Discussion Board Forum for Vinyl Windows

We're in the middle of an installation of Great Lakes SeaBrookes in our home. So far, four of the large 2-lite slider (roughly 69 1/2 x 46) have been installed. there are full screens on the windows. On 3 of the 4, it is very noticeable that the top of the screen bows down. There is much more of the...

please don't laugh at me ... but what is VT? I assume it's something dealing with the tint of the window/how much you can see through it. Also, the SeaBrookes have a U factor of .24 and the SHGC is .23. Is that SHGC okay for New Jersey? I forget ... I know someone had mentioned suggested SHGCs for t...

is that your only hang-up between these two? one estimate isn't clearly a better way to go?

estimates are for 8 two-lite sliders (roughly 60x46) ... 1 picture window (roughly same size) and two casements (roughly 22x36). white interior, color exterior. Exterior capping. Interior jams trimmed and picture-framed trimming/molding. Glass packages to meet tax credit. Great Lakes Seabrooke serie...

I've tried everything to try and resolve the botched installation job at my house with the contractor to no avail, so it looks like i need to take him to the equivalent of small claims court here in New Jersey. I'll need an expert opinion to back my claims and photos. I've asked the companies and co...

Bill, Do the glass packages vary by window type? I'm interested in 2 lite sliders and one picture window. When i looked up the 5500 Series 2 Lite slider, this glass package is the closest to the one you listed for the double hung. It's just a little bit different I believe ETC Super Solar * 7/8"...

For any region that experiences winter I would not use the Low-e 366 it has a very low solar heat gain coefficient and the glass is a bit dark. I would use this glass in the South only. Choose a glass pack with the standard softcoat low-e glass When I sell the 5500 I just choose Super Spacer and yo...

Sky Dawggy,

Which glass pack would you recommend for the northeast/New Jersey?

I don't want to mention names unless I have to or it's the proper time. In this case, we like the outfit/company ... but weren't sure about the windows (American Jewel). To be fair, however, he did not say his was the only company to carry American Jewel. He said a few years back he went to American...

that's funny, i could have sworn a bunch of people dogpiled the Seabrookes when i brought them up before -- but i could be mistaken. since i already called the installer about the simontons, i guess it wouldn't hurt to get a number from him and compare it to what I was offered for the Seabrookes and...

thanks.

For what it's worth, the estimate for the "exclusive" American Jewels was roughly the same as the quote we got for the Great Lakes SeaBrookes. From everyone's comments, neither is really anything to right home about, right?

skydawggy -- and any of the other seasoned pros here -- how would you rank okna, sunrise and simonton amongst each other? simonton as the best?

i assume with each of these three preferred brands there are also different series which you'd rank as good, better and best?

i pursued this further by calling the company and they referred me to an installer in my area. now waiting for him to call me back. my fear is: it is another construction company and it was a construction company that we first dealt with that got us into this mess in a first place. I guess it may be...

got two names sent to me. the one companylocation is too far away. the second one, when I visited their Web site, said they only sell to contractors/professionals, not homeowners

maybe it's me, but i cannot find anyone in my area (Hunterdon County New Jersey) who installs simonton, okna or sunrise. i've just emailed the companies at their respective Web sites for more information