Anyone have any input on Americraft windows? Just bought a farm and found a guy to do replacement windows for $325 a piece. He uses Americraft windows and says they got the Consumers Best Buy award. I have never heard of them and can't find a price for them. I can do the windows myself but if these are $300 windows and they are worth the price then for $25 I would gladly allow him to do it. Thanks for any and all input!
- Thread starter Bkpigs
- Start date
I've sold and installed windows for 30+ yrs. Americraft is a low grade window, imho. I wouldn't put them in a house I was going to keep for a long time. They're ok for rental or flipping the house. Personally I wouldn't use vinyl windows, but they are the trend now. A good thermal break aluminum from a reputable company is the way I'd go. Vinyl may have a longer life in the cooler climates but they're not holding up well down here in Texas. Think about it, vinyl in the sun and heat. You get what you pay for. My .02.
DON TX
DON TX
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I'd try to get a couple other bids. The company is a BBB
member, but Consumers Digest is just advertising. Nothing
like Consumer Reports which actually tests merchandise.
member, but Consumers Digest is just advertising. Nothing
like Consumer Reports which actually tests merchandise.
retired farmer
Well-known Member
I replaced several windows in a mobile home with Jeld Wen vinyl windows from Home Depot about six years ago. Haven't had any problems with them. Seem to be airtight so far. Averaged around $150.00 each. Gave them the frame opening measurements and they ordered them.
I have had good luck with the jeld wen windows do it yourself and it gets done right some contractor only cares till the check clears. If you do them yourself and you see a problem you can fix it correctly and add extra insulation or whatever it takes ,not just slap it toghether and dash off to the next job I did mine, a friend hired his done mine are better,because I wasnt in a big rush to get out and find the next job and I wasnt trying to do everything cheap as posible .
uncle henry
Member
i would go aluminum like don said my grandmother"s
house was built in about 1962 with aluminum windows
and still doing their job of keeping the outside out
and the inside in
house was built in about 1962 with aluminum windows
and still doing their job of keeping the outside out
and the inside in
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I put in Crestline from Menards 20 year's ago and are still doing a great job. Was leary at the time as they were a cheaper priced window, but the budget at the time was kinda tight. Still as good as the day I put them in. Have friends that have used Jen-weld and have had good luck with them also. Several have said Aluminum, but several people in the region have had them and were very disappointed. They weren't cheap ones either, and are going to replace with vinyl. I would definitely go with a double hung rather than a single hung.
Ultradog MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Twin Cities
Are you thinking of installing just inserts or the whole window frame?
And are these a double hung window or something else like an awning or casement?
I have replaced maybe a hundred windows with inserts.
American Craftsman is the brand I'm most familiar with - available from Home Despot.
You remove the inner stops, parting stops and sashes then tip the new insert into place. Then caulk inside and out as required and reinstall the inner stops. They are Very easy to install and work great. IMO they are the best bang for your buck. They run under $200 for most sizes including special order.
Second best bank for your buck is an Anderson insert. They are more attractive then the plain white vinyl American Craftsman but install the same way. They are not a double hung insert but rather a single hung; ie, the upper sash is stationary so only the bottom opens which is fine in most applications.
If you are thinking about replacing the entire window - where you take out the old frame, brick molding, and inner trim then I too would go with a good aluminum clad unit. If you go that way then you will have to deal with the outer trim where it meets the siding and the inner trim.
For inserts his estimate is a bit high for the unit but his estimate of $25 per insert is a bit low. I can do one in about 15-20 minutes plus haul away the old window. I generally estimate the install at about $50.
Reminds me I have about 8 of them to do before fall. Got to get over to the customer's house and get them measured up and on order.
And are these a double hung window or something else like an awning or casement?
I have replaced maybe a hundred windows with inserts.
American Craftsman is the brand I'm most familiar with - available from Home Despot.
You remove the inner stops, parting stops and sashes then tip the new insert into place. Then caulk inside and out as required and reinstall the inner stops. They are Very easy to install and work great. IMO they are the best bang for your buck. They run under $200 for most sizes including special order.
Second best bank for your buck is an Anderson insert. They are more attractive then the plain white vinyl American Craftsman but install the same way. They are not a double hung insert but rather a single hung; ie, the upper sash is stationary so only the bottom opens which is fine in most applications.
If you are thinking about replacing the entire window - where you take out the old frame, brick molding, and inner trim then I too would go with a good aluminum clad unit. If you go that way then you will have to deal with the outer trim where it meets the siding and the inner trim.
For inserts his estimate is a bit high for the unit but his estimate of $25 per insert is a bit low. I can do one in about 15-20 minutes plus haul away the old window. I generally estimate the install at about $50.
Reminds me I have about 8 of them to do before fall. Got to get over to the customer's house and get them measured up and on order.
I have a few vinyl windows with some bore wating to be put in. That said I prefer the aluminm clad wood as Ithink it is a lot better and I do use storm windows all the time. The warenty is void on the vinyl if storms are used. The vinyl that I have put storms on tho came new with no warenty. And the inserts if you need replacement windows the part that does not get replaced will also be in the condition that it should be replaced. The vinyl inserts I have to install I got very cheap on a closeout but my old jambs are also in needing replaced and the walls are about 10" thick hand hewed logs. I will be making a wood jamb for the inserts and fastening it together outside as I make the jamb and then install as would a complete new window in new construction and they are so close to the same size that if I make the jambs correctly my current storm windows will work and they will be fastened to the wood frame and not to the vinyl part. Would prefer the aluminmclad wood but cannot afford and at my age these will last me the rest of my days. The storms give more chance of surviving a wind storm.
Steve Vardzel
New User
Please advise how I can register for the web site and post on the forums.
Zachary Hoyt
Well-known Member
We bought new construction windows when I was rebuilding the
farmhouse here in 2005, they were Xact brand and our local
lumberyard ordered them for $130 a piece. $300 is way high to my
way of thinking, I would definitely shop around. Replacement
windows are good but I would look hard at the trim and the sill and
such and see if they are going to hold up for another 20 years, if
not I would think about new construction windows with the nailing
fine, they are a lot tighter to seal up in my opinion.
Zach
farmhouse here in 2005, they were Xact brand and our local
lumberyard ordered them for $130 a piece. $300 is way high to my
way of thinking, I would definitely shop around. Replacement
windows are good but I would look hard at the trim and the sill and
such and see if they are going to hold up for another 20 years, if
not I would think about new construction windows with the nailing
fine, they are a lot tighter to seal up in my opinion.
Zach
Dieselbreath
Member
I wouldn't put in aluminum clad windows again if someone paid me. I had one where the rain got under the aluminum and rotted the wood and the sash fell off! Lasted about 12 years.
Replaced it with vinyl and never looked back.
Replaced it with vinyl and never looked back.
I disagree with Don, I put Vinylwindows in my house 18 years ago, I am in North Texas, Van Zandt County, The only reason I did at the time was I worked for the company and felt obliged to use them, I used the heavier window and remember paying about $125 a piece then straight from the manufacturer, the plant I worked at. They have held up well and we get plenty of sun here! High today was 97 degrees. These are JELD-WEN, use 5/8" thick insulated glass, are tilt out, and about 2 1/2" thick overall, single hungs. My dad has been a home builder the better part of his life just about had a fit at the time, me using "plastic" windows. They have held up well, I used the beige color and clear glass. I do however have full solar screens on all the east/west exposure to help keep the sun out. JB
farmer boy
Well-known Member
Never heard of the brand, but a window down there should be $200-225. 100 for the install is about right. We put in a bunch of new windows made by VinylBilt. Cost was around $250, but that was here(in Canada) Seems to be good quality, only time will tell.
We've had vinyl replacements in two houses now and have good performance from both, even the cheap ones we put in our first house. In our current house have Simontons (made in West Virginia, I believe). They've been very good, a million times better than the steel casements that were there when we moved in. They had a very good rating at the time we bought them 12 yrs. ago. Had a contractor put them in, his installers were a family, dad and son did the installation and mom did the calking. Only thing I would change is have then use a paintable calk.
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