Old Pella window rehab

Thanks for reaching out to us with this question. Hopefully we can help.

I won't lie to you: Pella windows are difficult to work with. I have no doubt this was a motivating factor for the contractors you spoke to. Their hardware is notoriously specific and almost nothing else can be used by way of substitution. In other words, if you can't find exactly what you have now, then nothing else will work.

That's not to discourage you, though. 1986 isn't all that old by industry standards. It's getting a little long in the tooth but it's not anywhere near "impossible to find" territory. I think there's a good chance you can see this project through, but it will take some doing. Worst case scenario, you're going to have to hunt some of these parts down from after market traders or old mom and pop shops that, with any luck, have old parts laying around in a box somewhere. Best case scenario, you have parts that are still in development and can be more easily acquired.

There's a third factor that bears mentioning, and probably the most important. Pella hardware is expensive. You'll have to consider that no matter what path you take. 

I'd like to help more, if I can. Seeing a few photos of the individual parts in question will allow me to get a better idea of what you're working with and what the odds are that you can still acquire them. We may even have a few of them ourselves! If you can take one clear photo of each part in question, or at least just a few of the parts you have on hand, I will do my best to figure out what you can do.

Great! Hopefully we can help. I'm here at your convenience.