I’ve always felt like the install is half the battle, maybe more. I did my own windows last fall—nothing fancy, just solid mid-tier double hungs—and spent a ton of time on shimming and flashing. No drafts, no leaks, and honestly they look just as good as my neighbor’s “custom” ones. If you’re handy and patient, spending on good materials and proper sealing beats splurging on the most expensive glass every time. Only exception for me is weird-shaped openings or if you really care about matching old trim. Otherwise, standard works great.
If you’re handy and patient, spending on good materials and proper sealing beats splurging on the most expensive glass every time.
That lines up with what I’ve seen over the years. I’ve done installs where folks spent a fortune on triple-pane units but skimped on the install—guess what, still had condensation and drafts. One job sticks out: 1920s bungalow, homeowner obsessed over matching the old trim. We ended up custom-milling sills, which cost more than the windows themselves. For most jobs, though, careful install and solid mid-range windows go further than people expect. It’s always that last bit of caulk or a missed shim that comes back to haunt you...
Nailed it about the install making all the difference. I’ve seen folks get talked into high-end glass thinking it’ll solve everything, but if you don’t take your time with the flashing and insulation, you’re just throwing money out the window—literally. I usually tell people to budget for decent windows and set aside a chunk for proper prep and finishing. Sometimes that trim or sill work sneaks up on you, especially with older homes. It’s wild how much a tiny gap or a lazy bead of caulk can mess up an otherwise solid job...
- Couldn’t agree more on the prep work sneaking up—my 1950s place had trim that basically crumbled when I touched it.
- I always factor in a “surprise” line item for stuff like rotten sills or weird gaps you only find once the old window’s out.
- Flashing and caulk are cheap, but not getting them right costs way more in the long run.
- High-end glass is nice, but if the install’s sketchy, you’re just watching your money leak out... literally and figuratively.
That “surprise” line item is a lifesaver—learned that the hard way when I found carpenter ants in a sill mid-project. I’d also say, don’t cheap out on labor if you’re hiring out. I tried to save a few bucks by going with a cheaper installer once, and the drafts after were unreal. Prep and install matter way more than the fanciest glass, honestly. If your house is old, just expect at least one thing to go sideways... it’s almost a tradition at this point.
That’s the truth—old houses are full of surprises. Last fall, I budgeted a solid 20% extra for “unknowns” and still nearly blew it when we found rot under a window that looked fine from the outside. I totally agree about labor—bad install can wreck even top-tier windows. I’d rather have mid-range glass done right than fancy stuff slapped in by someone rushing. Prep work is tedious but skipping it just bites you later.
Rot is such a sneaky one—had the same thing happen behind some trim in our 1920s place. I’m with you on install over fancy features. I did triple-pane in a few rooms, but honestly, the air sealing and careful flashing made more of a difference than the window specs themselves. It’s wild how much prep matters.
- Gotta say, I’m not totally sold on install mattering more than window specs.
- In my 1950s place, we did a mix: cheap windows with great install in some rooms, high-spec (triple-pane, gas fill) in others.
- The difference in winter comfort and condensation was way more noticeable in the triple-pane rooms, even though the install was similar.
- Prep and flashing are huge, but I wouldn’t downplay window quality, especially in rough climates.
- Sometimes, you really do get what you pay for...