Window manufacturer suggestions

[jake26]

My widowed mother has enlisted me to look into getting new windows on her 60 year old ranch. Knowing nothing about windows, I looked at the BBB for a list of local companies that supply and install windows.

Since some are married to a window manufacturer, are there any window brands or manufacturers that I should look for or avoid?

Any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[Hud]

Anderson has insert replacements that keep you from having to re-do the trim.

 

[shanker]

I just pulled out all the single pan, aluminum el-cheap windows out of my house and replaced them all with Home Depot Brand (Silverline, an subcompany owned by Anderson) windows that were tax credit eligble, meaing less than .30 on both heat loss and cool loss.

I LOVE them..I did the install myself, I spend a good amount of time making sure that they were plumb, well supported, and VERY well sealed...made a HUGE difference in my house..the second story now has a MUCH more stable temperature

 

[blkhonda1991]

if the siding is original too you may as well do it in one shot and seal up the house like new construction. ive read studies that show that replacement windows arent that big of an improvement over the originals in old houses because they have air leaks all over the place.

 

[padstack]

Talk to some local builders as well. In Cleveland, I bought from a company called Norandex that has a very nice top of the line window for Home Depot and Lowes wanted for (at best) one of their mid-range windows. I got 13 that all qualified for the tax credit last year (3 being odd-shaped special orders) for $2300. I had to install them, but they're great.

FWIW, they had half screens and dividers on the top pane as well. All white vinyl.

 

[cowboyjosh]

If you go vinyl, i like Certainteed or Jeldwen. Wood or clad we use varius lines of Pella, Andersen, or Milguard. Once in awhile we use Sierra Pacific or a regional vinyl manufacturer. Usually when we build we go as middle of the road as we can, not the most expensive, and not the cheapest. Allot of times house styles and various architecture details dictate.

 

[5lima30]

Anderson, Pella & for the money Jeldwen.

 

[06LBZ]

Marvin Integrity

 

[GarageEnvy]

It's a long story but we have Kolbe & Kolbe, Pella and Jeld-Wen on our house. Kolbe because at the time they were the only one making a 16' slider in mahogany. Quality-wise it is the worst of the bunch. Pella because we wanted casement and the blinds in between the panes. Good quality. Jeld-Wen because Pella doesn't make sliders in the same color as their casements (go figure). All are wood windows except for a vinyl window in the bathroom. For the money I'd go Jeld-Wen.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have the "top of the line", Renewal by Andersen windows. Nice, but expensive.

In SE MI there are 4-5 companies that make their own vinyl replacement windows. One spends big bucks on TV ads. Even though they claim the lowest price, my son found out they are not.

I think the average person can tell the difference in quality of windows, but I would go to the factory show room so that you can see a full size version of what you are shopping for.

Last tip, skip BBB. Call your city building inspectors office. They will know if any of the "locals" have more problems than the rest.

Also, pay the money and get the imitation marble sills. They really do make the new windows look nice !

 

[AustinMiniMan]

Just to toss a factor in- My Mom's house had Anderson when we bought it. I'm not sure the model-line, but they're about the worst excuse for windows I've ever seen. They leak profusely, and are drafty to the point that we have blankets hanging over most of them. On ones with crank windows the mechanism breaks constantly. When we redid part of the house we used Pella and are happy with them. So, my advice, anything but Anderson.

 

[rwhite692]

You really have to start with a budget number for this project, and then figure out what brands and lines will fit within that range. Windows run a full spectrum from low end to high, and everything in between.

I used Milgard windows on my detached garage build, they were decent enough for me. We re-did my Dad's house several years ago, all top-line Andersen, which was nice, but they cost a mint.

 

[blkhonda1991]

Honestly if its in the budget avoid vinyl all together and get an aluminum clad wood window, vinyl windows overall **** when it comes to quality.

 

[LocoCoco]

My widowed mother has enlisted me to look into getting new windows on her 60 year old ranch. Knowing nothing about windows, I looked at the BBB for a list of local companies that supply and install windows.

Since some are married to a window manufacturer, are there any window brands or manufacturers that I should look for or avoid?

Any suggestions would be appreciated

if the siding is original too you may as well do it in one shot and seal up the house like new construction. ive read studies that show that replacement windows arent that big of an improvement over the originals in old houses because they have air leaks all over the place.

I'll be putting new doors & windows in my 1977 house this summer and I had a window guy recommended installing them out slightly from where they are now. Reason being is that I'll later be doing what you said and stripping the original aluminum siding, adding Rigid foam board then putting up new vinyl siding. The added thickness to the house would make the doors and windows look funny being set in too much.

Maybe something to consider for your mom's house, Jake.



LC.

 

[neverenoughtools]

Windows are like motor oil.......everyone has their favorite mfgr.

 

[Painter123]

I did a lot of research for a few months on the new windows I put in my house
We see pretty extreme conditions here in Vegas so I wanted to make sure I picked the right ones the first time

I ended up going with Simonton brand
they were all made to suite (I gave them the measurements)
they weren't the cheapest or the most expensive
(but I did play a number of sales guys against each other, I scheduled 8 different companies for quotes on the same day a 1/2 hour apart each.
One would pull up as the other would leave and say "What was his price? O I can beat that")

They have a life time warranty that covers ANY problem, no matter if a pane breaks or the frame warps, they fix it

and the warranty is fully transferable to the new home owners when we sell

On a 110deg day it's made a huge huge difference

 

[StRacerDuke]

Building a custom house right now and went with Harvey. Good quality & good price for what I'm looking for. If you are going with Anderson stay away from the 200 line.