What Window Brand to Purchase?

last year

Hi Everyone.

I am looking to replace some double hung windows (and possibly a sliding door) in my home that are about 20+ years old. I am also looking to keep the cost "within reason". I had Anderson and Pella here once and their estimated cost (with their best discount) was with no exaggeration, 300% of most other brands. Yes, I understand they have won the branding contest and they may offer some additional features and a lifetime warranty, but to me, while I might be willing to pay a premium for them, nothing is worth 300% more. I'd rather have a 10 year warranty and face the possibility of another replacement in 10-15 years - it would still be less expensive - if I'm even still in the house at that point.

So I started looking at Marvin and Harvey. I read somewhere (maybe here?) that one contractor said that even Harvey's top of the line is no better than average. I was also told that you should not use replacement windows but use new installation windows even for replacement.

So who makes a good moderately priced window and which manufacturers have folks had a good experience with? I understand that you get what you pay for, but I think I should still be able to get decent quality out of a moderately priced window.

Many thanks for your help!

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Comments (9)

millworkman
last year
"that even Harvey's top of the line is no better than average."

Correct and maybe even a slight overstatement.

"I was also told that you should not use replacement windows but use new installation windows even for replacement."

Said the man who only sells new construction. Not true in most cases.

What area of the country are you in as many of the top brands are regional? Look for an Okna, Sunrise or Softlite Dealer as they make quality replacement units and are only available thru their dealer networks.
William Rossman
last year
Agree.

Okna , Softlite, Sunrise.
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HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
last year
last modified: last year
I agree with the comments above. I'd only add that you should exercise serious caution in how you look at pricing.

Are the high prices 300% "more" (meaning they are way too high), or are some other 300% less because they are way too low?

A quick survey of the BBB and overall sentiments from those that have had awful an experience in this industry shows that the vast majority of those took the "too low" price. Bad product. Bad install. Guy took my money and I never heard back. Job left half complete... etc, etc.

I'm not advocating for those products that you've seen, nor am I saying that you have to go with the highest price in town by any means, but when there is such a sizable discrepancy, the low end is typcially the outlier(s).
HU-468010620
Original Author
last year
Thank you for the responses. I live in the greater NY Metro area. It seems like the popular manufacturers in this area are Anderson, Pella, Marvin, Harvey, Jeld-Wen, with some other less common names like Ideal, United, Mi, Plygem, Simonton, Silverline. I'm not seeing or hearing names like Okna, Softlite, or Sunrise being offered.

As for your comments, "HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC", thank you for what I think is a way of saying that "you get what you pay for", which is a concept that I generally agree with. That is, when a premium price is reasonable. 300% over other perfectly adequate manufacturers is not reasonable, IMO. Would I pay a premium to get a better window? Of course! 5%, 10%, maybe even 25% over other manufacturers. That's reasonable. You can get an excellent quality car like a Toyota or Mazda without having to buy a Maybach. You can even buy a Mercedes or a BMW for a reasonable markup over other cars without buying a Maybach.

I think you understand what I'm trying to say. Write off the "too low" priced windows as a outlier due to quality concerns, but I would write off the high-priced as an outlier also due to price and being practical. If I were wealthy, it might be a different story.

So I think I should be able to get a perfectly good quality window that is moderately priced ... or perhaps priced just at a bit of a premium over the average price of a window ... without having to go into an Anderson or a Pella.

This is not to say that I don't agree with your comment. I think you make a good point. Many people try to be frugal, and it ends up costing them later on. That is why I am saying that I'm willing to pay a little more. But I have choice words for Anderson and Pella.

So with this in mind, does anyone have window brands (other than Okna, Softlite, or Sunrise) that they'd recommend?
millworkman
last year
There are definitely Okna, Softlite & Sunrise dealers in the NYC Metro area. AGM in Northern NJ is one who is known as reputable and there are others. The better replacement windows are typically not available thru lumberyards, box stores or the Windowramas. They are thru dealer installers only.
HU-468010620
Original Author
last year
Thank you millworkman!
William Rossman
last year
last modified: last year
The brands you mentuoned are low end windows- “Harvey, Jeld-Wen, with some other less common names like Ideal, United, Mi, Plygem, Simonton, Silverline”.

The above mentioned by the other pro’s ( Okna, Soft Lite, Sunrise) are much more efficent, stronger, and nicer looking.
HU-468010620
Original Author
last year
Thank you, William!
HU-468010620
Original Author
last year
What is the price-point of Okna, Soft Lite, and Sunrise windows? Are we talking moderately priced? Or are we talking about Anderson level pricing?