I would stay clear of the Norwood at any price. I used to sell Lepage and they make a very nice product, have not seen or spoken much about them in a few years as I am in the commercial aluminum and glass trade now. Loewen and Kolbe also make very nice products. Here in the states most dealers seem to actually have Loewen at a just slightly higher price point to Marvin (depending on the window type) with Kolbe generally a tad less. Personally I think all would make a good choice and would come down to who you feel more comfortable with as a dealer and installer (after checking references of course).

Norwood that bad? I had the Loewen rales rep and an installer out to do "final" measurements and check installation details. I should see the final quote in a few days. This weekend we will have a closer look at the LePage windows our neighbors had installed just to be sure Loewen is the way we want to go.

We just did a Kolbe install and its a well made window.

waterloo, it has been a few years but I had never heard anything good about them at the time I worked in residential window and doors.

Should I go back to the Marvin/LePage dealer and have them quote Marvin? Unfortunately he seemed very put out when I said we were no longer interested in the LePage.

Marvin will be most likely be of similar price to Kolbe perhaps a few Points more or less. Loewen is currently pricing less than Kolbe and Marvin 5 points +-.

Loewen is manufactured from Western Doug Fir. This is a much more durable option to the other Manufacturer's pine. They give you a 10 year warranty on the wood when its a clad product. I assume you have Kolbe, LePage and Norwood as Pine? If you were to have them price as Fir it will increas their price by 8 -10% +- Norwood I do not know anything about.

1. Marvin

2. LePage

3. Kolbe

4. Norwood

I just received the Marvin quote this afternoon (Ultimate - Next Generation). It has come in less than Loewen and Kolbe and just slightly more than Norwood and LePage. I have asked for some clarification just to make sure we are dealing apples to apples. I was leaning towards the Loewen until I received the quote from their recommended installer $12,800 vs Marvin and Kolbe in house installers at $6,000. The installed numbers (we have added a side entry door to the job hence the small price jump) as we currently stand are;

Norwood - $32,000

LePage - $34,000

Marvin - $37,000

Kolbe - $43,000

Loewen - $48,000

If (a big IF) this holds I think the Marvin is a no brainer.

Have you seen the next gen? It's a huge leap forward over the Ultimate.

All things being equal, no decision to be made there. Marvin all day!!

Have to agree on the the Marvin. Its a very well-made piece.

Turns out the Marvin pricing was too good to be true. Somehow the sales rep sent the wrong pricing. The new number is $46,000. It appears the first price he sent is his cost and the new numbers represent an even 31.0% margin across the board (he did not tell me this but the margin number being exactly 31% tells the story) . What is a reasonable margin in this industry? I have gone back to him with an offer of $42,000 which is approximately a 23% margin on the windows (install quote remained the same which I would imagine has a margin already built in).

23% is actually a typical profit margin on Marvin. I would say 25% is average.

Thanks Grande.

What were you saying with your list a few comments back?

"1. Marvin

2. LePage

3. Kolbe

4. Norwood"

Are you putting LePage ahead of Kolbe on its own merits or is this list based upon bang for my buck? For $12,000 less than Marvin I am going to give LePage another look.

Honestly LePage and Kolbe are neck and neck in my opinion. I slightly prefer the aesthetics of Lepage compared to Kolbe. I don't think you can make a bad choice here as long as you don't go with Norwood.

Post up some pictures if you can. Loewen makes some gorgeous stuff.

Thanks, I will once they are installed. Delivery date is scheduled for Nov 11.

Hoping you don't mind me jumping on this thread as were kind of in the same boat. We're in eastern ontario and need 13 windows: 11 double hung windows at roughly 30"w x 70"h with 4/4 sdl and a casement (29x58) and awning (30x20), both without sdl. So far we've looked at Lepage and Marvin and a couple vinyl options but while the price is more than half, we're thinking we'll regret vinyl down the road. We have an 1880s gothic revival 'style' brick cottage that had siding all over it. We're currently restoring the brick and the original wood windows need replacing. We have the following prices so far:

Lepage aluminum clad: $22,944.00 + HST installed

Marvin aluminum clad: $20,375.82 + HST NOT INSTALLED

Marvin integrity (all fibreglass): $9,750.44 + HST NOT INSTALLED ( doesn't have sdl just gbg)

I've asked for a quote on Marvins wood-ultrex hybrid (assuming it'll come between the two above), we have Pella coming out this week and we've made a request for Loewen but I'm guessing they'll be out of our budget. Any thoughts on the fibreglass or fibreglass/hybrid option? And any idea what installation will run if we go with marvin? is full service company a better bet?

@waterloo360t: was wondering how you made out with your windows and how they are holding up. Thanks for any insight.

Robin, sorry this took so long. We still love our windows, I'm strange that way. No one but us would notice but I am happy to look at them every day.