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House window life expectancy

Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Other Topics
Forum Name: Shops, Barns, Varmints, and Trucks
Forum Description: anything you want to talk about except politics
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=209300
Printed Date: 11 Dec 2025 at 1:20pm
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Topic: House window life expectancy
Posted By: AC7060IL
Subject: House window life expectancy
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2025 at 1:58pm
20 yrs ago, purchased 30 new gas-filled dual pane wooden outer vinyl clad double hung windows & installed them in our new home. Now some are beginning to rot(8~27%) in their bases of lower sashes. Not entirely rotted lower sash, just small pockets of bad rotted timber. House doesn’t have excess moisture. All windows received quality inner stain & sealed. Calling mfg resolved nothing, unless I wanted to part with +$300 per window for a lower sash replacement. I declined.
Thinking minimum of 50 years should be their lifespan? Guess not. I plan to dig out rotted pockets & use an epoxy to fill voids. Then, drill new drain holes from exterior sash to base of dual pane castings to assist ridding any inner condensation.



Replies:
Posted By: tadams(OH)
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2025 at 2:11pm
Just make sure you don't drill into the window seal


Posted By: Kenny L.
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2025 at 3:26pm
We build our house in Sept of 2000 in put in Pella windows and doors, the windrows are still in great shape the doors not quite the same, the patio door need replacing but we're going to let it go for a while yet because it's not leaking into the house it's just the skin coming loose so put same glue in it and re corked it see what happens.


Posted By: JW in MO
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2025 at 6:45pm
Originally posted by Kenny L. Kenny L. wrote:

We build our house in Sept of 2000 in put in Pella windows and doors, the windrows are still in great shape the doors not quite the same, the patio door need replacing but we're going to let it go for a while yet because it's not leaking into the house it's just the skin coming loose so put same glue in it and re corked it see what happens.
I did the same 29 years ago remodeling a 10 year old house, Pella, metal on the outside and wood on the inside, they still look like new when cleaned.  If I had to replace windows now, at this point, I figure anything will run me out anyway.


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Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2025 at 8:01pm
Have 2 bow casement windows , 5 lite in each , one Anderson , other Weather shield , both are single pane with a storm glass - not thermopane - 
 Had one outfit give me a bid to replace $30,000 , next was MAD CITY window , attractive lady giving a sales pitch for about a hour , wanted to save me money and replace with 2 sliders instead of bow windows - ONLY $22,000 
 12 Years back I replaced 10 sliders windows (thermopaine)  for $210 each and 2 patio doors for $400 each using Kolby and Kolby units from local discounter for windows 

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Life lesson: If you’re being chased by a lion, you’re on a horse, to the left of you is a giraffe and on the right is a unicorn, what do you do? You stop drinking and get off the carousel.


Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2025 at 8:16pm
Sounds like you got 'hybrid' windows, wood outside, vinyl inside which isn't a good choice.
The problem is wood expands/contracts differently than vinyl,so eventually ,with heat/cold/time ,they will separate(delaminate ), just a little but  that's all that's needed and a drop of water gets in....time passes and  once it begins.....well wood rots.
Neighbour had that type and he spent a LOT of time,gouging out wood, filling in with epoxy,took him 3 years.
I just replaced my 25 year old windows. Went with 'brick to brick (B2B) 'all vinyl, welded, aluminum capped. B2B means they removed all the original wooden frames( 1955 construction) ,new trim, foam,caulking, etc. They're definitely going to outlive me. I know there's high profit margin in 'new window installations' Renewal by Anderson quote me $84,000 for '13 window openings. Oh yeah, add another 13% for taxes. Fortunately I do a lot of 'help the neighbours' with my Kubota. One guy's dad  cut me his 'family and friends ' discount. His company made money, he made a commission and I saved a LOT compared to Anderson. Quality.... same or better than Anderson.


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3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor)

Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water


Posted By: Darwin W. Kurtz
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2025 at 8:29pm
25 years is about the life span for non Pella windows. I saved a ton of money on generic windows about 25 years ago. Now some of them need to be replaced as the gas has gone out of them now


Posted By: ACinSC
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2025 at 2:13am
Just had all 10 windows replaced on the front of our house. Wife wanted Anderson so that's what we got. Very nice windows. Guys did an excellent job, but very expensive
Think they have a 30 year warranty. Definitely outlast me.


Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2025 at 6:18am
When built here used a local All Vinyl over aluminum support frame windows in a wood box that revealed inside the house. Full vinyl attaching webbing outside. So far at ten years actually installed have had three broken or seal broken by lawnmower discharge projectiles as reconstructed the lawn and two that the seals failed leaked off the gas in Three panel sealed panes. If even end up replacing will probably be Anderson at this point but are truly cost prohibitive. Pella has changed and have seen some going in I would not have bought.

House was started in ‘14, finished in ‘15 so are getting past the 10 years installed mark and not really happy with what originally bought. Whatever end up doing I know will not live to see them replaced again.

Doors on my workshop are same manufacture, steel body but have a pretty poor vinyl and plastic either 9panel or internal decorative structure that is also starting to fall apart. Front door will be the worst for individual price on house as has a overhead window as well two side light windows where will be well over $2000 just to purchase replacement not get installed.



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