Yeah, the price hit stings for sure. I kept telling myself I’d only do the front windows, but after seeing how much easier they went in, I caved and did the rest. At least my winter cursing quota’s way down now.
I hear you on the price—my wallet’s still recovering from last fall when I finally bit the bullet and swapped out all the original windows in my 80s split-level. I started with the ones facing the street too, thinking I’d just “test the waters,” but after seeing how much warmer the living room got (and not having to scrape frost off the inside glass), I ended up doing the rest. Definitely a hit up front, but I’m not missing those drafts.
I went with Marvin Elevate, partly because my local dealer had a better lead time than full Marvin, but also because I was worried about matching the look to my old wood trim. The install was smoother than I expected—less mess than I’d braced for, though I did have to repaint a couple of sills where the old caulk tore up the finish.
Curious if you noticed any big difference in noise reduction? That’s one thing I didn’t really consider, but now that they’re in, it’s way quieter inside, especially when my neighbor fires up his snow blower at 6am. Also, did you do inserts or full replacements? I debated inserts for a while but ended up going full-frame since my sashes were starting to rot.
One thing I’m still not sure about is whether I should’ve sprung for triple-pane. The salesperson was pretty convincing, but I couldn’t justify another jump in price. Anyone here regret not going triple, or does double-pane seem fine for most folks?
I was in the same boat about the triple-pane vs. double-pane thing. Ended up sticking with double because the price jump felt a little wild, and honestly, after living with them through a couple of Minnesota winters, I haven’t really wished for more layers of glass. My living room used to be an icebox and now it’s totally comfortable, even when it’s below zero. I do wonder sometimes if triple would make things even quieter—my neighbor’s got this yappy dog—but double-pane’s been a pretty serious upgrade on both warmth and noise.
I went full-frame too, since my old sills were basically crumbling. The mess was less than I’d feared, but yeah, had to touch up paint here and there. I didn’t realize how much outside noise those old windows were letting in until the new ones went in. Now it’s so much calmer inside, even when the garbage truck rolls by at 5:30am.
Anyone else notice the windows seem to cut down on dust too? Or am I just imagining that...
I’ve noticed the same thing with the dust—after swapping out the old Integrity windows for new Marvins last fall, I’m vacuuming way less often. I think it’s because the seals are just that much tighter compared to the original frames, which were definitely drafty and probably leaking air (and dust) all over the place. Didn’t go triple-pane either. For my budget, double-pane seemed like the best tradeoff, especially since I’m not right on a busy street. Full-frame install here too, and yeah, a bit of extra patching but nothing major. The house feels quieter and warmer overall.
I totally noticed the same thing after my window swap—way less dust and fewer cold spots. For anyone on the fence, I’d say the double-pane was a good call, especially if you’re not in a super noisy area. The patching after full-frame was a bit annoying, but nothing crazy. Honestly, the quieter rooms surprised me more than anything.
The patching after full-frame was a bit annoying, but nothing crazy.
Interesting—my experience with full-frame installs was a bit more of a headache. Did you notice any issues with trim matching or paint touch-ups? Sometimes the “not crazy” part turns into a bigger deal if you’ve got older plaster walls or weird framing. Also, I’m curious if you compared triple-pane at all? I’ve seen some folks regret not going that extra step, especially for energy savings in colder spots. Just wondering if you weighed that out.
Trim matching can get tricky, especially in older homes—totally feel you there. Sometimes I’ve had to hunt down weird profiles just to get things to line up. As for triple-pane, I usually only see folks go that route if they’re in really cold climates or have noise issues. Did you notice much difference in your heating bills after the install, or was it more about comfort?
Yeah, matching trim in these old places is always a headache. I’ve had to get custom millwork a couple times just to avoid a Frankenstein look. On the triple-pane thing, honestly, I didn’t see a huge drop in bills—maybe 5-10% tops. It’s quieter for sure, but the payback’s pretty slow unless you’ve got wild winters or traffic noise. Sometimes I wonder if double-pane with good air sealing would’ve been enough.
Matching trim is like chasing a unicorn in these old houses. I swear, I’ve spent more time squinting at wood samples and dragging home mystery pieces from salvage yards than actually installing anything. The custom millwork route hurts the wallet, but you’re right—it beats living with that patchwork horror show where every room looks like it was assembled from leftovers.
On the triple-pane front, I hear you. We did triple-pane in our draftiest rooms a couple winters back. The difference in noise was pretty noticeable (our neighbor’s yappy dog suddenly became a distant memory), but as far as energy bills? Not the miracle I’d hoped for. Maybe if we lived in the Arctic or next to a freeway it’d make more sense, but in our mild-ish climate, the payback math just doesn’t add up fast. My wife jokes that we’ll break even right around the time we’re ready for assisted living.
Honestly, if I had to do it over, I’d probably focus more on air sealing and maybe stick with double-pane. A good caulk gun and some patience can go a long way, especially in these drafty old places where you can feel a breeze through the baseboards. Plus, you avoid that “sealed spaceship” feeling—my friend’s place got so airtight he said he started missing the occasional whiff of fresh air.
You’re not alone second-guessing the triple-pane thing. Sometimes the “upgrade” is mostly peace of mind (or peace and quiet), and that’s fine too. At least your windows aren’t fogging up between panes or sticking shut every spring... been there, done that, still have the splinters.
A good caulk gun and some patience can go a long way, especially in these drafty old places where you can feel a breeze through the baseboards.
That’s the truth. I spent a whole weekend crawling around with a tube of sealant and a flashlight and honestly, it did more for comfort than the fancy glass ever did. I keep wondering if anyone’s regretted going full fiberglass with Marvin or Integrity for old houses—does it actually help with drafts, or just look better? I’m always torn between “modern fix” and “old house charm,” especially when it comes to those chunky sashes.