If you are looking for vinyl windows, most manufacturers of replacement windows offer both replacement and new construction configurations. The biggest difference is replacement windows have the nailing fin removed so it will fit into an existing frame.

I'd recommend going with the best quality new construction window as your budget will allow, paying very close attention to the quality of the installation labor.

Why not get off the web and start talking to some local companies face to face? The yellow pages is a good place to start.

As explained to us by a shop:

"Replacement" means installers replace only the "inside" of your existing windows leaving the frame intact. This normally means there is no drywall work inside nor stucco or siding or trim work outside because everything happens "inside" the existing window frame. This does not apply if you are building a new house.

"New construction" means installers come to remove your existing windows comepletely stripping everything down to the wood studs (terms?) and install a completely new window. This often means removing the trim outside and in drastic cases could mean cutting a bit of stucco or siding and interior drywall to fit the windows, fix any rot, add more water barrier and such.

"Construction Grade" does *NOT* mean it is a better window as many homeowners like to think when they build their homes. It just means the contractor got a deal and decided to "push" a certain brand. Some "construction grade" windows are actually quite cheap and lousy windows like our cheap aluminum junk that we had to replace.

So it is best to shop for a good window or make sure "construction grade" is actually as good as you want it.

Good luck!

[quote]"New construction" means installers come to remove your existing windows comepletely stripping everything down to the wood studs (terms?) and install a completely new window. This often means removing the trim outside and in drastic cases could mean cutting a bit of stucco or siding and interior drywall to fit the windows, fix any rot, add more water barrier and such. [/quote]

Not when the house is being built. There is no trim, insulation, rot etc. Nor is there any "stripping down to wood studs" to be done.

[quote]"Construction Grade" does *NOT* mean it is a better window as many homeowners like to think when they build their homes. It just means the contractor got a deal and decided to "push" a certain brand. Some "construction grade" windows are actually quite cheap and lousy windows like our cheap aluminum junk that we had to replace."[/quote]

You are confusing a New Construction nailing fin configuration with a contractors grade window. Many of the best windows on the market come in both replacement AND new construction versions with no difference in the quality.

[quote]"So it is best to shop for a good window or make sure "construction grade" is actually as good as you want it."[/quote]

Again, you are confused here. The OP is asking what the difference is between a window configured as a replacement window and one configured for new construction. "New construction" doesn't mean "contractor grade". Please refrain from giving advice unless you are sure you understand what you are talking about.

As I stated above, the only difference between a replacement window and a new construction window is the nailing fin. It has nothing to do with the qaulity of the window. The best choice for a new home is a window with nailing fin. There are also cases where a new construction window configuration is a better choice as a replacement window installation.

I am not giving advice, that is reserved for someone who is an expert. I am passing along information we found and heard that were clearly correct.

I also do not see any difference between what you said and what I said except I can see you have made a lot of inferences and connections where there were none. We are miscommunicating.

The information came from a local shop in San Jose, CA., want to call them up? Try The Screen Shop. They are master Marvin dealers. We bought our latest set of windows and doors from them and they did an excellent job. Very good people.

I agree with you that "New Construction" is new windows but as I stated earlier, it was clear that when building new homes, windows are new anyway. We have built our own home so we know these terms quite well from a consumer's point of view.

"Construction Grade" is a term that is happily used by many window dealers in our area. They came out, they said they could get us Construction Grade windows, whatever that meant. We at first thought, "Wow! must be good windows if big home building contractors" would use them. Boy were we wrong. We found out "Construction Grade" is most commonly mentioned, at least in our area, when a contractor has a deal with a manufacturer and wants to push that brand. This is in the greate South Bay Area of San Francisco.

That is a much abused term that further confuses the window buying process. Just tell us if it is replacement or a whole new window and let us do the rest.

I mentioned that term just in case the original poster who asked also hears of this term.

So, I really do not see anything that is different than your explannation except for the extra inferences that you made, not I.

Peace.