What’s The Best Place To Buy Replacement
Windows In Andover, MN?
You Might Think It’s A Simple Trade-Off
Between Quality And Price, But It Isn’t
If you need replacement windows in Andover, MN, you’ve probably wondered whether it’s better to call a window installation company or go to a big box store and try some DIY. People think the equation is simple: you get higher quality from a professional and lower prices from a store.
Unfortunately, it’s a little more complicated than that.
We’ll break down the pros and cons of each choice so you can make the best decision for your home.
Limited Types Of Replacement Windows
The first category is selection. A window company, which generally has windows made to order, will have a really wide range of styles available for your windows. You might not love this if you’re easily overwhelmed by choices, but you’ll want the selection if you’re looking for windows that match your home well.
If you want more than a couple of colors and styles, you’ll want to pick a window company. If you’d rather just have the most basic windows possible, a hardware store might have what you want.
There’s also size to consider. With a window company, they’ll measure your windows accurately and order windows custom-made to fit your home.
A big box store, on the other hand, will only have a handful of standard sizes. If you’re lucky, it’ll be the one you need. Otherwise, you’ll need someone gifted in construction to make some pricey modifications to your home.
If you happen to need the exact size and style a box store carries and hate personalized details, then a trip to the hardware store could be for you.
For everyone else, a window replacement company will be a better option.
Replacement Windows And Your Energy Bills
Next up is energy efficiency. Here in Minnesota, energy efficiency is absolutely vital. For this category, there are actually three contenders:
- the big box store
- a local window installation company
- a national window installation company
The big box store will probably carry a basic window sold across the country, which won’t be optimized for your location’s needs. There’s a chance they’ll have something meant for your climate, but the chance is slim.
Next is the national window chain. They’ll probably have something Energy Star-rated for a wide swath of the country that happens to include where you live. This is fine and will be serviceable, but it might not be the optimal window for you.
A local business, on the other hand, will only carry windows that are proven to work great in the area they serve. It just doesn’t make sense to do anything different. That means that any choice with a local company will be easy on the energy bill.
We think local window companies win this round.
Your Replacement Windows’ Life Expectancy
Usually, windows you buy from a big box store will be of lower quality than the ones provided by a specialized company. This is a trade-off that some homeowners will be willing to make, but not most.
The real problems arise when something does happen to the windows – big box store windows generally have poor warranties compared to window companies. That’s not to say all window installation companies offer great warranties – some don’t.
We do, though.The Cost To Install Replacement Windows
Next is installation. When you buy windows from a store, you’ll either have to install them yourself or hire someone to do it for you.
The first option is pretty economical, but your windows need to fit the openings just right, and you need the experience necessary to take out the old ones and put in the new ones. Plus, without a team of experienced professionals, you may end up with a gaping hole in your wall for longer than you bargained for.
The second one is honestly not a very good idea. You’re getting the worst of all categories: worse products, expensive installation, fewer options, and little to no warranty coverage. Many window companies will flat-out refuse to do this for you because they have no way to replace any damaged product.
If you order your windows from a replacement window installation company, everything’s included. Windows, labor, warranties, everything.
Inexpensive Window Replacement
Now, this is where big box store windows usually get points. When you go to the big box store to buy a window, you’re mostly just paying for the window, shelf space, shipping from the factory to the warehouse, shipping from the warehouse to the store, and the store’s cut. But you have to install it yourself.
This actually adds up to less than most window replacement companies because with a big window replacement company, you’re paying for all that, plus the salaries of salespeople, project managers, office staff, the CEO, and more.
Big companies have tons of overhead, so they have to charge you more to stay in business.
There’s a third option here, though: us.
Here at Zen Windows Twin Cities, we do things differently. We don’t have salespeople to pay. Our owner, Steve, fills the CEO, customer service, project manager, and office staff roles, and we only have to give him one paycheck. We get the windows shipped directly from the factories, so no warehouses or stores are taking cuts.
All of this means we can offer lower prices than big window companies and lower prices than big box stores. You’re really only paying us for parts, operational costs, and labor. No middlemen.
Overall, there are a few benefits to buying windows from a hardware store. If you’re a retired window installer with a perfectly standard home who wants a cheap, no-frills window, the big box store is for you.
For the rest of Andover, MN, there’s Zen Windows Twin Cities. Call us today at (763) 286-6871 for a free, fast quote.