BTW, this is for all casement windows.
And we are in Norther California

The Andersen 100 is made of Fibrex, a PVC and sawdust composite. The sightline jamb width of the Andersen is 3 1/8" vs 2 3/8" for the Milgard (assuming its the 3510 model), a 3/4" difference or 31% larger.

In my experience pure black finishes don't look as good or weather as well as off black finishes. In aluminum storefront designs I always choose the dark bronze over black.

@RES2 - so your recommendation is to go with Milgard for extra $3k of cost?

@rnonwheels - after the leak, did you just get replacement of Andersen 100? Or changed to new brand?

Is it true though that the leaks are more a result of bad installation?

Milgard or another fiberglass clad wood window like the Marvin Elevate for even more money.

I don't know much about Milgard but the details look better than the Andersen 100.

Andersen 100

Milgard 3510

The Marvin Essential would compare more with 100 and be lower priced then the Elevate. Depending on how you are trimming out your windows you can do things to make the frame look narrower.

Marvin Essential come out to ~$35K. Wonder if it worth to pay so much premium over other available options, hence had down selected to Andersen and Milgard

If you have more then 1 Marvin dealer id suggest more bids . It would not be uncommon to see a big price spread on a job if this size.

@toddinmn We did try quotes from two dealers for Marvin but both were high.
Btw, when you say Andersen would compare more with Marvin.. you mean by color or looks or quality? Are you implying Andersen is closer to quality to Marvin, and Milgard is inferior?

@toddinmn was pointing out that the Marvin Essential would be more like the Andersen 100 (than the Elevate) in construction and price because the Marvin Elevate is a fiberglass-clad wood window and the Marvin Essential is all fiberglass.

Sorry for the apples and oranges suggestion.

Marvin Essential Casement

Marvin Elevate Casement

Thats what I meant.

Renewal by Andersen markets their Fibrex product (a mixture of vinyl and wood (sawdust)) as two times stronger than vinyl. A true fiberglass product (like Milgard Ultra and both Marvin's Essential and Elevate) thus is four times stronger than the Andersen 100.

With your choice of a Black exterior, I would readily recommend the Ultra over the 100 for long term durability regardless of what seems like your slight preference for the 100 Black. Milgard also offers (I think) a lifetime warranty versus the 10/20 years offered by Andersen. Both good products but Milgard to better. Good luck!