Window replacement in Pittsburgh PA

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chatrees
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 8:51 am

Window replacement in Pittsburgh PA

#1 Post by chatrees »

Hi,
I want to replace 20 double hung wood windows with Vinyl and these are the offers:

Pella 250 - $17,800
Vinylmax Radiance Plus - $15,800 (double pane)
- $16,800 (tripple pane)
Revere Berkshire Elite - $14,615 (double pane)
- $16,615 (tripple pane)
Zen Nirvana (Soft-Lite Classic plus) - $13,185 (double pane)
Zen Lotus (Soft-Lite Pro) - $15,685 (tripple pane)

I lean toward to either Zen Nirvana or Zen Lotus since it seems Soft-lite windows are considered good ones here.
For Lotus, not sure whether $125 per windows is worth the upgrade from Nirvana.
What do you guys think?

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Windows on Washington
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Location: DC Metropolitan Area-Maryland/Virginia/DC

Re: Window replacement in Pittsburgh PA

#2 Post by Windows on Washington »

Can the Zen guy get a higher end Soft-Lite? The Pro is fine, but in a high end brand, that is a middle grade offering.

The Vinylmax is the next best window in that line up after the Soft-Lite.

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HomeSealed
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Location: Milwaukee, Madison, SE Wisconsin

Re: Window replacement in Pittsburgh PA

#3 Post by HomeSealed »

I wouldn't recommend any of those options for various reasons.
I'd imagine that in your area you should have access to Softlite Elements or Elite, Okna, Sunrise Restorations or Vanguard, etc.

chatrees
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 8:51 am

Re: Window replacement in Pittsburgh PA

#4 Post by chatrees »

@HomeSealed Could you elaborate a bit more why you don't like any of them?
I will try to look around more for the brands you have suggested.

@Windows on Washington
So do you think I should go with the Pro vs Classic with $125 price difference?

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Windows on Washington
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Re: Window replacement in Pittsburgh PA

#5 Post by Windows on Washington »

If those are your last two options, sure.

But I would prefer to see one of the newer designed Soft-Lite options of something from the other brands mentioned. Its a shame to settle with the Pro from Soft-Lite when they make some really high end options.

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HomeSealed
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Re: Window replacement in Pittsburgh PA

#6 Post by HomeSealed »

chatrees wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 9:41 am @HomeSealed Could you elaborate a bit more why you don't like any of them?
I will try to look around more for the brands you have suggested.
The Pella, Vinylmax, and Revere options are mediocre or worse in terms of performance and IMO, quality follows suit.

The SL Classic and Pro are dated offerings from a good manufacturer, their newer models are MUCH better as WoW has alluded to. In addition, most industry professionals aren't fond of the company and business model offering those. In my experience, these are franchises purchased by complete outsiders, a "business in a box" concept. As a homeowner you have to ask yourself if you'd prefer to spend $15-$20k altering your home with someone who is an expert and has been in the industry for decades, or with a guy that perhaps was in IT or a banker previously, and narrowly decided in favor of buying a window franchise over a Papa John's Pizza store... I'm sure that this profile doesn't fit EVERY one of their franchise owners, but it seems to be more common than not in terms of similarities.

chatrees
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 8:51 am

Re: Window replacement in Pittsburgh PA

#7 Post by chatrees »

@Windows on Washington and @HomeSealed
Thank you very much for your insight!

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