I'm looking at replacing windows, but don't know what to look for. What are the most important things when choosing new windows? I don't think I'm looking for the most energy efficient windows, just a good looking product.

Any tips on types of frame or glass? What questions should I be asking myself

Location and house value range?

There are a million options in windows.

Don't get bogged down. Unless you are wanting someting high end for looks, just get vinyl LowE. If you want to dress it up some go with grids between the glass on the front of the house and not on the back. Plygem is a very affordable builder grade window and is great for the price.

1. Frame Material... vinyl and wood are most common. wood is very expensive. most go with vinyl
2. glass... LowE is pretty standard. Double LowE helps, but will turn your view a little purple sometimes and can look funny on the elevation. Don't get bogged down with the argon fill blah blah blah.
3. grids... grids outside of the glass costs more than grids between the glass. The look is very noticeable though.

I went with vinyl and PlyGem on all of our windows on our current home rennovation and couldn't be happier. I had installed American Craftsman windows from Home Depot on our prior home and the quality was not as good as the PlyGem design. In particular, the PG windows utilize a Constant Force Balance mechanism versus the older Block and Tackle Balance mechanism on the AC windows. CFB appears (actually, confirmed when I had to get a broken window glass replaced and the B&TB mechanism was a pain in the arse during the window sash reinstall process) to be a better quality and a more improved balance mechanism from the research I've done.

See the following link for further details of info I posted regarding the 2 brands...

Ply Gem versus American Craftsman Vinyl Windows

Do you mind sharing rough estimates for cost?

tmaggie50 said:

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Do you mind sharing rough estimates for cost?

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Sure, no problem, but I'll need to dig up the receipts...so give me some time

Just looked up my last invoice for a few prices on standard windows......

30-50 Picture Window = $135.00
30-50 Single Hung = $150.00
71.5"x59.5" Twin = $392.00

Where do you get plygem? Any recommended dealers/installers in dallas?

Bottlerocket said:

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Where do you get plygem? Any recommended dealers/installers in dallas?

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I purchased mine from ABC Supply in Sherman, TX. Use the following link to find your nearest local dealer...

PlyGem Dealer Locator

tmaggie50 said:

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Do you mind sharing rough estimates for cost?

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Sorry for the delay tmaggie50 as it took awhile to find my invoices, but here goes...

Mind you, I have some big arse windows in the living room and the front study room along with some more conventional sized windows, so here's the cost breakdowns:

95.75" x 71.25" - $623.16 - Picture window
72.75" x 64.625" - $477.59 - Picture window
72.875" x 64.125" - $477.59 - Picture window
23.875" x 35.5" - $142.21 - Single hung
35.75" x 47.625" - $159.54 - Single hung
35.75" x 35.5" - $336.13 - Picture window with obscured tempered glass for bathroom window
35.625" x 47.5" - $159.54 - Single hung
29.25" x 72" - $407.98 - Price is for 2 single hung windows as dimensioned mulled together for rough opening of 59.5" x 72.5"
29.25" x 72.125" - $407.98 - Price is for 2 single hung windows as dimensioned mulled together for rough opening of 59.5" x 72.625"

The prices above do not include taxes, so there was an additional 8.25% tax added to arrive at the final pricing.

All of the windows listed above are Custom 6100 Series low E argon filled glass windows.

Are those prices installed?

Les Appelt 1999 said:

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Are those prices installed?

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Mine are not as I installed them myself.