ArcaMax

No matter what the temperature is outside, a garden window creates a year-round growing season. It’s especially handy and attractive for growing fresh herbs or special flowering plants. A basic garden window is a bump-out unit with a shelf and features insulated glass on top and on the sides, and allows light, air and sunshine inside. The unit is designed to replace a standard size window, and most have a screen so they can be opened for fresh air. You’ll find these units sold at home centers, lumberyards and window companies.

A contractor will charge $1,430, which includes labor and material. to remove an existing window in a house with vinyl, wood or aluminum siding and replace it with a 3-foot-by-4-foot vinyl garden window. The cost will be considerably more if the house is made of brick or it’s not a direct replacement of the same size opening, which necessitates carpentry work. If you have carpentry experience and tools, you can do the job for $975, the cost of the garden window, and save 32%. The cost to finish off the exterior and interior trim around the window will vary depending on the trim work required.

The job involves removing the old window without damaging the interior walls and exterior siding, and squaring up and framing the opening for the new unit. While the installation is straightforward, more refined carpentry skills are needed to install interior woodwork and trim out the siding.

Pro Cost: $1,430 — DIY Cost: $975 — Pro time: 12
DIY Time: 16 — DIY Savings: $455 — Percent Saved: 32%

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