Don't buy Anderson, Stay away from Pella, forget Marvin!
tinker_2006
13 years ago
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jjaazzy
13 years agomacv
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Comparing Marvin, Pella, Anderson, Lincoln and Sierra Pacific
Comments (9)Thank you for the feedback. I am concerned re Pella standing behind its warranty in the event of window failure. My concerns are based on posts I've read re other people's experience as well as the Pella dealer warning that we should have them install as Pella would void its warranty should the contractor not strictly follow the required install instructions. Of course, his quote is 10 - 15k higher than Marvin's, and we can't afford it. We do like the product itself though, and the options available. eal51 - you're right. The cost savings offered by Anderson do not justify reframing the windows. I just received the written quote and realized the additional labor costs to cut down and fill in the windows account for almost $3,000 of the total cost - money that could be going towards the product itself. I was hoping for feedback on Lincoln, which appears to be a well-made window with many options similar to Marvin and Pella. This isn't our "forever" home, but we would like a quality window that functions well and also adds value to the home for future resale, and without breaking the bank! Thanks again for your comments....See MoreDeciding between Marvin, Pella, Anderson, and Lincoln
Comments (23)Wondering why a "clad" product when you could have all vinyl... honestly the best choice for windows. Why choose vinyl? Vinyl windows have welded corners which are strong and leakproof. Be sure to look closely at the corners of products you're considering. If corners are screwed, stapled or glued, they will leak over time. You could not only have damaged windows, but a damaged structure, as well. Vinyl is so durable it resists fading, it's maintenance free, and it lasts a lifetime. In fact, our windows have a transferable, Limited Lifetime Manufacturer's Warranty plus the Good Housekeeping Seal 2-yr. money back guarantee. That's how sure we are about the quality of Earthwise vinyl windows. Although many don't realize this, vinyl is a sustainable product. Did you know the main substance used to produce vinyl is an abundant resource? It's salt! And vinyl is 100% recyclable. So why waste trees? Vinyl windows are some of the best in energy efficiency. At our company, we take energy efficiency one step further: We built our windows and patio doors to provide optimum performance for your specific climate. Forget the ads you're hearing now that suggest vinyl windows will warp - it's just adspeak. It's actually wood, composites, fiberglass and aluminum that warp over time. I hope you'll have a few minutes to look into the reality of today's vinyl windows because they're certainly very affordable. (Just our 2-cents worth...)...See MoreWanted to Love Anderson Doors, but Didn't!
Comments (10)Regarding pricing, make sure you are comparing apples to apples with respect to materials, style and cladding. If you can't see the actual door, the salespeople should at least have a cutaway where you can see the thickness of the aluminum cladding, and how the door is constructed. Since you say you need a custom size, make sure the Peachtree and others you have looked at are quoting you the custom size option too. Also, there is a way to get around the custom size issue. Unfortunately, I don't remember the exact method my installer was talking about (it turns out I didn't need it), but try posting here and asking. It was something about you can get a standard size sliding glass door if it is within 2" of your custom size, and use some kind of frame and filler to get it to fit. My installer said he has been doing this for years, and there is absolutely no problems, as the frame/filler gets fused to the door and become one. Sorry I am so lame at describing this, you should ask this forum and/or the Remodeling Forum, because you could save a lot by not having to go custom (post something like "How can I Install Standard Size Sliding Door in Custom Size Opening?"). Also, prices do vary regionally, and I think a lot depends on how available a product is in your area. I believe if I shopped for Loewen on the west coast it would be much less expensive than the price I saw, because there isn't much Loewen availability here. Conversely, I can buy Marvin at a dozen places within just a few miles, and they are all competing with each other, so the Marvin prices are better. I didn't know Weather Shield bought Peachtree. Actually I was at Menard's this morning, and saw Peachtree there, so it is sold here locally. I am not sure I agree with your salesperson that it's just a question of "sticking different labels on them". You could post on this forum, and ask that question. Having now looked at both, I think the analogy is Toyota/Lexus (setting aside the whole Toyota recall thing!), in that Toyota and Lexus cars are the same platform, but the Lexus has many more luxury features to set them apart from the Toyota. The Peachtree to me looked more lower-end than the Weather Shield I saw. I was impressed by the Weather Shield cutaway that was at the showroom, which made it seem comparable to the Marvin in thickness of materials and overall build. However, evidently the Weather Shield pre-2008 had problems, and the redesign is supposed to be so much better, but I didn't have enough verification for that to make me choose the Weather Shield over the Marvin, since they were priced so close together....See MorePeachtree - yay or stay away?
Comments (7)Peachtree is made by Atrium. It's an OK brand but there are better choices available IMO. The installation of a bay/bow window can present potential issues and my recommendation would be to have the most experienced installer you can find do the work. If they aren't installed properly, you can end up with your worst nightmare. If you have decided on a vinyl window, the brands I am familiar with that I think make an excellent product are Sunrise, Okna, Gorell and Softlite. You didn't give any details in terms of where you live so I can't really advise you on the appropriate glass packages offered by these manufacturers. You will have to have a test done for lead paint, so it's important to make sure you are dealing with a company that has the EPA Certification to do this job correctly. If a company isn't EPA certified by now, they are the wrong company to do any work....See Moretinker_2006
13 years agotinker_2006
13 years agomacv
13 years agotinker_2006
13 years agoHU-132525830
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2 years agoMcLauchlin Company
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