a photo would be lovely, and also which direction (NSEW) do the windows face?

We need tempered here for safety. It doesn't meet code. They also are not energy efficient as they currently are, so that would also come into play. Mostly right now, safety is my main concern. So I have to do something...just want to do the best thing since I have to do something.

To be honest, I don't know which direction they face. It's a rental, so I have only been there a few times.

This is Lubbock Texas

ok well when you find out update this... it would really help us give you useful suggestions as to what to replace these with.

Do you need all of the glass. Why not create a wall there and only have a small amount of glass?

Try Google Earth for direction of the house. Or call the realtor/landlord.

yes i saw it was texas, thats why its important. west windows that get covered all the time don't make sense to own... but north facing ones are nice.

Texas and guns...

$5000 seems really inexpensive to replace all that glass.

I believe the windows are west facing.

Otis Creek Construction, what do windows such as that cost?

I would need some measurements, decision on type of operation and an idea of type of finishes to get you pricing since prices are dependent of what all you want. But with the layout of your house and potential of building outdoor entertaining areas, this product will definitely be a great feature of that. Do you have the dimensions and an idea of whether you want sliding, or folding and thermally broke? You can find a lot more information at panda-windows.com

Any glass window that is 18" above the finished floor or lower has to be tempered. There's an easy to fix that, replace the window wall with a base that is higher than 18".

I might encourage you to first determine the ideal furniture layout in the room with the door in its current position, and if that layout is not optimal for you, consider shifting the door position when you re-do the window wall. If you are planning to place any furniture against that window wall, consider raising the sill height so that the furniture does not appear to be in an incongruous location blocking the view. I also suggest you consider what you plan to do with the yard onto which the windows will face. If you are planning to design the yard with a focal point onto which one looks from the room, that needs to be taken into account. Having lots of glass and nothing special to view through it may not makes the question of how much glass (and where to place it) hard to answer.

John McLean, I agree that is a lot of glass and it appears that the view is a fence that needs replacing. This is why I suggested to close most of it up, and still have some glass but not so much.

I used Havenly to do the room layout. Outside is a large deck and now there is also a large bbq pit out there. I do think I like the view to the outside (even with fence that needs some work, etc)...makes the space feel more open I think. There will be 4 college boys living there, so the entertainment aspect is important. I will look into the Panda windows. I don't have measurements right now. I will be going to Lubbock in the next few weeks so will get them at that time. Thanks everyone!