Windows

[hosedragger622]

Looking to replace the windows in the house, any body recommend a good brand, looking for vinyl, single hung, dual pain, argon filled, low e glass, energy efficient. You know all the good stuff to help with the energy bills.

 

[Engineer61]

Vinyl windows ****. Vinyl just isn't a very strong or stable (very large expansion/contraction with temperature) material. Wood with vinyl or aluminum cladding is better, a fiberglass window is the best.

 

[Jackfre]

This is a decision based upon how long you intend to be there. I went with vinyl windows in my previous home, which I thought were a good window and a good value. They were neither a good window nor a good value in the long term.

I am remodeling the house and bought a window package from Loewen. I looked at a few jobs with them and think I bought a winner this time. We'll see!

 

[Steevo]

At least 80% of all windows installed in the past 10 or 15 years are vinyl construction

Nothing wrong with them. They are more energy efficient than aluminum frames, and a little less efficient than a wood frame with the same dual-pane glass setup.

You don't give a location, so any local window company recommendations will be useless.

 

[justanengineer]

Get a good quality Anderson and be very careful installing it with regard to sealing and insulation. Ive screwed around with other cheaper brands in the past and IMHO the quality is night and day. In my house currently we have mostly Anderson and a few oddball higher end Jeld-Wens....she can tell where the JWs are.

 

[ChargedUp!]

We replaced all the windows in our last house with WeatherShield vinyl windows. They were nice and air tight. Wood requires maintenance. I don't have time for that ****. Wipe the vinyl ones down and you're good! The new house we just built are Pella vinyl and seem quite nice too.

 

[cowboyjosh]

When I build new, I have used CertainTeed vinyl in the past (now known as PlyGem) probably the best builder grade vinyl with the best warranty response. I have also used Milguard and Atrium, both are just ok. Most of the times, were limited by the homeowners budget.

These days I like the Andersen 100 Fiberx the best, and usually spec these unless the homeowners budget doesn't allow for them since they are quite a bit more then traditional vinyl. I like the Andersen's because they are Andersen and it's instant brand recognition, they install well, and they seal well, so well when we do the blower door test the guys conducting the test can't believe how well the windows seal. Sure there are other fiberglass units and composites but we've had the best luck with the Andersen Fiberx line; it's the first line of windows where I haven't had a client ever call and ***** about problems with the windows.

 

[ddawg16]

We just installed new windows....Milgard....fiberglass on the outside, vinyl inside...argon, low E, etc.

Old windows were AL.....but double pane...

Besides the new windows being warmer in the winter....the bigger difference is noise...the new ones block out a lot more noise.

 

[Angelfire]

I went with Sierra Pacific. I installed their metal clad double hung wood windows. Nice quality. Their vinyl are close to half the price of the wood but I didn't bother. Vinyl windows here just die with the UV we see. Otherwise, they are the cheap alternative so many have them....doesn't make them better or worse than other styles but I haven't heard much good about vinyl other than price.

 

[coljar]

I don't know if Simonton are nationwide, but they started here and I've used a bunch of them and haven't had any problems. Some of them are nearing 20 years old.

 

[CNGsaves]

Depends on what's available to you locally. Where you located?

You have big box stores like Home Depot, Lowes and lumber yards in your area?

Plan on installing them yourself or hire it done?

 

[5lima30]

I've always had good luck with Pella & Anderson.

 

[AZ Pete]

Look at Pella windows before you buy. They are aluminum clad wood windows and top notch.

 

[where2]

My PGT PremierVue windows will survive two impacts with a 2x4 traveling at 34mph. That isn't to say that the glass will be in one piece, but simply to point out that your needs in windows and my needs can be entirely different, depending on your location. If you're not familiar with impact resistant hurricane windows, think windshield glass on steroids.

Nice thing about impact windows, they keep the baseball bat wielding crack-heads and meth-heads out of your house. The down side, if your local fire department doesn't have the proper tools to get through impact glass, you're going to need a bunch of marshmallows to pass out at the bon-fire that was your house...

 

[cowboyjosh]

I went with Sierra Pacific. I installed their metal clad double hung wood windows. Nice quality. Their vinyl are close to half the price of the wood but I didn't bother. Vinyl windows here just die with the UV we see. Otherwise, they are the cheap alternative so many have them....doesn't make them better or worse than other styles but I haven't heard much good about vinyl other than price.

Even in Colorado the UV kills vinyl. I have seen many of windows less then 5 years old with yellowed frames (frames originally white) or dark colored frames chalking, fading, and cracking.

Another mis-conception of new windows, I have had folks think if they replace their windows they will never have to turn on the heat or air conditioning again, truth is even with low e 366 or low e 4 glass there still is significant heat gain and heat loss.