Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

For all those Replacement Window decisions - just read, review or post a question. You will be helped!
Message
Author
Collins
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:31 pm

Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#1 Post by Collins »

Hello Folks,

1st post, tried a search but didn't result in much.

I'm in central NC and i need 15 windows replaced.

I've got a few quotes for the job,
Most quotes are in the $5k/6k range.
I would very much appreciate feedback on Viwinco (Cambridge) and/or
Vista {Elite Series) windows.
What is the story with these outfits?

Are they good windows?

I've heard mostly all good about Gorell and Shuco.

How do the Vista's compare with Gorell or Shuco's or even the Viwinco's?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Best
Paul

User avatar
Windows on Washington
Posts: 4850
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:21 pm
Location: DC Metropolitan Area-Maryland/Virginia/DC
Contact:

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#2 Post by Windows on Washington »

Schuco is no longer in the window business and the company that came out of that transference is no longer in business either (Force V Environmental).

Gorell is good company and makes a solid product.

I am not a fan of either of the two windows that you have existing quotes from.

User avatar
Delaware Mike
Posts: 947
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:32 pm
Location: Delaware, New Jersey, Philadephia Area

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#3 Post by Delaware Mike »

Gorell is considered by most of us here to be a premium grade product, the other products mentioned are low budget windows. Those low budget windows cost less for a reason, they are not made as well and suffer from looser manufacturing tolerances and quality control issues.

Collins
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:31 pm

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#4 Post by Collins »

Thank you both very much for the information.

I want to do this right...the first time :)

Compared to these lower end makes, the Gorell's are really not that much more $
considering the warranty/service/reputation etc...

I've had one the local Gorell folks out and he wanted to put the Vista's in.
I was not very impressed with this company...i specifically asked the
guy to bring out a Gorell sample window and he only brought the Vista.

By chance would anyone know of/recommend a really good installation person/company
in the Raleigh/Durham area of NC? I have an independent guy who is good, but
he wants to do the Viwinco's...not certain if he can get the Gorell's?
I'll ask him today.

Again, thanks so much for the help.

Kind Regards,
Paul

User avatar
Delaware Mike
Posts: 947
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:32 pm
Location: Delaware, New Jersey, Philadephia Area

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#5 Post by Delaware Mike »

Paul,

I've never seen consistent quality installations in my area in the $300 to $400 a window installed range. I'm not saying that they're not out there, but to sell windows at that price by good GC or a certified window outfit they would be most likely installing a window that cost them anywhere from $90 to $150 max for them to purchase. You cannot get a long term quality product with a proven track record in this price range. I don't know your area or overall budget, just what you have stated from your current estimates. Virtually every single project that I've ever seen performed in this price range has some type of short cut taken to justify the lack of workmanship and speed in which the install was performed.

If I was you I'd look to some of the better manufacturers like Gorrel, OKNA, Soft-Lite, and Sunrise. You may not need their best series, but they have decent quality budget minded lines that are better than the Vista and ViWinco. I'm actually a Vista dealer and will do there windows on rentals and in real questionable areas in which the homeowner desires my services, but simply cannot afford go above the area of your estimates.

The Soft-Lite Pro, Classic, Bainbridge, OKNA 400, Sunrise Essentials, Simonton 5500/9800, Plygem premium might be worth researching along with of course the Gorell lines. I'm not a big fan of Ideal Windows at all, but I saw their very best vinyl DH offering glazed with Super Spacer the other day and it looks acceptable for it's pricing.

Good Luck

ranger
Posts: 190
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2010 12:59 pm

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#6 Post by ranger »

For what it's worth VIWinco is not in the same league as Okna, gorell ,or sunrise..when industry pro's mention well designed windows, VIWinco is not mentioned.

EcoStar Remodeling
Posts: 210
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 5:28 pm

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#7 Post by EcoStar Remodeling »

ranger wrote:For what it's worth VIWinco is not in the same league as Okna, gorell ,or sunrise..when industry pro's mention well designed windows, VIWinco is not mentioned.
+1

VIWinco is an average quality window sold through supply houses to General Contractors who often buy them either because they have an account there, they really don't know much about windows, or they can buy them for a cheap price and find it easy to convince a consumer they are better than they really are. Since new home construction has slowed, these same companies have been forced into the replacement window market as well as replacement roofs, siding, doors etc. and have brought with them the same mid-grade products they have always used. Ask yourself when the last time you heard someone who bought a new home years ago rant about the great quality of the labor and material their builder used.

Sunrise, Okna, Gorell and Softlite are all top performing brands by manufacturers who have a sincere dedication to the best performing windows and all have excellent customer service and no nonsense warranty service.
If you are concerned with quality those are the brands I'd be looking at.

Collins
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:31 pm

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#8 Post by Collins »

Thanks All for the valuable input.

Yea, the local guy that i like wants to use the Viwinco's for that very
reason, he probably can't get anything better.
I've asked him if he can obtain Gorells or Okna...no response so far.

I've decided to have a higher quality window installed
as this whole process is to update my house because
it still has the original grade windows in there.

Funny, most of the reps. i've had out always assume i want
to go with the lowest number...which i've tried to explain
i want to UPGRADE my windows. Not that my budget is unlimited,
but for another ~$100 per window...really, at the end of the day
i'd rather have the peace of mind.

Also, i do have some sill rot and there will be some minor
carpentry involved. I do not want the vinyl/aluminum wrap
over the brick mold or nose sill. I was considering using
the PVC or whatever replacement Molds and Sills.

I'll give the Gorell guy a ring and see what he has to say...
no offense to the other reps btw.

Thanks again. This is a cool forum.

Respectfully,
Paul

User avatar
Windows on Washington
Posts: 4850
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:21 pm
Location: DC Metropolitan Area-Maryland/Virginia/DC
Contact:

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#9 Post by Windows on Washington »

Collins wrote:Thanks All for the valuable input.

Yea, the local guy that i like wants to use the Viwinco's for that very
reason, he probably can't get anything better.
I've asked him if he can obtain Gorells or Okna...no response so far.

I've decided to have a higher quality window installed
as this whole process is to update my house because
it still has the original grade windows in there.

Funny, most of the reps. i've had out always assume i want
to go with the lowest number...which i've tried to explain
i want to UPGRADE my windows. Not that my budget is unlimited,
but for another ~$100 per window...really, at the end of the day
i'd rather have the peace of mind.

Also, i do have some sill rot and there will be some minor
carpentry involved. I do not want the vinyl/aluminum wrap
over the brick mold or nose sill. I was considering using
the PVC or whatever replacement Molds and Sills.

I'll give the Gorell guy a ring and see what he has to say...
no offense to the other reps btw.

Thanks again. This is a cool forum.

Respectfully,
Paul
Why are you concerned about wrapping the sills?

You can use a sill expander to close the gap between the new frame and the wood sill for an integrated look. I recommend replacing the sills with PVC wood if you are worried about the water infiltration into the wood.

Collins
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:31 pm

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#10 Post by Collins »

Collins wrote:Why are you concerned about wrapping the sills?

You can use a sill expander to close the gap between the new frame and the wood sill for an integrated look. I recommend replacing the sills with PVC wood if you are worried about the water infiltration into the wood.
W.o.W.

I don't like the look of the Vinyl or Aluminum wrap over my existing wood.
I'd like to keep the profile detail of my current Brickmold and Nose, so yea,
i was looking at the Cellular PVC material to replace my existing brickmold and Nose sill(s).

Like i said, i do have some minor rot on a few of the windows, so i figure i'll do all
the windows that way.

btw, i spoke with the Gorell rep that replied to my post. Very knowledgeable and he put
me in touch with a couple companies in my area that do the Gorell window and
will do the minor carpentry sill cleanup.

btw2, i'm not sure what a sill expander looks like?...Any link that you might be
able to refer me to? Is this something the window person would have or is
the expander something additional?

Thanks again folks!
PC

User avatar
Windows on Washington
Posts: 4850
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:21 pm
Location: DC Metropolitan Area-Maryland/Virginia/DC
Contact:

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#11 Post by Windows on Washington »

Sill expander is usually included with the window in most applications along with the header expander.

Most decent installers can easily put a brickmold wrap (i.e. double bend on the capping) to create the illusion of the brickmold that is currently around the opening.

Once you sort through the installers, you probably want to take a look at some sample installations and see what looks good.

If the wood is rotted, you probably are better served by replacing the whole sill (if not capping them) to avoid the swiss cheese and stitched in look.

TheWindowNerd
Posts: 1893
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:52 pm
Location: SE PA & NJ; CT
Contact:

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#12 Post by TheWindowNerd »

Paul,
You should definitely see some contoured/brickmould wraps befpre lumping them together with L or J wraps.

Collins
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:31 pm

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#13 Post by Collins »

WoW, Anthony,

Good points.

Well the first couple of guys just talked about the L or J wrap with no detail...
so that threw me off a bit. Since then, i have heard of guys being able to bend the
wrap in a more detailed way...so i'll give that some thought.

My windows are the kind where the nose and sill are two pcs...but depends
on how deep the rot is, i really like the look of the cellular vinyl PVC vs.
whatever wrap though.

This may be hard to explain, but if one does a more detailed wrap with Vinyl or Alum.
how do they do the 45 at the top of each Brickmould at the top rail?
...and how do they wrap the side of the nose...seems like
that would be an impossible bend without some weird overlap that would
leave a seam?...

Curious.
PC

User avatar
Windows on Washington
Posts: 4850
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:21 pm
Location: DC Metropolitan Area-Maryland/Virginia/DC
Contact:

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#14 Post by Windows on Washington »

It is a lap joint at the top.

You will need to look at it to see if you like it. I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

User avatar
HomeSealed
Posts: 2749
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:14 pm
Location: Milwaukee, Madison, Northern IL
Contact:

Re: Gorell, Viwinco or Vista DH Vinyl Rep. Windows

#15 Post by HomeSealed »

Blair 031.jpg
(51.63 KiB) Downloaded 295 times
Here is a pic of a "brickmold bend". Some guys also like to use a tool called a Brake Buddy which can make the bends a little tighter, but most generally prefer the old fashioned way. The side pieces run all the way to the top of the head piece, which is then mitered to overlap the sides. On the sill, the face is cut long so that it can be bent to cover the sides... Does that make sense?

Post Reply