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Curious why consumer reports isn’t comparing Marvin’s Integrity series to Pella Proline series …. more of an apples to apples cost comparison.
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Curious why consumer reports isn't comparing Marvin's Integrity series to Pella Proline series .... more of an apples to apples cost comparison.
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Forgot to mention this when I first saw the it a couple of weeks ago, but the latest issue of Consumer Reports (October 2000) has a rating for 16 double-hung windows and 2 casement windows. They gave their highest rating to Marvin Clad Ultimate (Aluminum clad) followed by Andersen Tilt-Wash (Vinyl clad), third was Pella Proline (Aluminum clad) which also got their best buy award (at $180 vs $310 for the Marvin and $235 for the Andersen). These were followed by CertainTeed BrynMar II (Vinyl), Andersen Narroline (Vinyl clad), Pozzi Clad (Aluminum clad), and Andersen Millenium (composite). They rated all 16 (actually, all 18 counting the two casements) from "Very good overall" down to "Good overall". They commented that most windows held up remarkably well.
Their suggestion for windows in the South is for couble glzing and a low-E coating and a low solar heat-gain coefficient. For the Central states, double-glazing with low-E coating, a high insulating value, and a solar heat-gain of 0.55 or less. In the North, well-insulated double-glazed windows that are draft free, but low-E coating isn't essential.
They also have an update on the 13 brands of exterior stains they have been testing - which they label "The sorry state of exterior stains". They said that after two years of testing (which they say is equal to 4 to 6 years of normal exposure) the semitransparent stains performed so poorly that they won't continue to report on them and say that they are a poor choice. They did list some red and green stains whose appearance at two years is "good or better".
For what it's worth... (I often have some serious reservations about their conclusions on subjects in which I have some expertise, but on a commodity such as windows, I would probably factor in their observations...)
*In my rural area one chooses between Andersen and Marvin. I find Andersen has better customer service. Two examples: Their distributor has come through twice in locating a window I needed and getting it to me in two weeks. And several years back a lady had a casement go bad on her after ten years. One call to Andersen and they shipped her a new window at no charge. Windows are constantly being improved. We can recommend but ultimately the homeowner calls the shots.