Doors and Windows - Replacement bronze duo-therm sliding windows

I have some questions about replacement residence glass that I'd appreciate any responses about. I have bronze duo-therm side-sliding windows about 46 inches wide. One side slides open over the fixed-place unit. About 60 inches tall. I pulled sliding unit last year to take it to a glass shop because the seal had dried out and had gotten condensation between the panes. The first place had given me a quote of about $35.00 over the phone after I had explained that I would bring the unit in for them to repair the unit and then I would pick it up and install it myself. That was when I learned that "install" has quite different meanings to glass replacement/repair folks. When I got there, I asked them about the quoting me for two unit replacements since I had another window-pane with condensation. Same size. The quote for two panes was more than 4 times as high instead of double coming to about $240.00 (plus or minus). That's when I learned that "installation" doesn't mean replacing the window in the hole. It means taking the sealed unit upon return from the manufacturer and putting some rubbery sealant around the outer edges. Then I was to take it home and "put" it in, not "install" it. The installation consisted of putting the sealant around the repaired, already sealed glass unit, from the manufacturer. I felt this was a rip-off and said so which ended that discussion. I took it to another glass dealer later who replaced the sealed unit and put some more seal around the edge of the unit and gave it to me to install (put back in the window). When I got home, the unit wouldn't fit the window. Their man came out and beat on it awhile and got it back where it belonged. I called later and asked for them to give me a price for them to take two windows out, take them to their shop and return them and put them in when finished. I told them to go ahead and order them. It seemed to me that since I wasn't saving any money by carrying them back and forth and then putting them in myself, I'd be just as well off if they did the whole thing. They had the measurements since they were exactly the same units as the one they had repaired. Over a month later, they called and asked if I still wanted them done and gave me a quote. Later, I got to my paperwork and realized I'd been quoted me a price considerably higher than before. When I called, I was told it was because of the travel distance - about 8 miles. I told her to cancel the order. What I want to know is where I can take these windows to remove the condensation and have them resealed or buy new units already sealed. Can't I just send them to the factory? It seems to me the prices I've been quoted are about the same as if I were having a contractor install new windows in a new building. If that's true, seems like I could order them and do it myself. I can't figure out why the price is so high if I'm doing everything but creating the vacuum and sealing the units. Any answers, please? In Michigan, I took a three-foot wide, five-foot high duo-therm window to the Straits Area Glass company who sent it off for evacuation and resealing, gave it back to me and I took it home and put it in the window. $56.00. They didn't do any resealing or installation, the factory did. They just handled the deal and took their cut. What's going on in this Gulf Coast area anyway? I'd really appreciate someone sharing their actual knowledge of how this business works. I'm a do-it-yourselfer. I don't mind paying for work that I can't do, but I don't like being led down a primrose path either. Any help? Thanks. DF

You say you have "bronze, duo-therm sliding windows"......is the glass a bronze tint or are you refering to the frame color and the glass is clear, double pane unit ?

The aluminum frames are painted bronze/brown/dark color??? and the glass is bronze-tinted. It is not argon gas-filled, just a vacuum I guess which allowed condensate to form when the seals dried out and cracked. The windows were installed in new construction in 1984. I imagine that's a reasonable life-span in the Florida sun. I'd appreciate any information you can give me. Thanks. Ole' Den

The glass units of your windows are not a repairable thing. Once the break a seal and you get moisture between the panes, you have to replace the glass unit. Did this glass shop try repairing your original IG units? If so, they wasted their time and your money.

Yeah, lefty is right.....I've never seen dual units repaired....for one thing, it isn't worth the money, they are so cheap, it wouldn't be worth trying to clean the old sealent off, plus ususally the moisture inbetween etches the glass.....

The price for JUST the glass units from the place I buy windows is $3.50/ square foot, so the $35 they quoted you the first time is about right for a window sash 2'x5'......but that is for plain, clear glass.....I'm sure bronze tint would be more, but not more than twice, surely....that was the point of my first question.....

Maybe with bronze tint glass, they MIGHT try to reuse that glass, I don't know....

To Lefty & TN - Andy: Thanks for your answers. Here's mine: 1. Lefty: The glass shop said they had to send them out. When they came back a week later, I went in the back room and saw them fitting the frames around the sealed glass unit. That apparently is the "installation" process. 2. TN - Andy: They said they didn't re-use glass, came from factory.

My question now is why I can't order direct from the factory, have the units with the aluminum frame around them delivered here and I set them in the window just like I took the one out before both here and in Michigan? I don't see that the local glass company is adding any value to a factory-built unit that is easily handled by the end-user. Am I missing something about this deal? I've been ordering parts for things and putting them in myself all my life. What's different about this deal. It's simply a part that fits in the window. Please explain for me. Thanks. Ole' Den

I think what you are asking is why can't you order a sash unit.....that is a sealed glass with the frame around it already, so you just set it back in the window frame that is mounted in your wall ? is that right ??

Well, you can....>IF< you can find the factory or a dealer for the brand of window you have.....that is sometimes a problem, as a lot of time the windows aren't even marked with WHO made them.

Typically what is done is just what you glass shop did...they order a sealed unit for the size sash, take the sash frame apart, take out the old, bad, unit, then stick the new one in and reassemble the sash frame.

Most smaller glass shops order their sealed units as they don't have the machine to do the sealing ....it takes a high temp special caulk and a machine to heat it to about 400 degrees, nor do they stock all the different thicknesses of spacers for the center to make up all the different thicknesses of glass packs they would run into....and that is a BUNCH.......

But if YOU want to cut out THEM taking your sash apart, inserting the new glass pack, and re-assembling....then do so.....take your sash apart at home, measure the dimensions, including the thickness of the glass unit from outside of glass to outside of glass ( so they can get the right spacer to go with the thickness of glass to make up the overall unit) and take them those dimensions.....pick up the glass pack when it comes in, take your sash apart or take out whatever type of keeper strip holds the glass in, and change out the glass.

TN - Andy. Thanks again for your help. Your explanation has helped me understand the process. I don't think I want to get as involved as would be required to do the factory order thing (and I can't find the factory). I'm beginning to think that the local company's charge for putting the frame around the windows properly is worth it. They probably did the same thing in Michigan when I had it done, I just didn't know about it. I thought the whole unit I picked up on the mainland came from the factory. I believe I'll just carry the units into the glass shop, have them measure them and order the new units. The units are easy to handle so I can take mine back in for them to change the frames for me. I can at least save the house call charge for setting them back in the window. Score a big one for the Do It Yourself board and the knowledgeable members help :) . Thanks again. Ole' Den