Replacement windows for our house... suggestions, please.

[WarPony]

We have been in a remodeling project of our house for the past 5 months and have run into problems with getting replacement windows ordered for it. What have you guys used in the past and had good OR bad dealings with?

Now, I'm not talking about contractors' workmanship but the actual windows that you had installed. I've researched Pella, Anderson and Quaker...... all seem to have very good qualities but I'd like to hear some of your comments.

Jeff

[madjack]

Jeff, when my folks remodeled their kitchen...29yrs ago, they installed 5 tall(4 in a bay window setup) crankouts and one sash style Andersons...they are just as nice today as the day they were installed.................
madjack

[halfdome, Danny]

Jeff, I replaced all my house windows recently with Plygem windowsand we love them.
We went with double pane, single hung, vinyl windows.
We have the prism tape instead of the white grates which has since then been discontinued by 3M.
Plygem is a conglomerate of several window brands all in one.
Get something other (thicker section) than the builder standard and you'll be quite pleased.
My son has been working for them locally for about 15 years.

This is our garage window without the prism tape grids. I trimmed out all the windows like this one.
Danny

[robfisher]

On our remodel we hired the builder with hands down the best reputation in the county. He recommended Anderson. My wife wanted Marvin. She and the contractor when round and round because he was so sold on Anderson. Of course we were paying the bill and in the end I said, "Give the lady what she wants already!"

When the contractor installed the Marvins all of his workers were completely swayed to the superior quality of the Marvins.

Just give the lady what she wants.!

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Jeff,
If money is no matter, Marvin's and Andersen's are top quality.
If you want the best bang for your buck, I'm with Danny...
Ply Gem, (Formerly Certainteed and Insulate before that) offers an excellent vinyl window.
I've been away from glass for a couple of years now, but when I was in business, these windows practically sold themselves.
I installed thousands of 'em.
If they still offer two different series, go with the heavier frame series.

[eamarquardt]

........in the end I said, "Give the lady what she wants already!"

Wise call. Took me 36 years to put together the words: "Yes dear!"

Things are so much nicer now!

Cheers,

Gus

[WarPony]

Very good, thank you for the suggestions. Funny thing, I woke up and checked this thread, turned on the TV and there was a homeshow on and they were talking about Marvin windows. There is a dealer just outside of Topeka that I'll check out.

Danny, that is really nice trimwork you've done .....

Jeff

[S. Heisley]

Warpony:

I'm with Danny and Dean on vinyl windows (not vinyl clad). What neither of them really told you is the main reason that those are better is not only because of less trim maintenance. In my opinion, here is why vinyl is better:

It's not so much the brand as it is the way they are made. If the window has a wood frame, even if it is vinyl clad, it is more likely to expand and contract, sometimes considerably, with the change in temperatures. When that happens, the seal on the window frame may pull away from glass and cause the window to fail. This is especially true if the window has direct afternoon sunlight beamed on it. While vinyl can also expand and contract, it seems to be less vulnerable to that process than wood.

No double glass window lasts forever but some (vinyl framed) seem to last longer than others. The way it was explained to me, double paned glass windows insulate better not only because they are double but also because they have a type of gas in between the glass panes. When the seal between these panes of glass pulls away (due to contraction or age), it allows the gas to escape and be replaced by air. Air has moisture in it, so, eventually, that window not only looses some of its ability to insulate; but also, it fogs up with moisture and you then know you need to have it fixed. When that happens, (maybe in 10 years on the sunny side of your house if you have chosen vinyl but sooner if you have chosen wood) you won't have to replace the whole window, just the insulated glass. Still, getting them repaired can be a bit expensive and you won't want to put more money out any sooner than you have to.

That said, I don’t know what type of house you have. If you have what is called a ‘period’ house, you may want to go with wood frame to keep the period look. If so, be ready to make repairs on the windows sooner. When you are looking at windows, ask about warranties. When I was asking, Pella and Anderson (both wood framed styles) were not giving warranties on theirs. That may have changed but I’m still betting on the vinyl.

[halfdome, Danny]

Danny, that is really nice trimwork you've done .....

Jeff

Thanks Jeff, I had to notch each frame on the back with an angled dado blade to get them to fit over the lap siding, a real chore but something I always wanted on the house. It makes a small spec house look nicer without buying a more expensive large house that we don't need.

The Plygem vinyl windows are welded together at the corners and frames & are made in house from virgin and recycled in house scrap. They don't waste any vinyl this way. Danny

[southpennrailroad]

I am a service man for Bon Air Windows in Pittsburgh. I have done this for 30+ Yrs. Make sure the corners of the windows are closed. Make sure the window is a sloped sill. Make sure it is a welded window that includes the sash and the frame. Don't hesitate to open and close the window. Make sure you cover any wood that might be exposed to water standing jut on the outside of the window. Rot! We warrant for life our glass and frames. I was stunned when my boss had me deliver a warranty to a customer and no expiration date was on it. Also until the end of the year we have actually lowered our standards to meet the Governments rebate for purchasing windows go figure!

[Dan & Julie CO]

Are Heat, cold and or noise a problem? then go with triple pane.

If off the shelf be careful they are often made at different altitude
that's why you see window seal failure. look at widows around town and you will see warped or concave glass those are subject to air pressure
being made at different altitude it's a real problem when windows are made at sea level and shipped to a higher one or the other way high to low they should be made with bleeder tubes that allow for them to equalize in pressure or made in your region