What Do Custom Replacement Windows Cost—and How Much Energy Do They Save?

I have a friend who absolutely hates surprises. This old buddy of mine just has never really been one for surprise parties, or for unexpected changes of plans, or even for people randomly dropping by his house without calling first (I know that last one from experience). I’ve always kind of wondered why. So, one day I just flat out asked him. He told me that he’s just always been a man who likes to be prepared, regardless of what he’s doing.

You know, what? I can understand that because that’s definitely the way I feel when it comes to maintaining my home. I myself love a good surprise party or a spontaneous change of plans. But when it comes to things like my HVAC, plumbing, or a whole-home window replacement, I want to know all that I can about what to expect. My sense is that the vast majority of homeowners out there are also this way. That’s why I want to talk about custom replacement windows costs, both in terms of installation expenditures and how much energy—and therefore money—they can ultimately save you.

Living in the Sacramento metro area, we’re lucky enough to be eligible for a number of no interest financing programs that can help taper custom replacement windows cost up front. I think it really benefits homeowners to plan ahead and take advantage of these programs. My suspicion is that once you know how much energy and utility bill money you can save with new custom windows, you’ll be wondering why you didn’t look into this sooner!

Custom Replacement Windows Cost: The 411 on Project Expenses

I think the most common question that homeowners interested in replacing their old windows with double pane ones ask me is: What do custom replacement windows cost? The answer is that it really does vary quite a bit depending on a number of factors, including how many windows you need to replace, how many stories your home is, whether the windows are going into existing structurally-sound frames, and so on and so on. In general, though, I estimate that, in the Sacramento region, a single story home with three bedrooms and roughly 10 windows will cost between $3,000 and $7,000.

I estimate that, in the Sacramento region, a single story home with three bedrooms and roughly 10 windows will cost between $3,000 and $7,000.

Now, as I mentioned above, this can vary depending on those other factors. If you have fewer bedrooms or windows, that cost is very likely to go down. If, however, you have more bedrooms, more windows, or additional stories, it’s likely to go up. A trained custom window installation and replacement company would be happy to give you a free in-home estimate in most cases, so I highly recommend giving a local service team a call. They can also tell you about how investing in those new windows will save you on energy and on your utility costs, which we’ll go into further in the next section.

How Much Energy—and Money— Do Custom Replacement Windows Save?

One of the other things I often talk about when discussing how much custom replacement windows cost is the amount of energy homeowners can save by investing in the right windows, specifically by investing in double pane options. Now, in the past, we’ve discussed the benefits of double pane windows and we’ve talked about how double pane windows work. This is all valuable information, though, so I think it’s well worth repeating.

…the U.S. Department of Energy reports an average reduction in household heating and cooling costs by about $500 annually when homes have double pane windows installed.

Double pane windows are part of a whole-house approach to energy efficiency because they are insulated in a way that stops conditioned air from leaking out of your home. This saves your HVAC system from having to expend extra energy to condition more air. It varies by individual home, of course, but the U.S. Department of Energy reports an average reduction in household heating and cooling costs by about $500 annually when homes have double pane windows installed. Simply put, investing in double pane windows can save real money on your monthly heating and cooling bills.

How California’s Financing Programs Help Offset Custom Window Replacement Costs

So, you now have an average price in your head about how much custom replacement windows cost. And, you also know how much you stand to save by investing in them. At this point, most homeowners are pretty excited about the notion of having custom replacement windows installed for their homes. The last question then becomes: How can I afford the cost to replace my old windows with custom ones right now?

Well, fortunately for us, in Northern California there are some great window replacement financing options to pick from. Home energy efficiency financing programs like SMUD, HERO, PACE, CaliforniaFIRST, and Ygrene Energy Efficiency are all designed to help homeowners make upgrades that bring their houses in line with whole-home energy efficiency techniques. These programs, however, can be a bit tricky, which is why I highly recommend working with an experienced custom replacement windows installation company that can answer any questions you may have, help you navigate your financing options, and ultimately get the work done for you, too.

I think it’s a great thing to be a careful planner, especially when it comes to making upgrades to and maintenance decisions about your home. You should always have a good idea of what options are available for you, and what price range you can expect. That’s just smart thinking. You should also plan to work with an experienced window installation expert.

Here at Bell Brothers, we have all the expertise you need to make sure that you get the best possible financing option for your home. We are also experts when it comes to the financing programs available in our area, and we’d be happy to help you find one that works best for you. So, plan on, my friends— just make sure to plan to make Bell Brothers a key part of your next custom replacement windows job!

At Bell Brothers, our trained installation professionals would be delighted to help you select and install custom energy efficient windows to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and to get answers to your questions about custom replacement windows cost.

Wondering how to finance new windows—or even a furnace or plumbing upgrade? SMUD is a unique financing option that helps California homeowners afford energy efficient upgrades to their home. Contact Bell Brothers, a SMUD-approved contractor, to learn more. Our local window, HVAC, and plumbing specialists will walk you through the entire process, from applications to installation.

Image courtesy Artazum LLC