I want to know more about Windsor too!

In Chicago, 99% of contractor will install Marvin.

In terms of price from high to low, they are 2nd below Marvin. (Marvin > Windsor > Quaker.)

I haven't find contractor who offers Kolbe yet. I got the price from distributor directly and they are more expensive than Marvin.

My comment is only for double hung window. I don't know about other type of product line.

"Windsor website looks like crap"

Then it matches their windows. Product quality, fit and finish, durability, customer service are all lacking. Other than all that they are good. Price wise they should be about the same as Quaker, quality as well.

BG, what in particular do you like about the Windsor vinyl window? Most of the negative comments from professionals are based on the fact that we remove and replace Windsor windows with regularity, and in terms of the vinyl options, the thermal and structural performance ratings, product option content, etc, do not put it in the upper echelon of choices. There are some outdated, or low-cost fueled features as well such as aluminum used for sash reinforcement, which is just about the most conductive material that could be used for that function. Even many "builder grade" products have moved away from that and use fiberglass or a composite of some sort.

As far as appearance, there are vinyl windows that have hidden, butt-joined welds if you are interested in a window that truly looks like wood. Feel free to add more specifics if there are things that you believe are superior about that window.

@millworkman Brutal lol. When i looked at the display model, finish looked good. dual weather stripping inside and out. top sash went into a pocket that was double weather stripped. interlock I believe, and the bottom sash and frame meet together like the ultimate series. + Conceal jamb liner. Same hardware. sourced from a good wood company that uses "old growth trees" plus it looked like my father's old single pane marvin wood window. But that was one sample.... I'm not a installer not praising them. just saying what I saw. I did infact go with marvin elevate series window because I wanted to replace my late fathers marvin window with a marvin.

interestingly enough, the window windor dealer quoted me for L2 + Argon had a Ufactor of .31 where as the elevate was .28. So go figure. numbers don't lie.

It could be I just had a bad marvin window display model. It was dated and super beat up.

@HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC I liked it because it looked sufficiently weather stripped, and looked like a old wood window. their series all seemed to have the same consistent look. But yes they are not as air tight as other companies. I haven't seen another vinyl window look like wood window. Its incredibly annoying to try and compare windows. All these companies seem to have just a few pictures of the window that is zoomed out really far away and you can't see the details. Any time I try to go to a dealer its on the weekends and they are open for a half day. So I only have time to see one or two windows. so its hard to gauge a window. plus you really only see the difference when you have them side by side. (at least me with limited experience. So please enlighten me. on alternatives. At this point seems like best bang for my buck is marvin elevate which comes out ~520 bucks for a 34Wx68H double hung. They recently became a single step dealer. Sunrise was about 500 bucks. Provia was 370. I have to message Okna.

@Trey 567 do you have any pictures? not doubting you but I'm interested to see how they messed up. the display model looked so "crisp" but thats probably why its a display model.

I'm really interested here as well. We are building our dream home, and have fully priced Marvin- with most windows being Essential, ( except for a few large showcase windows that were moved up to Ultimate), and 10 huge french doors, Marvin Ultimate. Blowing our budget on windows and doors, but it's important to the overall structure of this house. Our problem is the color choices with Marvin windows....in order to get a Charcoal color, you have to move everything to Ultimate- and that is just outrageous.

So we looked at Windsor Pinnacle in matte charcoal today as well- and I have to say that we also were impressed. I'm hoping to hear more from the community from people that have had a positive experience with Windsor- and photos!

I ran across the pictures of the defective cladding from when our Windsor windows were delivered a while back. I can't find them now, and as I was in a purging mode at the time they may be lost. Again, for us the samples we saw looked fine, but the delivered product was not. Although Windsor "fixed" them and offered us an extended warranty, we ended up replacing a lot of windows starting at the 10 year mark. If I had to do it again I would do Marvin.

So when were your original Windsor windows purchased (the defective ones)? Over 10 years ago?

Don't they have a 20 year warranty?

Most 20 year warranties from wood companies (Andersen, Marvin, Kolbe etc.) pertain to the insulated glass. Ten year warranty on the frame and parts.

@B G -

It is Windsor's goal to continually improve both our products and service and to be easy to do business with. I can't say for certain, but I have a feeling that the lack of love by some here is from experiences from our earlier years and not a reflection of who we are now. We've worked hard to move forward with purpose and delivery products that perform.

@Brandi Holmes -

Here's an overview of our warranties with links to the PDFs:

Windsor's Pinnacle wood/clad products carry a Limited 20/10 Warranty, which provides coverage against insulated glass seal failures for 20 years and coverage for workmanship and materials for 10 years. In addition, we offer extended-life exterior aluminum surface finishes (AAMA 2605) that extend the warranty on such finishes to a period of 30 years.

Our Legend cPVC/hybrid warranty provides coverage for insulated glass seal failures for 20 years, cellular PVC components for 25 years and materials for 10 years. As with Pinnacle, we offer extended-life exterior aluminum surface finishes (AAMA 2605) that extend the warranty on such finishes to a period of 30 years.

Our Next Dimension vinyl products carry a Lifetime Limited Warranty, which provides coverage against workmanship and materials to the original owner-occupant, for as long as they occupy their single-family residence. If either the residence is sold, or these products are installed in a non single-family structure, then all warranties noted are limited to 10 years from the original date of manufacture, and by exclusionary items and conditions as noted in the Warranty.

Our windows were installed about 15 years ago. And that's the problem. The manufacturer says they're better now. I guess you'll know in 10-15 years whether today's windows really are. Personally, I favor a manufacturer that has done a quality product regularly for decades, rather than one that claims they've being doing it right for a year or two.

To be fair, it's not easy to do clad wood windows correctly. If ANY moisture penetrates the exterior cladding, you now have a situation worse than an unclad window, because that moisture tends to be trapped between the cladding and the wood. Essentially, it never dries out, leading to accelerated rotting of the wood. And no wood, even superficially treated, is going to hold up to that.

@CHI_IL im also in chicago and builders are all over the place with the windows they choose. It also depends on neighborhood. Many go with climate guard , pella, jeldwin. When you get more in suburbs Marvin does have a huge base as well. I’m working on a single family project where I need black exterior and black interior Colors. Also going for a more transitional design so trying to stay away from wood windows. So far I have Marvin essential, Andersen 100s , and I’m going to take a look at windsors next dimension classic line for my mix of double/single hung, casements and awnings Windows on this project.