Doors and Windows - Wooden windows

Ok, my house is 108 years old in huge need of new windows. The sizes are strange and I would like to get them replaced. Where is the best and cheapest place to get custom make wooden windows? Keep in mind this will be a large job, around 30 windows.

I am also talking with the city to see if I can put in vinyl windows, how much would this reduce the cost if I got away with it?:cool:

Well gee, not a lot of info there, but I'll try to stab it with a fork.

Rock bottom price & quality look to Lithuania, and Indonesia.

Since your house is 108 years old, look into the possibly of it being designated as a Historic building or site; then file Articles of Incorporation, (or Association), and make sure it's “Woman Owned”. HR108 Inc.

Hi, I'm with Historic Renovations 108 (One O Eight). ABC (your co.) was chosen.... ...... Our budget is limited. As members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and The --- Historic Society, we will gladly promote your your products to members, and on our website for helping us meet our budgetary goals

BTW, glass is sold by the square foot, and it's supplied in standard sizes. Therefore, windows are estimated & quoted based on the square footage, and when your window size exceeds a standard glass size, the price goes to the next glass size level. Likewise for wood products.

If your were looking for a US source, look to the State of Washington. Around Tacoma, there is a man within the Window Industry known as The Secret Weapon to insiders. Around the same area is a large importer of Windows and Mill work. Find either one. Both are valuable resources.

I helped a couple on renovation of a home about that old in VA. They used aluminum clad sash replacements due to the age of the home, the custom exterior and interior moldings, and the historic area. IIRC it was about 10 large non-standard windows. Jeld-Wen was our only supplier that could make them at the time. It was about $9k. Vinyl (which they didn't want) would have been closer to $4k.

They had really specific requirements on grilles and glass, so they were more expensive, but custom means just that. And it's not cheap.

So, do you have window companies in IRAQ? Cause shipping from the States is gonna cost ya!

It will be difficult for us to give much pricing information, looking at your location, and realizing shipping from Texas may be prohibitive.
If you were in the states, I could see where it may be on the National Register of Historical Homes, which would limit your choices, and may even eliminate vinyl all together. Vinyl, if you could get a complimentary color would be a good choice.

Sorry for the confusion.
Anyway, I do not live in Iraq, just deployed here with the US Army. I will be home in about a year.

I am confused if there is a Historic Society or not, I called the city hall and they said there was and I needed all wood windows, again I called and they said they have nothing against putting vinyl in. I plan on closing some up anyway. The local hardware store came and gave an estimate of $10k for the windows to be built in a mill in Arkansas. I would much rather put in vinyl to cut down cost, and I see it as more practical. The house is located in Waycross GA, so if anyone knows anything about it I would take any advice.:wall:

Well, welcome home, when you get here. I'm 2200 feet closer to heaven than you in the north part of the state, usually 10 to 15 degrees cooler. I would check with JeldWen for the replacements. They are a little pricey, but quality windows and they don't hesitate at odd sizes. I doubt you will find windows to fit at big box stores, and if they order them it will be even more pricey.

I would hesitate to put vinyl windows in an 108 yr old house. If it is in a historic district, they simply won't be allowed. If they are allowed and all you want to do is a quick fix, vinyl will be your cheapest alternative and with most vinyl windows, custom sizes do not result in a large custom upcharge.

With most vinyl windows, your color choice is either white or beige. If that is a factor, the only vinyl window that comes in 100's of colors is the Solaris (made in Canada). It is probably the most substantial and best looking vinyl window made. However, it is not cheap and rivals the cost of some wood windows.

There are custom wood window manufacturers and mostly small shops where you will pay dearly. However, several manufacturers offer wood or wood with aluminum clad which look fine. Windows come in standard sizes. (this vary from manufacturer to manufacturer). However these windows can be made in special sizes. I would look beyond the products which you see commonly advertized on TV. Go to a lumber yard and ask what other products they carry. It's also a good idea to compare a cross section of one brand to another to see what you are actually buying. Yes, there is an upcharge for a non standard size, but not as much as the cost of a custom made window.

You said the windows glass was quite large but didn't say how large. Keep in mind if the glass area is over a certain size, building codes may require the glass to be tempered which adds considerably to the cost.

Your quote does not sound too bad, but what are you getting. You should be getting correct windows for the house, but with energy efficient glass, weatherstripping, etc. Check a local lumberyard for alternatives, but when you say 'custom sizing' the price goes up quickly. Marvin does custom historic windows, but definitely not inexpensive.

Are you doing replacements or cna you do new construction windows? If your residing the house it will be cheaper to do new construction windows in standard sizes. Wood windows are about twice the cost of vynal for new construction. Remodel windows are all custom windows and cost more than wood new construction windows. $10k isn't a bad price, however that sounds like all vynal.

Thanks for serving.

Hello everyone,

As a historical renovator I am a big believer in saving the windows. The style of roof and the style of windows tell a lot about the history of the house. I would give it a lot of thought. I have in the past replaced original with replacements. This only happened when the originals were so trashed they could not be saved and the budget prevented new millings. I did however keep all openings the same & kept the several trashed windows permanently sealed & stored in the crawlspace so if someone in the future (maybe 100 years) someone could reconstruct the windows and replace the current ones. There is information about your windows on the site Old World Skills (http://www.oldworldskills.com). It's full of old scanned-in trade manuals from the turn of the century & the info is all free.

Paul