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recycling/selling old storm windows

BobS | Posted in General Discussion on November 8, 2005 04:45am

My wife said she’d heard from someone (she can’t remember who now, of course) that aluminum storm windows could be recycled or sold. Does anyone know anything about this? I can’t imagine someone paying for these.

I’ve got 20 to get rid of soon.

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  1. calvin | Nov 08, 2005 04:46am | #1

    If you live on a street, put 'em out the day b/4 trash pickup.  They'll be gone by morning.

    A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

    Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

    Quittin' Time

     

    1. BobS | Nov 08, 2005 04:49am | #2

      Not that I don't believe you, but why? Is someone gonna use these as storms for their house or as parts for something else - maybe the glass?

      1. User avater
        rjw | Nov 08, 2005 04:53am | #3

        Around here it's the scrap metal pickers.I'm on a main street and can get rid of almost anything but tires w/in an hour.

        View Image

        Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace

      2. dustinf | Nov 08, 2005 04:55am | #4

        Not that I don't believe you, but why?

        You can sell scrap aluminum to a recycler. 

      3. calvin | Nov 08, 2005 05:02am | #6

        scrappers or the enterprising dude that thinks it might fit something somewhere.

        You want rid of them?

        or do you want to piss around and maybe make 50 bucks.

        As long as they don't go in the land fill, the world benefits from your generosity, and it don't cost you a dime.

        If you pull the glass and the vinyl glass bead, what does the pile weigh?

        If you have the same size windows as many other houses in the neighborhood you perhaps could find a buyer.

        A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

        Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

        Quittin' Time

         

        Edited 11/7/2005 9:06 pm ET by calvin

        1. BobS | Nov 08, 2005 05:29am | #9

          As long as I don't have to pay to get rid of them, I feel I'm ahead of the game. These storms are dead probably 10 years ago. No one should be using them on their house. There's not enough aluminum total to get any $$ from it at 50cent/lbs, plus I'm changing one window at a time so there's no big payday.But I'll try the curb or see if there's a scrap guy on the way to work.

          1. calvin | Nov 08, 2005 05:46am | #10

            I'll tell you what.  One at a time might work, but I'll bet you something of value, all at once on the treelawn, leaning against a tree, be gone b/4 you know it.

            If no one picks 'em up, you have more problems than a couple of storms.  Get out of that neighborhood now.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

            Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

            Quittin' Time

             

          2. ClevelandEd | Nov 08, 2005 05:55am | #11

            I took the old metal roof off of this house.  Sheet steel.  Thin, rusted, and coated with tar and paint.  I was wondering how the heck I was going to get rid of all the scrap.  Some guy in a truck stopped by asking if he could take it.  

          3. junkhound | Nov 08, 2005 05:17pm | #17

            Oh, BTW, I forgot to thank you for the shed roof! <G>  Beleive it or not, but re-usable Roofing material is one of the hardest things to come by free.

            Neighbor replaced windows,  installers wanted $80 extra to haul them away! So, dug a 4 ft deep by 6x6 ft hole in the back and set the windows up.  Grandkids get to throw rocks at them, with strict admonition to throw rocks only at old windows in pits.  5 min stop at recyclers when going by then profits at $120/hr rate - never make a special trip t recycle, that is a money loser.

            Back of truck seems never to be empty.  22 by 24 ft shop -- all windows, light fixtures, fridge, microwave, stovepipe and elec and wood stove were all free at curbside pickup or free piles at garage sales. Had to pay $15 though for another crafstman 10" table saw though and $5 for a US made 5" vise.

            Keep a 'free pile' sign in front of the house, just about everything put out dissapears, and you can imagine how bad of shape something has to be in for me to throw it away.

          4. donk123 | Nov 08, 2005 03:13pm | #15

            I know one guy (a helper) who scraps when things are slow. He picks up aluminum as well as other metals like "tin" refrigerators and such, and steel, cast iron.  I've seen him pick up $50-75 worth of gas money in an hour while his boss is trying to figure out which job to go to.

  2. MSA1 | Nov 08, 2005 05:00am | #5

    Aluminum gets $.46 a pound around Detroit. We have guys around here stripping siding off of old houses and breaking in to get the copper pipes.

  3. Shep | Nov 08, 2005 05:03am | #7

    I had a friend, who's now one of those old guys in Florida, that would save old storms for recycling. He made enough for his fishing trips.

    No one's actually going to buy them for re-use. But if you have a metals recycling co. in your area, you can get a few bucks for them.

  4. DanH | Nov 08, 2005 05:23am | #8

    Gardeners might like them for cold frames. Or at least the aluminum is worth something, if you take them apart.

    --------------
    No electrons were harmed in the making of this post.
  5. VaTom | Nov 08, 2005 06:22am | #12

    I had 3 twin double hungs (storms included), used, that I'd stored too long.  Used the rest.  Tried FreeCycle.  Lots of interest, no pickups. 

    We're rural, 1/2 mile from the road.  I figured if I taped a sign on one asking $10, it'd be stolen.  Nope.  I got $30.  As a bonus, he got the doors and a couple more sliders I'd also been trying to give away.

    PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

  6. nikkiwood | Nov 08, 2005 06:47am | #13

    If you live in a metro area, chances are there are guys roaming the alleys looking for scrap metal, since the salvage prices are pretty good these days.

    The problem with windows is the alumnium has value, but the glass does not. We set some combos out a few years ago, and the scrapper came by, busted all the glass out of the frames, and left a huge mess.

    Nonetheless, I would set them out, and see if there are any takers -- and hope they won't leave you with a pile of glass.

    ********************************************************
    "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

    John Wooden 1910-

  7. piko | Nov 08, 2005 02:57pm | #14

    Join "Freecycle", a 'net forum that informs subscribers of stuff others wish to get rid of.

     

     www.freecycle.org/

    All the best...

    To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.

     

  8. maverick | Nov 08, 2005 03:26pm | #16

    To recycle for the good of the environment is a good thing, but to think you're gonna sell them and make a buck is far fetched. You'll get more from a scrap yard for aluminum storms after you smash out the glass and that will only amount to pocket change. Its hardly worth the effort

    I used to do a lot of replacement windows and every once in a while a homeowner would ask if he could sell the old windows and storms. I always said you could try but to find the right house who happens to need your size is nearly impossible.

    Then the ones who were determined to put all the windows on their front lawn with a for sale sign only did me a favor. I did'nt have to haul them to the dump which is where they would end up inevitably

    1. RickD | Nov 08, 2005 06:33pm | #18

      Guy up the street replaced his windows with crappy replacement windows; he already had fairly new tru-channels on the old windows, which I offered to buy for my house (same size, I could have done my whole house), and I even offered to take them off myself, but he refused b/c he thought it was easier for him to rip them off and scrap them. 

      This is the same guy who ripped out the mahogany molding and threw it in the dumpster because it was "too wide".

      Anyway, the point of this diatribe is that someone may buy old windows/storms if they are in decent shape -

  9. BryanSayer | Nov 08, 2005 07:13pm | #19

    If you (or someone with your size of windows in an old house) are making wooden storm windows, you can re-use the glass from the aluminum ones in the wood ones.

    1. DanH | Nov 08, 2005 09:06pm | #20

      Yeah, but the value of glass is piddling, if it's not insulated or tempered. You'd have to be lucky to need exactly the same size, and it just isn't worth the effort to connect disposer with user.--------------
      No electrons were harmed in the making of this post.

      1. JohnSprung | Nov 08, 2005 09:17pm | #21

        Last time I bought glass, the price wasn't exactly piddling.  It can be cut, so it's worth saving.

        As for getting rid of stuff, I just put a bunch of aluminum frame window screens and an old wall heater out on Sunday afternoon, they were gone the next morning.    

         

        -- J.S.

         

  10. pagoda | Nov 11, 2005 11:05am | #22

    I have changed windows on various jobs and sold the old ones  to  people who have other uses for them.

    Some will build sun porches or use them in cabins or hunt camps

    I once sold a house lot of casement  windows to a contractor who was building a deck at a restraunt  and needed them to cut the wind while on other days they could be opened to let air through  he claimed they saved 3000 $ buying used.

    The one thing i learned along the way  is that buyer must take all  and not cherry pick leaving you the balance to take to the dump

    On one job i found a couple of good windows in dump and sold them to customer where i was working at the time , i just told them they were good used windows ( i needed  a decent senario for the 100  $ )

  11. randy hardin | Oct 10, 2014 05:08pm | #23

    need used aluminum storm window 28"x56" two panes n one screen.
    Would like to find used storm window as I am only missing one facing north.

    1. DanH | Oct 10, 2014 06:42pm | #24

      Used to be you could buy the parts you needed to make up aluminum storms at a hardware store.  And still most glass shops should be able to put them together.

  12. sherrywykes | Nov 16, 2014 11:11am | #25

    Old windows

    I need just a few storm windows/screens.  I have an older home and the rest of my aluminum storm windows and screens are in excellent shape.

    Can you send me the sizes and prices of the storm windows/screens you have available?

    1. calvin | Nov 16, 2014 03:29pm | #26

      Sherry

      The thread is from 2005.

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