Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

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Stelding
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Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#1 Post by Stelding »

I live in Dallas tx and am looking to replace all of my original 50's wood windows with energy efficient vinyl on my brick home. I am looking at the Alside Ultramaxx because I was told it has an option of a coextruded vinyl with one color (white) on the inside and another color (beige) on the outside to match the trim. I like this option but have been reading on here about the poor quality of the alside windows. Is there another window I should look at that would give me this 2 color option that would be of better quality? I'm looking for a mid range priced unit. I also got a bid for an NT window but he said it would need to be factory painted and I'm sceptical of painting the vinyl. I need 11 double hung windows and 2 large casement windows ( was told these would each have to have 2 separate units mulled into one). I got a quote of $8175 for NT window and $7400 for the Alside Ultramaxx. Is this a good price? I didn't see in either bid if they would insulate with foam.

EcoStar Remodeling
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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#2 Post by EcoStar Remodeling »

I would expand my search. You should be able to get Sunrise or even Simonton Windows there. Either of those 2 would be better than what you are currently considering.

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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#3 Post by TheWindowNerd »

Simonton or Sunrise. My 1st choice would be the Sunrise.

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Windows on Washington
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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#4 Post by Windows on Washington »

Soft-Lite and Sunrise for me.

anthony are you still serving Dallas area? If not, I know that randy is now too.

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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#5 Post by TheWindowNerd »

yes i still serve DFW.

Randy is a great choice for DFW also.

bnhansen
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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#6 Post by bnhansen »

In the Fall of 2010, we had many Alside window sets put in. When Spring came, we opened all but four of the windows 1/4 to 1/2 way. We never fully closed and locked the windows until late July/early August when the hurricane was due to come up the east coast. When we tried closing the casement windows they wouldn't close - they had sagged to such a point that even using a lot of force wouldn't get them to back into the frames. Initially, Alside indicated that the contractor was at fault however, the contractor had two experts look at several of the windows and stated to Alside that the windows were defectively made with at least some of the problem appearing to be that the glass inset was shimmed improperly. Giving Alside this information back in August and September & filling out a warranty claim form, we still don't have a written response from Alside nor do we have an explanation from Alside as to why these windows have failed.

Has anyone else had experience with Alside's casement windows including bow windows? I'm considering hiring a structural or civil engineer to look at the windows and report on their structural integrity which seems like something Alside should have done before they made these windows and certainly after they failed.

Has anyone pursued Alside legally for not honoring their casement window warranty?

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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#7 Post by EcoStar Remodeling »

I'm really sorry to hear you are having this problem. Unfortunately for us who have been in the industry for a while, stories like yours are all too common with Alside products. Hopefully, you will be able to get this resolved but I suspect you are going to have to pursue them legally. Perhaps a very sharp letter from an attorney will get the wheels moving.

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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#8 Post by Windows on Washington »

How big are the casements?

Sounds to me like they may not have been backloaded correctly if they are now racked inside the frame.

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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#9 Post by bnhansen »

The casements range in size from single windows through quads. We also have three bows installed that are doing the same thing. The height of the windows range from approximately 38" to 57"

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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#10 Post by Windows on Washington »

I have made and inquiry to my old rep over at Alside.

I will see if I can get the name of someone for you to contact directly.

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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#11 Post by HomeSealed »

What type of contractor installed these windows? It sounds as though it is not someone that is a window specialist due to the following :... I am not a fan of Alside products, although I have sold installed them in the past. While I certainly have seen my share of defects, I've never had ANY issue whatsoever with getting parts warranteed. In general they never even asked questions. I could literally say that I need a house full of sashes for whatever reason, and two weeks later they'd be delivered. This installer does not seem to know how to get this handled. Did he even purchase the windows, or did you buy them and hire an installer separately?
In addition, "improper shimming of the glass" makes no sense either. The glass unit is typically set on a couple blocks inside the sash, but that would really have nothing to do with how the sash fits into the frame.
To me, this sounds like an installation issue, in that the window frames were not shimmed and/or secured properly. If in fact the frame is square as it should be, and if in fact the windows functioned upon installation, then it may be fixable with minor adjustments. There are adjusters on the top and bottom hardware that will center the sash in the frame..... I would recommend having an alside service rep come out and take a look, or even have your own independent, third party window guy come take a look.
I am not trying to throw the installer under the bus here, but all we have to go on is your description, and it just doesn't sound right. Whether this is a product issue or installation issue, he should be handling this for you all the way.

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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#12 Post by TheWindowNerd »

You can check both the sash and frame for square.
If the frame is square the installer did what is right.
If the sash is not square then Alside will need to correct.
I am not an Alside fan either.

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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#13 Post by bnhansen »

The frame of the windows were installed square, level & plumb and still are. When the windows were first installed they all closed with some windows needing adjustment so that the weather stripping didn't poke out of the frame and the window was weather tight. When we opened the windows in the spring 1/4 to 1/2 of what they open, we left them open only closing them some when rain was forecasted - we never fully closed & locked them. Late in July, 2011 when they forecasted a hurricane coming up the east coast, we went to close and lock the windows & couldn't - the sashes would not go back into the frames without a whole lot of force with some of them needing a crowbar underneath the sash to lift them up enough while someone else pushed on the sash to get them closed enough for the third person on the inside locking them. Even locked now there are big gaps between the sash and the frame & I've had to put plastic on the inside of all the windows to keep the heat inside the house. The frames are still level, plumb and square but when you measure the sashes, they have sagged. Of the thirty-two window units (consisting of singles, doubles, triples and quadruples plus three bow windows) that were installed, only four single windows that were never opened in the garage open, close & can be locked. Alside won't state what the problem(s) is but is suggesting that they put in three replacement windows and "see" if they will continue working properly through the summer months. Alside also won't say if these three new windows will be made any differently. It would seem that a company as large as Alside wouldn't need to test windows on a customer's home (and cause the customer all kind of inconvenience & cost by ripping out three windows along with siding & trim in the dead of winter). Further, they apparently don't have the resources to perform an engineering study to see why all these windows failed. A company that values its customers and provides a good quality product should determine why one of their product fails at their own expense and then formulate a new design that addresses the prior deficiencies. We have yet to receive any written paperwork from Alside even acknowledging that the windows are covered by their warranty and what their plan of action is. Alside never calls us back and we have only gotten the suggestion of three new test windows by driving down to the Alside New Castle branch and talking face to face with the Branch Manager. Alside's customer service is non-existent.

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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#14 Post by HomeSealed »

I have never dealt with a situation like that with the exception of pella, which quite possibly has the worst customer service in the history of customer service...
Again, I'd ask why the company that you contracted and paid to complete this project for you is not handling this. This is not meant to be condescending in any way, but typically things get done a lot quicker when the parties involved both have a high level of expertise. In situations like this where there may be some debate on the cause, there is always a tendency for each party to blame "the other guy"... Often the only way anything gets hashed out is by getting the contractor and manufacturer rep in the same room and not leaving until someone has taken accountability and come up with a plan of action. Saying that they will replace a few windows randomly and see what happens is hardly such a plan. It is so illogical, that it still really seems like some info is missing here.

bnhansen
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Re: Quote on Alside Ultramaxx vs NT window

#15 Post by bnhansen »

We did have the installation contractor and Alside together at the house to look at the window problems. The installation contractor also brought out his expert who examined the installation of the windows and the windows themselves. According to the installation contractor's expert, the windows were installed correctly. Alside neither accepts nor refutes that the windows were installed correctly - they just don't say anything! The installation contractor has tried to get an answer from Alside about what the problem is too and gotten no where. I agree this situation seems ridiculous and that there is information missing. The missing information is what we are still waiting on Alside to provide. It's good Alside isn't a car manufacturer. Imagine a car manufacturer without an engineering department suggesting that they "try out" another set of defective brakes on a customer's car to see if another crash happens?

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