# Homeowners Finally Discover Replacement Windows Were a Mistake!

- Link: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/replacement-windows-mistake/
- Published: 2013-03-28T12:48:00-04:00
- Author: Ken Roginski

Window replacement contractors have stated on home improvement forums that **80%
of their current window business is replacing replacement windows**.

They said that most **windows being replaced are only 15-20 years old!**

All those homeowners that fell for the “window scheme” and removed their original
50, 100, 150 year old wood windows for these new replacement windows, now have the
expense of doing it again and again.  It just goes to show you how easy a homeowner
can fall for a sales pitch!

[[

Before replacement windows.

So tough luck for those homeowners. It’s not that there was no information available
about preserving old windows. It’s not that they were unaware that wood needs to
be maintained. If the condition of their old window was beyond repair – that is **
demolition by neglect!** If you neglect something then you have a bigger expense
and that goes for anything.

**What many homeowners view as bad or beyond repair is usually wrong and just a 
lazy excuse**. It’s easier to give up than asking a carpenter about repair.

I do feel bad for their neighbors. They have to look at the house with shiny bright
plastic windows.

Now these **toxic vinyl windows will go into the landfill**. **There should be a
tax accessed for doing this.**

[[

New replacement windows

A post on a forum by a window installer:

>  I just got off the phone with a customer of 12 years ago with more seal failures,
> it seems that I’m going to be spending the rest of my life replacing failed IG
> units, the manufacturer warrants the units for life, but I had to supply the labor
> to replace them, had I know how bad these things were I wouldn’t have applied 
> my normal lifetime guarantee for my work. Energy efficiency comes at one Hell 
> of a price, both to the initial consumer and to responsible contractors who warrant
> their work. It’s best to tell customer right out front, that windows are no-longer
> lifetime investments, they are like paint and roofs, or tires on a car, they must
> be routinely replaced.

I recently came upon this article on Vinyl Windows and ordinances. It’s not only
about protecting your old wood windows from the dumps, but protecting the homeowner
from making a decision based on mass media and what everyone else is doing.

YOU found the information on this blog and website and are now able to make a more
informed decision, but what about the people down the street that just received 
a great offer by a smooth savvy window salesman?

[Read about the city of Rochester’s plans to deter the use of vinyl windows and experiences of homeowners who already replaced their original wood windows with vinyl. ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/assets/Closing-the-door-on-vinyl-windows.pdf)(
pdf)

Then, if you haven’t read the Old House Guy website information yet, go to [www.oldhouseguy.com/windows ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/windows).**
If you know someone that is considering replacement windows print this out and stuff
it in their mailbox.**

**Do you need your windows repaired or restored?**
 If you’re [looking for a window restorer in your area check out the Old House Guy **Window Listing** here ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/window-restorers/).