Discussion Board Forum for Vinyl Windows

Window4U (IL) wrote: Are you sure of that fact? Have you verified that by checking with your state sales tax law?

Yes, I just looked it up:

MA DOR regulations

In addition to the IRS/tax credit thing, around here sales tax is charged on the price of the windows, but not on installation. Personally, I have not been getting too hung up on the breakdown -- if I get a quote on Brand X that is $600 for the window and $400 for installation, and Brand Y's install...

Is it possible that the $120 was a building permit fee or something like that? (Some of the quotes I've gotten include the building permit, others have not -- but in the latter case I still have to pay for the contractor to get one from the city, on top of the agreed-upon price, before they can star...

Update: I've talked to both the Marvin Infinity and Pella Impervia installers now, and I do not think I want to buy windows from either. It took 2 weeks to get the Marvin guy out here. He showed up here without brochures, catalogs, samples, or business cards, and seemed unsure what colors and option...

Sure. Here are a couple of old ones from when I first moved in. I've since taken down those ugly metal blinds -- now I have narrow light-filtering shades that fit entirely within the frames of the casement windows.

If you have to paint anyway, and don't mind changing colors, I would do that. Another possibility is that you could paint the jambs and sill white to match the windows, but have stained wood casings. Previous owners of my house did that in one of the bedrooms and it looks quite nice. Not consistent ...

I found the web site of a local installer who's posted his price list (installed prices) online. Google for "Replacement Window Prices in Massachusetts" and you'll find it. Curiously, he doesn't name the manufacturer of these windows.... but I can kinda guess from the pictures. :wink: I fi...

Craigslist seems like a pretty random place to advertise for windows. OTOH, if somebody types in "BrandX windows Boston" into google, and you are a BrandX windows installer in Boston but don't list BrandX on your web site, you are missing out on customers who are looking specifically for y...

As I've been researching windows and local installers, it's been frustrating to me that so many installers don't list the brands they sell on their web sites. It seems to me like basic information that would help them sell their services. Do manufacturers not let them advertise the brand names unles...

Hmmm, thanks. I was wondering, too, if that Park Avenue brown were really as dark as it appeared, or if my monitor and/or eyes were deceiving me. So far the window I've come across that looks like the best match for my house is the Pella Impervia, which definitely comes in brown inside and out. This...

OK, another question.... can anyone familiar with these brands tell me if the Thermal Industries/Park Avenue dark brown laminate finish is exterior-only, or both inside and outside? I can't tell from their web site.

Thanks again, everyone, for all the tips; I'm finding this very helpful. I see that, in fact, Integrity windows now come in custom sizes as well; that's either brand-new or I missed it when I was looking at the Integrity web site the first time. The Infinity installer who is coming out for a quote a...

Thanks, that is helpful to get confirmation that I am not crazy. :) I was already wondering about the new construction/replacement issue, because it seems to me that once you've gotten the exterior casings off and old window out, you might as well put in another window in exactly the same way, secur...

I've gotten somewhat confused by reading up on installation techniques for replacement windows because my existing windows don't look anything like the ones I see in the normal how-to stuff. I've attached a couple snapshots. It seems that the "normal" install is from the inside: pull the i...

The Soft-Lite Barrington is one of the windows that comes in a solid brown vinyl, inside and out. (Harvey Classic is the same way, best as I can tell.) However, like the Harvey, the Barrington seems like more of a mid-grade window than a high-end one. The Soft-Lite Elements and Imperial come in pain...