Prairie grids belong in cottage style homes. They do not look good on your house.

Thanks for your comment!

I would go with less grids, half dark trim

Or with dark entire trim

The two examples above from @Celery. Visualization, Rendering images, now that's your sweet spot that draws the eye to the aesthetics of the home quite nicely.

Unless your windows are leaking, I would leave them alone because you said this is not your forever home and you want to balance the expense with resale. Why not leave them for the next owner who may be willing to install top quality windows while you identify and fix up your forever home with top-of-the line of whatever it needs? Your home as-is is very attractive.

" I am also looking at bronze but the bronze doesn’t show up as well as black. "

Thats the point they do not stand out they harmonize and work together. I still say Dark Bronze and no grids. If you have to go grids, use 6 over 6, definitely no prairie.

Celery. Visualization, Rendering Images, Thank you very much. I really like the images you have created. In addition to the windows, it gives me some ideas on changing paint colors as well as landscaping. You made my house look great!

jackowskib, I agree and thanks for your comment!

kl123, unfortunately, the strips between the windows are brittle and some are cracking and popping off. It’s worse on the back of the house where it gets more sun. At this point, I don’t see any other option but to replace them.

millworkman, the bronze example I was shown for the NT window is not a very dark bronze. I just wish it was darker,

I had another company come out to give me a quote. The owner of this company makes a lot of informational YouTube videos about replacement windows. I believe they are a very reputable company and sell great products, but, they are 2-3x more expensive than what the other company quoted. I have an appointment with another company later this week. Just trying to do my due diligence…

@adamsdh that is an excellent reason to replace windows. You look into Anderson Erickson and Pella? Too expensive?

I am not familiar with Erickson and I couldn’t find any information on it. I do think Anderson and Pella would be more expensive than the aluminum NT I have been quoted on by a local company. The company coming out next week uses Simonton windows.

You are correct. Anderson and Pella are higher quality and more expensive. I understand if it's not in your budget. Sorry ... Anderson Erickson is one of my favorite ice cream makers! Them and Blue Bunny and Ben and Jerry's.I don't know why my brain went there. Maybe I am always thinking about ice cream. 🥴

Lol. I live in Blue Bell country and I have not heard of that ice cream brand. Now, I just had to go get a bowl of my favorite. I may not be able to afford the best windows but I will always buy (what I think is) the best ice cream! 😋

@adamsdh I talked to a lot of frogs before choosing windows. Do you know any really trustworthy knowledgeable local construction people who could advise you? I've never heard of the companies you mentioned, so I can't help there. I just know that Andersen and Pella have good reputations. I know of one Pella dealership that's problematic, but the windows are good. I had my Andersen windows installed by a local contractor.

My favorite is Blue Bunny Bordeaux Cherry Chocolate. What's yours?

I got to thinking about your concern about resale and wondered what the return on investment is for windows. https://www.delcowindows.com/blog/do-new-windows-increase-value-of-home#:~:text=Yes, new windows can boost,$465 a year, reports CNBC.

Unless you are planning to move immediately, it might be worth buying the better windows. Just a thought. I'd hate to see you get ripped off.

" I am not familiar with Erickson "

E series.

" You are correct. Anderson and Pella are higher quality and more expensive. "

Andersen certainly is but Pella is more expensive and quite possibly just as poor a window as the NT.

" wondered what the return on investment is for windows. https://www.delcowindows.com/blog/do-new-windows-increase-value-of-home#:~:text=Yes, new windows can boost,$465 a year, reports CNBC. "

Compared to leaving them open. That is a window company blowing smoke with their sales propaganda.

"E series"...funny.

I was glad to read that ROI for several home improvements have increased after a dip the past couple years. I wasn't aware of the dip, since that's not my reason for making home improvements. Like @adamsdh I want to keep the rain out.

One thing I learned on my window -replacement journey is that many low-cost replacement windows are just a window in the original frame you already have. You end up with a wider outline to your window and less glass area. That's part of why they are cheaper. That wasn't for me because it looked to us like it was the frames that were leaking. I replaced frame and all and was glad I didn't lose the extra glass area.

" is that many low-cost replacement windows are just a window in the original frame you already have "

Absolutely nothing wrong with an insert type replacement window from a decent source. And the same companies that make junk replacement windows make junk new construction unfortunately. There are quality insert replacement windows out there for sure, same as quality new const. type windows. You just do not find them typically in a box store. Andersen being the ONLY exception and even then you need to be careful and know what you are getting as their sales people are not always the most knowledgeable, remember they could have been selling carpet yesterday and garden center product last week.

It was important to me to not have the look of thick rims from the street and to maximize the glass. I thought I would share that in case it was important to @adamsdh

If it's not important that's ok too.

It is an important consideration to not have thick frames which is the reason I’m looking at aluminum rather than vinyl. Still thick but not as much as the vinyl I have seen. I have been advised that to put ”new build” windows in my brick house would be extremely costly, so I have given up on that. As for ice cream, I have several current (meaning in my freezer right now) Blue Bell favorites: Butter Pecan, Moolineum Crunch and Homemade Vanilla. When BB was unavailable due to their listeria debacle, I discovered Tillamook. Their Oregon Strawberry is the best I’ve had. My stores sell mostly novelty Blue Bunny items. If I ever see the Bordeaux Cherry Chocolate, I will have to try it.

Here’s a link to a video that discusses the ROI of replacement windows.

The owner of this window replacement company has made many other informative videos. This is one of the companies I received a bid from. Great company, great products, great people….way out of my price range though.

That guy Jeff is one happy camper! Fun to listen to. Thanks!

Funny... There is a variety of strawberry called Tillamook and it was created by the USDA at their Oregon location.

I'm not an expert or a pro and I know you didn't ask but to me all I see is a lot of brick and the big columns topped with an arch AND a peak...the windows are moot visually and changing them isn't going to change the overall feel and impression of the arch.

Maybe grow vines up the columns. Or cypress topiary, something like that to soften them.

Paint the cream trim to charcoal or black...let it recede.

Prune the shrubs as shown. The current windows look great in that rendering by Beverly. Looks like an updated older home with new windows...I didn't have a clue it was a newer home.

tracefloyd, I appreciate your input. I actually had cone shaped Japanese boxwoods in front of the brick pillars. I recently had to take them out since they died. It looks better without them now, but I intend to replace them with something eventually. After the window project is over, there is siding replacement as well as 2 outside doors. I will do some new landscaping after that. I had never considered painting the trim any other color until I saw some of the ideas presented here. I will get a good painter this time. The company who did a good job on my roof said they could paint too. One of the guys literally didn’t know how to hold a paintbrush! It took them 3 weeks and they got paint all over the back deck which had to be redone.

Oh I just read you need double pane....never mind. I get it now. I also see the beautiful renderings. I need to read comments first.

It's gonna look fantastic.

Here’s the back of my house. As you can see, there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed. As for the windows, I am considering no grids in back, and only putting the grids in the front (unless someone can convince me no grids are needed in front). The 2 doors will be replaced with doors that have an adjustable blind inside double pane glass and no grids. In my examples below, one shows the top windows with sliders and the other with 2 single hung windows. I can save $1000 by getting 2 sliders over the 4 single hung. Fyi, grids add $50 per window. Thank you to all who have offered advice so far. I welcome any additional comments!

Update: I had another company come out to quote on windows and also siding. They gave a quote on Don Young aluminum windows. I have not been able to find a comparison between the NT aluminum and the Don Young aluminum. Can anyone help me with this? Thanks!

@adamsdh I am just curious to know if you are going to consider vertical siding that gives a more contemporary feel than board and batton. I think next time I need siding I am going to replace the crumbling brick on the front of my home and get vertical siding if that's still what is considered contemporary.

" I have not been able to find a comparison between the NT aluminum and the Don Young aluminum. "

Don Young is 100% times the better windoiw. I have hinted around several times but will call a spade a spade. NT Windows are builder grade, period. I would go with Dark Bronze and no grids, yet again.

k123, for the siding, I was quoted on Hardiplank Select Cedarmill Lap Siding. I plan to keep the horizontal direction of the boards.

millworkman, I was hoping you would respond since you are the one who said Don Young was better than NT. I would like to know what makes them better. This is not my forever home so I need to justify the 30% difference in price.

Performance, fit and finish, overall quality, customer support, dealer network. There is nothing about the NT that is better than Don Young. Dollars and the decision on what to spend is your decision and I understand the dilemma.

If this is not your forever home that's another story. How can you know what a future buyer will want? Does not justify the extra $$$.

I'm not sure what builder grade is-but a window should look good and be well built from a known company. But a junk window could affect an offer price. Buyers are discerning.

Thank you, millworkman. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I do have some decisions to make!

tracefloyd, thank you for your insight!

Cool. I don't know how far off you are from selling, but your Realtor would know what amenities buyers in your area expect for a home in your price range and area. It's all about location. First rule: don't overspend for your neighborhood.

As for the windows on the back of the house, has anyone ever had sliders? That alone will save $1000 over putting in single hung.

" I'm not sure what builder grade is "

Pretty much you could just say junk for the most part.

" has anyone ever had sliders? "

From a solid manufacturer they are ok. Most brands not the most up to date as not used that much and again in most brands not the tightest weather & performance wise.

The sliders question is exactly what I was talking about.

My house is mostly made up of what I would consider builder grade materials. The workmanship is better in some places than others. It was the best I could afford (and an upgrade from my previous home) when I bought it 30 years ago! I live in a pretty decent neighborhood with my house falling in the middle of the price ranges. But I definitely don’t want to price myself out.

Your house is gorgeous but my apologies. I was definitely NOT inquiring about the economic status of your house or neighborhood. The selling process is the same regardless.

tracefloyd, absolutely no apologies needed! I sincerely appreciate all your comments. I was just putting that info out there to reiterate that, along with all the other repairs I need, I don’t want to sink too much $ into the house that I will never recoup. I do want the house to look good, so, if the sliders on the back windows (as in my photo) will look tacky, I would opt for the 2 single hung styles. If it looks ok, then I can save some $ there.

Cool, but this is way over my head.

@adamsdh I had a dumb idea. If you are preparing this house to sell, consider offering the cost of replacement windows in the deal and let the next owner decide if the want really nice windows or cost-cutting? And let them decide if they want sash or slider? Everyone has different ideas. If it were me considering whether I would buy the house, cost-cutting windows would be a deal-breaker. But there are others who would not care at all.

k123, not a dumb idea at all. That was actually the original plan, however, I have ended up living in this home longer than I thought I would. I am not ready to move immediately and some of the issues, such as the windows and siding, need to be fixed.