“I can go buy a vinyl window for $150 at the home improvement store,” Meredith said. “Why in the world should I pay three times that from you?”
It’s not an uncommon question. Why is there such a substantial price difference between vinyl windows? Are the vinyl home replacement windows you get from an authorized replacement window specialist really that much better? What about the windows being sold by the new company that’s advertising all over the neighborhood? Their prices are even lower!
The old saying is true: you get what you pay for. This is especially true when it comes to vinyl home replacement windows. Vinyl windows are available at a number of price points — and with a corresponding level of quality.
Nine times out of ten, the windows that are offered at rock-bottom prices, whether from a home improvement center or aggressive telemarketer, are low quality basic units, designed to appeal to the price-driven shopper. These windows are cheap, because they’re cheaply made: quality is not the paramount issue. The vinyl used may contain used or recycled plastics, unlike the vinyl in high quality vinyl home replacement windows. Seals are often problematical, and hardware issues are common.
Many of the energy-saving features that come standard on high quality vinyl replacement windows are not available on these basic windows. This includes insulating gasses, low e coatings, UV protection, and even impacts resistance. All of these features may add to the price of the higher quality vinyl replacement window, but they also substantially improve the quality of life for the homeowner. Opting for windows that don’t have these features in order to save some money will cost in comfort, ease of use, and cold hard cash when the heating bill comes due.
That’s completely setting aside the entire issue of installation. When you purchase your home replacement windows from an authorized replacement window specialist, you have the comfort and peace of mind of knowing your windows will be installed by a manufacturer-approved installation team. If you buy your home replacement windows from a home improvement store, you’re on your own — or making do with whatever subcontractors turned in the lowest bid to the local store manager. Do you really want to leave your home in the hands of the lowest bidder? The situation gets worse if you deal with an traveling replacement window company that breezes into an area, sets up shop for a handful of months, and then leaves town. The work done by these outfits is often of low quality, and there’s no one left to address problems with after the fact.
Don’t be penny wise and pound-foolish. It may seem possible to save money by opting for low cost basic windows, but in the long run, high quality vinyl replacement windows deliver more value for the dollar. From the quality of the window to installation and energy efficiency, there are a number of reasons why high quality vinyl windows cost more — and why they’re worth every penny!