My My what scathing reviews on Alside windows. If one didn't know better they'd think the forum was dominated by other window reps. I'm 59 years old been in construction since I was 17 I have run a window and siding business for the last 32 years. I have put in just about every window on the market. The rap the Alside windows are getting in here range from laughable to absurd. Is it the best window on the market, definitely not. Is it the quality that some are claiming in here, absolutely not. Do you need to buy a Mercedes to get 200,000 miles on the engine? I have installed 1000's of Alside windows over the years from Eternal welds to the Ultramax dog. I also offer a 15 year personal labor warranty on any Alside window we install. I can assure you my phone is not ringing off the hook with claims. I have had Alside windows in my house for the past twenty years. Outside of replacing a few finger pulls and re-screening they have performed flawlessly. No twisting,balance failures,or wind infiltration. Contrary to what has been said on this forum, installing Alside windows doesn't turn your home into a portal to Hell. Most of the complaints in this forum are consistent with installation flaws.I would be a bit more leery of those making the claim than the product In closing let me say this: Anyone who would pay more than $350 for a window installed in his house is an idiot. Those of you who are having such problem with repairs should look to lower your cost for the product and spend the money on quality installers. Those of you who have had them installed by "reputable" companies may need to do a bit more research before agreeing to a contract.

My advice to everyone I talk to is that they should purchase the best window that they can which fits into their budget. The only caveat to that, is the folks that do not have a realistic budget to begin with, but that is not a problem here. Ultimately, you are spending $5k give or take. A difference of a few hundred dollars is going to be very small if not irrelevant in the grand scheme when you take into consideration the size of the purchase and the fact that you have to live with these windows for the next X number of years. If you have the windows for 20 yrs, that is a difference $2 and change per month, or $32 per yr. When you look at it that way, it doesn't seem to make much sense to base this choice on price. My advice: Pick the window that you like better from the installation company that you like better. Easy as that. You won't go wrong either way on product (installer is another matter, but we can't really offer much on that without knowing the companies in question). Easy enough ;)

Thanks for the advice everyone. I did get a quote that seems reasonable but a little on the high side for the window they are offering. My guess is that's how there business model works by quoting without coming to the house. They will come out to take measurements before the order so I'm guessing if they saw something out of whack they'd adjust their quote then. Their quote breaks down to about $700 a window and they said the Softlite window the Nirvana is similiar to is the Softlite Classic. I'm going to keep looking. I did also get a quote from the Okna dealer who quoted me about a $1000 per window for the Okna 800. To me that sounded way too high. I'll probably only be in the house another seven years or so and I don't want a premium window just a "good" window that meets my requirements of having a wood grain finish on the interior of the window.

just for a reference, the Polaris Ultra will be much more expensive than the thermal weld because the polaris ulta is a much better window. its amongst the best in my opinion based on both design and quality. the Polaris Ultra also has one of the lowest/best air infiltration ratings in the industry. air leakage rates is a very important number to look at and most companies refuse to mention it because most vinyl windows have high air infiltration rates due to flimsy/low quality design. this is one reason i think alside make poorly designed windows. As for price, i find it extremely hard to believe your contractor was able to quote a Soft Lite Imperial LS for that price. at that price he would be losing money. there has to be a mistake or a typo. that window would be in the $7,500- $8,000 range for 14 windows with a basic install. the Polaris Ultra would be in that same ball park as well.