New Windows - DIY, or pay the man?
 

New windows for a house (not for a computer). Has anybody installed them? Am I crazy for thinking about doing it myself?

I've never done it, but I doubt it's that complicated. I imagine the first one will be a pain, but the learning curve will improve for you after that.

It's not too difficult. I've helped my dad install new ones at their home. Also watched a few DIY-TV programs where they show you how to do it. It really depends on how your framing for your windows are currently. How old is the house?

It's almost 40 years old. I think it was built in 77 or 78, something like that.

Hey that only makes it 30! Don't be adding 10 years to something born in the 70's :). So how familar are you with DIY home stuff? If you feel confident about it, I would think it's not too hard.

Windows are like changing your oil. You could do it yourself, but its worth it to pay someone else.

If you have to get on a ladder, I would recommend hiring someone else.

I've only done it on the first floor, but that's pretty good advice :).

Maybe home depot or something will do a seminar for you?

Pay the man.

I am lucky. My wife and her family built the house her parents live in when she was a kid, so she knows how to do all of this stuff.

Apples and oranges.

Paying a licensed contractor the going hourly rate to do windows adds a lot more expense to the project, compared to the labor cost of changing your oil.

I have redone my kitchen and alot of other projects around the house and I would say to have someone do it for you. It really does not add much to the cost and to have them all installed in one day (I had 13 done) and done right was more than worth it.

This is especially true for an older place (which mine was too) with the older window system was currently in place. Replacing newer windows with brand new ones wouldn't be as hard to do.

Unless you know how to install new windows, I would pay a professional to do it. This isn't some breezy weekend home depot project. Incorrect installation could cost a lot down the road in repair costs for leaks, heating and cooling loss, etc...

No, its exactly the same comparison. In both cases, the cost of materials plus what I would pay not to do it is more than the expense.

If you multiply how much longer it will take you to complete the task than professionals times how much almost any homeowner would pay for leisure time, you'll find the same :)

EDIT: Besides, as ChiMat says above, the difference in cost is not nearly as much as you'd think.

Subby is wise.

You add all the above on top of how long it would take and the many frustrations that would ensue. . . This is a no-brainer.

Lady H_B is suggesting that we replace all of our gutters ourselves. They need replacing, but even that seems daunting, mainly because of the height of our second story gutters. I don't feel terribly comfortable on ladders.

Looking into my crystal ball I see the following St. Cronin thread in a month: Leaking windows - DIY, or pay the man?

It's not rocket science, people.

I used to be really intimidated by projects like this, but over time, I've become much more confident taking on all manner of home improvement projects.

pay the man.

sportsdigs.com installed their own windows, so it can be done.

Pay FN to do it.

But, it costs $50-75 in labor per window for labor. Out of $400-$500.

It'll take pros half a day to do 10 standard windows. Someone who has never done it before probably won't finish the first one in that time. Just pay...

Me too. Before I owned I don't think I had even used a hammer. I have now torn down walls, built new walls, added circuits, installed sinks, installed cabinets, and built a new tile countertop.

The only 3 things we paid to have done were the inwall plumbing work, getting our wood floors redone, and the windows.

I looked into doing the windows myself. It's not the window itself that is complicated but all the sealing and insulation that goes along with it too. Like people have said it's simply a cost-benefit ratio and its different for everyone. For me when I saw the prices it was a no-brainer to have someone bang it out in one day professionally.

if you can afford to pay someone to do it, then pay them to do it.

my wife just bought a new faucet for one of our bathrooms. simple project not too hard right? well needless to say I'll be hiring someone to replace the other ones. I got it done and it wasn't too hard, but my time is more valuable than doing that 3 more times....I'm paying the man.

Ok... I guess we just disagree here. I'd rather save the $50-%75 per window, and I'm confident that after the first two, I'd install them just about as quickly as any professional.

Plus, it's my house. I think I'd just plain "care" more about doing a good job if I did it myself.

This summarizes my whole philosophy on home repairs/improvements since I've become a homeowner.

Really?

I found that to be one of the easier projects. Now the garbage disposal... THAT was a pain.

the house is only a year old, but the original investor/owner put in standard stock faucets. Whomever the builder used to put in the drains glued/plumer puttied the drain on so it wouldn't screw off. I literally had to bend up the little metal drain ring and pull it down through the sink to remove it. If it was not such a hassle I would do the others myself, but I now know what it will be like for the other three.

I think the drain ring is supped to be glued on, to keep it from leaking.

not the part that screws into the drain otherwise how would you remove/replace it?

I've seen enough window installers make mistakes putting in windows that I think you'd have to be crazy to do it yourself with no experience. It ibsolutely isn't a weekend project ... on your own it would take quite a while, plus it's not a one-man job.

The safety valve with having a contractor do it is that if something goes wrong, you have someone to blame and take responsibility. You install the flashing on your window wrong -- which is very easy to do -- and you end up with a puddle on your living room floor the next time it rains, you are SOL in more ways than one.

Ah. I think I misunderstood the part you were talking about.

To me, this is the deciding factor in the decision to pay a contractor (and the relatively low labor costs).

Franklin is right in that any reasonably competent homeowner can do it. But, if something goes wrong, the average homeowner is more fucked than, say, if they were installing a faucet.

I have replaced windows before. I recommend hiring someone, simply because if everything is not squared up (which is a very real possibility in a 30+ year old house), there are a lot of opportunities for an amateur to screw up.

When you factor in how much your time is worth, that you may need tools that you do not have (including ladders?), how uncomfortable you may be on a ladder, safely handling old windows (that presumably do not have safety glass), and the heating/cooling and watersealing aspect, I think you pay someone else and enjoy your weekend.

Thanks for the input, everybody. I'm leaning towards paying the man in this case.