The A-series is a solid window. He would probably be happy to use either but make sure you get the one that you like. I take from the inquiry that you want a wood interior?

M

I'd go Ultimate 1st then A -series then integrity without regards to price. I could live with all but would base my recommendation on pricing. My ratings were based upon looks only, not fond of integrity's appearance especially in double-hungs , casements are a bit better. Performance ratings are pretty close in U values and dp ratings not sure about air infiltration numbers.

Yes, Windows on Washington, we prefer a wood interior. Since the fibrex frame is the same material they use in the Andersen Renewal line I assume it has a track record of durability. How well does an aluminum clad window like the Next Gen Ultimate hold up and handle condensation?

Thanks for your recommendation Todd.

Biggest problem with condensation is on the interior side with wood windows. Both A-series and new ultimates are pretty new with little track record. The A- series has fiberglass sashed with fibrex ftamed s I think. Might want to consider Andersen woodright 400 series as well, very similar to A-series with fewer bells and whistles. Highly reccomend looking at all in person and operate them, feel and touch them.

Great points Todd. We did look at the Andersen 400 and Woodwright models. We like the tilt-in feature on the A series better. The Next Gen Ultimates are suppose to have a DP50 rating I guess in apart due to the aluminum interlock. That could come in handy in the high winds we might get on our hillside lot. We'll probably get a quote on the Ultimates in addition to the A- Series and Integrity.

+1

I definitely think you need to look at them. The Fibrex material is okay. I prefer fiberglass or other composites. I have seen some of the Fibrex stuff in some very questionable shape.

"I have seen some of the Fibrex stuff in some very questionable shape." I thought it was a impervious to water since it was like a composite decking material?

Just Google trex lawsuits. In all fairness you can look down a few post to see integrity problems and the Ultimate's are no stranger to water problems.

+1

Nothing about being composite makes it impervious to water unless it has a cap stock on it.

toddinmn it appears there is no "holy grail" when it comes to windows. Thanks also WindowsonWashington, that's good to know as well. Coming from a house which we had all wood windows inside and outside, anything we get has to be better than that experience.

True that. A wood / wood option should be relegated to a person that has some self hate. I do like fiberglass windows for a wood look with a more bullet proofed exterior.

Well we have more quotes in. We can get the Marvin Ultimate's with GBG or the Marvin Integrity Wood/Ultrex with SDL for about the same price. My wife likes the look of the SDL window over the GBG. It wasn't something I thought about until we drove around and saw the difference in homes with each type. So now we are faced with a decision to make.

You are 100% right on that WindowsonWashington! I think the performance numbers are pretty close from what I could tell, except the Ultimate window has a higher DP rating for a comparable window. Tried to tell the wife the cleaning is more difficult on the SDL window, but the look difference on the outside is definitely better in my opinion with SDL. Some homes with GBG you could barely seem them with the sun reflection on the glass.

I always tell folks that from about 10' away...you can't tell. I used to challenge them, in my old showroom, to pick out the window with SDL vs GBG and that would tend to make my point. SDLs do look nice though and most often times, people are getting them because they want to maintain the interior look and less so about the exterior look.

Maybe that's why the majority of window showroom we have visited have the SDL version on their display windows. When you see them side by side there, the difference is dramatic.

Its all about distance. If you are doing it for the look from the street, don't bother. If you are doing it for your own view (i.e. interior) go for it.

"Its all about distance. If you are doing it for the look from the street, don't bother. If you are doing it for your own view (i.e. interior) go for it."

Appreciate all your comments! So many choices . I like the interior look of the Ultimate, but then I think of the problems we had with our previous wood windows, and think the all fiberglass exterior would virtually eliminate any chance of wood rot versus a wood clad product.

Can't argue with that rationale. The Integrity is a nice combo of wood interior and what should be a bulletproof exterior material (fiberglass).