Trying to figure out who actually does a decent job with window replacements. There’s like a million companies, and honestly, I can’t tell half of them apart. Did you go with a big chain, or more of a local crew? Or maybe even just some handy neighbor? If you had to do it again, would you pick the same folks?
Quick poll—who did your install:
- National brand (Renewal by Andersen, Pella, etc.)
- Local business
- DIY (mad respect if so)
- Other (please explain!)
I had mine done by a local company last year and while the price was way better than the big names, there were two delays and one window was slightly off. Still not sure if I’d go national next time or stick with local. Curious what everyone else did and if it was worth it in the end. Any horror stories… or pleasant surprises?
We went with a local business after getting quotes from two national brands and honestly, the price difference was huge—like, thousands. The install itself was pretty smooth, but I did have to call them back once because one window wouldn’t latch right. They fixed it, but it took a week. If I had to do it again, I’d probably still go local, but I’d ask more about their timelines and warranty stuff up front. Has anyone had luck negotiating with the big chains, or are their prices pretty much set in stone?
Big chains usually aren’t flexible on price, at least not in my experience. I tried to get Home Depot to budge on a window install and they just shrugged—felt like talking to a wall. Local shops can be hit or miss with timelines, but at least you’re talking to someone who cares if you come back. For me, energy efficiency was the main thing, so I grilled them about ratings before signing anything. If you want top-tier performance, don’t just chase the lowest bid... sometimes you get what you pay for.
Honestly, I get the whole “you get what you pay for” thing, but I’ve had some local shops try to upsell me on fancy triple-pane windows that didn’t make sense for my old drafty place. Sometimes big chains at least have set standards—less room for weird surprises. Energy ratings are great, but sometimes it’s just a numbers game and not much real-world difference unless your house is already super tight.