Considering Window replacement-had salespitch from Thompson Creek--anyone have recommendations ??
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Anonymous
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IT was pricey I thought--$850/window.
I don't want to go with any company just because it might be cheaper but I don't want to spend almost 20K either. I would love hear what you have done and what you have liked or not liked. Are there other companies with good warranties too? |
Anonymous
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Get quotes from Andersen and Pella.
For a good local company, check out Nova Installations. |
Anonymous
| We had Thompson Creek replace 12 windows and a sliding glass door. Got 6 months of interest-free financing and have one more payment left to go before it's all paid off. We couldn't be happier with our windows and door. Windows were custom made to fit our window openings and the installers were excellent. We couldn't find any other company that would match their double lifetime warranty. |
Anonymous
| Whatever company you end up using, get multiple quotes. Andersen came down by $4,000 after we got a competing quote from Pella -- this after claiming that the quote they later abandoned was their "best" price. |
Anonymous
| We got 5 quotes (overkill probably but I was curious). Thompson Creek annoyed me from the get-go with their "both spouses need to be present" combined with the "let me call my manager and see if you sign RIGHT NOW if I can get you a better rate". Anderson and Pella were out of our budget but I appreciated their telling me over the phone. We had used Nova Installations on a previous house and liked them but for our most recent home a) the product had more vinyl than we like (meaning less glass portions) and b) they were higher than a couple of other places. I can't remember two of the other groups but we went with Century Siding (don't be fooled by the name) who were highly recommended on both Angie's and Consumer Checkbook. |
Anonymous
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We were REALLY happy with windowuniverse.
http://www.thefutureofreplacementwindows.com/ Also considered Thompson Creek, but couldn't justify the extra expense in this market - our house isn't upside down but we also don't want to keep pouring money into it. |
Anonymous
| We considered Thompson Creek but the hard sell was absurd and frankly insulting. We have done a major house improvement every year and always get multiple quotes, and never have I had a contractor play such obnoxious games (both spouses MUST be present, 2 hour sales pitch, over-the-top pressure to sign NOW.) It turned me off even though I liked the product; my husband was so furious that we wasted a Saturday AM with such a shyster that he practically threw the guy out of the house. We're deciding between Pella and a contractor we've used for siding, roofing and gutters. |
Anonymous
| I agree that you should get multiple quotes. You might think about joining Angie's List to find reviewed companies. |
Anonymous
| Pretty much all high quality vinyl windows are the same. Simonton (generally installed by a contractor) are much cheaper per window, but you pay some for the service. TW Perry carries a number of models and can refer you to installers. |
Anonymous
We also got a reduced price after we got a competing quote. It's amazing how the sales guys can reduce prices so quickly. It's like wrangling with any other salesmen - car dealers, window guys, deck builders, gutter people...do your homework, get quotes, and then pit them against each other. |
Anonymous
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Talk to Home Depot, too - they replaced two kitchen windows for around $500 apiece this past spring. (I was replacing them as part of selling my home, so I didn't go too cheap, but not too high-end either.) They were easy to work with and they did a great job that was done in 2.25 hours. The windows looked beautiful; I kicked myself for not doing them sooner so I could enjoy them.
I plan to use Home Depot again when I replace several windows in my current home. |
Anonymous
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When we needed to replace a huge sliding glass door, and two 10ft triple windows that look like a bay, we got quotes from Anderson, Pella and Marvin (window showplace). Didin't like the Jeldwens in the showroom. They had to be wood or a engineered wood bc all other windows in the house are wood. And, we didn't want replacement windows - i wanted a full tearout bc the wood around the windows was not in good condition. The replacements were more expensive than the full tear out even with the higher labor requirements.
Anderson was so high they were insulting. Pella was ok, but I have heard mixedr reviews on their quality and as a lawyer I had issues with their warranty terms. Went with marvin - a little overkill for our house. We did the slider first in solid wood- what a gorgeous window and perfect installation. We had an attempted break on the door a few years ago so I wanted as solid as it gets and this one fits the bill. it would take a sledghammer to get through the door. 3 years so far not a blip. Next, so save a little money and get what is technically a stonger window, we went with their engineered wood line. Looks great, but doesn't feel as solid. I was not as impressed with the team of installers on the second and third installation. They had non-english speaking folks (russian mostly) who didn't know how to manage a site and little problems. But, I was able to call the store and the foreman who was supposed to be there and they came back and made things right. In retrospect I would ahve spent a little more for solid wood. All have a no maintenance finish and what seems like a better warranty than pella. And, I told the sales person, Sean McClellan, if they leak I will be sitting in his office until fixed. So far so good. |
Anonymous
| somewhat off topic, but think about getting the window frames tested for lead before you tear them out (if the house was built before 1978) to avoid being in the situation of another recent poster and worrying about lead exposure after the fact. |
Anonymous
| meant 1978. |
Anonymous
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All those places use the same sales approach-you and hubby need to be there, they take out their notebook with stats and pictures, the use a lighter or match to show you the draft next to the window and then show you their window vs the others. Then they present the price and throw all sorts of numbers out and say this si the best we can do. It is not, I know, I used to work for one of them.
Decline to sign, and then decline to sogn the form he says you have to sign declining their offer, a few days or weeks will pass and they call back, guess what? they are having a sale......they will come dowon more and more. Bottom line is you need to get multiple quotes, let them knwo upfront you have had several quotes and that he has one shot with his best price, I second NOVA installations. |