Installing our own windows? Ideas?

[darkangel729]

Would love some advice here. We just moved into an older rental home. I know with rentals most people wouldn't bother changing major things like windows (or wouldn't be allowed too). However, we're seriously considering buying the place (it's on the market now and the landlord would work with us). The windows are old, some are cracked, and they obviously need some work to fix them up. I really am not fond of the idea of paying the energy bills with windows in bad condition, so I was half considering replacing some. So I guess my question is, has anyone here done this on their own (no contractors)? If you did, how difficult was it and do you have any tips? Also, how expensive was it to do? I'm fairly handy and like to do work myself, and can find good quality cheap windows in my area. So, if you have any advice (even if it is telling me that it's a terrible idea :) ) I'd love to hear it! Thanks!

[mmb1996]

No advice on installing but maybe your landlord would take some of the cost of the windows off your rent. My mom has had a few handyman renters and whenever they wanted to do big improvements she would take the cost of the material off the rent and the renters would do the work for free, kinda win-win for both of them.

[motherofmolly]

i havent actually done it myself..but i watched a boyfriend replace the entire house widows...if you are fairly handy, it wont be that hard...but, i would see if your local home impovement store has a demo class on it or get a really good how to book.

some big keys to good window installment are:
getting the right size and type window
leveling
securing
insulating
finishing the inside and outside

good luck. with the older houses, windows are a great asset to keeping air in. if you are planning on doing it one or two at a time, i would pick either the draftiest windows, or the windows in the rooms you use the most

[darkangel729]

No advice on installing but maybe your landlord would take some of the cost of the windows off your rent. My mom has had a few handyman renters and whenever they wanted to do big improvements she would take the cost of the material off the rent and the renters would do the work for free, kinda win-win for both of them.

It would rock if that would work, unfortunately, the landlord doesn't care much about the house and is really marketing the lot because it's an acre of land that can be divided into 5 lots. So they have no interest in upgrading the house. Too bad though, I'd love it if they would pay for materials! :)

[darkangel729]

i havent actually done it myself..but i watched a boyfriend replace the entire house widows...if you are fairly handy, it wont be that hard...but, i would see if your local home impovement store has a demo class on it or get a really good how to book.

some big keys to good window installment are:
getting the right size and type window
leveling
securing
insulating
finishing the inside and outside

good luck. with the older houses, windows are a great asset to keeping air in. if you are planning on doing it one or two at a time, i would pick either the draftiest windows, or the windows in the rooms you use the most

Thanks for the info...I'll definitely see if home depot or lowes or ace has a demo class...I hadn't even thought of that! We would replace probably only one or two at a time, probably in the living room as they are all in bad condition and on one of them the pane of glass is a bit dislodged and is obviously leaking a bunch of our precious warm air. Thanks again!

[CW&M Mom]

If the frame is fine...but the window is broke...you can take it to some window places and they will replace the pane. Much much cheaper that way...but you'll have to call around...and probably find a more independent window place.

We had an apt complex we managed...lots of broken windows...and it usually cost us about $40 to have a pane replaced. Much much cheaper than if we had to have had the entire window frame replaced.

[rachellepeters]

You need to make sure you measure right, most people don't know how to properly measure. I'd tell you how, but I don't know! I deal with alot of people who flip homes, and several tried doing it themselves and mismeasured. Read up on that part, and I think the rest will be fine. And being a landlord myself......get everything in WRITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No matter how small the agreement. Do not start without written consent and you said the house is on the market. You should have an agreement that if you do this, if it sells you'll get reimbursed. My opinion...never improve someone elses rental property, no matter how much "they don't care". If you agree to do improvements in exchange for free rent, you need full details in a contract. Your idea of improving, may be the owners idea of a project gone wrong that just hurt the value. Good luck!

[shashabell]

If the cost isn't coming off of the rent then I would not replace the windows. Fixing up the one that is broken is as far as I would go. In the winter you can get some of that plastic to put over the windows.

[darkangel729]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think for now we'll just caulk around them and put plastic over them to insulate. Then, if and when we buy the house, we'll replace them.

[sbp]

That plastic stuff works great both in the winter for keeping your heat in and the cold out and also in the summer for keeping your cool in and the heat out!!!