Hi –
Great forum!
This summer we’re adding dormers to the attic upstairs and are on an extremely tight budget! For windows, we want wood interiors (which we will stain and finish) and would prefer a dark color exterior (i.e., dark bronze or brown).
I’ve looked at a lot of windows and so far the only windows I’ve found that have wood interior and fall in our budget are:
1. Andersen 200 series vinyl with unfinished pine interiors (approx $250/ea for 36″x48″). Unfortunately, the vinyl is only available in white or beige.
2. Marvin Integrity series fiberglass w/unfinished pine interior (approx $300/ea for 36″x48″). Advantage is that the fiberglass is paintable.
After pricing both with local distributors, it looks like the Marvin is approx $50 more per window. Doesn’t sound like much, but an extra $1200 towards our already strained budget means a lot to us! There are so many manufacturers and options and dealers that I’m starting to feel a bit overwhelmed at the task of choosing windows!
Any experience/opinions on Loewen, Sierra Pacific, and Weathershield. How do they compare on price/quality to the above?
Any suggestions, opinions, experience, or advice will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
James
Portland, OR
Replies
that Marvin Integrity is a wonderful product and the price sounds good to me / another product close to you that I have used when there is price pressure is Pozzi ( now part of Jeld Wel (sp?) conglomerate )
your dormers are all about the windows - they will make or break your project - Marvin has always been good and they are going in some good directions
don't waste time looking any further. MARVIN ARE GREAT
Nothing wrong with Andersen either, but for the extra fifty. I'll take Marvin
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You should be aware that the clad windows are typically offered only in the lighter colors because the dark colors tend to fade fairly quickly. Since you are set on dark you need to be sure it's paintable, cause it's gonna need it!
The Loewen's are supposed to be a nice window. We have looked at them for our house and are considering them. Do a search on Loewen. A few mentions of them in other threads.
Longer lead time for them if I remember correctly, 6 weeks or longer.
order from Canada...a place called Accurate-Dorwin in Winnipeg....the window frames are fibreglass and the fibreglass components are pultruded in Winnipeg and then sold to the major window manufacturers in North America. Cheaper too because of low canadian dollar and low labour and real estate costs in the area.
50$ more per window...
adds 1200$ to your budget...
If you are putting 24 windows in your attic methinks your are not being realistic with your budgeting...
or if 1200$ represents 4 windows...
then you still need to be realistic....
200$ more for 4 windows is chump change....
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Good way to detail it.
I was thinking, "Boy, that's a mighty big attic - they shouldn't be so worried about the cost of these windows if they can afford a house that big
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I'll add to the chorus for the Marvins. I have these (casements) on our new house construction. I researched a lot of mfgs, but I find the fiberglass properties of the Integrity's superior to the vinyl's. They operate smoothly and seem to be well constructed.
For your strained budget, trim somewhere else to get the Marvins. Your windows are a significant part of the whole quality of your house. Much more so than...say...granite countertops. You could upgrade the finishes in your house much easier than to upgrade your windows at some later date.