I will not buy Pella windows.
Purchased my house new in August of 2005. Noticed in fall of 2014 that one of windows looked like like rotting from inside out. Looked on Pella's site, warranty was for 10 years...figured I had time.
In February 2015 I call Pella. They send rep out and inspect all my windows. Pella rep lets me know my Pella Proline Casement windows could be defective...said that 80% of the windows in my house need to be replaced.
Of course, Pella had never reached out to me via US mail, e-mail, etc., letting me know my windows may be defective. So I put in a warranty claim with Pella.
They reply saying my windows are not under the 10 year warranty. WTF(?).
I tell them my house was purchased in August 2005...
They point to fine print on warranty saying warranty is from when my contractor purchased windows...not when I purchased house. I missed the 10 year warranty cut off by a month(!).
I complain, they offer no relief.
I complain more, still no relief.
I write letters, send pictures with proof windows were rotting in fall of 2014, and Pella offers 40% discount (still $10k out of my pocket).
Not cool.
My wife's Ex husband finds out we are struggling with Pella. (He's great guy, wonderful parent, very good to get along with). He works for developer that uses Pella excessively for all their projects. He's pissed they are jerking us around. Asks for our information.
Ex hubby calls Pella and tells them, "you better make this right, or I'm never using Pella windows again."
Day later local Pella calls me offering a much better deal than $10k. We end up getting windows for free and paying for install.
And actually we are selling that house end of this month. Yes, I'm sure the "new Pella steel clad windows" did help sell the property...
But I will never use Pella again. And the kicker is this...My dad is a carpenter, and put Pella windows in his house in 1970. Those windows are still in his house, and look fantastic.
** rant over **