I live in the Midwest so my windows take a beating!

I know you said you're doing a complete renovation, but could you tell us specifically why you are replacing your windows? Is something wrong with the ones you have?

They are terrible and have been since they were put in 14 years ago, they are Rockwell, who I think is out of business now. They leak, are moldy, and gerally suck.

I am going to use wood w/ aluminum clad. Right now am considering Herd, Marvin, Kolbe, and Loewen. If money were not an issue how would you rank the product of each. Most likely will go Casement again, may do some double hung.

Hi, I am assuming this is not "replacement" but "New Construction" windows where they actually remove all of the old window material and install anew, true?

I have no first-hand experience with Herd, Kolbe or Loewen. There was a website 4 years ago complaining about Kolbe problems but that site is now down, likely settled and Kolbe could have improved. I saw Loewen at a friend's house and thought their woodwork beautiful. We have Marvin on our house so this is to share our first-hand own experience.

We installed Marvin clad exterior, bare interior for staining 4+ years ago, going on 5 now. So far, everything works as new, no problems. THe aluminum on our French doors are holding up well under "bombardment" by our kids' frisbee, balls, an occasional bike crash. Also get smacked by wind-whipped pea gravel during intense storms. So far, no scratch or dents yet, knock on wood. I do believe though that a sharp object can definitely scratch it, just like it can scratch a car. As for fading problems, nothing yet even after 4 hot summers.

THe woodwork was what attracted us to Marvin 4 years ago. Of all the brands we did look at, several were lower-end brands, a couple were higher-end, none could match Marvin's tight, clean and beautiful woodwork, at least at the time. Things may have changed now.

WE are on the coast of CA where winter can be mild or snowy, sunny or blowing gust to 60-mph. In the summer, on our exposed slope, it can bake in 105-F degree heat. So far, no leaks, no draft, no nothing.

The Low-E II coating with low solar heat gain has worked very well truly cutting our heating and cooling needs. Good installation means it is near dead silent inside. We often can see tree bending in the wind and rain pouring but hear nothing inside unless the rain pounds the roof or hits the windows glass.
We no longer use curtain inside. There is no need given our mild winter (>=30-F) and the windows' ability to handle high summer heat. We do drop external solar shade on the southwest side to cut out setting sun.

One complaint though is the older standard French door handle. They come loose too easy requiring constant tightening. I don't mind tightening them every so often but given everything is so top-notch, this is just an unnecessary irritation. Other than that, no complaints so far.

Good luck whatever choice you make!!!

We have Hurd windows and French doors that were install 8 years ago. No problems. We replaced a 30 foot wall of 9 double hung windows with 3 large picture windows with 2 casements. Also replaced two sliding patio doors with tow out swing French doors from Hurd. Everyone who enters the room comments on the great windows. At the same time we installed 8 Vetter double hung replacement windows. The Vetter seemed better as a replacement than Marvin. We are likely to install more Vetter replacement double hung windows.
We are now trying to decide between Hurd, Eagle, and Marvin for a very small condo remodeling project.

So ChefBecky, If you were replacing all the Casements in your whole house, which would you prefer, Hurd or Vetter?

Hi, I am about to purchase a home that needs all 39 windows replaced. I need some advice on the type of window to use......I have only skimmed over these posts and I know that I won't be using Pella. This house is of moderate value so I am not looking to break the bank on replacing the windows. Would like to use typical double hung double pane with a grid. I plan to cut out the existing window frames entirely and replace the whole thing. Any recommendations based on your experience what I should be looking at? Most of my windows measure 31 X 56, (27 of them) from the inside of the jambs. Help!?

herb

would have to look again, but would likely go with Hurd which we thought was slightly better quality and slightly more expensive. The casement windows we have are Hurd. Double Hung are Vetter. We also installed Phantom retractabel screens with the Hurd casement windows. Screens were from a Phantom Screens vendor not Hurd.