My builder was/is a complete screw up. He's also 'pals' with the Sierra Pacific Rep here in Santa Fe, NM. Builder left windows open to rain for months and SP voided the warranty and the windows are having to be replaced. I have a video of the Colorado supervisor rep from Sierra Pacific telling the builder how he 'should have' installed the windows. While I'd rather go with another brand than @SierraPacWindow, I don't have much of a choice. Any suggestions on how to insure the new windows are installed correctly?? I have to say the experience with Sierra Pacific Windows has been trying - a hostile local rep, a good ole' boy supervisor rep, and a decent corporate contact - if I had it to do over, I'd use a company with reliable local service.

I'll let you know in a couple of weeks I just purchased SP for the front (historic view) of my home. Candidly - if they fail 5 years earlier on average, I make out significantly better from an expense standpoint. The first quote I had from Pella and Marvin crested $40K (not a lot from some perspective, enough to make me reconsider life) I shopped and researched and settled on SP - backed by a 20 year warranty for any wood rot on their clad window and backed by a very reputable and financially strong local dealer. I finally through caution to the wind and went with builder grade rear facing windows and could not be happier - they are architecturally consistent and backed by a so so warranty - at the price installed ($4000 for 11 windows) I am thrilled with the cost benefit ratio. The SP are significantly more - but by mixing the two brands I saved $30K and can do it all again in 15 years if need be. Good luck sounds like a fun project.

My problem is that I loved our custom made plantation shutters in our front window until the green windows happened. I leave the shutters open now, have taupe curtains hanging in the windows between them, and I’m on the fence about taking down the shutters. I’m still mad. And to add to my anger, we had a “new” window hire at Lowe’s (we discovered was fired months later) who insisted we could only get new Pella 350 in equal halves instead of the larger size on the upper window, replacing exacwhat we had. This changed the look of our beautiful custom shutters, which no longer were set at the proper position of the openings for the new windows. UGH!!!!!!!! Sorry for venting….

@Ultra Windows - that's great to know about the RAM window styles, thanks. Obviously, we can make casements work instead of single-hungs, but I assume that also contributes to RAM's higher prices. @millworkman - Curious if you can share more context/experience around your comments? It seems like for every person I find who hates a particular line, I can find someone else who loves/recommends it. I'm not sure if windows are just that subjective or if most people only have limited experience/knowledge of a few brands because availability is so regional, meaning recommendations are all relative. Are you against Jeldwen, SP and Visions having sold/installed those windows or based on feedback you hear from homeowners or...? (Forgive me for not knowing your background since I'm pretty sure you've commented on every window post I've read on houzz.) :)