Are you in the market for new windows? Window installation can be a costly project, but with the right information it doesn’t have to be. In this video I break down the true cost of window installation and offer some tips on how to get the best deal.
The True Cost of a Home Window Installation
Today we’re going to answer the question, “how much does it cost to put in a new window?” The answer to this question depends on a lot of different things. If we’re doing a retro-style replacement—the answer is you’re going to pay a lot less that way than if you were to do a full tear-out. Let’s differentiate a bit. Let’s say you have a house built in the 70s or 80s with single-pane aluminum windows and you opted to do a vinyl retrofit style window replacement. You buy the windows and now we’re factoring how much it’s going to cost to have them installed.
First, we have to factor in how many windows you’re going to install. Let’s say you’re going to install just one window. When homeowners compare the price of the window compared to the labor, they sometimes get surprised when they see that the labor is more than the window itself. This is because the window installers have to take a truck out of service and send it to your house. Installers will be sent and will labor everything for you: the caulking, trimming, and everything for one window. You’re going to end up paying $800 bucks for just the labor. Your single window may just cost around $400 but here’s the thing. If you install just one window, you’re going to end up paying more in labor than in the window itself. However, if you install 10 windows, this pricing will flip flop and the cost of your windows is going to increase. For example, your window cost will be around $5k – $6k with your labor cost being around $3k. This is the best way to do it because you’re getting more for your labor cost. This route makes more sense for the person buying the windows.
Another scenario would be a full tear out. This would require pulling all the wood on the outside of the house and redoing all the outside wood. The labor costs of this process will increase significantly. Now the labor for each window is going to be around $800 bucks. You’re talking about significantly higher costs and way more time. This is where retrofit is more appealing. It’s quicker, less expensive, and offers the exact same results if done correctly. Check out our YouTube video to learn more about the true cost of a home window installation below: