windows?

[JohnK]

Hi All,

I've got to replace some windows in some concrete-block houses. These houses are in a low-rent area so the window design needs to be robust.

What's a good value today in a vinyl window?

[philoÂÂ]

The mid-grade is usually your best value.

If you get the cheapest ones, they will fall apart.

The most expensive ones just give slightly better insulation but at a lot more cost.

If you do NOT include heat with the rent, there is at least a chance the tenants won't break them.

In college, me and my buddies used to paint houses and repair windows and half my jobs were for low income housing. The people who lived there did not want broken windows.

On one job, one of my colleagues slightly cracked a new window he just put in. The tenant made him replace it again before we left the job.

[DerbyDad03]

If I was the tenant I'd make the installer replace it also. Who do you think the landlord is going to blame once the installer leaves? At a minimum I wouldn't put my security deposit at risk by letting the installer leave without documenting that he broke the window and that a replacement was on order.

[DerbyDad03]

Robust in what regard? Rough usage by the occupants or security to prevent break-ins?

Very few windows, by themselves, are going to prevent break-ins. If that's what you mean by "robust" then consider window bars, either interior so the tenants can operate them...

Or exterior...

If you want something that will hold up to any type of rough usage from the tenants then you are probably going to spend more than you like. You will be looking for metal pins instead of plastic for the sliders and other "upgraded" features.

I suggest you look around your area for a place that services contractors, such as Norandex/Reynolds, and give them your requirements.

[philoÂÂ]

X

Exactly.

If the window was cracked, the owner would have blamed the tenant.

[micky]

Not only that, the tenant is the landlord's eyes. He's there more than the landlord is, and if he sees that the contractor the ll hired is doing a bad job, he should either get him to do a good job or notify the ll. Whether there's a legal duty or not.