Sounds to me that you're the type of guy that rips off everyone he has ever dealt with since those 4 things upset you so much.

SSSSSick em Finster.
Bet I'm not the only one curious to know who the lucky winner of this contract is lol.
Be sure and second guess their every move.

I know I know, shut up lol.

Right now demand is so high in this area that you are lucky to find a reliable contractor that's not already booked for the year let alone one willing to jump through hoops. Good luck in your quest.

If you're paying for quality windows you also probably want a quality installation. A decent contractor already knows going in what he can or will do it for. I haven't known you to be a hothead but you sure seem to have your hackles up on this one.

I find it amazing that people think I'm a hothead for wanting a quality job done by a contractor that is legit and will do the job I pay him for correctly. If it was anyone elses money they were spending on their home they would want the same thing I assume. I don't know, maybe they don't?

well Boco is out

true between nearly unobtanium for materials and everyone wanting to hire work right now.

there is a fair price but no rock bottom , fair shouldn't move

ordering the windows , my wife works for a millwork plant , they don't do windows but do doors , order today and you might have your door before first frost in October that really is how far out everyone is booked right now.

FInster as long as you let them know upfront your expectations I think you are being fair , salesmen are like bilge water necessary at times but really discussing for the most part.

I'm interested to hear how this goes for you Finster. I too am in the process of getting new windows for my house. As you said, it's costly! I can speak for myself in saying that I'm having a very hard time even getting a contractor to come out and give me a quote let alone dream of someone that would meet all of your stipulations. Contractors in my area are backed up for months and maybe even over a year. If I had a list of requirements that mirrored yours, I'd be off of their year-long wait list and they would tell me to do it myself. I'm not saying that your stipulations are ridiculous, they appear fair. But, in my case anyhow and in the current world we're living in.....beggars can't be choosers.

Well, I have 4 different companies scheduled for next week. I'll see how this pans out. A couple companies I called only deal in vinyl so they are out of the question. Vinyl sucks! Two companies I called didn't make it past my phone call. When the person on the other end of the line cannot speak English or understand the basic English language, they are not even getting out of the gate. I speak English, not Spanish, Hindy and not Ebonics! Guess it's to much to ask for companies to put a professional sounding person on their phone these days? If they can't get that simple issue right, they aren't ripping into my home.

I wouldn't hold out on any deals or best price options. The contractors are very much in the drivers seat right now. The good contractors around here are turning down work or are booked out until next spring. I think that the contractors are fully aware of what you expect as is every other customer they deal with. My dad has stopped quoting anything that can't wait until June 2022 and he is still quoting 6-10 jobs a week. He told me last week that he could raise his prices to match the demand and still get all the work that he can handle but won't gouge the customer like his competitors have started doing. I would assume that any good contractor giving you a bid probably feel the same way.

Like Learch said my old man would pick up the attitude on the phone and politely decline a quote. Just relax and hire the guy you feel most comfortable with. Your not going to like the price either way and based on your post probably not the window either. Your going to have to pay for a quality window. I would pay a premium for a good window and service and it's possibly from your post that you just want the cheapest no matter who or what they install.

Not saying it true just the perception. GOOD LUCK

Like I said before and I'll say it again. Call your Renewal Rep. They will come out and price everything for you. Yes they will have a sub do the work but then they are on the hook for that sub so you can bet they will be good. And you will also have the best window for that hard earned money.

This is going to be fun. Please update us next week after your four meetings. Assuming you find someone desperate enough to take the job, please keep updating us through the process.

They are coming next Wednesday.

I just heard a squeal of tires and saw a puff of smoke. There was a car burning tire trying to catch up to an ambulance. You should really drive more carefully.

Finster, you mentioned that you're not a fan of vinyl windows. Why is this? I was considering vinyl. We currently have wood that were likely installed in the early 1990's and they're all discolored, bleached, and starting to rot. They are Marvin, which is a quality window. I was thinking we wouldn't have this problem with vinyl.

You have rules and so do I. I’d fire you before you would hire me.[/quote] Sounds to me that you're the type of guy that rips off everyone he has ever dealt with since those 4 things upset you so much.
[/quote]

Actually been in the custom cabinet business for 24 years with the same company. If I were dishonest with my clients it would have caught with me long ago. Don’t listen to me listen to everyone else coonman jr.

I think the 4 rules Finster laid out make a lot of sense... while we don't necessarily deliver them so bluntly, they are expectations of ours from any subs quoting us work and certainly not unreasonable when large sums of money are up for consideration.

Finster, I would not necessarily discount any manufacturers who sub their install right away, many vendors entire company is structured on a subcontracted installation basis for a lot of good reasons. The key would be to get references for the subcontractor as well.

You mentioned no vinyl... are you looking at high performance aluminum or wood... or something else?

Years ago, around 1999 or so, I worked for a window company that made small vinyl windows for glass block. I know how they are made, what goes into them and I know enough to know that they are inferior. In addition, I have vinyl's on my home now, all of them are broken in one way or another, Mostly the welds on them. Could they be repaired? I'm sure I could repair them and in fact, I will probably keep these old windows. They would be good for the garage I want to build, maybe replace the ones in my shop which are even worse windows, they would be good for a deer stand or even a hunting cabin. I may give them to friends that have projects or sell some of them after I fix them. In any event. I would like aluminum clad wood or I'm even entertaining fiberglass and wood. It will all come down to cost I suppose. I'm trying to stay under $20,000

Under $20,000? Is that including labor to install or just the windows? $20,000 for everything with the number of windows you are replacing sounds pretty cheap. We were quoted around $12,000 for labor, 13 windows and a sliding door.

This is comedy gold, right here. Seriously made me laugh.