Anderson Insert Window System

[rodpaine]

Here is a brief report on my installation of the Anderson Insert Window system product, for those who may be interested in such a system.
-Rod

[YinzerMama]

Why didn't you go with a 2 over 2 window? Do they make them?

[the_ps]

Looks good. You must be thrilled not to have triple-track storm windows anymore.

[rodpaine]

Why didn't you go with a 2 over 2 window? Do they make them?

Yes, any window pane configuration you want is available, but as I indicated, the existing 2-over-2 windows I replaced were the ONLY such configuration in the house. All other windows are 6-over-6 or simply a 6 pane window, such as the dormer windows are, as shown on my window renovation page.
-Rod

[rodpaine]

Looks good. You must be thrilled not to have triple-track storm windows anymore.

Yes, we're certainly happy to be rid of all of them except one, which remains in the kitchen over the sink and is next on the list for 2010 replacement. When we moved in October 1983, we could sit in any room and watch the drapes move (REALLY) and a light breeze rattled most of the windows. Our first purchase was a half dozen boxes of Mortite to help slow the air flow. We've come a long way since, but it has taken time, as most here have experienced during their own window renovation work.
-Rod

[raymanretro]

Nice job, they really look good!

[jade mortimer]

i'm not sure why you have your window replacement documentation under a 'window restoration' blog...you've just removed and replaced an unbeatable system that has worked for how long? i give your new anderson's 10 years before they begin to give you problems...

there are tens of thousands of old windows removed and tossed in the landfill every year...we are inundated with numerous ads in our local daily newspapesr about replacement windows, a ton of ads in any trade magazines, signs posted on telephone poles, we hear the ads on television and radio commercials, we open our front door to a window replacement salesman, find perfectly good old windows out on the sidewalk where a homeowner just installed replacement... i would really rather not hear about the wonders of window replacement on a website catering to caring for old homes...

i would say you've lost a good 1 1/4" of light on each stile for a total of 2 1/2"...a good storm window properly installed would have been a better investment...

rod, you've posted for a while and i assume you know that windows are a contenscious issue here...i'm sorry you chose to share your story on replacing your old windows...it's an open forum and we are free to share our experiences and opinions but there are other forums where window replacement in an old home might be better received...

i do my best to be diplomatic here on the old house web, but there are times when i can get pretty irked, this is one of those times......

...jade

[YinzerMama]

i'm not sure why you have your window replacement documentation under a 'window restoration' blog...you've just removed and replaced an unbeatable system that has worked for how long? i give your new anderson's 10 years before they begin to give you problems...

My feeling was he went over all his windows and tried to restore but found these few just weren't cutting it? He didn't replace ALL his windows.

Am I being too diplomatic? I know windows can be a sore spot.

Question - people say "a good storm window" will help. How do you know if you have good storms??? Mine have no brand that I can find. How do you assess them? Is it bad to use interior + exterior storms if you want extra assurance?

[rodpaine]

Jade,

I am sorry you have chosen to take the position you have, regarding my post about replacing a window system that I have 26 years of experience with, that has not worked well, primarily due to its window counter weight design involving three large cavities in the walls. I have looked at the system several times with a borrowed infrared camera, during the winter and know that it's a big energy loss area, during a northerly winter wind... to say nothing about ice forming on the interior windows at such times. I have also looked at many of my neighbors homes in our town and their old window systems, primarily the north facing windows. Uninsullated weight pockets are also a problem for them, inspite of expensive well made wooden exterior storm windows involved.

I have a lot of respect for what you do and have shared on this and other forums, with respect to old house window restoration. However, I disagree with your comments that I am in error about posting my opinions and experience in using the Anderson Insert system, here on this forum, or on my own web site which has attempted to also promote old window restoration, in no small amount of detail. I did not "replace" the old windows that I worked on for a considerable amount of time to improve, without a lot of thought about what to replace them with. The intent of my posting was to show what replacement window system I used and how it came together, for people who may also be faced with having to involve a "replacement" system, for their own reasons. Replacements will happen, I am just trying to keep the plastic crap out of the selection process, by showing what I used for my replacement.

There are five historic houses on my street, including my own. Four of them have installed plastic crap replacement windows... two have had them since replaced, again, having failed after 5-7 years! My house has had to have 5 of its 19 original windows replaced, two of them being the subject of this post. Nobody in my area has been more vocal or performed more window restoration work, then I have, so I have no small amount of time invested in this subject.

Lastly, I have no association or financial interest in Anderson, Petit Industries, Climate SEAL, 3M V-Seal or any products I have mentioned on this web site or on my own web sites. I hope I have chosen wisely when I paid my money and took delivery of these products, then took some time to share what I've done and what it looks like, hoping it may help others. This is what both of us are trying to accomplish, in this forum and in others.

-Rod

[Don M]

Hi Rod,
I just read your shutter blog; you have done a beautiful job with those. Timberlane Shutters I have considered as I could use a few replacement shutters fo my old house. Fortunately most of my shutters are original to the house & were in reasonable condition in a pile in the barn. I was able to locate enough shutter hardware on Ebay & from a friend who bought a bucket of old hardware at an auction to be able to rehang all of them! Don