Good job!
I'm going to look for new ways to improve the performance of my existing, as everything except the action is fine. I'll look for that adjustment mentioned, and if there is none I'll get new springs. Maybe figure out some way to lubricate them a bit.
10s of thousands and months of labor are not on the table just yet.
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,448
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,040
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Thanks! That's not the system I have, but you all have inspired me to see if there is a way to adjust the springs before I replace them.