Doors and Windows - Anyone ever buy "Wenco" brand windows?
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tbman
10-30-04, 06:35 PM
I'm looking to buy double hung vinyl replacement windows for our home. My local Menards stors sells a brand Called "Wenco". Wenco is now owned by "Jeld-wen". They look like a nice window. I want to get them with the "Low-E" glass. Some of the other brands that I have looked at also add argon gas between the panes of glass. The salesman tells me that studies have shown that the gas leaks out over time and therefore is a waste of money. The Wenco brand does not add argon to their windows for this reason. Will I be sorry if I get the Wenco brand windows? Anyone have any experince with this brand before.
Thanks,
Tom
Thanks,
Tom
lefty
10-30-04, 08:09 PM
Tbman,
If you search back through this forum, you will find one general concensus about buying replacement windows -- compare installing contractor, the NFRC sticker ratings for U-factor and SHGC, the warranty offered, WHO backs that warranty, THEN let price be your deciding factor.
The world's best window, installed improperly, isn't worth a can of beans. Air leaks gain you nothing, and water leaks are going to be expensive.
The lower the NFRC rating for the 2 items I mentioned, the less heat LOSS (U-factor) you will have in the winter, and the less heat GAIN (SHGC) you will have in the summer. Expect both numbers to be in the range of .30 to .35.
(To save you a little research, Jeld-Wen has been around for over 100 years. They may not be doing everything perfectly, but they certainly haven't made too many big errors -- otherwise they wouldn't still be here!!)
IMHO, Wenco windows are 'run-of-the-mill'. There's nothing really wrong with them, they are priced fairly for what they are, Jeld-Wen WILL do whatever they have to in order to make them right IF there is a problem, ... HOWEVER, they certainly aren't the Cadillac of windows. But they aren't priced like it either!!
My opinion of gas-filled windows parallels exactly what you have been told. If you are in a really cold climate, it works, at least for as long as it stays beteen the panes. But, as soon as it's gone, so are the utility savings it may give you. (And you'll probably pay more for the gas fill than it will save you in the few years it hangs around.)
If you search back through this forum, you will find one general concensus about buying replacement windows -- compare installing contractor, the NFRC sticker ratings for U-factor and SHGC, the warranty offered, WHO backs that warranty, THEN let price be your deciding factor.
The world's best window, installed improperly, isn't worth a can of beans. Air leaks gain you nothing, and water leaks are going to be expensive.
The lower the NFRC rating for the 2 items I mentioned, the less heat LOSS (U-factor) you will have in the winter, and the less heat GAIN (SHGC) you will have in the summer. Expect both numbers to be in the range of .30 to .35.
(To save you a little research, Jeld-Wen has been around for over 100 years. They may not be doing everything perfectly, but they certainly haven't made too many big errors -- otherwise they wouldn't still be here!!)
IMHO, Wenco windows are 'run-of-the-mill'. There's nothing really wrong with them, they are priced fairly for what they are, Jeld-Wen WILL do whatever they have to in order to make them right IF there is a problem, ... HOWEVER, they certainly aren't the Cadillac of windows. But they aren't priced like it either!!
My opinion of gas-filled windows parallels exactly what you have been told. If you are in a really cold climate, it works, at least for as long as it stays beteen the panes. But, as soon as it's gone, so are the utility savings it may give you. (And you'll probably pay more for the gas fill than it will save you in the few years it hangs around.)
IHI
10-31-04, 07:27 AM
I have quite a few landlords that want to update their rental property without sinking too much money into them. I offer the "premium" window as one option and Wenco as the other so they can see the braod spectrum of pricing.
After installing many of the wenco windows-mainly DH's and sliders-they are okay. Installed properly they will be hands down better than your current single pane wood windows that you are probably replacing. I know everybody has a budget, but I always recommend getting the best they can afford. They Wenco's construction is a tad flimsier than say a window that cost 3x's as much, latching mechanisms are not as smooth nor is track operation. Biggest down fall with the Wenco is getting the true size replacement that you need. You have to measure the tight RO the window will sit in, then the factory automatically deduts the 1/2" on the top and 1/4" on the sides, and they can only use 1/4" increments to base the size off of. So if a perfect fit would be say 40 3/8" wide, you'll have to decide if you want them to base the measurement off 40 1/4" or 40 1/2".
Another quirk I dont like is the Wenco has a built in sill expander-meaning the bottom outside edge of the window is made a little longer so when it sets in the opening the outside edge will seal against the sill. Great idea in theory if all sill angles were identical, but alot of older house-which rentals usually are-the sill angle can vary quite a bit so I've had to actually trim some off the expander so the window will sit right, and other times I've ended up with 1/2" -1" gap between the sill and bottom edge of the expander.
After installing many of the wenco windows-mainly DH's and sliders-they are okay. Installed properly they will be hands down better than your current single pane wood windows that you are probably replacing. I know everybody has a budget, but I always recommend getting the best they can afford. They Wenco's construction is a tad flimsier than say a window that cost 3x's as much, latching mechanisms are not as smooth nor is track operation. Biggest down fall with the Wenco is getting the true size replacement that you need. You have to measure the tight RO the window will sit in, then the factory automatically deduts the 1/2" on the top and 1/4" on the sides, and they can only use 1/4" increments to base the size off of. So if a perfect fit would be say 40 3/8" wide, you'll have to decide if you want them to base the measurement off 40 1/4" or 40 1/2".
Another quirk I dont like is the Wenco has a built in sill expander-meaning the bottom outside edge of the window is made a little longer so when it sets in the opening the outside edge will seal against the sill. Great idea in theory if all sill angles were identical, but alot of older house-which rentals usually are-the sill angle can vary quite a bit so I've had to actually trim some off the expander so the window will sit right, and other times I've ended up with 1/2" -1" gap between the sill and bottom edge of the expander.