Purchased replacement window. Now what? Advice needed.

[tjf816]

Hello,

My wife and I are relatively new home owners and we'd appreciate some advice regarding repairing/replacing our bathroom window. There appear to be many knowledgable experts on this forum so we'd be very grateful for your insight.

The bottom sash of our bathroom window is busted and so are the coil balances. We originally ordered a replacement sash for $180 from home depot. After calculating the cost to replace both the lower sash and order new balances, we decided to just purchase the entire window complete with balances for $280 instead. This is the window:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/American-Cr ... /203157328.

However, after shopping around for labor, my wife now thinks it would be wiser to return the window to home depot and hire Window World to replace the window with their own for $700. After seeing the negative sentiment toward Window World on this forum, I'm hesitant to go that route.

What are our best options? Our original goal was to save some money by purchasing the parts ourselves and then pay for labor/installation. Should we seek out a contractor to install the replacement window we purchased or return it and go with a contractor who uses their own window? Are there any contractors on this forum willing to install a single window? We are located in Morrisville, PA, outside of Philadelphia and Trenton, NJ.

Thank you for your time and consideration.




TLDR: Bathroom window busted. Purchased replacement. Now unsure whether to seek out contractor for installation OR return window and hire firm for full replacement and installation.

[Delaware Mike]

I do not like any platform from Silverline Windows (manufacturer of American Craftsman for HD). Pretty much the lowest grade of vinyl in the industry. I see massive seal failures down the road with them regarding their glazing and yellowing of various parts on the windows. I don't think Lowes or HD is a good place to order none Pella or Andersen vinyl from. Higher end lumberyards or window outfits that will sell cash and carry would be my recommendation.

It's very hard to get a busy window outfit to perform a single window job. The advantage of a dedicated window pro would be their skillset with a siding brake for potentially exterior capping or addressing pulling siding and reinstalling with vinyl siding. Good luck.

[WindowsDirectCinci]

I'd prefer window world over the American Craftsman product. As you are probably aware getting someone to do 1 window is difficult. Window World will likely do it but the problem there is they will probably send out the installer that's lowest on the totem pole. If they have some decent crews they would be likely to be installing larger jobs.

[Ricknez]

American Craftsman/ Silverline are absolute garbage. Finding a window company who is willing to install only one window will be difficult. Most companies have a minimum of 4-5 windows due to the expense of sending an installer, setting up the truck and equipment along with the expense of the caulks, sealants, and aluminum.

[HomeSealed]

Tough spot with only one window as others have alluded to.

First and foremost, I would recommend against your initial plan. You are going to save a few bucks, and it's because you've essentially made yourself the GC. When you have an issue, you will be on your own as the installer will blame the window (if you are lucky enough to find him), and the window rep will tell you there's an install issue. Hint: most of the time it is an install issue.
Your wife has the right idea in this regard. Consolidate accountability.

As far as choices, if you can find a reputable company that will do one window that would be ideal. I would not necessarily put WW in that category. I'd still take that option over sourcing product and install separately, but ideally you'd find a company that offers better products and quality. I'd definitely expect to pay more than $700 though, and in fact, unless you were actually quoted that from WW, I suspect that their price will be higher as well given the costs of what it takes to sell, measure, order, schedule, install, and service a window project whether its one or twenty.

[tjf816]

Thank you everyone for your input. We greatly appreciate it since we were at a loss as to how to proceed. From your responses, it appears the best approach is to return the American Craftsmen window and find an installer who isn't Window World. The reason we purchased the American Craftsmen is because they are the manufacturer of the original window according to the sticker on the upper sash.

Thanks again!