You were shown three very good windows. The Vytex “ potomac” is an excellent window in terms of looks, strength, and energy efficiency. The MI Window is junk in my opinion and very flimsy. Its a low end builders grade window. You were correct in not considering them. Although with sunrise, i prefer the sunrise vanguard due to it having reinforcement while the verde does not. Vytex recently redisigned the potomac series, not major but it was redsigned.

The Vytex Potomac has a magnetic seal, plus a secondary qlon seal, triple fin weather stripping, and composite reinforcement in both sashes. Also has very strong but nice looking locks and keeper.

i looks nicer, although the older version looked nice as well. I definitely prefer the new version, especially the sash frame design. The potomac is also as solid as a rock, there is absolutely no play in the sash whatsoever, meaning, once the sash is locked, the sash is extremely air tight. In fact, the vytex potomac gets a DP 65 rating, up from the DP 55. The DP rating measures the actual strength of the window. the higher the number, the better. You want a window that is 50 or higher in my opinion.

the air infiltration rating is either a .02 or .03 which is excellent. Most windows are over .15 or higher, the lower the better. you want a window that is .05 or lower on air infiltration. The vytex “fortis” is also pretty nice and solid.

pricing looks very good for all 3. All 3 are excellent windows. The vytex potomac is more comparable to the okna 600 and 800 series, soft lite elements, and sunrise restoration.

Thank you for the Vytex potomac review. Yeah, thats one reason why we like the Vytex, it felt very strong and had a nice look to it.

i'm really not a fan of vytex. Good numbers, but my experience has been mostly negative in the customer service area. I've also heard many stories of homeowners having troubles getting their warranty honored. I think the Sunrise and Okna options are better bets, I'd pick the company that you like better between those two.

Jared, I think that you have done your research and narrowed it down to 3 choices that probably can't go wrong. My favorite of the the 3 is the Okna, but to be fair I've not installed any Vytex windows as they aren't available in my area. I do think that achieving a DP 50 without reinforcement, a superior AI, superior U value, and all with a slim frame (more glass) speak to the engineering of the Okna product, but again, possibly splitting hairs as the differences are not profound... The numbers definitely would not indicate that either of the other choices is "better built" though, I'll say that.

Since you have 3 good products at very similar prices, I'd really dig into the installation details and the company standing behind it. A great window needs a great install to deliver the results that you expect, and furthermore, you want a company with a great reputation and a reasonably solid history to ensure service down the road when needed... Where are you located? Perhaps an installer recommendation can be given unless you love the 3 options that you already have in that regard. Either way, again, these product choices are probably close enough to really focus in on the installation/dealer aspect.

Thanks for the input homesealed exterior. The okna seemed good and seems highly recommended as well as vytex. However, we really liked the look of the Vytex better and thought it felt a little more “ heavy duty” than the Okna. Although maybe its just a preference on my part but the vytex definitely felt a little stronger. The air rating on vytex was basically the same as the okna but the “ structural rating” was better/ higher on the vytex. Both contractors talked in depth about those numbers and explained what in the world they meant. Lol

As far as cosmetically, the vytex potomac was the nicest and the sunrise was a close second; although the okna seemed pretty nice i suppose. Vytex seems to get very good reviews by the pro’s on this forum and a few others.

the vytex dealer is also going to install a front entry door as well. The manufacturer is Provia. “ Legacy” steel door which is 20 guage steel. Also an aluminum storm door which is full view. He said in order to install an entry door correctly, you need to do new construction and change the interior moulding?

his cost for the entry door and storm door is $3600. Although my wife and i both work, this is a rather large investment for us.

fyi, we are in PA.

3600 for a Provia entry door and a storm door is definitely within reason and maybe a tad on the low side. Its money well spent . Provia make a great door. I agree with your contractor that a front entry door should always be new construction. I dont believe in doing a replacement entry door, makes no sense. For windows, replacement is totally fine and the most common way to install unless there is a lot of wood rot.

Again, i have to admit that I have not seen the Vytex to compare, but I'd be careful about what looks "heavy duty" or "beefy". Something like an Alside Ultramaxx or the old gorell 5300 would win every comparison in that aspect despite being inferior to today's top windows. The Vytex website has the AI at .05 to the Okna's .02, and the DP again is reinforced vs non. I don't know of any other vinyl windows on the market that get a DP 50 with no reinforcement. Either way, again, I think these are very close by the numbers and either would serve you well. If anything, you might consider bumping up to the 800 series or even the Okna/Himark 1000 with its DP 80, .01 AI, and hidden weld/butt joined corners. Thermally, structurally, and aesthetically, that window blows away nearly everything else on the market, this list included. Obviously there would be a price premium that comes with that.

On doors, Provia is excellent. The Legacy is a great steel door. Personally I prefer fiberglass and you might consider the Heritage or Signet, but if steel is a better fit for your circumstances you don't get much better than the Provia Legacy... Same for storms. Personally I think the Provia storm is the best on the market.

Sorry Builder Bob. I take no offense, just providing my opinion and knowledge. I don't install any of those as my main window so I have no dog in the fight. Obviously you are team Vytex which is fine. Glad that you've had a better experience. Seems that you are luckier than others that I've heard from, maybe they are getting better. I have to call out the glass breakage thing though, that is a pretty goofy thing to point out as anyone in the industry knows its a gimmick.

Bill, it sounds like some of your comments are directed at me? I can’t speak for others, but im the one that has been team Okna in this thread. I’ve stated multiple times that this comparison may be splitting hairs to some degree but make no mistake, we are talking about Okna’s 4th string product and it outperforms Vytex’s best in every single area with the exception of DP, and again, that’s reinforced vs non. Go up to their first string unit the 1000, and we are in a different stratosphere.... At the risk of sounding like a total homer, based my experience and what I do know of the Vytex line through trusted colleagues that have more experience with it, I’d also take the Softlite Elements, Sunrise Restorations, and Polaris Ultraweld over that product, among others.

All that said, in the specific comparison by the OP, model to model, I’d stand by my previous advice to give some additional weight the the installer/dealer as the products are pretty close, and certainly you could do much worse than the Vytex.

This is getting to be a little petty and off topic Bill, but I guess I’ll bite one more time in good fun.

U value = advantage okna 500 @ .25 vs .27 Potomac. Double pane single coat low e.

Air Ieakage = 500 is .02. Vytex website says .05. You say “.02 or .03”. Do you not know the rating of this window?... at best it’s a tie... at best. I suspect it’s advantage Okna 500.

Other thermals (such as condensation resistance): Advantage Okna 500.

DP= advantage Potomac

That's a 3-1 victory for Okna's 4th string!... Kind like Okna's Nick Foles just beat Vytex's starting qb!...

...Although again, I wonder what the DP rating of the Potamc would be without reinforcement? 30? Maybe worse? ... While higher is definitely better, when we are talking about DP’s at 50 and above, window strength is not much of a concern, but the higher numbers can be indicative of superior engineering and therefore a longer, problem free service life. Along those lines, the reinforcement or lack thereof has to be considered as well in my humble opinion. The 500 gets that DP50 without reinforcement, and the 1000 series gets the DP 80 without reinforcement. That latter number is an engineering marvel that you seem to not want to acknowledge. I wouldn’t bring that window up in this comparison, but you’ve cited manufacturers as a whole, and that window pretty much obliterates anything that Vytex or Softlite put out at this point in time.

Please let me know specifically if I’ve made any false claims, I’d gladly correct them. I’ve supported my positions with data. I’m not quite sure where the personal comments are going either. If you have any question about me or my company please feel free to ask. I’m an open book.

With that, I’ll graciously let this thread get back on topic unless you have any other questions for me :)

Silly indeed Bill.

Bulder Bob, where did I mention Okna? TBH, I find that all of the Okna love around here gives me nausea on occasion, but its a good window. I'm also very familiar with vytex. My own opinion is that its closer to an alside mezzo than okna or softlite. Nice numbers but not reflected in the quality, at least not compared to the others. I've never heard of anyone switching from Softlite or okna over to that company unless they got bumped from their dealership due to low volume or had trouble keeping their account current. B level at best, but that's just my opinion.

Builder Bob, you seem to have a real bone to pick with okna for some reason, that seems to be clouding your judgement. Looks like homeseald laid the ratings out above, I cant really say much more besides those facts. Makes no difference to me, but I think the vast majority of people disagree with you. You should probably stick to building stuff and leave windows to the window guys. Cut rate builders are probably the only guys that would like a cut rate product. Best of luck my friend. It will be interesting to read back through this in a couple of years if they are still around.

Your posts kind of sound like you are trying to make this an advertisement for vytex, but you forgot its not that great of a window:

Never heard anyone call the Vytex cut rate before, till now. Perhaps backing this up with some time of actual data or expepriene would give credibility.

I would scratch Sunrise as I do see it being flimsy in sills and sashes.

Glass breakage is nice and usually is an added for many companies, but has nothing to do with quality.

Hi does anyone have any good recommendations for Vytex Potomac dealers that install in Bowie,Maryland. I received a quote for 20 Vytex fortis $14,514, which are considered a lower grade than Potomac!! Please help

Thats a very good price for the Vytex Fortis and on the lower end of the price range.

Thank you Window Genius what is the big difference Potomac and Fortis? Do you think it’s worth upgrading to the Potomac?

Not really in my estimation. To what was said earlier as well, that is really good price. We are in that market, and I can tell you that price is well below average for the cost of doing work in this market. Those are more like 2018 numbers.

@Amy Slater, if you are looking for the best option in your area, he commented just above me. I couldn't recommend another window comapny more highly than Windows on Washington.

@HomeSealed Exteriors LLC @Windows on Washington Ltd what about Ideal windows Platinum 3000?? Over Vytex Potomac?

The Potomac is the better window.