I sat through 10 Replacement Window Demos - Here's the Winner
- The Wacky Window Woman
- Nov 9
- 6 min read
In the Spring of 2025 my husband and I decided it was time to start shopping for replacement windows. We built our home in 2016. The original builder-grade windows weren't cutting it for us any longer and we knew we needed to bite the bullet.
To be honest, buying replacement windows, just isn't sexy. I knew the energy savings would be helpful to our energy bills, but the before and after of new windows isn't like a new kitchen or a remodeled bathroom. However, in the days and weeks that followed the installation of my new windows, I found myself really appreciating the noise reduction and the decrease in my gas and electric bills. As the one commercial says, "I Love My New Windows!"
After the first Window demo, I knew this was going to be a painful process. As consumers we all feel compelled to shop around and gather multiple quotes, right? But couldn't there be a better way to gather the information without spending two or three hours with each window company you opt to invite in your home?
Replacement Windows Cost
The first company we invited in was Mad City Windows and Baths out of Madison, WI, they have a local branch here in central Ohio. It was long painful appointment and it definitely left me with a sour taste in my mouth. The second demo we had was with a local company Rosati Windows and it literally was a 30-minute appointment and not nearly as painful. The sales guy left us a written quote and put zero pressure on us to buy. They were half the price of the first, but still; we felt that to be "good" consumers we needed at least three quotes.
Next was Virtual View Windows, powered by McCloud Windows of central Ohio. When I found this one, I was so excited to learn that they offer Virtual Quotes. Virtual View operates across the entire United States. They partner with Alside Windows. Alside has a division called ISS, Installed Sales Solutions that has branches throughout the US. Both McCloud Windows of central Ohio and Virtual View have the same ownership.
The Virtual Quote idea was the brain child of Nathan McCloud. He was a Window canvasser in his early days and although he cut his teeth knocking on doors and setting appointments, he came to realize that not all consumers want a window sales dude in our home nor do we want to sit through a two hour demo. That's when he started Virtual View and began the model of the Virtual Quote for Replacement Windows. His original company, McCloud Windows operates much like the others. They will come into your home, measure & count windows then demo their Alside Mezzo Window.
Replacement Windows Online
Not only did my husband and I find the process with Virtual View to be much more to our liking, they were also one of the best priced quotes we received. Joe, our sales guy was able via Zoom to demo the Alside Mezzo window and help us come to the decision that we wanted to upgrade to triple-pane windows for energy efficiency and noise reduction.
The Alside Mezzo in Triple-Pane meets the Energy Star 7.0, more efficient ratings. It's a solid window and comes from a manufacturer that's been around for a long time.
Our Windows were installed just a few weeks back and I couldn't be more pleased. For me the biggest difference is the noise. See this YouTube Video where at the end, Joe, the sales guy is in our home to collect our final payment and also to help me understand how to operate and clean the windows. In the video, you can hear noise from outside, but when he closes the window, it goes stone silent.
Vinyl Replacement Windows by Virtual View, powered by McCloud Windows
I have a few side gigs where I do some affiliate marketing and I saw an opportunity here to help Mr. McCloud grow both of his businesses, but I had to prove to him that YouTube and blogging could bring him sales. So I set out on a mission and named myself the Wacky Window Woman. I created a Website and a YouTube channel.
I knew in order to validate to the world and specifically the central Ohio market that McCloud and Virtual View were the best deal around, that I would need to collect quotes from all the big players in town. I already had a quote from Mad City and Rosati Windows, but before my new windows were installed by Virtual View I needed to get all the others in my home to gather pricing. I sat through the Demos so you don't have to!
Here are the companies I collected quotes from:
Mad City Windows and Doors
Rosati of Columbus
Virtual View, powered by McCloud Windows
Window World
Hegg Windows of central Ohio
Champion Windows
Window Nation
Pella Windows
Universal Windows Direct
Renewal by Andersen
Wacky Window Woman Price Comparison Chart
Once I had the ten companies that I felt were the big names in Columbus and their quotes, I put together a chart to compare their prices, their process and how they stack up when it comes to energy ratings.
Whether you live in the Central Ohio market or any other town in the US, you can use this chart to gauge how the different companies stack up.
I had 12 windows and that's what each company quoted me and although you may have more or fewer windows you can still use the chart to see how they will likely compare when you began to gather quotes for your window project. I had them price double-hung, double pane, white vinyl windows. I also collected the upgraded cost for triple pane when I could. See my Wacky Window Woman price comparison chart.
Wacky Window Woman Installation Day
When the day of installation finally came, I was so pumped to take pictures, film video and document the entire day. I just happen to live in the central Ohio market, so on the day of installation, Joe our sales guy and Darwin, the certified Alside technician showed up promptly at 9:00 as scheduled. I had never met Joe in person, only by video and a few phone calls to finalize the deal, so it sorta felt like I was meeting a movie star in person for the first time.
I had finally come clean with Joe about my Wacky Window Woman personification and my goal to gather information on not only his company but the others in town. He seem impressed and felt Nathan McCloud would be intrigued by my efforts to become an affiliate of McCloud and Virtual View Windows.
See the Installation Day page of my Wacky Window Woman Website for all the details of that day and how it went.
My expectations were pretty high based on the way Joe presented the Alside Mezzo Triple Pane Window and I couldn't be more pleased. The one thing I will note, is that new windows seem to have a lot of residue on them. Darwin, my installer did a decent job of cleaning off the labels and a majority of the gunk, but being the clean freak that I am, I did have to do "Final Clean" on my own to get them just right.
Replacement Windows Near Me
Whether you live in the Columbus, Ohio area or anywhere in the US, as you are collecting quotes, but sure to reach out to Virtual View Windows or McCloud Windows to get at least one of your quotes.
If you reach out to Joe, specifically you can get at least 50% off retail pricing. If you go straight to the Virtual View Windows or McCloud Windows websites, you won't qualify for 50% off, so reach out to Joe directly.
I sat through 10 Replacement Window Demos - Here's the Winner
For my husband and me, Virtual View Windows, powered by McCloud Windows of Columbus, Ohio, stood out as the clear choice. The fully virtual process—from quote to contract—was seamless and convenient. Their pricing was unbeatable, installation was flawless, and now that our new windows are in place, we couldn’t be happier with the results.
I've oddly become very interested in Replacement Windows, their pricing, the energy ratings and how these crazy window companies operate. I'm fixated on window commercials and now consider myself a Replacement Window Nerd.
Now that installation day has come and gone, it's time for me to reach out to Nathan of McCloud Windows and Virtual View to see if we can collaborate? Wish me luck!
