Replies

1. 
   kaorisdad | Oct 29, 2002 11:55pm | #1

   See a comparison done by Consumer Reports in October 2000.  As I recall, the article discussed vinyl, vinyl-clad wood, vinyl-clad aluminum, and wood and gave a blurb on energy efficiency.  I know the article looked at Andersen, Marvin, Certainteed, Pella and other brands.

   For myself, I ended up buying Andersen vinyl-clad wood windows.  I've installed Certainteed vinyl windows and the owners love them.  Be sure to see if your power company has rebates available for Energy Star rated windows.  Most do, and you can save an extra 5% that way.

2. 
   Robertzcool | Nov 06, 2002 04:56am | #2

   One problem with the Consumer Reports testing and report is that it was limited to nationally distributed windows.  There are many excellent regional manufactures that were excluded. 

    Most quality manufactures belong to either American Architectual Manufactures Assoc (which is the trade group for vinyl and aluminum) or Window and Door Manufactures Assoc. (the trade group for wood manufactures).  These groups both together and individually have developed testing procedures for windows and doors.  These test are done by third party independent labs that then have unannounced access to the production line to verify that the compnay is manufcturing what was tested.   The results are usually available in the company's literature.  These test numbers are directly comparable to their competitior's.

   Both AAMA and WDMA have websites with member lists.

   Good luck

3. 
   junkhound | Nov 07, 2002 05:38pm | #3

   IMNSHO, your title is an oxymoron.

1. 
   Piffin | Nov 08, 2002 04:46am | #4

   You beat me to it.

   Excellence is its own reward!

   "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are." --Marcus Aurelius