Doors and Windows - Vinyl Replacements

Great Forum!

I am a new homeowner who is looking to replace the windows with vinyl replacements?

Can you recommend a brand that I could buy directly? I see that some brands only sell to contractos and I am looking to do the work myself.

Also, what are your thoughts on the brnads in the big box stores like HD and Lowes?

Thanks for your input!

You can buy almost any brand if you shop around. Simonton makes one series they sell thru Norandex/Reynolds here locally and "they" will only deal with contractors. Simonton makes the exact same window, calls it something else and it's sold at another place that will sell to anyone that walks in the door with cash. Go figure.

National brands sold at big box stores are generally ok.....the "house" brand is generally the lowest bid contractor the chain can get to build a window and they cut every corner they can in my opinion......strictly a price issue.

Thanks!
Perhaps I will take a look at the non-house brands at the big box stores (I believe that they do carry Anderson and Pella).

My concern was that I had heard that the Big Boxes carried inferior products, even under those good name brands.

Has anyone heard of or used Air-Chek windows? Seem to have a long history here in NJ. Figured I would ask if anyone had any experience with them.

http://www.airchek-windowdepot.com/

I've never heard of Air-Chek, but then, you are in NJ, I'm in CA. So that means nothing. They might be a great window, or they might be ... LESS!

Andy -- you're "east coast" -- ever heard of these guys??

PS -- Andy, I'm still trying to get off of vacation. Now my sister DID send me the "12 Steps to Return From Vacation". Works fine, but how do I get past Step #1????

Nah...never heard of 'em here.....probably something local to NJ.....


Is Step one "Take two aspirin and call me in the morning ? " :)

newhomeownerbs,

There are brands like Marvin, Pella, Certainteed, Simington, etc. that are distributed nationally. Then there will be brands that are distributed regionally, then brands that are very local. THAT has nothing to do with the quality of the window.

What you need to look at is the warranty, the company that is backing that warranty, compare the NFRC sticker ratings for each brand of window, and the looks and the cost.

Learn how to read the NFRC sticker -- it has 3 numbers: The U-Factor, the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, and the Visible Light Transmittance. For the first 2, the lower the number, the better. Clear glass double panes will have numbers in the range of .65 to .70 for those 2, adding Low E or Low E squared glass will bring the numbers down to a range of .32 or .35 (That is money well spent!) Adding argon will lower the numbers to about .30 (a lot of bucks for not much bang, UNLESS you are in a very cold climate -- but that's just my opinion.)

Frame construction of vinyl windows is another thing to look at. Andy prefers frames that are butt jointed and held together with screws. I prefer ones that have welded corners. There are good points and bad points about both; we will argue about it until we are both blue in the face, and neither of us will change our minds. (Guess it's kinda like the arguement between Fords and Chevys!!)

Andy, I forgot what Step 1 is -- something about getting your A## out of Alaska is a lot easier than getting your BRAIN to come home!! I'll see if I can pop together an album in the next day or two and e-mail some pictures.

Mike

Thanks Lefty!