New windows

[Terry Duea]

We are needing to replace the windows in our Schult Mobile Home and are going to upgrade to a good quality vinyl window. Any rec. on a good quality vinyl window designed for mobile homes. Our house is a 1993 Schult 16 x 80. Will be hiring a contractor to replace, also how does one go about matching vinyl siding?

[Galen]

Most of the window manufacturers that build for the mobile home industry will offer a choice of two colors (1) White and (2) Biege. Some will offer a Brown. There are several good vinyl windows out there Philips (largest supplier to the MH industry and Kinro (second largest), are just 2 of MANY. You can also take your measurements to a Home Depot, Lowes, Menard's, etc, and order from such manufactures as: Wenco(Jeld-Wen), Pella and others. If you can - get Low E Glass - it will make a big difference. Make sure the windows are a welded frame (not screwed). As far as siding - contact Schult and ask if (by some miracle) they are still using the same brand and go from there. Try at Lowe's, HD, etc. If all else fails, when the new windows are installed, use trim or shutters. Also - try to hire a WINDOW contractor, not a MH contractor - there is more to installing a window then putting it in the hole - try to find someone who is AAMA certified and is up on all the proper methods of installation - this will affect warranties!

[Bill]

We just had new windows put in our Dutch. We had a local company do it. There are usually many companies to choose from, just take some time to compare their products and prices. The fact that it's a manufactured home doesn't make any difference to the window dealer, and we talked to a few of them. They work with the existing trim around the windows. Most places do a decent job from what I've seen, and ours was no exception. We paid $3000 for 6 windows, 5 of which are quite large. It was a good upgrade. Dutch put in some real junk from the factory. It wasn't for thermal reasons that we had to have them replaced, but the lifting mechanisms were all giving out on them.