Discussion Board Forum for Vinyl Windows

I don't care for the Pella 250 at all and Power's workmanship in my area (15-minutes from headquarters) is mostly miss and seems to be performed by very underpaid subs that rush too fast. The capping is terrible with the caulking even worse. Installations are hit and miss with very large outfits as ...

OKNA is sort of local to that area and is widely regarded as one of the top five vinyl manufacturers out there. You would see a huge drop off in a side by side comparison with the dated older Simonton platforms. Both visually and in performance. Manufacturers to search out would be Soft-Lite (their ...

The 5500 and 6600 extruded flanged OKNA DH units sort of have a built in j-channel siding receiver. Premium butt 3/4" siding panels barely squeeze into the face to flange depth, the mid-grade stuff works nicer as the butt depth of the panel isn't as deep. With new siding going up we run into th...

Newly constructed homes in the North East have the brick mason run the brick and mortar right to the edge of the flat jamb framed window. Easy peasy and easy to go back in with either the same sized unit or a very slightly downsized window (smaller for correct squaring of the new unit and ability to...

Gotcha on the UV. My Endure sample has double-glazed DLA-UV grids in the top sash and no grids and triple TLA-UV. My homeowner today was like "that bottom sash is way too dark." You're basically getting two lites of glass with low-e3 verses low-e2 from my understanding.

Why are you still opting for the "UV" with triple-glazing? That's going to be a super dark glass package and the regular TLA does a good job with a SHGC being around .20ish. I prefer a compound tension/block and tackle, however I'll let the programmers at the factory choose the best balanc...

The 800 does have a nailing flange accessory that attaches via snap-in to the accessory grove of the master frame of the window. The problem that I may see is that the sizing of new construction windows is based upon rough opening sizing and when installers perform an "express" non-removal...

I'm sorry my response isn't helpful at all, but all the Lowes and Pella corporate stores by me employ window butcher hacks. I have seen countless jobs by both and everything from the interior trim work (miter joints) to exterior capping and j-channel work is completely unacceptable. Don't get me sta...

I do both of those manufacturers and series and much prefer the OKNA. Here is why. ProVia casements, awnings, and picture windows have very odd frames with pocket irrigation sills that have exterior weeps and little cheap baffle door flaps. That doesn't even make a bit of sense. They are very fussy ...

The 600 has a tighter top interlock catch from the top sash to the head cavity frame and a sill tongue interlock. I've not had 500's have incidental top sash drift from bottom sash operation with that being said (double hung). You also get the more ornate stepped exterior glazing beads from the 800 ...

They needed to put more of a sill pitch to that sill cap. I see way too many installers not pitching sill caps correctly. Even if no water can get in past the sealant bead that looks tucked into the face utility groove, their caulk bead will look terrible with water constantly laying on it until it ...

If you have rough openings that don't have sheetrock returns, I would look for a flanged new construction window with a factory applied jamb extension to make the interior finish work less time consuming. In my area we see the same contractor type vinyl offerings such as Harvey, MI, Simonton, ViWinc...

Sunrise/MI attaches the multipoint strike hook metal piece with short phillips #2 bugle heads to the strike leg extrusion from the factory and expects their certified installers to replace a few of them with longer 3" like screws after the strike reveal margins are correct. Your margins don't a...

I had a Marvin brochure on my desk that I just picked up from my local supply house and didn't check the date of the brochure. It's a 2020 brochure lol as the staff didn't update their stashes of brochures. Looks like black is available. One thing that I will add to that series by Marvin is that one...

Soft-Lite can do an all black window. One of the better vinyl manufacturers out there. I prefer a Marvin Elevate to Andersen 400's and Pella Impervia. I don't think that one can get the Elevate with their fiberglass exterior in black though. Sunrise can do a black laminate interior and black painted...