Replies

1. 
   goshawkdog | Sep 16, 2002 09:05pm | #1

   re windows -- we're thinking of aluminum clad or maybe vinyl, not sure yet. Any suggestions?

1. 
   Robertzcool | Sep 18, 2002 01:24am | #2

   SPI is a direct sell window with a poor reputation for quality and followup.  There are way too many quality manufactures out there to go with them.  About all SPI has to go on is price and they will go much lower for a reason.  Check out companies like Norco, Marvin, Loewen, Semco etc.  They all make high quality products, sold through dealers so you have a local store to hold accountable.

1. 
   Snort | Sep 18, 2002 03:59am | #3

   Here's another one to check out. Quite qualitatious...

   http://www.woodstone.com/ It's okay, I can fix it!

2. 
   MtKendall | Sep 18, 2002 05:51am | #4

   Hmmm.  I was at a Sierra Pacific showroom earlier today, and the casements (not the double hung or sliders) looked great.  The extruded aluminum is good and thick, the mechanism seems strong, the wood reasonably good quality, and the colors of the aluminum nice. 

         Do you have experience with the Sierra Design casement and awning type windows, or are you going on reputation?  One of the big utility companies in Western Washington just chose SP windows for a large development/exhibition complex.  

        Maybe the quality has improved?  Whaddya think.

   Karl

2. 
   Peter_Crowl | Sep 18, 2002 06:19am | #5

   We've just installed over $30,000 worth of SP windows and doors. Natural Aluminum clad over wood.

   We're very happy with the quality, delivery, turn around time on orders and we had the best possible service from the rep who spent at least 40 hours overall helping us make design choices etc.

   We shopped damn near everybody in our market and found SP to be by far the best value.

   Peter Crowl

   at 5000 feet in Littleton Colorado

1. 
   johnafrica03 | Feb 09, 2017 02:35pm | #13

   How are your SP windows holding up?

   Peter-

   Curious how your Sierra Pacific windows have held up since you intalled them (in 2002?). I'm in Denver and am shopping around for replacement windows.

   Thanks,

   John

3. 
   Catskinner | Sep 18, 2002 06:23am | #6

   For what it's worth, I just put in a bunch of SP windows. Better than Caradco, nowhere near as good as Weathershield.

   My local rep is top-notch and I thought the service was great.

   Given my druthers, I'd always choose Weathershield, but if price were an issue I'd use SP again.

   DRC

1. 
   Peter_Crowl | Sep 18, 2002 08:41pm | #7

   Interesting - shows you that two people can evaluate the same products and come to opposite conclusions.

   Weathershield was a prime contender for us and didn't match up to SP. Caradco was eliminated early on. The Pella and Anderson we looked at wern't as nice either but then I understand thay both have numerous levels and we might not have been looking at the top - just those that were price similar.

   But I think the most important thing about Dave's reply is that about the rep. The rep really makes the difference. Our SP Rep was fabulous. Dave had the same experience with Weathershield.

   Note to manufacturers - Don't think your reps are interchangable pawns who don't matter 'cause people buy off internet information nowadays anyway blah blah blah. The quality of the rep is everything.

   Peter

1. 
   Catskinner | Sep 19, 2002 04:46am | #8

   Peter, I agree with you 100% on that one.

   I don't even like Caradco that much and would buy them without hesitation, back when a particular distributor carried them because the rep and the customer service was outstanding.

   Same way for the SP here -- there's no way anyone could beat the customer service offered through this dealer, and although I thought the windows were just OK, I'd still use them on lower-budget jobs because the rep is just first-rate.

   Maybe the big companies will get it through their heads that it isn't just about price.

   DRC

1. 
   Snort | Sep 20, 2002 02:20am | #9

   I have not had any experience with WeatherShield windows, but I've put in a lot of their doors. I just figured that whoever was paying for them was incredibly cheap because there was no quality at all in the product...it's so comforting to know that a good rep can keep c r a p flowing... It's okay, I can fix it!

1. 
   Catskinner | Sep 20, 2002 05:53am | #10

   Thanks for the tip Bucksnort, it's always good to get the heads up on stuff like this. I've only used the windows, never the doors.

   But, I have a client looking at them right now.

   Can you tell me any specifics? Anything in particular I need to look out for? If I can avoid trouble by using a different brand that's fine with me.

   DRC

2. 
   Snort | Sep 21, 2002 12:31am | #11

   We used WeatherShield metal clad. I'm not sure if they have lo to hi end quality range, and if they do, what range these were in...but, we had problems with the door's fit in the prehung frames. Too close to the top, head and thresholds not the same size, too close to the thresh, the fiber weatherstripping pads interfering with opening and closing, the weatherstripping on the door bottom tearing up. It was either one or a combination of those things on almost every door. We mostly use ThermaTru now(not an endorsment, we've just had better luck with them), but only with adjustable thresholds. The fixed fiberglass threshes are almost impossible to deal with...I hate door callbacks!

   Good Luck, BB It's okay, I can fix it!

3. 
   Catskinner | Sep 21, 2002 04:33am | #12

   Thanks -- I'll check it out.

   DRC