New Windows- "Brick to Brick" or "Replacement Windows"
We recently purchased a townhouse in Brooklyn from the 1890s. The windows were last replaced in the 1970s, so we are planning on upgrading them to aluminum clad windows. I am getting some recommendations to do a "brick to brick" or "new construction" window, where they clear out everything in the space down to the masonry and put in a new frame and new insulation, etc. Our contractor is saying that they can't do that without demoing the inside trim, which we don't want to do. Meanwhile, a window supplier/installer we spoke with said he could do it without impacting the interior trim. The alternative is a replacement window, which would put a new window inside the existing frame, but be smaller and still leave us with potential insulation issues with the old frame.
Has anyone replaced windows in a similar home and dealt with this decision?
High level summary of Pros and Cons
"Brick to Brick" / "New Construction"
-Improved water, air, and noise insullation
-Larger window
-More expensive
-More complex installation
"Replacement Window"
-Smaller window
-Less expensive
-Simpler installation
Posted Apr 24, 2026, 8:24 PM UTC