So, the new windows (excepting the ones Lowe's mis-ordered) are installed.

Here's one, in the living room, before the blinds and curtains were put back up:



You might ask me stuff:

1. Was it worth it?

Well, it will probably be a while before I see savings on my utility bills. But I bet I will save money - the old windows were fairly drafty, I realize that now. And I get $1500 back on my taxes because these are the super-de-duper high efficiency windows. And maybe the place will stay cooler in the summer, with the low-e glass and the double panes and all.

2. But was it worth it?

From other perspectives, totally. First of all, I can already tell that it's quieter in here. Quiet is very important to me and it will be a joy to have a quieter house thanks to better insulated windows. And the windows look nice - I was afraid they would stick out like the proverbial sore thumb in my older house, but they really look like they "go." I think you'd have to be an Antiques Roadshow Curmudgeon to say that the windows "ruin" the integrity of the house or somesuch. And another thing, all of the ugly wooden bits that I kept looking and and thinking, oh man, I need to scrape and paint that some time are either gone or are covered over (the wood frames are still present on the inside, but they are fairly recently painted, so we're good there). All of the stuff that was getting weathered outside has been covered over with either the windows themselves or new wood, so it looks nice and clean and doesn't offend my aesthetic sensibilities any more. AND the windows seem to grant more privacy...the fiberglass screens on these seem "denser" than the old wire screens. The windows actually look greenish from the street because of the screens - which actually goes well with the house, as it has green trim.

Oh, and because they are low-e windows, they will cut down on fading of stuff in the house.

AND I can open the windows for a change. Only a few of the old windows would actually open, and those were hard to open. Which always worried me a bit: what if I woke up in the middle of the night and there was a fire, or there was a bad guy coming through the front door and I had to bug out in a hurry through one of my bedroom windows? If that happens now, I can bug out very quickly.

And come spring, I can open up all the windows and get a cross breeze. And if I have any misadventures in cooking, I can open the kitchen windows now to vent the stink.

3. Do you think you could have done the installation yourself?

Heck no. It takes two people minimum to do that, and I don't have anyone that is both sufficiently able-bodied and that loves me sufficiently much down here that I'd be able to ask to assist me. Getting the installation was totally worth it. Also, the installers knew what they were doing, and I wouldn't have, so not only would it have taken me longer, but it wouldn't have been as good a job. And I like these installers - I've had them for other stuff - so it makes me happy to be able to support them financially.

I watched the installers at work a bit yesterday. It was interesting to watch but not something I'd want to do. It takes considerable strength and probably more patience than I have. And also skill in cutting the various wood bits to the right size (the new fittings; the old ones - not sure what they are called but the "bars" that go alongside the windows - were pretty trashed).

And it makes a mess. Which the installers cleaned up. I hate getting a big job done and then realizing, "Oh man, I have to sweep up all the dust and crud I generated."

The installers did remark on how easily the windows went in - apparently the openings were pretty true to rectangular. I can see how it would be really hard if you had to do lots of shimming or if you found that the opening was a bit too small.

4. Would you use these installers again?

Heck yes. But I hope I don't have any expensive repair or replacement stuff for a while. (I do note that they do siding and someday I want to get my garage properly sided. But not right now, I feel too skint to pay for any more home reno other than what HAS to be done).

5. What was the worst part of the whole situation?

Dealing with the Lowe's bureaucracy. And the moving of furniture and taking down (and putting back up) of blinds. And feeling like I had to apologize for all the books and the stuffed toys sitting in the Papasan chair in my bedroom.

And another "worst" part, though of my own making: I chose to replace the blinds in the living room at the same time as I got new windows. Nice new Levolor blinds. Nice new blinds with the WORST flipping instructions on how to install I have ever seen. Seriously, if I didn't try fitting the blinds to the hardware before I put the hardware up, I would have put it up in the wrong orientation based on what the paperwork with the blinds showed. And the hardware was constructed so that it was essentially impossible to use a driver-drill to screw it in - I had to use an old, by-hand Phillips screwdriver. And while I have strong hands and all, it kind of hurts to have to screw screws into fir molding. Even after drilling guide holes first.

But anyway. I hope the plumbers do actually call today, that the addition of a "clean out" is not too expensive and is fairly easy, and that the remaining windows come in fast.

6. Would you recommend other people replace their windows?

It depends greatly. The windows I had were really old - 1940s vintage - and replacing them was partly so I didn't have to re-glaze and paint them. (The labor for that probably would have run close to the cost of new windows, I bet).

I will say this is probably a good time to do it, if you're thinking of it - I think the tax rebate is still active. I know the installers said they were amazed at how many window jobs they had done in the past couple of months; they think that people are choosing to renovate their homes rather than buying a newer one.

(An aside: as someone with frankly lots of stuff, and someone who tends to get attached to the place where she's at, I always thought the idea of buying a new house in your same town because you were tired of the old one was a little odd. I can see it if your life changes a lot - like if you have twins, or if you realize you need to have your aged parents move in with you - but I have also known people who moved house because they "wanted something new." To me, it seems a lot less life-disrupting to, I don't know, paint the walls a different color or something).