I’m getting ready to build a home and have run the gambit on windows to put in. I’ve gotten bids on Kolbe and Kolbe, Crestline, and Windsor Pinnacle (Pella soon to follow, but am afraid of their price). We’re installing about 65 casements and fixed units in this house and so far all the bids are within about $2,000.00 of each other. Anybody have strong opinions re: these brands or others I should look at? Is there a “Consumer Reports” for these types of building materials that I don’t know about?
Thanks
Sperb
Replies
I use about 75% Marvin and we do a lot of installs for the local Pella store. They have gotten quite competetive compared to several years ago. The product is very good. Some people insist on the shades between glass, however when doing that you still have clips on the inside panel which some people don't like. Years ago they really didn't have a thermo-pane type window because that inner panel was loose. Now however if they have an outside thermopane and if you use shades a third on the inside. They have a lot of versatility for the remodeler with different outside frames and moulding options, although Marvin does too. Don't go near Lincoln, they are a nightmare when it comes to service.
Don't forget Andersen.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
I don't recognize most of those names, except Kolbe, which comes recommended here.
pella and Marvin are within nickles of each other in price and for my experience, the Marvin is by far the better window.
I like Andersen for a basic house, but too much of my work is historical where they don't fit in
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I am in shock and awe that K&K is within $2 grand of the others.
I am buying a 63-opening package, mostly casements, some fixed, and including 5 patio doors.
Windsor is at 21K, Vetter 20K, and Kolbe and Kolbe is up around $38K.
IMHO, Windsor has the best casement out there, and the best arrangement and design of clad exterior. It is extruded, not rollformed, and detailed in corners to look like a wood window. I don't like those little overlaid miter joints you see in clad exterior corners by the folks that use rollformed metal.
Vetter is Crestline. They started the Vetter name because Crestline became synonymos with garbage. They didn't actually improve the window..they just created a new tag to stick on the same old garbage.
I'd look carefully at the interiors of the windows in their finished state. Look closely at the weather stripping, screen color, hardware etc. Don't gloss over those details. Carefully consider all the different finishes of the products.
I'm a little unhappy with some stuff I've owned so I'm offering fair warning.
And Gene, I agree, I'm surprised that there was so little difference in price.
We live in a border town and there are a lot of people getting much better value from Canadien built windows. We'll carefully shop our northern neighbors...
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
"I'm surprised that there was so little difference in price."
You must be talking about the diff between the Vetter and Windsor numbers.
I didn't know that Vetter and Crestline were the same window, or that Crestline as a brand name had been kayoed and replaced with the Vetter name, atop the same old Crestline product. Crestline product comes out of a plant in Rantoul, IL, and I believe Vetter is from up in Wisconsin.
I knew Crestline was a cheapie, and I knew that Vetter was, also. But I used Crestline on the spec I just sold.
You gotta see these Windsors, though. I cannot believe how much window you get for the price.
I'm close to the border, too, Blue. Montreal is an hour trip up the interstates. My own house has Bonnevilles, all casements with a couple awnings, and they are fabulous windows and doors.
But for some reason, Bonneville changed their whole pricing structure, and came in so high on this job coming up, that I thought they had misplaced a decimal. Really!
I have made up my mind to use Windsors on this next project. I have looked carefully at samples of the four products I'm using . . . casements, picture casements, single-leaf hinged multipoint latch patio door, and sliding patio.
I cannot use them on this job, but if I could, and the numbers would work out, I would get Pella ProLine. One great line of window and door products, at highly competitive pricing.
bonnevolle - The guy who owned them sold the comapny to a larger outfit. They kept him as top dog but he saw changes coming that he didn't like, so he bought a Canadian millwork company and started amking windows there wirth his knowhow from Bonneville. He is now LePage weindows.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I'm a Marvin supporter. The quality and the features are there for a good price. Take the time to check into them. If you are at all considering Pella, Marvins would be worth the look. Marvin also has the Integrity line where you can get same quality, but less features. Sometimes a huge % savings overall.
I am in WI where Marvin, Pella, Anderson, and Hurd are all "local" companies. Marvin has surpassed Pella in the last 10 years in sales.
I was always impressed with the Pella warranty and service work in our area. I've learned Marvin has a similar plan. Of course, this is locally, I don't know how it works in other areas.
Quality, Craftsmanship, Detail
Interesting discussion - as I got online to post my own window question, which fits right in with this chat. We built our own house w/Marvins and have been overall happy with them. We are, however, building an addition this summer and are looking around at windows again. A couple people mentioned Lepage windows, now owned by Bonneville out of Canada. They are representing themselves as comparable to Marvin quality but at a reduced cost (not paying for the big name....). A builder friend claims they are very heavy duty - comprised of heavier stock.
Does anyone have experience with this company? Longevity of windows, quality, etc?
As Sperb questioned - are there reviews of the various window manufacturers?
Good posting Sperb!
Julia
Julia, it doesn't surprise me that the Canadien windows have better/thicker stock. For years I've maintained that Pella and Anderson were undersized stock using their cladding to offer an acceptable thickness. IF I remember correctly, I cut open an Anderson and it used 1/2" plywood for its jamb! It was very flimsy, yet everyone talked about "anderson quality".
Its all marketing.
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
I looked at Le page and priced them on this job I'm doing now. They do have a heavier sash frame but that is not necesarily good when you are looking through it. That is how they get beter energy ratings than the US builders though.
Anyway, the prices I was quaoted were obnly about $700 less on a fifteen thousand dollar order. For two grand I might have taken a chance on the newcomer, but Marvin is a proven standard, so that is what I am using.Another thing - irt usually only takes me three weeks or so to get a marvin order. most others can take six to ten weeks.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
We moved into our house ~ 2months ago and really enjoy our Loewen windows - cost was comparable to Marvin. We valued the doug fir over the pine. (We selected windows, doors, cabinets).
Anyhow, we almost went w/ the Kolbe & Kolbe but local vendor was going thru transition. Crestline was a"step down".
daveinnh
As a guy who places high importance on design and continuity, my comments might not be approriate, but....
If you can get kolbes for anything close to the others, jump on them!
Pella is, to my eye overpriced and just not all that they say they are.
Marvin has some solid stuff, and I have never had an issue with any I have gotten. Plus they seem very dependable. When my guy calls and says you will have your windows threee weeks from Wed, I know I had better be there on that date to receive the truck!
That said, Marvin does seem to be getting a bit full of itself, and the prices seem to be climbing.
Kolbe seems to be large enough to have the goods to make great products, but still small enough to care.
Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
I'm guessing there's some special order stuff going on for Kolbe to be "competitive" ...
either way ... get those RO's nailed down ... then get that window schedule nailed down ... then get that Kolbe quote nailed down.
then ... sit tight ... knowing U got a good deal.
apples to apples ... that said ... Kolbe. Even if they're a bit more. U usually pay more for "flexibility" ... Or ... Andersen ... knowing they spend most of their budget on advertising ....
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA