Have a HO who wants to build a house with Pella windows. The only time I used them I had problems with delivery and getting what was actually ordered. Wasn’t too impressed with the build quality, either, but this 12 years ago and things to change. HO requirements are for wood windows clad in alluminum with extensions available for 2×6 wall. HO also likes the mini-blinds between the lites.
Replies
Pella is better than ten yeara ago, but they still disappoint me in numberous little ways.
and one of the most common complaints IO have heard here is that of rot behind the aluminum cladding. Apparantly it does not seal well enough at glass joints.
Run a search on "pella" and you will fing other threads on the subjct
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I have used them in remodels for over 20 yrs and have not had any problems with them that were brought to my attention. I would only say that a good distributor makes a world of difference when dealing with any window supplier. Here we have a long time dist that keeps excellent records, services any problem at install and for the most part, over honors any guarantee.
I had heard of the rot problem piffin mentioned by someone here in my city. However I wasn't able to get the complainant to get in touch with me so I could see first hand the condition and the install. I certainly don't want to install a substandard product, but I also won't take anyones word as gospel if I haven't seen a problem.
best of luck
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I recommend Pella every chance I get. I've used them for many years and put them in my last 3 houses. One reason in particular is their in house service and sales dapartments. Pella people are selling and fixing their own product. Most other window companies either have a subcontracted service or a regional service dept. that can only be available at certain times in your territory.
MES
elcome to the disapointed by Pella Club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....
WOW!!! What a Ride!
I built my house about 18 years ago, installing 53 Pella windows. The distributor used the house in his ad and all was well.
Over the years - starting soon after installation- the latches started to fail. They had a push button lock that would come apart. They changed the design due to a high failure rate.
The windows also have a hard time shutting (double hung) i.e. the top sash would not fit tight at the top and the locks would not completely latch.
I contacted Pella by e-mail not asking for anything other that tech advise, and my response started "Dear vintage window owner....". The e-mail went on basically telling me I was out of luck on the latches and closing.
I run a construction company that does mainly commerical and federal work, so I don't use many Pella windows - really zero from the date of the letter.
If I were looking at windows today I would probably look elsewhere. Pella would not be my first choice.
I've been working recently in a house with quite a few Pella double hung windows. Closing them at the end of the day is a real PITA. You have to slam the upper sash up, slam the lower sash down, and then try to latch it. If you're lucky it will latch, but more often than not it won't. The weatherstripping is a little too fat, and someone here said that after a while it will relax and get easier but I'm sure the HO is not going to like it.
If these are new Pellas then there is an installation issue here.
MES
No, it is not an installation issue. It is a common complaint for Pella doble hungs. The rep here freely admits that "It takes some work to get them closed at first, but after a season they will 'learn' their set"
BS! I have some on one job that have never learneed it. We fight now with the ones on the job we are doing to close evedry night.
I have never used their clad ones - wood only in the archi series. our recent order was twenty grand less than the Marvins so it suprise me that somebody said Pella was too expensive. Adersen is a good value but in a different class of unit.
List of our current problems that pella is working to correct:
All the veneer in the pre-primered door units is shrinking and checking, starting as soon as they were installed. Worst on sides exposed to sun.
One door unit had water leaking in. Solution "here's a tube of caulk."
One door had the hardware side stile loose. Solution - They are making a new unit for us.
One door unit was way out of plane. Solution - They made a new door slab to replace it, but the new one was three inches too short. They ar e making another new one.
Several doors would not fit to close.
solution - they came out and refitted on site by adjusting the hinge sets.
One double hung lower sash was warped so the lock would not engage. Solution - they replaced that unit.
One door astragal was all splinteered and the meeting plate wa smissing. Solution - they replaced it.
all double hungs let the muntins mush and crunch as they pass each other in openning and closing, rubbing the new paint off.
so - in total, three months after accepting delivery, I am waiting for two door replacements, hoping that the leaking unit never leaks again, and paying the painters to patch and paint the poor veneer exteriors, and can hardly wait forthe time that I have to teach the old lady living in it how to close and lock her windows.
like I said, the twenty grand dif made ithard to recommend the Marvins instead but next time it will be easier
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I have not had any problems with Marvins. The only thing I found a little annoying a few jobs ago is that with the folding casement handle... there is an angle from which the handle folding can ding the jamb edge slightly. I think that with the newer design of handle it's no longer a problem. I've put in casement, double hung, sliders, got plenty of custom stuff from them with everything done correctly. Also like the software that draws the units for you before ordering.
hwat do you think the basic problem is - design, or their assembly?
where are they made?
multiple reasons, but mostly factory - though I can't totally convince myself of that.
The front end sales rep - he made two mistakes that I know of - well, one that I know for sure and the other that I'm pretty sure rests on him. And - he doesn't totally know his product line, not that that means anything. I would say that only one out of ten window and door guys know their product all that well. I come by that opinion after talking to so many of them trying to find what I need for discriminating customers. The Marvin guy here didn't do a very good sell job either because he didn't know certain options.... There were some details that I thought that Marvin could do for me based on things learned here and from their websiote, but when I requested them, he shinned me of with something like, "They don't do that here in this area" or something like that. Then a few days after making the Pella order, I found out at a hoime show from a Marvin rep, that indeed I could have had it - but too late then to change.
Two of the Pella door units that I had the most trouble with came with a confusing label on it. The order # was mine per contract and the door was the one I ordered, but the name on it was somebody else, making me ask their service techie onsite whether the units might have been sent back by another customer. His reply - not a chance. Anything like that always goes to either the trash bin, or the seconds sale barn and never to another customer. But the mislabeling says that there is something amiss with their computerized order system.
close to ten years back I ran into the same excuse, "We just changed our ordering system over from hand held to computerized and all the bugs are not worked out of it yet" In that instance, I had a big bay with a center picture, twin flanking casements, and transoms over all. Six individual units to mount in.
The big 6'x5' center picture unit came up missing from the delivery. I had the floor finishe, the curtains hung, and 99% of the paint on with the family moved in, and a sheet of plastic up over the openning.
They did hustle the order along, gettin it to me in three weeks instead of the customary six week wait and renting a truck to deliver it instead of waiting for their normal run. But it still hurt everyone's reputation.
The service people really do try to make you happy though. The way their bonus checks are cut is that they work as a team, and any part of the team can cause cuts in the whole team's bonus for each quarter. Thus, they don't point fingers at each other. They just say, "we will fix it"
But that is up until they get their bonus. From reports I have read here, the same incentive to gain customer approval does not necessarily exist two years down the road. so if you have any problems show up - hold them too it right off and don't let it slide.....
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I haven't experienced any of those problems with the last 400+ double hungs (clad ext Arch Series Classic) I've set. They have been struggling with french door cladding and interior veneer for years. Other than sliders I'm not sure I'd recommend Pella for exterior doors.
Sounds like they are addressing the problems, except for the tube of caulk. Still even at 20k savings these problems cost alot of time for you and then call backs for the other trades (painters, etc.) I have liked that Pella has an in-house service team, but again too many issues at one job is not a good reference for future jobs.
Time to look for a new vendor, eh?
BTW, enjoyed your tour of Maine and pics you posted a few days ago.
MES
I wonder if their clad series slides together smoother than the wood primed.
I have used their doors a few times with no problem. But this time makes me shy of them. I now lack the confidence I should have when presenting a product for a customer to consider. A couple of years ago, I had the attitude that I would never use Pella again nless I was told to by the owner and the archy. Then I saw seeral decent installations and new improvements at home shows and gave them a try on this one. The Marvins did include some details that may have been better, and after the fact, I found out ( bad on me - poor shopping I guess) that the Marvins included a screen setup while the Pellas do not. The marvin threshold is a step up in quality over the Pellas, and the Marvins have the three point locking contained within the door while the Pella dados the hardware in and cover's it with a metal bar insert. Pella only includes the three poin active handle on the active door and lets you order up to putting it in the inactive door.
so, all said, to compare exact apples to apples, the diff might have been only 8-10K dollars. Add the fact that it haas been a pain in the **** and it gets harder and harder to look at Pella next time around.
You are right though, they are hustling their butts to try to make it all right.
The one where he gave me caulk to seal it after the fact - he said he could order me up a new unit and put it in for no charge, if that was whaT i WANTED, BUT SAID THAT CHANCES WERE 50/50 that the replacement could have some sort of problem too. Now THAT was disconceting! I didn't opt to take that chance along with fouling up the paint/finish schedule.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin & Andy,
The timing of this thread is very interesting. Long story short I've been a long time Pella contractor from my days in Phx. (If you promise not to tell I worked directly for them for about 1 1/2 yrs.....that's another story-another thread.) Anyway I move to the NE and set up shop and meet the rep. Instant connection and we're off and running. Four months ago he left the company (for the same reasons I did). Since then my pricing structure has changed, and although I'm bring customers in there is no reciprical relationship here(no installation referrals). On every quote I need to call the office and go over the pricing and I get some $$ knocked off. I hate doing that....it wastes my time. Give me the best price the first time! So I have started to seriously look at Marvin. On occassion I've installed Marvin, Andersen, Lowen, and Kolbe & Kolbe. The Marvin were good....and so it may be time to make the move.
Interesting point about the 3-pt. locking system on the Pella French doors. I've been asking for it on the inactive side for years, knowing the competition was offering it.
Stay dry boys!
MES
Living in Vermont, do you get product out of Somerset, NH as I do?
BTW, if they - the company - are starting to pizz off the reps and dealers, it can't be good for the consumer, can it?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I get it (windows, that is) from a different branch just south of me in Greenfield, MA.
I'm going to meet with a Marvin rep. this week and see what he has to offer.
What's you're impression of Andersen sliders? I hate the fact that they come KD. Easy to manuever around a job site, when its in pieces, but sometimes difficult up here to find a flat area large enough to build a frame.
Thanks for the input.
MES
I presume you mean their sliding doors.
As sliders go, they are fine. The important thing to remember is to assemble ACCORDING TO THEIR DIRECTIONS IN EVERY DETAIL.
When I went to the factory a few years back, they were demonstrating to us that every "leak" claim they ever had was related to the installer just slapping it together with no attention to instructions. They generally threw away the tube of sealant which was provided...[shakes head]
I have also installed marvin sliders - several. They are good too. And the ones we did fifteen to seventeen years ago have just worn out some rollers, which Marvin was glad to provide free for replacement - tho you need to talk to them just right....
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
M&D
I seriously started wondering why two big Pella stores shut down by me a buncha years ago....I think I know now after using the product multiple times.
I think Pella needs some serious reivaluting about their own products or they will implode IMO.
Be competitive and quality,
andyThe secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Many big companies do not care about quality , as long as they make money each year - look at GM til the japanese came along.
Is Pella making money?
Yes, they are! (Retail has an approx 2.14 markup).
MES
Andy,
Time for me to break ranks and seriously look at Marv.
If Pella closes a store, there's only one reason ...the bottom line. When I returned to the East Coast I saw they built a nice showroom in the Hamptons. A few jobs out there and its retirement baby!
MES
Pella is as good a window as most . The only problem I have with them is they are way over priced. Go Anderson .
I've installed their clad windows in the past. I thought that their aluminum cladding sucked. The factory joints fit poorly. Then we had to field cut the extruded aluminum panning. The only thing that was worse than the factory job, was our field work. I mean, just how is a carpenter supposed to cut aluminum in the field? I'm installing Marvins on my house.
Certified boat fetish.
I have not been pleased with Pella, except that they have nice sales people. The pellas in my house are a pita to shut and lock, and all of the seals have failed in the south facing top sashes. Their sliders are way, way, way over-priced. I'd pick andersen over pella any day.
Dennis....You are more than welcome to come to my house and view my Pella's firsthand. I purchased them in 1990, and the rotting problems started showing up about 3 years ago. I have the aluminum clad casements with slimshades. Moisture evidently enters from the outside and the rotting works it's way inward. By the time you become aware of the problem, it's too late! The windows affected are on North, South, and West sides. Some windows are fine. I have a complete section of inside sash completly gone from the dining room (expensive) window. Now, I'm sure defective products are sold from most manufacturers from time to time. The response of the company indicates it's caracter with its customers however. I phoned the local Pella service facility and requested that someone make an inspection and analyze the situation. The service manager (gone now) recommended replacement and filled out the usual reports. When the information reached Pella they offered me a measly 30% discount (off of retail) to purchase new units within a certain time frame.. I called the Corporate office personally and asked for more compensation than that. I was told the windows were out of warranty and that was it! I was even past their grace period. By the way, check Pella's warranty. It's not much! I've made every effort to seal the affected windows with lots of caulking and long screws (Ugly). One day, I will replace all of the windows. Would I buy Pella again? Absolutely not. I really believe the company was covering up a known problem. If they had treated me right on replacement, I would still be a fan, but not anymore! If you search the archives, you will possibly locate my post at the time. I think it was titled "Pella Window Problem". The choice is yours.
Then you have Andersen, who had a problem with their Permashield Narroline windows in the late 70's. Sashes came apart at the lower rail corners where they met the stiles. This was covered under their 10 year warrranty terms. When the 10 year period was up.....they doubled it to 20 years to take care of their customers. Now that it is past 20 years, they are offering installed tilt-wash conversion kits starting at $325.00/ window...any size....that's installed. Why would anyone consider another company then Andersen is beyond me.......their service is incredible.
jocobe
hey there..always good to see another KY poster..central here, need help? just holler.
And they all said we we're too dumb for computers..lol
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
pella bad, anderesn good
tyke
just another day in paradise
I built a sunroom off of a neighbors house many years ago and it looked great and is still looking great but some of the windows would fog up.
Did another job with Pella's and the same thing happened...mostly over radiators.
One pella rep told me on the phone to put radiator covers over the cast iron radiators...What crap.
I dont like the removable interior idea at all.
I've put in many MArvins.
Just put about a dozen Marv windows here and three Marv patio doors.
I "highly" recommend them.
For the money Anderson is #1.
Quality...Marvins.
BE transparent (does that mean a parent that moves away????)
andy
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I want to sincerely thank all of you on this forum that have responded to my post a couple weeks ago. I now live in a home which I built 14 years ago which utilized Pella windows. Of the 20 or so opening windows in the house, six are either starting to close with difficulty or not at all. My first and only contact with the Pella rep before he went out of business got the response that the window openings were improperly framed, thus pinching the frames of the windows which then caused them to close improperly. Not being a contractor, I am in no position to question his wisdom, and besides, it is a two-story stucco house, and I'm not about to cut into the stucco to solve a problem of dragging windows. As for the one which will not close at all using the closing mechanism, we simply do not use that window. I know it's a cowards way out, but I consider myself fairly handy but cannot seem to find a way to adjust the casement Pella windows. My wife and I plan to build a new home in the next couple years and I know the house inspector will find all the dragging windows and we will have to come to grips with the problem.
Last month I made a pilgrimage back to my home town in Iowa and met up with an old friend that is building a 4000+ sq. ft home there. This is a guy who thinks that if you buy the most expensive of an item for sale, you will automaticlly get the best quality. He was steamed.....through the contractor he had ordered proably 80 of Pella's best Archy windows last August (2003) for delivery in November. Finally in December when the windows arrived, they were an order for another customer. When the contractor called Pella, they admitted that they had placed two orders on the same order number, and had fixed the problem by deleting his order completely. The Windows arrived in March 2004, with the order partially incomplete, and some parts duplicated. When I visitied him last month, he was still waiting for the munions for several windows.
I also went through a couple other homes under construction while there. Eagle Windows and Doors seem to be popular and they have mini-blinds between the lites, similiar to the Pellas. I will consider those.
One last thing, a couple of the posts mentioned dry rot under the Pella alluminum cladding. I had never considered such a thing, but I've got it big time. Since the outside aluminum never really needs upkeep, I had never really looked closely on the outside of the windows. It appears that several of the joints have failed, and on at least two of the larger thermo-pane, the alluminum has pulled back from the front of the glass by as much as 3/16 of an inch.....the alluminum kind of acts like a water scoop when that happens. I went around iniside the house this weekend with a pen knife and checked all the windows for dry rot.....probably 30% of the windows have it, so yet another problem with Pella.
My wife really likes the concept of the miniblinds in the windows, and their top-end windows actually use a thermo-pane, then an air-space for the blinds and another lite on the inside of the window. I had hoped that their quality had improved, but after hearing from folks on this forum, I suspect not.
thanks again, all.......
Dennis
Dennis
The Pella casement adjust with slot holes in the bracket tht connects it to the operator arm on the bottom. At least that is one.
But the real problem that I have with mine is that dirt and more often spiders and eggs build up. I had a small stiff fiberglass brush that I use to clean out the tracks and and then spray everything with a dry lub.
Over the years, almost all of the major window manufacturers have experienced leaking, moisture, or rotting problems with their aluminum clad wood windows. The question is, have they appropriately addressed these problems and what are they manufacturing today?
I know some of the manufacturers have made adjustments such as having an air space between the aluminum clad and wood, as well as some other changes. But as long as they are going to produced these windows with silicone sealed, mechanically attached corners, along with the flat profiled sill, they will continue to have leaking and rotting problems. Why don't they change their designs? Because manufacturing these clad units is far cheaper if all four sides of the frame (this of coarse includes the sill) have the same profile which are all cast (or cut) from the same die. It's way more cost effective for them to snap these things together and pump a bunch of silicone behind the seams instead of welding them or making a seamless corner. Put these windows in the elements where the wood and aluminum will expand & contract significantly, and it's only a matter of time before failure will occur. It's no secret, silicone is temporary and so is the weather tightness of some of these windows.
You keep hearing better things about the Andersen's because they are not set up to fail like some of the others when they leave the factory. The Andersen corners are all seamless, therefore they can't leak into the sill/frame and rot the wood under the clad. The Andersens are vinyl which can have it's own drawbacks (with heavy UV exposure), but the consequence is more cosmetic rather than destructive to the home and the window itself.
As long as these manufacturers keep producing badly designed windows and doors, there will continue to be the leaking, rotting, and who knows what other problems and the blame will always be on you, the contractors, installers, and homeowners...
Why??? Because you didn't know what you were doing. You installed them wrong and flashed them incorrectly!......
How's that? Because when it comes down to battle, they have more time, money, and attorneys to make your life miserable if you fight them.
Regards,
Fighter
http://www.leakywindows.com
I replaced all my old double hungs with Weathershield sash replacement kits, using Aluminum clad Simulated divided lites. Then I did a kitchen & family room addition, using all Marvin Aluminum clad SDLs .... spent about 20,000 on windows the last few years, so I hope they hold up better than what I'm reading about the Pellas !!
Truly appreciate all postings on the Pella windows. Though we now have Pella (both double & triple glaze), we will be looking elsewhere for new home. Former Pella rep now marketing Weathershield here yet I am seeing Marvin in many new homes; also a Kolbe and others.
For now, we are focusing on Anderson based on availability, user satisfaction & long time reputation.
I am curious to know what criteria did you use to identify Weathershield and then go to Marvin windows? Perhaps either of these may/may not be preferable to Anderson? THANKS!
I chose Weathershield initially because I liked their sash replacement kits. I wanted SDLs, with nice substantial muntins that were similar to the old double hungs I was replacing. I went with Marvins later for the kitchen-family room addition, mainly because my builder liked them and the lumber yard he deals with is a Marvin seller. I liked Marvins too so I didn't have any problem with going that either.
I like both Weathershield & Marvins, so I'm happy with both. I still have a few old windows to replace at the other end of the house, and will probably use the Weathershield replacement kits again.
One tiny thing I like about Weathershield is they have nice recesses routed out at the bottom of the sash to give you a handhold to open the bottom sash. I don't like having to grab the frame at the top & push up.
We have used pella on a number of ocassions for replacements We have paid a ton of money. Every job had come through. With screene any window lock issues. Each time they send a rep they always tried to blame us instead of taking care of their issues untill I pulled out my Digital Square and proved them wrong. And as a consumer of almost 800,000 dollars of materials a year, If I was not as savy they could have easily have taken advantage of us.
Treating customers and contractors poorly is not a good formula for customer service.
Unless specifically requested, I no longer suggest Pella.
Mark
All of the brands you named are better than Pella, including arguably Weathershield.
Andersen is a great company with a good product.
Pella is a mediocre product with a great sales team and a medicore company
Marvin is just plain great.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I like Anderson if the budget is tight, and Marvin, and Kolbe & Kolbe as better alternatives.Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
I like the Marvin casement-style windows best because they tighten up when there's a high wind blowing rain against them. Maybe it was just me, but the rough opening dimensions for the Marvins always seemed too big; it seemed like there was always an inch or more in three dimensions when I installed them. That's miles better than having the rough opening be too small, but it meant stuffing in extra insulation or lots of foam.
D&L
Dennis,
I'll give you a homeowners perspective on Pella. I GC'd my own house, the first and only, and used Pella architect series. I have a lot of windows and wanted very high quality, so I concentrated on Marvin and Pella exclusively. I think there are probably many other great windows, these were the two I felt most comfortable with. The prices were very, very close between the two, within pennies in some cases. I eventually went with Pella because we could get the inset blinds in the doors. We are extremely happy with the product. My distributor did make several mistakes on his order, however, I reviewed the estimate very closely and found them all in advance, so no problems there. We did need service for a couple of blind issues and it was terrible. We got new people each time and they showed up with the wrong parts, took about a year to get that all straightened out, but not big in the long run. We also had them fix a couple of doors that were poorly installed by my carpenter, which we were very satisfied with, I thought I'd have to pull them out they were so badly racked. All in all, I'd use Pella again, but would try Marvin too without much hesitation.
Jack
I, just last 2 years ago, spent about $85,000 on Pella windows and doors during the renovation of my home. These are clad in brick red, with brass hardware, low-e coated, insul-glass, etc., Architect Series. Basically, the best Pella makes. By no means, are we talking about their budget products.
Given that recent experience, from the moving price (sales), to the mediocre installation, the damage never repaired ( when you have over 100 units to examine, it takes a while to catch all the issues) and the average at best operation (quality), I would only recommend Pella windows to someone I have come to despise.
They may be "viewed to be the best", but when you actually touch them, well, that's a different story.
After reading all these letters, I'm sorry now that I let my cousin talk me into Pella on a new house we are building for him! He has Pella now (over 10 yrs.) & really likes them, only had 1 problem & it was fixed quickly.
The installation of the Pella on the new house went okay, there were 3 problems but the installer came back promptly & fixed them all w/o complaint. The actually repair service at the Pella warehouse was manned by a guy with an attitude I could have lived without, but the salesman we worked with took care of everything with one phone call.
I like Marvins, but the Marvin distributors I faxed my "need this" list too never responded, even after calling them. And the Marvin customer service on their website didn't respond, either. After 3 tries, I give up.
Had trouble with Anderson in my own home, and know too many people who had problems with Peachtree to use.
Keepin' my fingers crossed.
"Had trouble with Anderson in my own home..."...Do you mind telling us what the trouble was...just curious!jocobeView Image
Go with Marvin. Better product, better materials; extruded aluminum on sashes, (not roll stock) they don't screw up the order at the factory, they build what is ordered.
Dennis....
I built my house here in central california 14 years ago. The house has clad sliders and clad casement throughout. Half of the windows and doors have serious rot problems now. The cladding pulled away from the sash and I didn't notice, so now I have a problem. Several of the windows close so poorly that we don't open them at all. I had heard that Pella has fixed their quality problems, but last year a friend of mine built a huge house in the midwest and installed over 60 Pella Architectural Series windows. Many of them have open/close problems and now a year later he is still waiting for Pella to fix the mullion insert problems. That was after they completely lost his order the first go around and delivered another contractor's order to his job.
What's is really #### is that my buddy in Iowa is only 30 miles from the factory.....if he can't get service from Pella by going into the factory and pounding on the reception desk (as a last resort, I assure you) then those of us 1500 miles away have no chance at all.
Denny
I have used products from Pella, Marvin, Andersen and Eagle over the years...If you are looking for a vinyl type window, then Marvin Integrity is your best bet..
For Aluminum clad windows, try the Eagles. I have used them on high-end houses we've built and have had great success with them. The range of options with them is superior and they are not that expensive..
We wanted to use casement windows but maintain the cottage look. Eagle made the muttin bars thicker in the middle of the sash to recreate the double hung look...
The sales rep was very knowledgable, the orders were dead on for each project..Had a problem with the screen door fit on the patio door unit..Rep came out and re-cut the screen door and did whatever was required to make it work right and look right with no hassle...
The problem I had with Pella was that the order included multiple units. They stated the windows were ready to ship. Come to find out that the units were not mulled yet and would take another 3 weeks before that was done..When we got the units (double hungs) they would not operate easily..the service guys stated that the units were not broken in properly..Apparently we had to open the sashes an inch at time for a couple of days to let the gasketing wear in..so they had to come and replace the weatherstripping to fix it now...then the casement operator arms broke after 2 months..not using them everyday either..the mulled units did not come with interior mullion covers..had to make our own...mulled units were bowed...had to fix that ourselves...sashes shattered very easily even for tempered glass...
Edited 3/9/2005 11:30 am ET by MJLONIGRO