Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

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billsteuby
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Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:21 pm

Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#1 Post by billsteuby »

I have been reading this board for a few weeks. It appears Alside is hated amongst the pros. Thoughts on Milgard? People seem to like Okna and Gorell. I have just started researching..what makes Okna better that Alside. As an amateur windows all look the same. I have to replace 18 Double-Hung windows and reside in Minnesota.

thanks!

EcoStar Remodeling
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Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:59 am

Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#2 Post by EcoStar Remodeling »

I'm not sure all those brands are available to you. Okna might be. I would also take a look at Sunrise Windows. They are made outside of Toledo in Temperance, Michigan.

masterext
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Location: Window Pro-Serves All of Northern New Jersey. Bergen, Morris, Union, Essex, Passaic, Sussex Counties

Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#3 Post by masterext »

okna is designed much better..
1) okna uses a truely welded sloped sill whereas alside uses a snap in that allows water to drain through the frame of the window. a poor design and its only a mater of time before the weep holes clog.
2) okna is made under tighter manufacturing tolerances.
3) okna uses a superior spacer system
4)alside windows are known to leak air and have high air leakage rates. okna has one of the lowest air leakage rate's in the industry
5) you lose alot of glass with alside due to its bulky frame. okna isnt bulky at all.
6) i also like the mortised sill wall on okna' windw opposed to the sill wallmof alside butting against the frame. i think the sheffield uses an overlap which to me looks cheap.
its late so i cant think of anything else but i know some others will chime in.
gorell is also a much better window as is sunrise.

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TheWindowNerd
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Location: SE PA & NJ; DFW/Metroplex

Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#4 Post by TheWindowNerd »

Look for a window that is energy star compliant and has a AI of .09 or less.
The consensous of alot of the pros here = Okna, Sunrise, Soft-lite, Gorrell.

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HomeSealed
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Location: Milwaukee, Madison, SE Wisconsin

Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#5 Post by HomeSealed »

I'd agree with the other pros brand recommendations. Look at the thermal and structural ratings of the products you are considering. They will tell the story in large part. To the untrained eye, the windows may all look the same, but the performance #'s are probably the best indicator of quality build and design.

windowprofessor

Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#6 Post by windowprofessor »

I would not consider Gorrell as they just went into receivership.

masterext
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Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#7 Post by masterext »

Gee, let me guess, you work with Eshield technologies..

EcoStar Remodeling
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Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#8 Post by EcoStar Remodeling »

masterext wrote:Gee, let me guess, you work with Eshield technologies..

Say it isn't so. :roll:

I wonder if they will have an energy savings guarantee on their windows like they do on their Radiant Barrier.

TLHWINDOW
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Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#9 Post by TLHWINDOW »

So one of the oldest window companies goes into recievership, but you recommend a window by a company that doesnt even make a window yet?

Word.

EcoStar Remodeling
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Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:59 am

Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#10 Post by EcoStar Remodeling »

TLHWINDOW wrote:So one of the oldest window companies goes into recievership, but you recommend a window by a company that doesnt even make a window yet?

Word.
Does anyone know this for a fact? I'm on my mobile and don't have my research tools available.

Bill
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Location: New Jersey

Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#11 Post by Bill »


Bill
Posts: 279
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2004 6:00 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#12 Post by Bill »

That whole business with the union taking a pay cut a few months ago was a bad omen; things have to be pretty bad for a union to agree to cuts for hourly workers.

EcoStar Remodeling
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Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#13 Post by EcoStar Remodeling »

Wow that's huge news.

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HomeSealed
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Re: Help! Alside?, Milgard? Okna

#14 Post by HomeSealed »

I am all for new and innovative products, but I don't know that I'd want to be a guinea pig... and that is assuming that it going to be a good product. Who knows?
... On Gorell, it definitely looks like they are at a crossroads. It would probably be best to let things shake out over there before going with them.

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