- I tried DIY once—looked perfect, but the drafts found me anyway.
Not sure I’d say pro install is always a must. I get that “Even the best windows won’t help much if there are tiny gaps or bad insulation around the frame,” but I’ve seen some solid DIY jobs—especially if you’re handy and willing to take your time with the details like shimming and using low-expansion foam. The key is understanding the building envelope and not rushing the air sealing.
That said, you’re right about surprises in older homes. My place is from the early 70s and the window openings were all over the place—nothing was square and the old framing had some rot. Ended up needing a bit of carpentry before the new units went in.
One thing I’d push back on: not all installers are created equal, but not all high-priced quotes mean better air sealing either. Sometimes you pay more for the brand name, not the craftsmanship. If you’re on a budget, you might get better value finding a local crew with good reviews rather than just defaulting to the “official” installer.
Just my two cents—sometimes a little research and sweat equity can go a long way.
Yeah, I hear you on the “official installer” thing. When I did my last set of windows, I got quotes that were all over the map and honestly, the priciest ones weren’t always giving me more confidence. Ended up going with a small local guy who actually showed me pics of his work—saved a chunk and the install was solid. With older houses, though, there’s always that “what’s behind the trim” gamble. If you’re handy and have patience, DIY can work, but if you hit unexpected rot or weird framing, it’s a pain. Just don’t assume price equals quality... sometimes it just means more overhead.
- Agree with the “don’t assume price equals quality” part—ran into the same thing when I got bids for my 1920s place.
- For Andersen double hungs, I’ve seen quotes from $900 to $1,600 per window installed (materials + labor), but there’s a ton of variation. Depends on size, finish, and how much trim/repair work is needed.
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100%—one of my upstairs windows had hidden water damage and it turned a one-day job into a week-long project. Installer ended up charging extra for rot repair, which I hadn’t budgeted.With older houses, though, there’s always that “what’s behind the trim” gamble.
- Local installers sometimes let you buy the windows yourself (Home Depot or direct from Andersen), then just charge labor. Saved me about 20% vs. full-service places.
- DIY is tempting if you’re handy, but after wrestling with one sash myself, I realized it’s way more work than YouTube makes it look…especially if your house isn’t perfectly square anymore.
- One thing I’d add: ask to see previous jobs or get references. The guy I went with didn’t have the fanciest website but had tons of photos and actual addresses I could check out.
- Budget for surprises—if your trim or sills are even a little soft, costs can climb fast. I’d pad your estimate by at least 10-15%.
That “what’s behind the trim” bit really hits home—my 1940s house had one window that looked fine but the sill was basically mulch underneath. Ended up costing an extra $400 just for that one. I’d echo padding your budget, but sometimes even 15% isn’t enough if your place is older. Also, I found the local installer route worked better for me than the big chains—less markup, and he actually explained what he was doing instead of just rushing through. If you’re not in a hurry, keeping an eye out for seasonal promos on the windows themselves can help too.
That’s been my experience too—older homes just have surprises hiding everywhere. When I did mine, I budgeted 20% extra and still went over because of some rotten framing around two windows. Going with a local installer made a big difference though; he actually showed me the issues before fixing them, which helped me trust the process. The big box quotes were way higher for basically the same work. Definitely worth looking for off-season deals if you’re not in a rush... sometimes you can get pretty steep discounts that way.
That sounds really familiar—old houses are basically like mystery boxes when it comes to renovations. I totally get budgeting extra and still getting caught off guard. We had the same thing happen with some insulation that looked fine on the outside but was just crumbling behind the trim. It’s wild how fast those “little” surprises add up.
I agree, local installers make a difference, especially if they’re willing to show you what’s actually going on. I’ve heard mixed things about big box installers; sometimes you pay more and get less transparency. The off-season tip is solid too. I waited until late fall for mine and got a chunk knocked off the price.
Curious—did you notice any real change in your energy bills after the new windows? That’s what I’m most interested in, but it’s hard to tell what’s hype and what’s legit savings.
It’s wild how fast those “little” surprises add up.
Seriously, it’s like every time you peel back a layer in these old places, there’s something lurking. I had the same thing with my attic—thought it was just drafty windows, but nope, insulation was basically dust. As for the energy bills, I did see a drop, but honestly, it wasn’t night and day. The house feels less drafty though, which is almost as good in winter. Worth it for the comfort, even if the savings aren’t huge right away.
The house feels less drafty though, which is almost as good in winter.
That’s encouraging to hear. I keep reading that comfort can be just as valuable as lower bills, especially if you’re sensitive to temperature swings. Even if the payback isn’t immediate, I figure improved insulation and new windows are a long-term investment. I’m hoping I won’t find too many “surprises” once the old windows come out, but I guess that’s just part of owning an older house...
I’m hoping I won’t find too many “surprises” once the old windows come out, but I guess that’s just part of owning an older house...
You’re not kidding about surprises—when I swapped mine (house is from the 1940s), I found a couple of hidden wasp nests and some very sketchy old insulation. Wasn’t a disaster, just added a bit to the timeline. But you’re right, the comfort level after the new windows went in made it all worth it. Drafts were gone, and my living room actually felt cozy for the first time since we moved in. If you run into weird stuff behind the trim, don’t panic—usually it’s fixable with a little patience and elbow grease.
If you run into weird stuff behind the trim, don’t panic—usually it’s fixable with a little patience and elbow grease.
That’s the right attitude. Old houses almost always throw a curveball or two when you start pulling things apart—sometimes it’s just old insulation, sometimes it’s a mess of wires or some odd repair from decades ago. Most of the time, nothing that can’t be handled with a bit of patching or a quick trip to the hardware store.
And yeah, those new Andersen double hungs are a big upgrade in comfort. I’ve seen folks get nervous about what’s behind the trim, but honestly, unless you’re dealing with major rot or water damage (rare, but it happens), it’s usually minor stuff. Even if you do find something unexpected, it’s not the end of the world. Just adds a little time and maybe a bit to the budget.
Once those drafts are gone, you’ll forget all about the hassle. Worth it in the end, every time.