A marketing guy came by and offered to install their windows at a discounted rate and make our home a "model home" for the neighborhood.

Our house was built in 1969 and we have old single payne windows, so just about anything would be an upgrade.

They use Alside branded product,and the discounted pricing is ranging from $500-$650 per window (depending on double or triple-payne)

Any experience with this program? He said they've been in DFW for several years and just entered the Austin market. Is this a good brand? Should we expect significant energy cost savings or just look at it as an upgrade expense?

Windows are pretty far down the list for typical residential economic returns from energy efficiency. There are typically quite a few other places to find low hanging fruit. Having said that, if they are in particularly bad shape, they can move up the list pretty quickly. If you walk by and feel air moving when its windy outside or your HVAC system is operating, its probably time to consider it. If you light a match and blow it out near the edge of a window and the smoke gets sucked out or moves quickly toward the room its probably time.

The NFRC (National Fenestratin Rating Council) rates windows in regards to energy efficiency based on 4 separate factors. You can google them and find out what those quantative factors are and what a good window should test as a minimum. Then you can ask the vendor for the ratings numbers from their product to compare as well as comparison shop some other places to see "how good a deal" they are offering.

Keep in mind the ratings are for the actual windows themselves. A poor install can screw up the best energy efficient windows economics.

quote:

---

They use Alside branded product,and the discounted pricing is ranging from $500-$650 per window (depending on double or triple-payne)

---

That is too expensive. My mom just did new double pane windows in her 1968 home and her per windows cost with installation was far less than that. My husband had already replaced her 2 huge windows a few years ago, but the rest were ~$3k.

Not a good price. For comparison, Window World does Alsides (rebadged, but they're Alside Excaliburs) for like 2-300 per window. For 5-600 you should be getting a higher quality brand. Not that Alside is terrible, especially compared to your single panes, but they're definitely not high end or the best performing.

I recently replaced some windows in my house. It definitely makes a huge impact over cheap single panes in regulating room temps. Had a bathroom and some bedrooms that would freeze without heat, now they stay pretty warm with no help at all. Good double panes make a noticeable impact in suppressing outside sound as well over single panes.


[This message has been edited by SJEAg (edited 2/27/2011 12:44p).]

How big are the windows? The price-per-window will matter. Replacement windows, or new construction windows? That also makes a difference.

Enercon in College Station was pricing Tectview AC vinyl dual-pane 6' x 4' single-hung windows at $230 for the window and $110/window + materials for the installation. I'm installing them myself because I'm doing windows and siding at the same time.