House repair help needed

[Dan the Man]

I am in need of a smaller contractor/single man business to replace maybe one or two windows at my house. I don't need some large outfit coming over to sell me a whole houseful of new windows. Does anyone have any recommendation for someone?

Germantown area. Must be reasonable, completed projects timely and for cost quoted. If you have a friend/relative who does this for a living and is looking for a side job (but someone I can trust) I would be open to that as well.

PM me contact info and background.

Thanks. I need to get this fixed before winter.

[Matt Heebner]

You could try Window World....they are actually very reasonably priced, their windows are guarenteed for life for ANY defect including if you break one. I did my whole house over a three year span, and they kept the same price installed for the first one as they did the last one with out any type of contract. Also not once did they try and pressure me to order more than I wanted, etc. That alone was worth it for me. I did it at my pace with what I could afford. Thie windows are all one price installed no matter the size (other than big picture windows).
The installations went smooth as could be....and I had them there at least 8 times over a three year span.  I have had a few windows replaced due to some manufacturing defects ( some "fogginess" in the argon or whateven the gas between the panes is), and it went very easy....no hassle and they were at all times total professionals.

Might be worth your time to check them out.

[jay_jay]

Can best be found at a local lumberyard.  No, they don't live in a tent in the back.  Ask the counterman for referals.   A lumberyard is not a large discount home improvement store with teenagers waiting on you.

While at the lumberyard, ask to see windows they carry.  You can choose the least expensive vinyl product which will be serviceable but lacking longevity and performance (keeping cold/wind/water outside and keeping heat in).  There are also vinyl products that give excellent performance but expect to pay more for them.

You can also choose wood with vinyl or aluminun cladding.  This includes the popular names you have seen on TV as well as some you are not famililar with.

Regardless of which product you choose, ask to see a corner cut of the window.  This will show you exactly how thick and how well made the sash and frame are. A rule of thumb here is the more material, the better the product.  You may be surprised to see the skimpy material construction in several well known products compared to those that don't spend millions on TV ads.

The next key is to find the right person at the yard who is knowledgeable.  If they only carry one product and he tells you it is the best, do you think he might be biased?  Go to more than one lumberyard.   When you find the guy who can actually tell you about the construction and why it will perform better, you will know it.  Don't be fooled by insulation ratings on the windows.  You could buy the cheapest product from a discount store or the most expensive from a yard and the ratings will be very similar.  The same is true for "Energystar", which virtually all products exceed.

The only rating that really makes a difference is DP (Design pressure) which may be hard to determine.   This is a combination rating of wind/water/temerature infiltration.  Most local governments don't specify DP ratings except for those on the coast of Florida due to huricanes.  If you find a salesman that can talk knowledgebly about DP ratings and why one product has more than another, you are on the right track.

[Chinatown]

may I suggest Randy Bergevian. 1-414-651-1956

He has done my house and just completed my neighbors. Uses Simonton Windows.

http://www.simonton.com/

He does all the trim, caulking, etc. The job takes 2 days.