Both are solid choices. Marvin purposely markets both lines differently to not compete with each other; other than as price options,

I counsel my clients that if your home is a long term "keeper" that the Ultimates are a better choice if they are within your budget. You can amortize the additional amount over the course of the time you live in the home. It is a prettier window with more options.

The Ultrex (Fiberglass) Integrity is a very good window so you cannot make a bad choice. Good luck and keep us posted.

If we are talking all Ultrex...its not a very pretty window. Wood-Ultrex is a good looking unit and unless you are in love with the Ultimate, its a bitter pill to swallow when it comes to price.

For the record, you will be doing a full tear out and not a true "new construction" on the windows that are set in the brick. You can really put in a flanged window in most brick applications.

I agree with the previous posters that you are in good company with either. Just depends on an aesthetic choice on your end of things.

I thought that all wood marvin lines had ultrex exteriors? The Ultimate is a nice looking wood window. I agree, the all ultrex interior and exterior is kind of lackluster when it comes to looks.

Fredajeune, did you get aluminum clad or all wood?

I also heard marvin uses a thicker extruded aluminum exterior. Another wood option is kolbe.

What is the thickness of there cladding?

what is the thickness of kolbe's cladding or any of the other manufactures extrusions?

I chose the Ultimate new construction windows for my home's replacement windows and love the windows looks. It is Marvin's flagship window model so they use the best design and materials in the Ultimate.

Jeff316 - I don't know the answer to your question. I trust my windows contractor, and when he recommended the Marvin Ultimates and Marvin Integrity Wood/Ultrex, I said OK. He had me go to his lumberyard where they had them on display so that I could see both of them side by side, and then tell him which I liked. I cut costs by using the Integrity wherever I didn't need the luxury look of the Ultimates (though the Integrity is really nice-looking too, I want to make sure that is clear). I guess my contractor would know about aluminum-clad vs. all-wood, or perhaps one of the experts on this forum would know and can answer Jeff?

a quick eyeball comparison says the Crestline Elite cladding is the same thickness and so is Jeld-Wen W-4500 compared to the Marvin.

Please share a picture of the "after"?

Would love to see photos, beautiful home!

Not that you asked, and this is an old post, but I'm a purist so I wouldn't change out those original windows if you paid me - new windows just don't have the character and look--not sure that if well maintained that the heating/cooling would make it worth the cost either from various things that I've read over the years. The Ultimates can be made in wood interior & exterior as well, so that is a good compromise one can afford it.

Ultimates and Elevate are what we're looking at and cannot makeup our minds. Our home was built in 1978 and originally had all aluminum windows. They were replaced with tacky beige vinyl Milgard windows (guessing about 15-20 years ago. Some get stuck and you can hear them expanding when days got hot or very cold, plus most have broken seals. We didn't like Pella at all and the extruded aluminum is def what got me to look at Marvin.

Each window was about $300 more for Ultimate, but hopefully these will last well after we're gone!