installing new windows – chicago area – any thoughts on Pella vs Anderson vs Marvin or does someone prefer another brand with less name recognition but good quality?
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I was going to post a similar question,
has anyone dealt with sierra pacific windows and what was the outcome?
I have been importing Willmar windows from Canada for several years to compliment the pre-fabricated EPS wall panels I also import. I am very satisfied with the quality, permormance and price of the product. Used Loewen before that but like Willmar better.
John
John -
In my never ending quest for (non-vinyl) replacement candidates, I contacted a Loewen distributor who is three hours drive from us in southwest Virginia. It seems to be an excellent product but without the massive distribution channel of u.s brands.
Never heard of a Willmar, yet another Canadian product.
Would you mind sharing what it is you like better about Willmar ?
On the domestic side I've been leaning toward Weathershield products.
Thanks for any info,
Alan
One of the services Willmar provides is called Comfort Enginering. Being that they offer 17 different glazing options, when pricing your house they take into considerdation house orientation. Although the windows look the same they use different performance glass depending on which way they face- solar gain, solar block,double Low-e, Argon or Krypton filled. I do not buy them through the manufacturer, but through one of their distributors. They actually take deliver of the window and check them before sending them on to me. They also ship a lot overseas so they have to be right.
Also I have to be sure the RSO'a are perfect so the windows fit in the pre-fabricated panels. No mistakes yet.They are very exact in their measurements. They are currenty working on a 42,000 square foot Monestary for me in Norfolk, Virginia, 450 windows. including 200 that will have stained glass installed on site.
If you would like further information send me an E-mail and I can give you my number.
John
Just finished installing about a dozen Pella crankouts in an addition and, while I am normally very pleased with Pella, this was an awful experience. The windows look and operate great, but the damned "slimshades" were a nightmare. When the window was closed and locked the weatherseal put too much friction on the strings so the shades would not operate correctly. I had to pull every window and snip the weatherstripping to make the shades work.
Long story short . . . don't get the slimshades if you get Pella.
Generally, I think windows are a clear case of getting what you pay for and any of these options will work out fine.
I heard the same thing about those shades. They seem like a good idea until you try to use them.
I just went with regular double hungs from the 850 series.....work fine for me.
SJ
Know a little about alot and alot about little.
could I get some info on those willmar's? also how are they priced compaerd to the Pella/anderson et al?
For starters you can check out their web site at http://www.willmar.ca.
If you will E-mail me your mailing address I will send you some information and make arrangements for you to contact my distributor in Canada. My E-mail is:
[email protected]
Also if you are interested I have pictures of a 24,000 square foot church under construction here in PA. I supplied all the wall panels, roof trusses and windows. The member supplied the labor to erect all the building components. They had no problems installing with windows with non-professional contractors.
Go to photo.epson.com and where it asks for an E-mail address in # 2 put in:
[email protected] and select Nascor Projects.
John
we've installed Weathershield, Pella, Andersen, Marvin, Kolbe, Peachtree & Crestline....
I don't like the way Pella markets thru their exclusive stores.... I want to deal with someone who knows me.. and Pella don't know me... sides.. their window ain't so hot..
Marvin had some bad times in the mid-80's .. left a lot of rotted sash, jambs and and casing.. finally got their act together now.. but they're trying to go the exclusive route like Pella and open their own stores.. sorry 'bout that..
Peachtree couldn't build a window that wouldn't leak in the coastal zone.. so they're out...
Crestline was just a builder's special.. not much to say ... just a decent cheap window..
I hate Weathershield... their distribution system in Rhode Island just plain sucks..almost impossible to order a replacement sash.. they have so many models they don't know what is out in the field... orders were taking 12 weeks for replacement parts .. then they were wrong..3 different jobs.. now .. if I see Weathershield I tell the customer I won't do any repairs.. , but I'll be glad to replace them with an Andersen...
Kolbe is a great custom /stock window.. definitely my goto company for anything really custom..
and Andersen gets 99% of our window business.. they've never let me down.. no matter who I buy it from.. they have a great distribution system in our area..and when it comes to windows.. you are only as good as your local distributors..otherwise , you just get left twisting in the wind with any problems..
here's a custom Kolbe & Kolbe replacing a 110 year old sliding window that hadn't been maintained...inside on the left.. and the clad exterior on the right
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 7/11/2002 9:38:14 PM ET by Mike Smith
I'll second Mike's opinion of Kolbe & Kolbe... we have installed nothing but Kolbe's for the last several years. Never had a problem, in fact the opposite, I never cease to be pleased with the quality. Our customers, even people who thought they wanted Pella or someone else, are also always impressed with the obvious high quality.
Just my two cents.
good info, thanks. just FYI - around here Anderson's are sold at HD and Pella's at Menards in addition to their exclusive stores, although only the Pella Proline's are at Menards.
Mike,
I'm an oak freak. Therefore I favor windows that have ALL of their interiors constructed from oak. From my experience, this means WeatherShield (although out here on the shaky side, I found Fine Finish able to do likewise).
Have you been able to identify another manufacturer that is also able to do staingrade oak insides? Or cherry? Or maple? Of course, we understand these woods are engineered and the exteriors need to be clad.
Kolbe can make windows with oak interiors, and they have a whole line of windows that are Douglas fir. I think they can do other woods as well, but it's a little early in the morning to go rooting through my catalog.
I wish I could say the same about Anderson never letting me down. It must have a lot to do with the distributor because I have been waiting for over three years for a replacement sash. Admittedly it is a little bit of an odd ball situation but it was a stock window. Thank God it was for my own home. We also have another job where a set of windows with the wrong features came twice. Tough on the schedule but fortunately for an old customer who is very forgiving. It makes it hard to keep buying their products even if you like them.
absolutely... the distribution and backup system is the key...the best window in the world is just sucking wind without the local service...I can't count the number of times Andersen and the local reps have honored warranty issues years beyond the warranty period...
and I can get replacement parts for everything they've ever mfr'd..Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
a lot of these responses remind me of when I posted a similar question about Faucet brands- lot of people wrote in talking up the replacemnt parts/cost/service of brands like Moen and Delta, but the Grohe guys just said " It's expensive, but it's a good faucet, don;t worry about needing parts". I went for the Grohe - sounds like here I'd go for the Marvins - more expensive but probably worth the cost in terms of low need for repair/parts.
If concern for parts is your priority, I'd go with Anderson. as said, they do have a good network.
The Marvins can now be had in several wood types too.Excellence is its own reward!
shel.. i don't think that is what sets marvin apart...they don't have a lower need of repair parts..it is more in the fits and finishes department that they separate themselves from the pack...
the joinery.. the corners.. little things..however.. i think kolbe has them beat in those areas too... as for me..i always spec Andersen with factory prefinished as long as it will be painted millwork.. if it is staingrade.. still andersen...i've seldom seen anything in standard remodeling or new cosntruction that andersen doesn't fit the bill..
special situations. i'd say kolbe..
BTW: i buy andersen from my lumberyard, they're an andersen quality supplier.. but if i want custom i go to my millwork supplier..Horner Millwork..they also make a special window they developed for Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard.. using a stock sash with special jambs & casing for the severe weather conditions..Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I like Andersen - have installed in 5 houses and never been disappointed -- the doors are ready to roll out of the box and easy to install - good choices of hardware and they have the Art Glass tha we have used in several of the houses for an impact in a room that adds a focal point and a classy touch -- service has been exceptional and the price has been fair
Peachtree couldn't build a window that wouldn't leak in the coastal zone.. so they're out...
They can't build one that doesn't leak anywhere, apparently. I bet I've had 10 leaking flashing calls in the last year and it's always the Peachtree window in the wall above the flashing.
I've used Pella products on my home and so far so good. Easy install good range of products and price. Marvin are nice as well. A friend put in Newpro and of course the quality was nice but the price....ouch.
SJ
We use Andersen almost exclusively. Except when a customer wants some thing different.
For us it it the customer service, availability and quality/value that are the determining factors.
It is hard to go wrong choosing Andersen.
There are better windows and there are cheaper windows, But I think Andersen strikes a good balancebetween price and quality.
JMNSHO
Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
Anderson's a Chevy
Marvin's a Cadillac
Pella - Remember American Motors? They kept trying new things that never quite worked right for them.
I drive Weather Shields at my house and like them.
I've been installing quite a few Norco's lately - comparable to Anderson but a few more custom options for the price.
Whatever you do, be sure to get tilt'n' wash.
Excellence is its own reward!
I always liked Marvins. Remember one job where the archy specified something from a company in Canada (don't remember the name)--what crappy windows they were. Flimsy nailing flanges that shattered in winter. There was one brand where you had to slide the flanges in a groove. PITA.
Believe it or not, there was a time in history when marvin shipped with the nailing flanges separate from the frame and they had to be whipped into place on site...
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
You remember that? Wow, you are really old!
Hey! Watch the words you use there! Maybe I started out young, LOL
Yeah, I hated those things. Then they had some funky kind of clip for the corners that was a waste of time - and we didn't have vycor for window wrap back then either.
And it was before any of the current generation of caulking. That butyl was some nasty stuff to work with, especially on cold mornings.
What we had to go through back then....
Walking two mils to the jobsite
uphill
both ways
through the sanow.....
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
> another brand with less name recognition but good quality?
If you're looking for all-wood windows, since you're in a big city, you might be able to find a small local millwork shop, one where you'd be a very big and important customer. You want somebody who's interested enough to actually come out and measure. The fewer guys there are between you and the person who actually cuts and assembles the wood, the better the chances of it getting done right.
My grandfather was in the millwork business in Chicago, but that was over 50 years ago. His shop was on North Belmont Ave, IIRC. I still have some of his tools.
-- J.S.
Skmd,
Noticed a few advocates for Kolbe & Kolbe here. I want to warn you that I have first hand experience with this Company who not only has produced defective leaking products, but who fails to honor their warranty when they realize they can not adequately fix this defect. I'm not talking about a window from the 80's or 90's. I'm talking about one, if not, their most currant and best selling window and door lines. Some people may have installed these products without knowledge of any problems, not yet. We have been involved in several tests on these products performed by various experts in the field, including experts hired by Kolbe & Kolbe and their insurance carrier. These tests have shown there are defect and design problems, many of which posters here may be unaware of. I'm in no way placing fault to the posters here, their posts are honest, forthcoming and helpfull. Kolbe & Kolbe will be the last to volunteer this information to anyone so I can't expect everyone to know (not yet). If you are considering certain Kolbe & Kolbe products, and your home or building site has exposure to rain, you may have something to be concerned with. Feel free to contact me if you would like more detailed information. Or you can post your quesions here.
Regards,
Gordon
http://www.leakywindows.com