Dinner/presentation by Renewal by Andersen tomorrow

[Coloshaver]

I received three quotes on window replacement in 2018

Company X (vinyl replacement) was 11k
Company Y (Infinity by Marvin) was 30k
Renewal by Anderson was 51k

Anderson builds nice windows and better than company X that I went with on my project. Just prepare yourself for their pricing. Good Luck!

This was my experience too - different dollars, but about the same percentage. I had 22 builder grade Marvin wood frame windows in my house built in 1990. I went with Infinity by Marvin and am very happy. Noticeably quieter (both from outside noise and wind whistling) , way less heat from sunlight, warmer inside the house and they have a really nice wood finish that matched the existing trim (unlike vinyl).

You can buy a lot of steak dinners for $20K

 

[yeldogt]

Good windows are expensive ---- they are even more now. Bought Lepage for my last project .. price those babies out.

In many cases the choice comes down to looks and location. Used Andersen 400's at my beach house when I redid it and have had great luck retrofitting the 400's into brick houses as the Andersen sizes match up to typical bricks/ size openings (you cut the flange off of the casements and french casements). Pella is a nicer looking window and looks better in a more traditional house where you don't need to go all the way to a wood Marvin. But at the beach -- I want a vinyl window .... especially where my place is now. The Jersey shore is a vinyl wonderland -- that's what everything is .... I'm not sure wood is allowed on the island 100 miles away outside Philly and vinyl is a huge downgrade.

The key with replacement windows is the variety of available sizes. Very few companies make custom replacements -- they pick the closest one and pad them to fit the opening. Sometimes picking comes down to the size you have in the house now and who makes the best fit --- older houses had more sizes ...... window sizes are more uniform now and there is a better chance of a good match if the place is from the 80' on. It's all about that thin frame on replacements.

I have always found the Renewal to be a nice product ..... Always remember ---- so much of the cost in the replacement world is the labor.

For my city properties I found a local company that will make custom aluminum replacements (they order the glass) --- with Al they can make the frame very narrow and when you insert the new window in the old frame it matches the sash and glass area of the original. That's the problem with so many -- especially the vinyl that needs thick frames ---- the glass area is reduced and the windows look odd on the house.

About 10 years ago I recommended my brother look into the Al for his very traditional house outside Boston. It was your typical early 70's large suburban house -- mix of materials. Black and white -- decent trim inside. The Al windows worked the best for what he wanted to do -- so many old houses have triple tracks and few windows don't have some covering -- they are clean looking.

Today with the farmhouse look so big ..... I'm seeing more clad Pella going in new and black AL replacements. Vinyl does not like black

 

[Farmall450]

Local carpenter?? What is that???

In this case it's my uncle lol.

Makes a very good living by answering calls and has his choice of premium work.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Nothing against Andersen, but the Renewal line is definitely lower quality than the other Andersens and still much more expensive than other windows that are just as effiecient.

Oh, and they almost definitely will not be giving you new trim unless they break it and it may not even be painted.

Tommy

 

[FredWanaker]

and then there are the motivators placed into the crowd who give testimonials example - "a friend had theirs done and they are so happy.... we are going to do it too." Or don't let someone else get yours... . " and the first two parties to sign up get the following freebies with their installs... " or the contest winners, "And someone who has it done will win the choice of a free trip to Hawaii.... . or a free upgrade ... ." Be sure to keep your mouth closed to they don't hook you - or snag you with a treble hook. The fact you are bringing it up tells me you are already eyeing the flashes from the lure....

 

[larry_g]

And for damned sure don't give them any personal information. They will hound you till the end of time. Don't enter the contest/drawing. It's just information gathering. Sign in as Jon Smith.

 

[rayra]

So is roc $50k in fresh debt now?

 

[jmiller_2308]

How are they not Andersen windows? They are made by Andersen Corporation. Personally, I like the Fibrex material versus the vinyl exterior and wood used in the other Andersen windows. I suspect the original reason Fibrex was developed was to use up all the sawdust generated by making the wood and wood core windows. (Andersen used to dump huge piles of scrap wood at local Boy Scout camps to use as firewood. Maybe they still do.) Fibrex is now in used in the 100 Series Andersen windows, but not in the 200 or 400 series as far as I know.

I would never buy Renewal by Andersen windows simply based on the absurd price. My parents paid the absurd pricing for Renewal by Andersen windows because they wanted Andersen windows, but they also wanted custom sized windows so no framing or drywall work. The windows are very nice. The only issue is multiple sashes have blown the seal on the insulated glass, but Renewal replaces them under warranty.

I submitted a request to Andersen windows for a quote and got a callback that showed caller id of "Renewal Andersen". Given my previous experience with Renewal I went off on the caller who quickly tried to address the confusion between Renewal by Andersen and Andersen Windows.

The caller was indeed from Andersen and confirmed that yes, Renewal by Andersen and Andersen Windows are the same company but that the Renewal windows are made on different lines to different specs. The caller clearly stated that Renewal by Andersen windows ARE NOT the same as the windows sold under as Andersen Windows. Not only are the windows made to different specs, they are warrantied, marketed, sold, and serviced entirely differently.

I gave the Andersen rep a lot of grief about Renewal and I only hope that the Andersen Windows corporation hears the complains and does something about Renewal before Renewal's bad practices severely impact the larger corporate organization.

 

[reader2580]

The caller was indeed from Andersen and confirmed that yes, Renewal by Andersen and Andersen Windows are the same company but that the Renewal windows are made on different lines to different specs. The caller clearly stated that Renewal by Andersen windows ARE NOT the same as the windows sold under as Andersen Windows. Not only are the windows made to different specs, they are warrantied, marketed, sold, and serviced entirely differently.

Personally, I like the Fibrex material which was initially only available from Renewal by Andersen. I hate the way Renewal markets their windows and the cost. I would never buy any Renewal windows due to that.

Andersen now uses Fibrex in the 100 Series windows. I have 400 Series Andersen windows on my main floor and 100 Series windows in my basement walkout. I think the 100 Series windows are as good or better than the 400 Series for less money. Of course, if you want a wood interior you have to buy the 400 Series. I went with the white interior on my 400 Series.

 

[MikeC55]

I had the same experience as many of you; sticker shock.

 

[Skooterj]

I built my house 4 years ago with aluminum clad wood windows. Pretty nice one, not cheap vinyl. Within 6 months of finishing the build, a Renewal rep started leaving flyers on my door or in my mailbox about replacement windows. Come on, my windows are brand new. You can tell my house isn't very old. My grass hasn't even grown in everywhere, still have a patch of weeds (though, I keep digging up that area for various projects, so I keep starting over with the grass). I am not interested in new windows, and hopefully will not need new windows for at least 30 more years. Give it up.

 

[Sumboodie]

Curious about the whole window game. I dont understand how expensive some of these quotes are. Other than energy savings whats the game to have your existing windows repalced? Is the energy savings payback really that good? Currently Window World is running a television ad looking for experienced window installers and siding installers. They are promoting that you can earn $150k a year plus normal benefits and tool allowances. I dont see how they could pay someone $150k a year to replace windows.

In my case, when it's windy, I get fine snow and silt that comes in from the windows.

They are builder grade windows that don't seal well.

 

[TobeyA]

We looked at the Anderson stuff at a home show recently. Really liked the French doors. Quality, apparent security, etc. We have 2 sets of exterior French doors we want replaced, so we had them come out. We don't NEED them replaced, but they are old and cheap and starting to look ratty.

I knew they would be expensive. But $38k and change is a little steep for two sets of doors. That's nearly 10% of the value of the house.

We declined. We can just paint the existing doors...

 

[gregs]

I get that quality stuff is expensive relative to the standard builder grade options that are out there. But $38K for 2 sets of Exterior french doors is crazy in my mind. So that makes each set some where between $10-14K? I have a friend that did an addition about 4 years ago that included a separate pool house. They installed one of those glass wall door systems that opens up about 10'-12' wide and goes into the wall on each side. I remember that system was about $10k at the time, but at least seemed like it added some kind of value for the price.

 

[engineer2]

I replaced all 12 of my windows and a sliding patio door in 2012 for around $4000 total. Ordered builder's grade Jeld-Wen from Menards. Upgrades were internal grids and low-E glass. They had nicer quality windows, but it wasn't worth it because you'd never get your money back in our area of depressed home values. Still a major improvement over the old aluminum Republic Windows.

Did most of the work myself and hired a contractor friend to help with the second story and the sliding patio door. Did a much better install than Pulte did originally. Fixed many uninsulated RO gaps.

 

[Norcal]

I received this flyer by Renewal by Andersen and signed up for dinner at Johnny Carino's tomorrow.

Good Afternoon,
Our team frequently works in your area and we've seen first-hand that many of the homes in the neighborhood are the same age and could benefit from updated, more efficient windows. Would you and your spouse like to learn more... and get a delicious free meal?

RSVP today and join us for a dinner presentation to learn more about lowering your energy bills and drastically improving your home with replacement windows. This is not a sales call, you are under no obligation to buy anything.

Act Fast! There is limited space at the restaurant, so please call my phone to RSVP today. We look forward to having you as our guests.

My house (1969) is wood-sided and has a couple bathroom windows with rotted trims (the windows are fine though). Then there's a large (108" x 80") three-panel sliding door that the upper frame is badly rotted (I didn't catch the water intrusion in time). A good carpenter could easily redo the window trims, but I just can't find one. The sliding door would take more work though.

I welcome any insights/tips and things to think and look for. I plan staying in this house for a long time so I don't want to cut corners.
Thanks as always folks!

And now you know why they are so expensive. Nothing is free.

 

[Mikeske]

Yep the normal **** that ends up in recycling bin. Any time I get those free dinner flyers my BS meter pegs out and I toss the flyers in my recycling. I have a manufactured home that I specifically ordered vinyl windows when I bought the home and got aluminum windows. I negotiated the price of the home down by 5K in 1989 when we bought the home and then turned around and had a local carpenter install the vinyl windows for around 3K 33 years later I had to replace one window due to a tossed rock from a lawn mower and still no drafts leaks anything.

I have always avoided the nonsense of the "free dinners" and found good local companies and carpenters that do the work at a fair price.

 

[65ranchero]

If you get on the list ………the free TIME SHARE dinner invite is coming soon. Two to four Weeks later the retirement ANUITY guys will be asking to the feeding trough.

And if you're a good person they will want to talk to you about Amway

 

[ZRX61]

Guy I know in the UK was harassed by a company selling sunrooms. Emails, texts, phone calls etc. He kept telling then he wasn't interested. It went on for months, they just wouldn't take no for an answer.
Finally he agree they could come by & give him an estimate.

Salesman shows up, he lets him in & then starts to walk up the stairs. Salesman says "Where are you going?"
"My apartment, I live on the third floor"....

 

[dogdog]

They just called, rescheduling it to Feb 23.

so how was the dinner?

 

[engineer2]

I tried recycling a couple of my old aluminum windows. Not worth the hassle with all the broken glass to deal with. Got squat because it's not clean aluminum.
Put the rest on CL for free. Told the guy picking them up "Hope you do OK recycling them!"
He said "Recycle them? I'm putting these in my house!"
Jeez I thought, these were the worst windows ever made.

 

[gregs]

I tried recycling a couple of my old aluminum windows. Not worth the hassle with all the broken glass to deal with. Got squat because it's not clean aluminum.
Put the rest on CL for free. Told the guy picking them up "Hope you do OK recycling them!"
He said "Recycle them? I'm putting these in my house!"
Jeez I thought, these were the worst windows ever made.

Something similar happened to me. Replaced some old aluminum windows in a remodel about 10 years ago. Saved the old ones in case I could use them for a shed or something. Was cleaning up a couple of months ago and got tired of seeing them leaning up against the building for so long. Had 5 or 6 and most had at least one broken pane from sitting outside for so long. Didnt want to spend the time trying to recycle the aluminum so I threw them up on Facebook for $20 for all of them. First guy gave me $50 for 1 that was in the best condition. He was a local carpenter and needed a window to finish a job and couldnt get a new one, didnt want the rest. Another guy who was spanish speaking was happy to get the rest for $20 as he was going to fix the broken glass and use them in his house. They where pretty crappy after tearing them out and letting them sit for so long.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Renewal is a complete scam. Run.

 

[astrohip]

I was in the window business for forty years. Renewal by Andersen are not very good windows, and they are significantly higher in price than comparable windows.

My advice: Find a local company that sells replacement windows. Most areas have two or three dominant companies. Check their reputations. Get quotes from a couple.

 

[Toolfool]

Back in Washington a friend had fallen for the Andersen pitch. I told him it was a mistake. He had 36 hours to opt out. I installed the top-of-the -line windows for $3500 less than Renewal.