Replacement Windows Discussion Board Forum

RANDY: Marvin started using fiberglass in their patio door styles and sills almost 20 years ago. The new construction version of Infinity (called Integrity) has been the fastest growing line of windows for new construction for almost a full decade now. (regardless of window type or composition) I wa...

I've seen a lot of welded corners crack right at the weld ( Expecially in HURD vinyl windows ) I've NEVER seen a keyed and screwed joint come apart on a clad wood or fiberglass or commercial aluminum window--ever. As far as warranty, vinyl windows are like Hyundai cars. Both decent products. Vinyl u...

O:K, all you vinyl salesmen, you asked for it; First of all, let me say that I do use vinyl windows from time to time, and I’ll be the first to admit they have their place. But to suggest that they’re ALWAYS the best choice for EVERYBODY, and that they’ll work just as good as fiberglass in any situa...

Penny wise and Dollar dumb? If you're selling the house in 1-3 years go vinyl-- it's cheap & quick & good enough for the next owner. But if you're going to be stuck trying to sell it in 10 years or more; go with the fiberglass. They'll still look and work and perform like new even 10 or 20 y...

Here's the key: how out-of-square is your EXISTING frame or RO? ALWAYS Deduct the amount out-of-square PLUS and extra 1/8" both ways. To find out-of-square take the greatest of these differences: The diagonal from top left to bottom right, minus the diagonal from top right to bottom left. Then ...

Silverline (aka Anderson Vinyl, aka "the Home Depot premium line" aka American Craftsman ) is absolutely the lowest priced window on the market -- bar none. If you can find a dealer who accidentially quoted you a lower price than silverline, just take it to a Silverline dealer and they wil...

If you're going triple pane, forget vinyl-- not strong enough for the long haul. Triple pane should only be done in EXTREDED-Clad wood, or Fiberglass. But do you need triple? The payback in terms of energy efficency is a long long time, due to the higher price. In my opinion there's only 1 good reas...

I've had experience with both the Simonton and Milgard. Although the Styline is the lowest-priced Milgard, I've still found it to be MUCH more reliable than any of the Simonton products. Milgard has won a lot of awards from the National Association of Homebuilders, the National Association of Remode...

Avoid vinyl, vinyl-clad wood, and roll-form clad wood. They are inexpensive, but weak. The bigger the window, the more improtant the strength is. Narrow your search to ONLY windows that are either: 1) EXTRUDED Clad wood, or 2) PULTRUDED FIBERGLASS. You'll be a MUCH happier camper 3 years from now. (...

Cardinal seems to have the most reliable spacer. Anderson, Pella, Kolbe and BiltBest windows (and Four Seasons and C-Thru sunrooms also) with Cardinal SS spacers have a MUCH MUCH MUCH lesser incidence of seal failure than those same windows do using any other option ever offered by those companies. ...

The Pella Fiberglass is a pretty crude product. It appears to be 1950's-style "gel-set" fiberglass because you can see strands of glass fiber stuck to the surface. Not something intended for a home, but better suited for industrial sites and sewage treatment plants where only fiberglass ca...