Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 01:01am | #1

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   Ed, please search the archives. We've worn this one out.

   Click on "search", type in "Kolbe & Kolbe" (or any other window manufacturer) and you'll find an evening's worth of discussion.

   Regards, Steve

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 03:56am | #2

   *Ed. In the past I used alot of Kolbe& Kolbe windows including all the windows in my own house. I'm replaceing all the windows in my own home with Andersons. As far as I'm concerned K&K windows are not suitable for the cold northern Michigan climate where I live. After 5 years the wood on most of my windows turned black from condensation. I have replaced some of the K&K units in the same room with Andersons and they don't sweat. In a warmer climate they might be ok but I wouldn't use them anywhere it might snow.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 05:54am | #3

   *Armin,Did you ask K&K about this? What did they say?Rich Beckman

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 06:17am | #4

   *My only experience with Kolbe's was near the water on a house 15 years old. These were actually patio doors with some fixed units. Several of the windows had turned Black and were starting to rot. Don't know how typical this is but it made me a gun shy. Skip

2. 
   Ed_W | Apr 21, 2000 03:53pm | #5

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   Armin, I was wondering about that when I saw a cutout of the extruded aluminum over wood. That's some very good info. I'll contact them and post their response. All the older posts didn't really say anything about this problem. Thanks very much!!

1. 
   Ed_W | Apr 21, 2000 05:32pm | #6

   *I talked to a rep at K&K and the product that I saw is the Ultra Series which just came out. The only reason that they could give for your problem is the humidity level in the house was too high.

3. 
   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 08:55pm | #7

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   i After 5 years the wood on most of my windows turned black from condensation.

   The reason that the wood on your windows turned black is not from the windows themselves but from to much moisture indoors, trying to get out.

   Possibly the house is/was to tight and did not allow for proper air exchanges. If the house is new there will be excesive amounts of water vapor in the air and it needs to be vented.

   I'ts hard to blame a window for causing condensation to occur. If you open the window the condensation is removed or exits the building, then the window is acually doing its job. Windows that leak will not show condensation as readily.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 21, 2000 09:09pm | #8

   *one of my major window distributors just dropped Hurd after 18 years... they still think Hurd is the BEST of the energy conserving windows... but they picked up Kolbe & Kolbe because they could get a more diversified product.. more customization,, etc..Hurd clad is an extruded alum bonded to woodKolbe is a rollformed alum bonded to wood..my favorite window.. unless i need a heat-mirror.. would be Andersen...

4. 
   Ed_W | Apr 21, 2000 10:27pm | #9

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   Mike, Kolbe just came out with the "Ultra Series" which is extruded alum. I was told that they are only available to select areas right now, Chicago being one of them. The Ultra series are much nicer than the rollformed units. the thing that I liked the most was the alum brickmould that you can order on the unit. the company that I'm dealing with dropped Weather Shield to go with K&K. they said that K&K gives them much better service. check out their web site for more info on the "Ultra Series".

5. 
   Guest_ | Apr 22, 2000 12:41am | #10

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   Extruded being better because... ? (looks? strength?)

   The rotting K&K windows -- could have been serveral factors. I
   doubt failure to leak air was it -- but perhaps they did not insulate
   well enough and got too cold on the inside surface. Why wasn't
   the wood sealed?

   The K&K do look nice. A very big factor for the contractor, I've
   been convinced here, is the support from the distributor. If they're
   incompetent you look incompetent. Otherwise, pick Hurd,
   Andersen, Marvin, Weathershield, K&K based on features and
   price? Just don't pick vinyl, please....

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 22, 2000 02:54am | #11

   *Rich, Yes I did ask K&K about the condensation problem and for the record I used to be a K&K dealer so I got to see first hand in countless homes how the windows performed. The story I got from K&K about the condensation was its not a window problem but to much humidity in the building. I believed this theory untill my irate customers started to replace their 5 year old K&K windows with different brands. As I mentioned in my previous message I have started to replace the K&K windows in my own home with Anderson units. I have several Anderson units in the same room along side of K&K's The Kolbe's sweat the Andersons don't, I can't think of a better test than that.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 22, 2000 06:04am | #12

   *Vinal is king here in the Pacific Northwest.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 22, 2000 03:44pm | #13

   *extruded is preferred because :it's usually thicker... and....when the metal is roll formed or bent in a brake.. it stresses the metal at the bend and this bend fails first and corrodes first

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 22, 2000 10:42pm | #15

   *Thanks!

6. 
   Ed_W | Apr 22, 2000 10:42pm | #14

   *
   Just looked at the Kolbe&Kolbe alum. clad windows. Looks like a quality product. anyone have any experience with them as far as how they compare to Weather Shield, Andersen or Pella? thanks.