In the new addition I’m building I have narrowed down my window choices to either Marvin or Loewen. They both have the same features I’m looking for. Marvin is about 5% more in cost and requires a little less lead time.
I would like to get anyone’s opinion regarding the quality of these windows. All things being equal which would you choose?
Thanks
Jay
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Replies
I put Loewen triple glazed in my house. I've been 100% happy. A couple of initial minor defects (broken latch, missing "pin" on a screen), were quickly replaced without question.
Caleb
jay ---
would you mind sharing the characteristics or elements that you used to narrow down your choices to these manufacturers??? am starting work on a restoration of a 1923 bungalow and will soon face a similar effort.
thanks
We wanted French Casments, Douglas Fir, custom grill pattern and wood in and out. And the last item, the best quality window we could afford.
It sounds like people have very favorable things to say about Loewen - for being a lesser known, high quality brand.
We're about to start the first of many window replacements in our 1925 bungalow. We literally stumbled upon a Loewen showroom while walking down the street from a tile warehouse. We weren't even planning 'window shopping' that day, but are glad we did. We're doing sash replacements instead of full-blown window replacements. For the single large window in our kitchen (52w x 37h) we found that Loewen was about half ($670) the cost of Marvin ($1300). Unfinished wood interior, aluminum cladding exterior to match house trim, custom lites. We're going with Loewen - understanding that all other windows in the house will be Loewen's, as well. I'm impressed with the D. Fir and overall quality. Lead time is a bummer (the kitchen will be completed with the exception of the window), but we can wait.
Jason
I have never used loewen but have used marvin exstensivly and have been extreemly satisfied not only with ther workmanship but in dealing with the company as well. I do not feel you can go wrong with marvin.
I just got all of our Loewen windows installed (after months of delay...see another thread :( )How long did it take to get replacement sashes from Loewen?I got a house of doublehungs from them and after living with them for a couple of weeks, am ready to take a hammer to them!These windows went into an addition. The rest of the house is 50+ years old with original wood doublehung windows. The original doublehungs are great, in good shape, even after 50 years. They work as designed. The Loewen windows, whenever you unlatch them to open the lower sash, the upper sashes drop down a quarter inch or more. In order to close them again, tightly, you need to push up on the upper sash before locking.These windows seem to be droopy all over. The upper sashes droop when unlocked; the metal screens all look like they have beer guts from outside (how hard is it to get tight screens?) And don't get me started on their non-tight production scheduling. I understand the glass in the sashes today is heavier. But wouldn't the design of the springs or whatever take that into account. There is no good way of lifting the upper sashes back into place except by pushing up on the very top of the upper sash. I can do this, my wife can't reach. And for the windows over the kitchen sink, even I have problems reaching the upper portion of the upper sash to latch the window.I'm ready to drive a nail through the side of the upper sashes. Do you or anyone know of a way to lock the upper sash in place while retaining the ability to unlock it to tilt/clean/use the upper sash at some point short of nailing it in place? Any ideas about recessed lifts that could be mounted lower down on the upper sash?I wish Loewen had provided some sort of user manual, or at least printed something on the back of all the labels glued all over their glass about how to work the sashes, how to adjust the springs (is this an option?).Any help would be appreciated.
Cut a little piece of lattice, or parting strip, or whatever fits, to the exact length of the lower track, so that you get a friction fit to hold the upper sash in place. Depending on the width of the windows, you might need two.
My hundred-year old windows were all done this way, making them single-hung.
Good luck - sorry to hear about your misadventure.
Sorry to hear this. I only have a little bit of experience with Loewen so far but it's been pretty good.
There are spring-steel pressure fittings that you can get to prevent this problem on older double hung windows. They are basically rectangles about 1-1/2" x 6" or so, with a slight camber to them. You force them up into the jamb channel, putting some pressure on the upper sash. They might work for you depending on the profile of the jamb channel on your windows.
I worked in a house full of Pella 'Architect' series double hungs, and they were the same way. Open a window... oh now you've done it! The upper sash would drop, as you say, and then to get the thing to latch you'd have to push it back up while pushing down and in on the lower sash to compress the weatherstripping. Some of them just wouldn't latch at all. I'm sure the owner will not be happy with them until they've sat shut for an entire winter... hopefully that will be long enough to make the weatherstripping relax.
In this day of Home Depot, knowledgable workers in hardware stores have disappeared.I need a specific name/brand/part number for them in order to get this part.I understand the principle of how it works, I don't like the principle of having to buy it for brand new, supposedly state of the art windows.Thanks for letting me know something is available, just need a pointer on where to actually get it.Something like a deadbolt arrangement under the top sash, into the side of the jamb would be more my solution. You would pull it out if you actually wanted to open just the top sash, something my wife insists she needs to be able to do, and lock the sash into position once, instead of everytime afterwards that you just want to open the lower sash (much more frequently realistically).Thanks again
I've never seen Loewen windows (jeeze, I don't even know how to pronounce it), but I have seen double hungs that drop like you describe. We've been fix most by shimming the sides. If you haven't, is it still possible?Good luck What in the gosh darn golly have you done to Rez?
This is what I've seen before:
http://acmehardware.com/pd-4823878-Window-Control.aspx
and here's a similar item:
http://acmehardware.com/product_detail.aspx?sku=4813358
There has to be enough room between sash and jamb for them to slide in, and there has to be enough of a flat area for them (some jambs have ribs that fit into channels in the sash).
Just a thought, but if you are having problems with new Loewen windows, did you tell the company about it?
I am a dealer for Loewen. There are several different balance strengths available, if your top sash isn't staying up on it's own, a heavier duty balance will fix it. I'm sorry that it didn't arrive with the appropriate strength balance.
I contacted the North East Service Advisor at Loewen (1-800-563-9360) and asked if this would be covered under warranty, his response was, "Yes these items would be covered under warranty, if they have a small qty of units then the dealer would look after the labor as part of the basic level of service and if they have a large qty of units, then we would authorize the dealer to perform the work."
Your dealer should order heavier duty balances, they should be supplied and installed free of charge, as this would fall under warranty (any defective workmanship is parts/labor free of charge for 2 years). I'm also sorry if your dealer misled you regarding the lead time for your windows. Loewen's popularity has grown recently and is in the process of expanding it's production capacity in order to get back down to shorter lead times. If your dealer continues to provide poor service, I recommend you contact Loewen, 1-800-563-9360, tell them you need to talk to the service advisor for your area because your dealer isn't doing his job, that you need to replace balances in the upper sashes with heavier duty balances.-Phil
I put in Loewen windows and a couple doors, and am pretty happy so far. The Dg Fir jambs look really nice when oiled with Watco or Waterlox.
We looked at Marvin, Andersen, Kolbe & Kolbe, and settled on aluminum clad Loewens. We wanted 9 over 6 casements (bass-ackward from most "cottage" designs), but common on older NH capes and Loewen made them w/o any problems. We ordered simulated divided lite (SDL) windows on the front and primary entrance sides - the exterior "break" in panes adds a nice touch to our new cape. We intend to apply a clear finish on the inside and show the doug fir wood. (BTW, a good value in doug fir door selection is Rogue Valley and be sure to look at Emtek for reasonably priced good hardware). We selected "linen" as the exteior Loewen color - white was too white.
If you should decide upon Loewen, ensure that the protective blue plastic wrap is removed from the aluminum cladding right after installation, since it's hard to remove after the sun hits the windows.
If you'd like, send me your e-mail and I'll send you photos - I can't seem to post attachments?!
* Make sure you find the crank and cover hardware box because our carpenter crew inadvertantly threw that box out - replacement took a while and they weren't cheap (builder paid for though).
One thing I'd do differently is to order the window jambs say 1/2" deeper than needed - the edges are sanded over so I had to plane before gluing extentions on.
The two major things to consider after style and price when it comes to windows are quality of product and quality of service.
Every window oreder has some little goof involved, it seems. The tell-all is how does it get resolved. And ha;f of the goofs can be avoided before the sale by knowledgeable salespeople, The other half need to be dealt with by the company reps, something that is evident in this other poater's saga with lowen.
I don't know Loewen from Mowin' but I can give an example with Marvin - I have used them a dozen times and am always happy with them. I can buy from three different yards around here. Only one has a well trained staff who really knows their product. I once went to another yard about Marvin asking for this opotion and that...and was told that Marvin doesn't do that. Well, I had just recently been to a show and seen those options. When the guy tried to argue with me, I took the order elsewheere.
The point is that you want to visit and ask questions and test the followup seervice whichever window you buy
Another intresting note, now that I think of it - Pella has come to be one of my least favorite window/door manufacturers, but their follow-up service is superb. of course, I have had more opportunity to see it in action...
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Just curious.......... Does your satisfaction with Marvin extend to their Intregra line of windows? I bought the Integra line because of your opinion of Pella, Thought about Anderson, the window guy at our lumber yard steered me to Marvin.
Edited 11/12/2005 10:36 pm ET by curley
I'm not sure which the Integra is. I use mostly historical wood
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I've toured the Loewen plant (Steinbach, Manitoba)....this is one of the best plants/companies I've seen (and I've had a chance to tour dozens since going back to teaching), and I think the windows are excellent. Very surprised to hear any negative experiences. I used to run a shutter plant, and we installed shutters over pretty much every window on the market.....I guess every company can have an issue now and again, but from what I have seen it is often the installation, not the window. The only company that sticks in my mind as a window that I wouldn't buy is Pella.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Curley,
I believe that the Marvin line you are referring to is the Integrity. It is a wood-clad fiberglass window.
They also offer the Infinity line which is a fiberglass replacement window.
Fiberglass is the "new kid" on the window market...competing with vinyl primarily.
Curley, I'm curious what think about the Integrities, if that's indeed what you have. I recently trimmed a house with their windows and doors. I'm usually a Marvin fan, but I was not impressed. Every stacked window, and transom was out of line. Doors and windows (all casements) were all hard to operate. Doors have the weatherstrip in the threshold, and kept falling out. None of the grilles (integral) in the transoms lined up with grilles in the door panels. I happened to be there when the rep showed, which according to the homeowner took 3 months. The rep did everything he could to avoid changing out the transoms. When he finally did, he used a Fein, they were still a little off.Needless to say, the HO is POd<G> What in the gosh darn golly have you done to Rez?
I used the wrong word, Integrity is what I installed. Haven't had them long enough to have an opinion. Returned one window because the sash was manufactured incorrectly. Marvin replace the whole window.I would consider myself a consummer not an expert.
To be honest I wish I had installed Pella,(I know the opinion) I've had Pella with no problems.
I've talked with people who are satisified with the Intergity line.
I bought a set of custom build side-by-side double-hung windows. I ordered it sans-brick mould as I had to put it in an existing opening and trim to fit.Well, even though I didn't want brickmould because it was going into a larger hole (as they knew) they still built the screens to a smaller dimension.As such, the $20 screens on a $800 window were useless. Marvin refused to send me new screens saying that they simply have no place to store the returns (what kind of excuse is that?)Since then, I've installed a $160 Menards store-brand window in our bathroom.Quality-wise, I can't tell a difference.That's just one small annoying story from one customer, but it was enough to convince me to never give Marvin any of my money again.
WE checked out Pella, Marvin, Anderson, Kolbe&Kolbe, we were going to go with K&K went to a home show with some friends that weekend saw Loewen and never looked back. Good price, easy to install, triple glazed etc. That was in 1996, direct set over casement larget window @ 8'w x 7' there were 4 of those, doors slider and patio also. IMHO you can't go wrong. Installed them in mountains of Western MD. bought a truckload of thgem. Agree about the blue wrap take it off right away. Pain in *** later.