Search found 23 matches

by J-Windows
Sat Sep 27, 2014 11:42 am
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: unique or custom entry door options
Replies: 5
Views: 7001

Re: unique or custom entry door options

All the pro-via options have the same panel style and same glass options as all the big-box brands. I'm not seeing anything more interesting than standard 6-panel doors and art-glass on their website. And they only have like 2 glass options for a half-circle transom. Not much to go on here. But THIS...
by J-Windows
Sat Sep 27, 2014 10:11 am
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: unique or custom entry door options
Replies: 5
Views: 7001

unique or custom entry door options

Hello, A few years ago I replaced all the windows and patio doors in my house, and this forum helped me tremendously in choosing manufacturer, window type, and styles. I went with Soft-Light Imperial LS Casements with diamond grids, and couldn't be happier. Color matched musket brown exterior (for t...
by J-Windows
Thu Jun 21, 2012 10:00 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Actual warranties for Softlite, Sunrise, and Amerimax
Replies: 0
Views: 73824

Actual warranties for Softlite, Sunrise, and Amerimax

I have scans of the actual full-page lawyer-speak manufacturer lifetime warranties for Soft-lite, Sunrise, and Amerimax. I know people are often saying they want to see the "full" warranty (instead of the meaningless "limited lifetime warranty" statement) but sometimes have troub...
by J-Windows
Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:40 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Replacement windows in MN
Replies: 17
Views: 16355

Re: Replacement windows in MN

I had a dozen window quotes in the area recently. Unless you're going to move out soon or rent it, go with a good quality window. For about 20%-30% more cost (than a real cheap brand, 30% LESS cost than a big-name mediocre brand) you'll get a window with lifetime glass/screen/window (including accid...
by J-Windows
Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:08 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Advice on matching colors vinyl window to alum wrap to trim
Replies: 1
Views: 3380

Advice on matching colors vinyl window to alum wrap to trim

And I thought picking a window was tough. Picking exterior colors is the hard part! One of the key reasons we went with Soft-Lite was the better interior faux-wood match and the fact that they would custom-match the exterior vinyl color. So no problem right, we can pick any exterior color we want? I...
by J-Windows
Thu May 31, 2012 8:48 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Coil Wrap or PVC Trim Replacement?
Replies: 28
Views: 24144

Re: Coil Wrap or PVC Trim Replacement?

I was told that the vinyl cladding was not the same quality unplasticized cellular PVC they use for the windows, so the vinyl cladding was more prone to warp and crack in the future.

And that was the reason to stick with aluminum wrapping over wood.

Is that true?
by J-Windows
Fri May 25, 2012 6:36 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: What happens when a company changes their name/license#?
Replies: 3
Views: 3597

What happens when a company changes their name/license#?

One of the top companies I was looking at just in the last few weeks did a "voluntary termination" of the license, and got a new license for a new company under a new name. The new name and old name only differ by a minor bit, and they just routed their old URL to the new one and used the ...
by J-Windows
Wed May 09, 2012 11:48 am
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: should I consider simonton along with soft-lite?
Replies: 11
Views: 10378

Re: should I consider simonton along with soft-lite?

Despite all the propaganda on their website about 'wider viewing area" and "style of classic wood windows", all the pictures I can see casements, they look just as flat and as wide as all the other vinyl windows. Has anyone seen these in person to know if there's really any aesthetic ...
by J-Windows
Wed May 09, 2012 9:53 am
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: should I consider simonton along with soft-lite?
Replies: 11
Views: 10378

Re: should I consider simonton along with soft-lite?

the antique brown looks black outside, not brown at all.
by J-Windows
Tue May 08, 2012 8:31 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: should I consider simonton along with soft-lite?
Replies: 11
Views: 10378

should I consider simonton along with soft-lite?

I thought I was almost done with the window research. But now I'm reading a lot of good reviews of/recommendations for simonton windows. I thought my original research they came up as not recommended due to being home depot/sears windows. But my recent research seems to say the reflections 5500/pris...
by J-Windows
Mon May 07, 2012 8:32 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Price for triple-pane worth it?
Replies: 3
Views: 6969

Price for triple-pane worth it?

A couple previous offers had the "Free triple pane upgrade" which I have found out is a special promotion from soft-lite only to certain high-volume soft-lite dealers, and is not given to all dealers. So for the non-free upgrades, for 18 frames/29 windows, the quotes are all around 1200$ f...
by J-Windows
Sun May 06, 2012 4:02 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Any way to find contractor's previous businesses/history?
Replies: 1
Views: 3164

Any way to find contractor's previous businesses/history?

Is there a way to trace back history for a window contractor? To make sure they aren't in the business of regularly closing shop and reopening new business every 5 years in order to avoid warranty claims? The MN license lookup system seems to remove the contact info for expired licenses, so you can'...
by J-Windows
Thu May 03, 2012 8:25 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Relative pricing sunrise vs. soft-lite
Replies: 3
Views: 4038

Relative pricing sunrise vs. soft-lite

I'm getting lots of estimates in now, and I'm surprised to see all the sunrise coming in so much higher than soft-lite. I have 3 soft-lite dealers and 3 sunrise dealers and 1 gorell dealer. These are all same-feature comparisons (same installation, windows, colors, screens, grids, cladding, etc) Pri...
by J-Windows
Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:30 am
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Pictures of casements with screens installed?
Replies: 0
Views: 75457

Pictures of casements with screens installed?

Can anyone provide pictures of various brands casements with screen installed? Not everyone has a "demo' of all their windows. I have seen a provia (vinyl) and an alside casement with screen installed, and in both cases it was ugly. The screen had a thick 1in border, it sat in flush with the tr...
by J-Windows
Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:25 am
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Getting estimates on windows this week, lots of questions
Replies: 16
Views: 12135

Re: Getting estimates on windows this week, lots of questions

None of the sunrise dealers so far have presented windows by the terms 'restorations" or 'vanguard" yet. Even on the sunrise website, I can't find reference to those terms. So far only a single casement window has been presented (unnamed), and then several choices of glass (ultra, solar, t...