Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Window World.  I have worked with them as a paying customer twice before, and I am thrilled to partner with them to share more about their amazing brand.  I am a big fan and delighted to tell you more about working with Window World to replace the windows along the back and side of our 1970 ranch house.

When we first embarked on this home renovation, I thought that replacing windows would be a boring, necessary part of updating this house.  I put it on par with replacing the electrical panel, having the HVAC system serviced, and replacing the garage door opener.  It might be a practical upgrade that would make the house more functional and energy efficient, but it wouldn’t be anywhere near as exciting as a kitchen renovation or even putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls.  Well, I was totally wrong.  Welcome to the world of adulthood – getting new windows is absolutely fun.

Given the numerous large projects we’ve undertaken in this house (kitchen, bathrooms, roof, pool, flooring, electrical, etc.), we decided to replace the windows on one side of the house at a time.  This would allow us to address the windows that most urgently needed to be replaced while spreading the cost over a few years.  So far, we replaced the windows on the two most visible sides of the house – the front and driveway side.  Both times, we worked with Window World.  I had another company come out to give an estimate, and it was laughable how expensive it was.  To say I was unprepared for how costly windows would be is an understatement.  My mom referred me to Window World, and not only was their estimate back in the realm of possibility, but they offered the quality, style, efficiency, and warranty we wanted as well.  You can read my first, unsponsored review of Window World HERE.

Replacing the windows on the back and left side of the house was at the top of our “big project” list, and we were in the process of saving for it when Window World reached out about this partnership.  I always love it when I get to partner with brands I already know, love, and have spent my own money on.  It makes sharing about their brand and the process super easy since I would do it anyway!  So, a representative from Window World came out to take a look at our project a few weeks ago.

Since we had already selected a window style that was best for this house previously, that part of the process was easy.  We just wanted the windows to match the 8-over-8 design of the original windows on the house.  With divided panes, I considered a few options Window World offers…

1.) Simulated Divided Lites (SDLs) – Grids are bonded to the inside and outside of a single pane of glass, giving the appearance that the panes are fully divided.  This is definitely the most convincing option if you want windows that look like traditional, divided panes.  The downside is they are a bit more fiddly to clean.

2.) The grids are sandwiched between the two panes of glass to give the appearance of a divided window.  The benefit of this option is that the window is easier to clean.

3. ) Detachable grids sit on the inside of the window and can be removed for easy cleaning.  This is the option that was selected for the windows currently in our house.

While I knew the second two options are most popular simply because they are more convenient to clean, I loved the look of the simulated divided lites.  I felt they would lend more presence and architectural interest to the house, and I didn’t mind if that meant a few more corners in the glass to clean.

We are also upgrading our windows from single pane to double pane, which will make our home much more energy efficient.  The old windows would let in a lot of heat in the summer and often frosted over in the winter.  They were also letting in moisture through condensation, and you could see the effects on the old painted wood frames and sills.  Some of them were deteriorating or had already caused some interior damage.

During our consultation, the Window World representative reviewed all of the benefits of their windows, including their efficiency and their ability to limit UV rays to protect fabric, furniture, and artwork.  He also showed how the windows operate, and, even though I already own Window World windows, I learned things I didn’t know!  I knew they tilted in for easy cleaning, but I didn’t realize there was a built-in lock that can be flipped out when we want to open the windows a couple of inches to let in a breeze while keeping the house secure.  All Window World windows come with a lifetime warranty, which includes replacing panels with popped seals and addressing other common window issues.

Another feature that I hadn’t thought about was frosting for the lower half of the windows in our bathrooms.  In all of the places we’ve lived, we’ve never had to deal with a first-story bathroom with a window.  Of course, privacy is a concern in that case, and we’ve used shades to address that issue.  The downside to shades, even light-filtering shades, is that they still block a lot of natural light.  Adding frosting to the lower half of the windows offers complete privacy while still allowing light in.  It was the perfect option for our two bathrooms, so we went with it.

We also discussed any potential problems we were aware of.  We knew there was termite damage along the left side of the left window in Calvin’s room, so the rep made a note of that to relay to the installation team.

Shortly after the initial consultation, one of Window World’s experts came to the house to measure the existing windows and double-check our order.  I also showed him where we were aware of the past termite damage, so he could inspect what was visible and have a better sense of the potential issues.

The day of install arrived, and it was like Christmas morning!  I couldn’t wait to see the old windows taken out, some of which were broken and rotting, and see the new ones go in.

We’ve had a few different Window World crews come out to install our windows, and they have all been professional, quick, and considerate when working inside and outside our home.  It’s pretty impressive how fast they work.  (You can see a time-lapse video below of the installation process.)

When we got to Calvin’s window, I made sure I was there to see what we were dealing with.  There was really no way to know until we peeled back some layers.  At first, I thought it didn’t look too bad.  The wood was a little eaten and squishy, but there didn’t seem to be too much damage.

Well, I spoke too soon.  Behind the surface that didn’t look too bad, the entire 2 x 4 that supports the window header was ruined.  It just crumbled and splintered.

In order to repair this load-bearing stud properly, part of the wall will have to be removed so any damaged studs can be replaced.  That was the bad news.  The good news is that the Window World installers were prepared and were able to put in a temporary support so they could install the new window.  Our general contractor is scheduled to do the repairs now that we have a better idea of what needs to be done.

I was so impressed with how the team handled this challenge.  Here is how the temporary support looks…

And the new window was installed…

The new windows look great, but what really sets them off is the finishing trim work and caulk.  I know from my own DIY experience that trim and caulk can be your best friends!  Here is how the window looks without the trim…

…and here is how it looks all trimmed out.

The trim is vinyl, so it won’t rot, it doesn’t need to be repainted, and it is easy to clean.

As a comparison, here is how the old windows looked…

Here is a transformation from the interior – Before…

…during…

…and after…

Window World was also able to replace the rotting aprons under two of the windows along the back of the house.

They removed the rotting wood and replaced it with a vinyl panel and trim.  It’s hard to see, but each box has an X-detail that looks really sharp.

We are still working on the left side of the house, but having those windows replaced was a massive step in the right direction.  If you’ve been following along, you know we’ve been cleaning out the overgrown brush, weeds, and ivy in this area to get it looking nice.  We still need to do some painting, power washing, and adding shutters, but we’re getting there.

These windows were some of the worst in the house because they are exposed to a lot of moisture (two are bathroom windows), and this wall doesn’t get very much sunlight during the day.  One window was broken and would no longer stay open.  All of the windows also had ivy growing in the screens and frames at one point.

Here is how the side of the house looked earlier this year…

You can see in this picture how much progress we’ve made on the ivy and weeds, and I painted some of the fascia and trim.  (We’re hiring out the gables since they need more scraping and sanding and require being on tall ladders.)

And here is how it looks with new windows!  Ah!  It’s such an amazing difference.  The two smaller windows are the ones we had frosted on the bottom.  It’s very subtle, but it adds an impressive amount of privacy.

Here is a before with the crazy overgrown hedge…

…and now…

There is still more to do, but it’s looking so much nicer on this side of the house.  Once we cut the lilac down, the windows will be even more of a feature.

Because it’s fun, let’s compare some before and afters…

What a difference, right?  There have been numerous big and small projects that have contributed to this dramatic transformation, but I think the addition of the new windows takes it over the top.  They are stunning, and yes, I sit out by the pool and admire my windows.

Let me know if you have any questions about working with Window World that I didn’t cover.  If you’re interested in having a free consultation for new windows, doors, shutters, and more, you can find your local Window World representative HERE (they are nationwide).

Here is a video showing the consultation and installation process…