Yes, Andersen Renewal Salesmen are known to be the biggest liars in the industry. Of course they need to scare you away from vinyl windows to justify their over-priced mediocre product. If vinyl windows are so terrible, then why does Andersen make one? Albeit, a very low end product that is the laughing stock of the vinyl window industry. Single strength glass is very common in triple pane windows because it reduces the weight. their is also quite the misunderstanding of single strength vs double strength. If a projectile hit the window hard enough, it's going to break the glass even if it;s tempered. How many windows have you broken in your entire life? If you like the Simonton Window at HD, then check out the Simonton Prism Platinum/Reflections 5500 (same window) by a local contractor. Once a good quality window is installed properly there's really very little chance you will have a problem with it that would be expensive to repair. Most manufacturers will provide a replacement part at the very least. If you have a glass seaal failure, Simonton will ship a new sash which can be installed by you in about 30 seconds as an example.

DOUBLE Arrggghhh! So much for the savvy business sense I thought I had! No, I dropped the ball and did not check this guy out before committing. I've done so now and he has an unsatisfactory rating with them. Since I can't get him to accept or return my phone calls, I've faxed him another letter and told him the ball is now in his court. He has to come up with proof. I called Simonton. They can't get involved and told me to call the distributor. I did, Shelter Dist, they won't get involved either but did say that my (no grids) kitchen window is in. I asked if they would ship it directly to me...no. They also confirmed that the Reflection 5500 double hung window only comes with ONE size frame. I've just faxed a complaint to the Texas Residential Construction Commission (texasrcc.com) hope it's the right office. Also sent them the copy of my BBB complaint and the letter I faxed to the window contractor. Oy! If it wasn't for that kitchen window, I'd not waste one minute of my time with this scam artist! Thanks for your help skydawggy. Monica Here is a link that might be useful: Wholesale Home Improvements/BBB Report

I had 32 Alside mezzo Windows install. The windows are not bad but the contractors that they have are horrible. You have to be careful because people will say that they are "Alside certified" and will rip out your windows and screw the new ones in sideway then run for the hills... One of those companies Oakland Construction or Orchard 10 is another name they go by also...

To be honest - the builder choose the Atrium window, which I read so much negative about, so I questioned him. Now we're at this point. I wanted a good window, and looked into some of the names given in previous posts such as milgard (which aren't on the east coast) anderson, which are wood and pella just to name a few. Our main building supply told me yesterday they stopped carrying the major name brands because they had nothing but trouble with orders and service, and he stands by what he sells. He is still in hoots about the last set of Marvin windows he had put in over a year ago.... I know he used to sell Anderson, Pella, Marvin, M&W and now he only sells Moss and another house brand (don't remember the name.) The other two local builders are Norandex, which is the Viewpoint(Atrium window) and Lansing which carries the Simonton and thier hourse labeled Atrium, but we were quoted the Atrium. They claim the Atrium is the better window(vs. the Simonton, all other points the same) NONE of our quotes from anywhere got U factor below .28, not even with Low E and argon, and not the Simonton either.