Soft-Lite - Imperial LS

Okna - EnviroStar or Insultec

Sunrise - Restorations or Verde with reinforcement

Simonton - 5500 or 9800

The okna, sunrise , and soft lite are much better than simonton if thats what you are asking. The okna 600 eco pro is an excellent window as well but i dont think its available in your area.

This my not be applicable at all in your situation but we had our whole house fitted with Gorell windows (now bought out by Soft-Lite) 9 years ago that included a 50 year guarantee. We ended up having them all replaced due to manufacturing defects. After Soft-Lite bought out Gorell a few years ago the warranty was no longer valid so we had to get the remaining ones replaced by an independent contractor at our expense. We are in Eastern NC.

Sunrise Vanguard is equivalent to the Verde and would be a good option.

Good call ultra. The vanguard comes standard with reinforcement whereas the verde does not. I didnt know the verde could get a reinforcement upgrade?

soft lite bought gorell to get them out of a financial bind due to the financial crisis aftermath. Soft lite doesnt really offer the original gorell window, they basically bought a bunch of gorell dealers. They were not under any obligation to warrany any gorell products.

Is the build with casements or double Hungs?

Thanks everyone. The build is with double hungs.

I'd take Sunrise off my list.

Whats up Todd

just curious as to why you are negative on sunrise?

all of the service calls I have done on them are the same problems. Glazing bead lift rails pulling out, frowned sashes and sills. The last time I replaced them all. Not fond of there weatherstripping at the checkrail either.

I would take the Simonton hands down before the Sunrise.

I do not have any direct experience with there casement.

I have heard about the sill bowing and special install precautions should be taken. Sunrise is aware of this and why they dont strengthen the sill is a mystery. I recently saw a sunrise vanguard install and it seemed rather solid and tight.

Not saying they all do this, but enough of the ones I have seen do. The last one I saw had all the above problems, the installer had some of sills screwed down in 3 places. I have personally only installed 1 job, 2 of the 12 Windows had the lift rails pull out, so far no other problems that I am aware of.

We install Sunrise and I've never had one single lift rail come off. In fact I had to deglaze one several months ago and like to never get the lift rail bead off. I've had a sill bow upward before and turned out the lower jamb screws that mounted the window were over tightened causing the upward bow. Im honestly surprised you have only installed one job and are so negative to Sunrise.

I have only installed one but have serviced about 3 other jobs. Lift rails pulling off, bowed sills and sashes are a common theme from my limited experience. Have not seen a sill bow to over tightened screws before , I think in most Windows the screws would pull through before that would happen .

I love my Okna EnviroStar. Their air leakage numbers are top notch.

I am following this thread with great interest. I live in Western Massachusetts and have a 46 year old colonial style home with the original wood Andersen windows in need of replacing.

we have 24 double hung windows and one casement. We have narrowed our search down to two companies. I am also having the worn out cedar siding removed and vinyl siding installed.

One local company that has been in business for 30 years, installs vinyl replacement windows only, made by Sunrise. It's their own window, built similarly to the Sunrise Vanguard, installed by their Master Installers. Their installed price is $26,800 for the 25 vinyl windows, 6/6 internal grids, Low E Coat, Argon Gas, white exterior, wood grained interior colors. They say Lifetime Non-prorated Transferable warranty

The other is Simonton 5500, would be $14,000. They say Double Lifetime Warranty. The installer only does siding and windows, and says that he picked up the Simonton window line through his supplier, who he says gives him great service. He said the 5500 is Simonton's top of the line.

Other quotes that I received are Home Depot Simonton 6500, $23,800, and Yankee Home Improvement selling Okna 800 's for $44,500, (which I though crazy!).

Which of these windows would be the best window, most energy efficient, and last 30 plus years, in your opinions?

Thank you in advance for your info.

Okna 800's.

No question. The Okna 800 and Yankee. Great product, great company.

25 double hung windows for $44,500 is way too expensive is it not?

Sigh unseen it is really impossible to tell. But you are not comparing apples to apples. The others quality is not the same and Yankee Home Imp. is a known commodity.

+1. Didn't read over the numbers, but without having the specifications on install and product options, impossible to tell. More data and we can give you more feedback.

You are not from Western Massachusetts, where Yankee Home Imp. Is headquartered. Help me understand how you or anyone outside of western Mass. know that they are a good company? $2000 per double hung window is more than anyone on this forum has written that they’ve paid per double hung window

Again the price is not $2k per window and without knowing all the specs and the installation method, details, etc, etc no one can tell for sure if the price is correct or not. Yankee H.I. enjoys a good reputation int he market place. People even in other markets know of their larger competitors even if they are not direct competitors.

The 5500 is the bargain for sure and not a bad window. Looks like the Okna is overpriced but a superior product, maybe ask to price out the 500 .

Are you going with full framed windows with nail fins or inserts?

See comment above. If the details that you mention on the Sunrise window are the same, that is an expensive window. What glazing schedule? Anything else different? Full tear out or insert? The Sunrise product is quite good and while the 800 is the better window, if the work scopes are the same, it isn't 17K better than the Sunrise.

All are insert because that’s all that’s offered by the companies that I have quotes for. The schedule: 2 Simonton 6500 Double Hung
Double Hung, Woodgrain - Oak Int. Finish, White Ext. Finish, With Grids Style - Sculptured, COLONIAL Pattern, Standard , Grids Between Glass, W- 25, H- 33, UI- 58
1 Simonton 6500 Double Hung
1 Simonton 6500 Double Hung
Double Hung, Woodgrain - Oak Int. Finish, White Ext. Finish, With Grids Style - Sculptured, COLONIAL Pattern, Standard Tempered Glass Bottom , Grids Between Glass, W- 25, H- 38, UI- 63
20 Simonton 6500 Double Hung
Double Hung, Woodgrain - Oak Int. Finish, White Ext. Finish, With Grids Style - Sculptured, COLONIAL Pattern, Standard , Grids Between Glass, W- 33, H- 53, UI- 86
1 Simonton 6500 Dual Casement
Dual Casement, Woodgrain - Oak Int. Finish, White Ext. Finish, With Grids Style - Sculptured, COLONIAL Pattern, Standard , Grids Between Glass, W- 39, H- 38, UI- 77
Job Level and Labor Options
24-Miscellaneous Labor, 1-Mullion Removal - Insert, 25-Window/Door

Assuming they are the same, as stated before, the Sunrise is the best deal on that one.