I’d go with the Marvin. I would suggest looking at in person. You might want to contact Sunrise again, lead time have been returning to normal for some of us.

Thanks for your reply. I literally got that 12-16 week lead time estimate from a phone call I had with the installation company 10 minutes before I posted.

I can't seem to find any air leakage ratings for Marvin. Are they decent in that regard?

For some reason they do not post them or make them readily available. Compared to high end vinyl the air infiltration is not as good. They are average, not saying you will feel a draft thru a closed window they are just not the tightest window.

millworkman, would you go with Marvin over a Jeld-Wen 4500 premium vinyl as well?

The casements ”should“ be pretty tight. The double hungs are not know to be so. Finding air numbers on anything is almost impossible. They should be retested every 5 years, try asking for a current testing report for the brands that list a air number and you’ll know what I mean.

We have casements, awnings and fixed windows only. No double hungs.

"millworkman, would you go with Marvin over a Jeld-Wen 4500 premium vinyl as well?"

110%, but then again almost anything over Jeldwen. Nothing "premium" about anything they make.

Not even close, Marvin is leaps and bounds better.

Next question. If Marvins are too expensive for the budget, do I go Jeld-wen over MI?

If Marvin is too expensive for your budget, and the companies that you mention are your ONLY choices, then hold off until your budget can handle Marvin.

Exactly as oberon says. Your old windows will probably be better than either MI or Jeldwen, at which point you save until you can afford the Marvin's. Both MI and Jeldwen are good money after bad.

This is a new build, there gonna need them all at once. You could look at the Anderson 100 series. I’d also check out the big distributors that specialize in siding, roofing and windows Such as ABC supply and see what brands they carry.

Good point todd got off track.

Todd, The builder is using the biggest supply place around and they only carry MI, Jeld-wen, Anderson or Marvin. I could look for other brands, but am not sure which brands or lines are any good. From my research, Milgard looked good, but they are only on West Coast. How do people feel about Simonton or Plygem or Sierra Pacific?

I got off track as well and forgot it was a new build when I replied.

I also agree that I would look at Andersen 100 series, Marvin Essential, and Simonton.

The others you mentioned, no.

I appreciate everybody's comments. I told the builder we would go with the Marvin Essentials. We have about 30 windows. Anybody Have a ballpark on what to expect for installation costs for that many windows? Do they do it on a per window basis?

Thank you for posting this question. I am going to be building in Wake Forest soon, and most builders up here use PlyGem. I don't really know anything about them, but I have noticed on all the new houses that the window glass has a wavy appearance from the outside. I don't understand why they look like this. Wondering if a different brand would look more flat.