So...

[Gamplayerx]

As you may or may not know, we're trying to ready our house for sale.  This involves lots and lots of money and people and disappointments.  Anyway, one of the things we're doing is replacing all of the windows and sliding glass doors because they're all original to the house and the seals have busted on ever single last one of them and they're really ugly.

I figured $3,000 - $5,000, because it's not that many windows.  6 moderate sized windows, 2 small windows, 1 large window, 2 sliding glass doors, a garden window, a casing and a half moon.  First estimate was $7390.  I balked.  We had the second estimate tonight.   $10,700+.  WTF?  It's windows!  It's not high art.

Okay.  I'm done venting.  Carry on.

[BigDun]

Don't get Pella. Even though they are very highly insulated window/sash systems, they are unbelievably expensive. Or maybe you should and pass on the cost of the new windows as part of the cost of the new house. Or you could just take out the windows and cover the holes with saran wrap.

Are you going to move into Grumpus' family beach house?

You should because we would practically be neighbors.

[Alice]

You need a friend that's a contractor.  I think that should be next on your agenda.  Put off selling the house for a year, make friends with a contractor - butter him/her up for a year then spring it on them.  They'll have to do it for beer.

[meredith]

alyssa could probably help you with contractors...

[Gamplayerx]

We're not getting Pella.  These estimates are for one step above builders grade windows.

[Bennyhana]

We're not getting Pella.  These estimates are for one step above builders grade windows.

Are they custom sizes?  Because putting in windows isn't rocket surgery, but customizing them at the factory is much more complicated.  I mean, I assume we're talking about double glazed, energy saving windows.

[Gamplayerx]

Two are custom.  And apparantly, because the old windows are metal, there's like an extra $150 to fit them for vinyl or take out the metal tracks or some other bullshit.

[dazie]

How much would it be if you took out the windows yourself?  Like with a rock?

[Gamplayerx]

How much would it be if you took out the windows yourself?  Like with a rock?

Haha.  Tempting!

[ReBurn]

We're not getting Pella.  These estimates are for one step above builders grade windows.

So go with builders grade.  What do you care?  You're selling it anyways.  They'll look new and the suckers new homeowners won't be able to tell.  All they'll know is that the windows are new.

[Alice]

We used to make stained glass windows by melting crayon shavings in between wax paper - with an iron.  Make a bunch of those and call your house "Modern Gothic" or something.

[Gamplayerx]

We're not getting Pella.  These estimates are for one step above builders grade windows.

So go with builders grade.  What do you care?  You're selling it anyways.  They'll look new and the suckers new homeowners won't be able to tell.  All they'll know is that the windows are new.

The house is too pricey to go all the way cheap. 

[Bennyhana]

Two are custom.  And apparantly, because the old windows are metal, there's like an extra $150 to fit them for vinyl or take out the metal tracks or some other bullshit.

So they're just replacing the sashes on some of them?  Did their estimate break down the parts and labor?

[Gamplayerx]

Two are custom.  And apparantly, because the old windows are metal, there's like an extra $150 to fit them for vinyl or take out the metal tracks or some other bullshit.

So they're just replacing the sashes on some of them?  Did their estimate break down the parts and labor?

No.

[Bennyhana]

Two are custom.  And apparantly, because the old windows are metal, there's like an extra $150 to fit them for vinyl or take out the metal tracks or some other bullshit.

So they're just replacing the sashes on some of them?  Did their estimate break down the parts and labor?

No.

interesting.  I don't know how much windows cost, but that sounds high to me.  The 7 grand figure from the first place doesn't sound ridiculous, but 10?

[Gamplayerx]

The $10K guy broke it down for us when he was going over the prices, but didn't leave the breakdown with us.

But for a random window, it was like $501 for the window, and then $132 for the metal take out, and then labor.

[dazie]

Have you tried Home Depot?  They install...

[Gamplayerx]

Have you tried Home Depot?  They install...

The $10,000 guy IS Home Depot.

[Bennyhana]

The $10K guy broke it down for us when he was going over the prices, but didn't leave the breakdown with us.

But for a random window, it was like $501 for the window, and then $132 for the metal take out, and then labor.

I suspect the $10k guy didn't want the job.

[dazie]

Have you tried Home Depot?  They install...

The $10,000 guy IS Home Depot.

Yikes.

[FalloutBoy]

Maybe you could start a new trend with the " boarded up look."

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[Bennyhana]

Have you tried Home Depot?  They install...

The $10,000 guy IS Home Depot.

The only windows I see in the Home Depot Catalog (in this area) that are $500 are the sliding glass doors.  I think Home Depot didn't want the job.

[Bennyhana]

Maybe you could start a new trend with the " boarded up look."

That's all the rage down here around 47th street.

[Gamplayerx]

Have you tried Home Depot?  They install...

The $10,000 guy IS Home Depot.

The only windows I see in the Home Depot Catalog (in this area) that are $500 are the sliding glass doors.  I think Home Depot didn't want the job.

I think that Home Depot does so much bulk, that they don't care to price competitively.  I just looked at the website, and the only windows they have on there are really really crappy and they're still around $280 - $300 a piece, with no screen or gridding.

[Gamplayerx]

We got window guy #1 down to $6200, so it's a go.  I've still got sticker shock, but I think that's the best we're going to get.

Speaking of sticker shock, I just spent way, way, way too much money at Home Depot.