Just finished replacing all the old windows in our house, and after weeks of debating between Pella and Andersen, we ended up going with Andersen. Gotta say, the difference is pretty amazing—house feels quieter, warmer, and honestly just looks way better. Installation was smoother than I expected too, which was a nice surprise. Curious if anyone else recently upgraded their windows and noticed a big improvement like this?
"Installation was smoother than I expected too, which was a nice surprise."
Glad to hear your install went smoothly—honestly, that's half the battle right there. I've seen plenty of window replacements where the product itself was great, but the installation was rushed or sloppy, and folks ended up disappointed. Andersen's usually pretty reliable though, so I'm not too surprised you're noticing improvements in warmth and noise reduction. Keep an eye on your seals and weatherstripping over time...but sounds like you're off to a solid start.
Nice job getting through the install without headaches. I've tackled a few window replacements myself, and honestly, the prep work usually takes longer than the actual install. Andersen does make solid stuff, but even good windows can let you down if they're installed poorly...learned that the hard way with a rushed job years back. Sounds like you're already noticing benefits—bet you'll see a difference in your heating bill this winter too.
"Andersen does make solid stuff, but even good windows can let you down if they're installed poorly...learned that the hard way with a rushed job years back."
Yeah, totally agree with this. My brother-in-law went with Andersen windows a couple years ago, and they're great quality, but he had some issues because the installers cut corners. He ended up having to redo some sealing himself later on—kind of defeats the purpose of paying pros, right?
I've been thinking about upgrading my own windows soon too, mostly because our heating bills have been creeping up every winter. Did you notice a big difference in noise reduction as well? Our street's gotten busier lately, and I'm curious if better windows would help cut down on traffic noise or if that's mostly marketing hype.
He ended up having to redo some sealing himself later on—kind of defeats the purpose of paying pros, right? I've been thinking about upgrading my own windows soon too, mostly because our heating ...
Good point about installation quality—definitely makes or breaks the whole upgrade. When we did ours, I hovered around probably more than the installers wanted, but it paid off. Caught a couple minor sealing issues before they left, which they fixed without complaint. Still, shouldn't have to babysit professionals you're paying good money for.
Regarding noise reduction, we actually noticed a bigger improvement than expected. Our street isn't super busy, but there's a neighbor who loves his leaf blower at ungodly hours and some occasional traffic noise. The new windows noticeably cut down on that stuff; it's not completely silent or anything, but definitely quieter and less annoying inside now. I'd say it's legit—not just marketing hype.
As far as heating bills go, it's still early days for us to know exactly how much we'll save long-term, but the house already feels warmer without cranking the heat as high. Seems promising so far...
"Still, shouldn't have to babysit professionals you're paying good money for."
Haha, seriously—been there too. When we upgraded ours, the installers were friendly enough, but I couldn't help myself from casually "checking in" every half-hour or so. I swear I tried to play it cool, but my wife caught me peeking through the blinds like some nosy neighbor. 😂 Thankfully, the sealing job was solid, but I did notice a couple scuffs on the frames afterward. Nothing major, just enough to irritate my inner perfectionist.
Speaking of noise reduction, that's interesting about your leaf-blower-loving neighbor. We live near a small airport (nothing commercial, just hobbyists and flight school stuff), and it never even crossed my mind that new windows might help with that noise—now you've got me thinking. Has anyone else here upgraded specifically for dealing with aircraft or train noise? I'm curious if it's effective enough to justify the cost on that front alone...
As for heating bills, we've definitely noticed a difference since upgrading last winter. The house stays warmer longer, and we're not cranking the thermostat quite as aggressively anymore. Still haven't fully calculated the savings, but it feels like an improvement.
Btw, did you guys go for double-pane or triple-pane windows? I've heard mixed opinions—some folks swear triple-pane is worth every cent, while others say the extra cost doesn't match the incremental benefits. Would love to hear what you think about that if you went one way or the other.
We went double-pane here—triple seemed like overkill for our climate. Honestly, noise reduction was decent but not life-changing. Still hear the occasional garbage truck rumble by at 6am... lucky me. Heating bills did drop noticeably though, so overall no regrets. If you're near an airport, might be worth looking into laminated glass instead—heard that's better for noise without the triple-pane price tag.
Double-pane is usually the sweet spot for most climates, so good call there. Triple-pane can sometimes feel like marketing hype unless you're dealing with extreme cold. Laminated glass does help with noise, but it's not magic either—still gonna hear that garbage truck if it's rumbling close enough. Had a client near train tracks who swore by laminated panes, but honestly, I wasn't blown away when I visited. Still, every bit helps...and hey, lower heating bills are always a win.
Yeah, double-pane usually hits that sweet spot for most folks. Triple-pane can be worth it if you're somewhere like Minnesota or Canada, but otherwise, it's kinda diminishing returns. Laminated glass...eh, it's decent for noise reduction, but like you said, it's not gonna silence everything. Had a job once near a busy intersection—client insisted on laminated panes to block traffic noise. It helped a bit, but honestly, I still heard plenty of honking and engines revving when I was there. Still, they were happy enough with the improvement.
One thing I'd add is that installation quality matters just as much as the glass itself. Seen plenty of expensive windows installed poorly—gaps around frames, sloppy sealing—and that pretty much defeats the purpose. Glad your upgrade worked out though...lower bills and less draftiness are always nice perks.
Totally agree on the installation point—seen way too many high-end windows installed by someone who clearly didn't care enough to do it right. Had a client once who spent a small fortune on triple-pane glass (and we're talking premium stuff here), but the installer rushed the job and left gaps around the frames. I kid you not, you could literally feel the breeze coming through on windy days. The homeowner was understandably frustrated, and we ended up having to redo most of the sealing and insulation work. After that, things improved dramatically, but it was a costly lesson for them.
As for laminated glass, yeah, it's definitely not magic. Had a similar experience with a customer near train tracks. They insisted laminated panes would completely block out the noise. I tried explaining that it would help reduce it, but trains are...well, trains. Sure enough, after installation, they admitted it was quieter but still noticeable. Still, any improvement is better than none, right?
Double-pane windows really are the sweet spot for most climates. Triple-pane can be great in extreme cold, but unless you're regularly dealing with sub-zero temps, it's probably overkill. Plus, they're heavier and pricier, so there's that trade-off to consider. Glad your upgrade worked out well though—there's nothing quite like finally getting rid of drafts and seeing those heating bills drop noticeably. Makes you wonder why you waited so long to do it in the first place, doesn't it?