Looking for guidance on competing window quotes

last year

last modified: last year

I'm looking at replacing 8 windows & a sliding glass door. I'm in southern Pennsylvania and have a 25-year old townhouse with original windows. There are style and color restrictions (HOA), but every quote I have gotten has been able to match the look just fine, so not too worried about that. So far the quotes I've gotten are:

Renewal by Andersen - Fibrex Windows/Vinyl Door ($35K)

Home Depot - Simonton 6500 series ($14K)

Pella - Pella 250 series ($18K)

Local Installer #1 - ProVia Endure series ($15K, 20 years in business)

Local Installer #2 - Solt-Lite Pro series ($12K, 25 years in business)

Local Installer #3 - Okna 7500 series (triple-pane, $23K, 15 years in business)

Lowe's - Pella 250 series ($14K)

Lowe's - Reliabilt 3900 series ($13K)

I've done enough research on here to know I don't want Pella or Andersen (which are out of my price range anyway), but for the rest all I've seen are varying comments saying "that's a decent window". Any assistance or advice from the pro's out there for this specific circumstance?

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PRO

Windows on Washington Ltd

last year

I have copied and pasted this text from another window professional that I hold in high regard. I am not sure I could put it any better than this:

...most industry professionals aren't fond of the company and business model offering those. In my experience, these are franchises purchased by complete outsiders, a "business in a box" concept. As a homeowner you have to ask yourself if you'd prefer to spend $15-$20k altering your home with someone who is an expert and has been in the industry for decades, or with a guy that perhaps was in IT or a banker previously, and narrowly decided in favor of buying a window franchise over a Papa John's Pizza store... I'm sure that this profile doesn't fit EVERY one of their franchise owners, but it seems to be more common than not in terms of similarities.

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Comments (13)

Window Genius
last year
I like the Okna out of all of them based on quality. Second would be Soft Lite but I would ask if they have access to the soft lite ” elite Ls” or the ” soft lite ”elements”.

Both the reliabilt and pella 250 are way at the bottom of the food chain.
Matt B thanked Window Genius
millworkman
last year
In order "Local Installer #1", "Local Installer #2", "Local Installer #3".................then all the rest. If you are comfortable with the work of #1 and feel comfortable with their processes I would go with them first choice.
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My first thought was…you can’t really see the house well enough….the trees and shrubs are covering most of the house…i would start by removing the overgrowth..so you can see how much natural light you will gain…before you choose colors…also a picture from the curb showing the whole house and property …even a slice of the neighboring homes …will help toward a more encompassing choice…
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HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
last year
The Okna 7500 is in a different stratosphere as far as performance and quality compared to any of your other options and is considerably less than the only other product in this group considered "high end". Its an excellent window by every metric.

If you aren't completely sold on that...

Process of elimination:

- Drop renewal as its much higher price and lesser performance than the other composite (7500)

- Drop Pella as you are paying for brand name only. Again, not a top tier performer.

- Drop the box stores, the products are mediocre and installation quality is often a concern

From there, I'd try to do what the Window Genius suggested which would be to get a quote on the better line from Softlite (Elements). Remove triple pane from the Okna so you can at least compare somewhat more closely apples/apples (and bring closer to your budget). I suspect the price gap at that point will have tightened considerably.
Matt B thanked HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
PRO
toddinmn
last year
The Okna 500 would make more sense to compare, it is still performs better than the Pro and the Endure.
Matt B
Original Author
last year
Thank you very much for all the quick replies - was not expecting that!

I reached out to the Soft-Lite & Okna installers for updated quotes on the different models suggested - I'll update with those once I get info back.
Matt B
Original Author
last year
My apologies for the delays - finally heard back from everyone, and it's nothing helpful unfortunately.

Soft-Lite installer only sells the Pro line.

Okna installer won't do double-pane, but will knock $900 off the triple-pane. Unless I'm not understanding my research correctly I don't need triple-pane in southern PA. I gets hot and cold here, but nothing extreme.

I reached out to Okna directly and they put me in touch with an installer a bit outside my area that is willing to come give me an estimate ( I double-checked they offer the 500 series first), so I'll hopefully have a quote for that in 2 days.
Neel Sheth
last year
Excellent thread with great info here. Is there a rough $/sqft of window calculation available for reference in the various brands?
PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
last year
For the record, triple pane is NOT overkill for your area. If you don't mind the slightly darker glass, it is going to be better.
Matt B
Original Author
last year
Got the quote from the other Okna installer: $17K for the 600-series, been in business for 28 years.

@Neel Sheth - windows are 33x64 (x7), 29x40 (x1), so about 110 sq. ft. total, plus a standard 72x80 sliding glass door. Some of the quotes aren't broken down into differences for the windows and the door, so can't give an accurate estimate to $/sqft unfortunately.
Window Genius
last year
There really is no price per sq ft with windows,
Matt B
Original Author
last year
I'd like to thank everyone for the awesome input. Based on replies here (and in a few other threads) I've done more research and have narrowed things down to the following 2 options:

#1 - Zen Windows. Excellent ratings & reviews, lifetime transferable warranty on parts & installation, sub-contracts installers.

Quote details: 8 Soft-Lite Imperial Elite triple pane DH w/Ultra S, Solar Low-E, & non-metallic spacer upgrades (0.02 CFM, DP55, LC55, 0.19 U-factor, 0.22 SHGC, 0.36 VT, 69 CR), + 1 Soft-Lite Kingsroyal slider. $12.7K total.

#2 - AJ Window & Door Solutions. Excellent ratings & reviews, Couldn't find the Okna warranty anywhere, but I've seen multiple people I trust say it's excellent, and the company offers a lifetime warranty on installation. Uses their own employee installers.

Quote details: 8 Okna 600 double pane DH w/Heatseal Deluxe (0.02 CFM, DP50, LC54, 0.26 U-factor, 0.29 SHGC, 0.53 VT, 63 CR), +1 Okna Elegante slider. $12.3K total.

I'm heavily leaning towards Zen as I think the upgrades to triple pane and the increased specs are definitely worth it, and the fact they sub-contract installation is mitigated by the warranty. Is there anything else I'm missing here? Seems like I have a choice of 2 good products, both at good prices.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
8 quotes and you never ran into a salesman. Sad state of American business.

Looking for guidance on competing window quotes

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