thinking about swapping out windows myself—am I nuts?

"I'm tempted to DIY it to save some cash, but then again, I don't wanna end up with crooked windows or leaks every time it rains."

Been there myself. Swapped out three windows last summer thinking it'd be straightforward—spoiler alert: it wasn't. The first one took forever, and I had to redo the flashing twice because of leaks during a storm. Got better by window three, but honestly, if you're not confident about sealing and leveling properly, you might end up spending more fixing mistakes later. Maybe start small with one window and see how it goes?

"Maybe start small with one window and see how it goes?"

I get where you're coming from, but honestly, starting small might not give you the full picture. I did exactly that—replaced just one window to test the waters—and it went surprisingly smooth. Got a bit cocky and jumped into replacing two larger ones next...and that's when things got messy. Turns out, different window sizes and wall types can really change the difficulty level. The smaller window was forgiving, but the bigger ones needed way more precise leveling and sealing than I anticipated. Ended up having to call in a pro to fix my mistakes anyway, which cost me extra.

So yeah, DIY can save money, but are you prepared if things go sideways? Might be worth at least getting a quote or two from pros first—sometimes it's cheaper in the long run to let someone else handle it.

I can see how starting small sounds like a good idea, but isn't it also possible that tackling just one window might give you a false sense of confidence? I mean, if the first one goes smoothly, you might underestimate the complexity of bigger or differently positioned windows. I've seen friends run into trouble because they didn't realize how much framing or insulation work was involved until they opened up the wall. Do you have any experience with framing or sealing around windows already, or would this be your first go at it? Also, have you thought about what tools you'd need—like do you already own a level, caulking gun, and shims, or would you need to buy or rent those?

The point about framing and insulation is spot-on. Seen plenty of DIYers underestimate that bit and end up with gaps big enough for squirrels to move in. But if you're set on trying, here's my two cents: start by carefully removing trim and old caulk—slowly does it. Check the framing thoroughly before installing the new window, shim carefully for level/plumb, seal properly with expanding foam (but don't go crazy, trust me), and finish with quality caulk. If you take your time, it's doable without turning your house into a sieve...mostly.

"Seal properly with expanding foam (but don't go crazy, trust me)"

Yep, learned this one the hard way... went a bit foam-happy on my first window swap. Spent hours trimming excess foam that bulged everywhere. Moderation is key—seriously.

Haha, been there myself—foam trimming is no joke. But hey, at least you got it sealed up tight, right? First window swap is always the toughest... gets easier from here, promise.

Foam trimming can definitely test your patience, especially if you're aiming for a clean finish. One thing I've found helpful is using a sharp utility knife with a fresh blade—makes a huge difference in getting smooth, precise cuts. Also, if you haven't tried it yet, misting the foam lightly with water before trimming can reduce static cling and mess.

Since you've tackled sealing already, curious if you checked the window for square before fully securing it? A lot of DIYers overlook that step, but it's crucial for smooth operation down the line. Learned that the hard way myself after installing a window that looked perfect at first glance... until I tried opening it a week later and realized it was binding slightly. Had to redo the shims and everything—lesson learned. Did you run into any alignment issues, or did it go pretty smoothly for you?

Good tips on the foam trimming, though personally, I've found that misting the foam sometimes makes it a bit harder to gauge the clean edge visually—maybe that's just me being overly cautious. Regarding alignment, I second your point about checking for square, but I'd add that double-checking the window diagonally (corner-to-corner measurements) can save headaches later. Learned this trick after installing my first window slightly off-square... thankfully caught it early enough to adjust without too much hassle.

"Regarding alignment, I second your point about checking for square, but I'd add that double-checking the window diagonally (corner-to-corner measurements) can save headaches later."

Wish I'd read this thread before tackling my basement windows last summer... learned the diagonal trick the hard way. I thought eyeballing the level would be enough (rookie mistake), and ended up with one window noticeably off-square once the trim went on. Had to pull it back out and redo it—definitely not fun.

About misting foam, I've never tried that personally. Is it supposed to make trimming easier or something? Seems like it'd just make a mess or blur your view of the foam edges, like you mentioned. I usually just wait until it's fully cured and then cut carefully with a sharp blade. Maybe I'm missing something there?

Anyway, swapping windows yourself isn't nuts at all... as long as you're prepared for some trial and error, and maybe a little frustration along the way.