new windows vinyl, wood or fiberglass

jvp · 09-07-2007, 08:26 AM

looking to put in all new windows and a sliding glass door this fall. situation is i will probably never sell and want the best i can afford. 4 windows are about 3'x4.5', 2 smaller windows and a large front window plus a standard sliding glass patio door.

what i know is fiberglass is what i see as the best due to durability, paintability and longevity. it is the most expensive but for my lifetime it should never need any major repairs or maintenance.

i am hoping the knowledge base is large so hitting ya'll up for some brands, ideas, opinions and experiences with this. i am just starting the info process and want to get as much info as possible before i start getting estimates. Also will need reputable installation so any suggestions would be appreciated.

byebyeducky · 09-07-2007, 12:08 PM

My favorite window, and for top quality would be the Marvin Aluminum Clad wood windows. They have excellent service, can custom make about anything, and have a lot of available styling options.

Jsail · 09-07-2007, 01:40 PM

I agree, Marvin is the best. They are also a bit high end in the price.
What type of house, siding .....
Where are you located?

Ziess · 09-07-2007, 03:22 PM

Another vote for Marvin. May be expensive but is well worth it.

Masty · 09-07-2007, 08:08 PM

Check out your electric company for any rebates, no or low interest loans, and tax savings.

My mother in law got a $2500 loan, no interest and makes the payment via her electric bill each month.

Marvin has great product and good service.

Get bids!

Masty

SuperPanga · 09-07-2007, 08:20 PM

Vinyl windows are nice, but you are limited to white or some sort of tan. Fiberglass will outlast your house. At a dealer meeting, one of the manufacturers reps told us that their testing showed that the fiberglass window would still be good in 400 years. Aluminum clad windows have severe problems in our climate. Condensation forms between the cladding and the wood leading to rot in the wood in as little as 4-6 years. I have seen this in too many houses with this type of window. One local owner looked into sueing a well know Midwest clad window maker, but did not have the resources to fight that the manufacturer had. Fiberglass windows are also paintable if you dont like the color later on, and it does not void the warranty. Buy local and from a independent shop , not from one that sends a salesman to your house ,that spends six hours trying to get you to buy 8 windows for $46000, but if you buy now only $38000. Those jobs usually should cost 1/3 that much or less.

wille · 09-07-2007, 10:39 PM

I think Mil guard vinyl windows are the most affordable.
They are double pain glass.and they come in a big varity of sizes.
That is what i have in my house.

Jonah's Revenge · 09-08-2007, 06:46 AM

If you can afford fiberglass go for it. I'd be more inclined to get vinyl and get the best glass that I can get.

Here's a tip in regards to quality between the manufacturers.

I was told by two different lumber stores that quality is about the same with most manufacturers. It depends if your order was made on a Friday or not (don't know if he was serious or not, but I understood what he meant)
Almost all manufacturers have a lifetime warranty, and will come out and replace them for free.

One big difference is the customer service. The more expensive companies will be out very quickly to replace your windows. Others may take longer.

garyk · 09-12-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvp

looking to put in all new windows ... situation is i will probably never sell and want the best i can afford. .

We were in a similar place early this year. Walked & talked the mfr's displays at the home shows. Made several trips to Henderson & Daughter's showroom in Vanc.

Our home has a lot of natural wood throughout so from H&D above, we selected Milguard fiberglass windows that are wood clad on the interior. The base cost is more, and the wood surfaces have to be finished. Our job was complicated by also replacing some beat-up window trim and trying to find profiles to match the remaining 1948 fir trim. We also slightly enlarged the opening for three key windows.

We selected casement crank-out window for more ventilation.

Selected Tru-therm fiberglass entry doors.

Regular vinyl for the basement windows - but fully removable panes to provide better access to the basement when bringing in stuff like lumber.

Getting rid of the old doublehung/screen/stormwindow combo was fantastic. Now you can actually SEE through the windows. In fact, the first couple mornings, I'd walk into the kitchen with so much sun light and a clear view, and it'd would cause me to pause to wonder who's house I'd woke up in? The difference was THAT striking!

Old Coot · 09-12-2007, 08:31 PM

5 years ago we used Triple D Construction out of Salem to replace our 1976 aluminum double-pane windows. We chose LBL vinyls for the windows, made in...maybe Troutdale?

They showed up when they said they would, and replaced 10 large fully cased windows, starting at 7:30 in the morning. As they replaced each window they tucked about a half mile of insulation all around it. At 1:30 in the afternoon, there were two guys left on the job; the owner who came by to check the work and a young fellow vacuuming the house. We couldn't be happier with the windows or the service. In fact, two years later we had the same people replace windows in another house. They have also done the home to our east, the house to the east of it, the house across the street, and the house to our west, and everybody is happy.

Neither job required any touch-up painting on either the inside or outside of either house, save a dab of paint over a half-dozen nail holes in each window casing.

We couldn't believe the difference the new windows make. Sound transmission was cut by maybe 80%, heat gain by at least half, and the two north bedrooms stay warmer in winter. The windows are warranted for as long as we own the home (or until LBL goes out of business, whichever comes first).

Disclaimer. I am not associated with LBL or Triple D, couldn't tell you the names of anyone affiliated with either business if my life depended on it.

OC

jvp · 09-13-2007, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Coot

Disclaimer. I am not associated with LBL or Triple D, couldn't tell you the names of anyone affiliated with either business if my life depended on it.

OC

oh but it does

thank so far everyone that has given me, and hopefully others in my position, some information to go with.

my update is, ripping out carpet from the house, i know i know what does that have to do with windows.

getting some good info on what to ask for and have them bring to make estimates and show case their product. definitely won't buy at the presentation/estimate time which will dissapoint some poor salepeople.

byebyeducky · 09-13-2007, 10:25 AM

I have used Triple D in the past (was very satisfied) and also think that LBL makes a good window.

But being in custom home building and having seen and installed multiple brands (Milgard Vinyl, Aluminum, Fiberglass, Anderson, Eagle, Peachtree, Atrium, LBL, Empire Pacific, Jeldwen, Pella, Capitol, and many others) , I still Feel Marvin is your #1 window for quality and options.

If you are looking for affordability, Vinyl are OK, but many brands and lines are just plain cheaply built. (even though they carry a decent warranty)

Personal opinion, but I believe that Milgard feels they have a name and now have let thier quality slip from what it used to be.

Kent

greenbuttskunk · 09-13-2007, 10:29 AM

we went with Milgard vinyl windows and are VERY happy with them. loved the window contractor too. Happy to refer him to you if interested. he's done all my friends homes too. All is good!

garyk · 09-13-2007, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masty

Check out your electric company for any rebates, no or low interest loans, and tax savings.

Great point. Lots of products qualify for the above and even tax credits (not deduction, but bonefide tax CREDIT). A couple of our EnergyStar rated appliances qualified for an Oregon tax credit.

Tillamook PUD had an unbelievable deal on home insulation -- they even did the install!

lor · 09-13-2007, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperPanga

Buy local and from a independent shop , not from one that sends a salesman to your house ,that spends six hours trying to get you to buy 8 windows for $46000, but if you buy now only $38000. Those jobs usually should cost 1/3 that much or less.

I agree, those door to door saleman are crooks.
I called one who left a flyer at my house just to get an estimate of what windows cost. This is after I went to home depot to find the lowest price.
The cheapest window the saleman had was $899, this for one of those little bathroom windows. I got an original quote of $32000 with $6000 of it labor and $26000 in material. But wait, if I signed that day, I could get the material charges down to $10000, but still $16000 for windows
seemed a bit expensive.

jvp · 09-14-2007, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenbuttskunk

we went with Milgard vinyl windows and are VERY happy with them. loved the window contractor too. Happy to refer him to you if interested. he's done all my friends homes too. All is good!

i'll be getting back to any one that offers some referals but in a month or pm me now if you wish. i have so many things to get ready before i even get quotes. (long story)

i am sure i won't buy from the salesman, heck every timeshare/buy now program has thown me out for beiing too vocal about the 3-8 NO.

took a week in florida had to attend 2 sales pitches only had to do 1 and it was down to 30 mins before i could get out.

Barviewrocks · 09-14-2007, 12:41 PM

Here's my experience with Marvin clad windows. I have had them installed at the coast for 10 years. As you know there is intense wind storms in the winter. I have had some water getting into the casement (crank out windows) and have some dry rot. Marvin has been great in standing behind their warranty and just sent me replacements. They cover the material but not the labor.

I believe the Marvin metal clad with wood interior windows although beautiful are not appropriate for the coast in my application. So I am replacing them with Milguard vinyl windows this weekend. Milguard has a lifetime warranty and I do not believe there will be condensation nor any wood to rot again.

If you can use the Marvin windows that were shipped under warranty, I will make you a great deal. There are:

Marvin cladmaster (white exterior clad) for 2x6 framing

4 - 5'x5' fixed double pane windows - 1 is brand new
2 - 4'x5' casement (crank out windows) with screens these are new under warranty.

byebyeducky · 09-14-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barviewrocks

Here's my experience with Marvin clad windows. I have had them installed at the coast for 10 years. As you know there is intense wind storms in the winter. I have had some water getting into the casement (crank out windows) and have some dry rot. Marvin has been great in standing behind their warranty and just sent me replacements. They cover the material but not the labor.

I believe the Marvin metal clad with wood interior windows although beautiful are not appropriate for the coast in my application. So I am replacing them with Milguard vinyl windows this weekend. Milguard has a lifetime warranty and I do not believe there will be condensation nor any wood to rot again.

If you can use the Marvin windows that were shipped under warranty, I will make you a great deal. There are:

Marvin cladmaster (white exterior clad) for 2x6 framing

4 - 5'x5' fixed double pane windows - 1 is brand new
2 - 4'x5' casement (crank out windows) with screens these are new under warranty.

Good point, I didn't think to ask where they were installing,

EVERYTHING about building is different on the coast. Salt, wind and water can do some nasty things!

That being said, you are lucky Marvin replaced the windows, as most window companies will not warranty on the Coast

Barviewrocks · 09-17-2007, 09:48 AM

I wanted to update my experience with Marvin windows in a coastal installation. I just replaced the windows and discovered that the contractor installed the windows incorrectly. They put the tarpaper/tyvex on first then put the windows in. This allowed water to run down the vapor barrier, hit the window flange, and seep into the window frame thus causing the rot. My statements about Marvin below is not necessarily true about applicability at the coast. My lesson learned here is select a good contractor that knows what they are doing and will monitor their crews to ensure it is done right. In this case, I thought I had selected a good contractor. However, they are only as good as their specific crews and their willingness to monitor their crew's work.

Best of success in your choice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barviewrocks

Here's my experience with Marvin clad windows. I have had them installed at the coast for 10 years. As you know there is intense wind storms in the winter. I have had some water getting into the casement (crank out windows) and have some dry rot. Marvin has been great in standing behind their warranty and just sent me replacements. They cover the material but not the labor.

I believe the Marvin metal clad with wood interior windows although beautiful are not appropriate for the coast in my application. So I am replacing them with Milguard vinyl windows this weekend. Milguard has a lifetime warranty and I do not believe there will be condensation nor any wood to rot again.

If you can use the Marvin windows that were shipped under warranty, I will make you a great deal. There are:

Marvin cladmaster (white exterior clad) for 2x6 framing

4 - 5'x5' fixed double pane windows - 1 is brand new
2 - 4'x5' casement (crank out windows) with screens these are new under warranty.