Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

For all those Replacement Window decisions - just read, review or post a question. You will be helped!
Post Reply
Message
Author
bigguyshopping
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun May 28, 2017 11:12 pm

Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#1 Post by bigguyshopping »

Live in Northeast Wisconsin and looking to replace 20 windows and patio door with mid-grade windows.

after online searching and reading posts on this board I have narrowed the field to four choices in no particular order

-Okna 500 Insul-Tec
-Sunrise Standard
-Milgard Tuscany
-Simonton Reflections 5500

Local supply stores handle Vector and Alliance but after reading posts here have eliminated these two.

Thoughts appreciated!

THANK YOU!

randy
Posts: 1064
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:27 am
Location: Houston, TX
Contact:

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#2 Post by randy »

The order is quite accurate actually. The Okna 500 is, by a fair margin, the best of the bunch. If the pricing is close to the others you’re getting a great deal.

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

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#3 Post by Windows on Washington »

+1 to randy's feedback.

You, maybe unintentionally, listed them out dead on accurate.

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

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#4 Post by Windows on Washington »

Any updates?

Who was the Okna dealer in this case?

bigguyshopping
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun May 28, 2017 11:12 pm

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#5 Post by bigguyshopping »

requested dealer names from all four. There is a Sunrise and Simonton dealer in our area - no Milgard though. Will call Okna tomorrow

fridge2020
Posts: 135
Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:20 pm

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#6 Post by fridge2020 »

Milgard is only distributes in the western region of the country these days.
Your product winners are the Sunrise and the Okna 500 there imo. A significant step up from the others.
Also, I have to ask, is the username "big guy shopping", or "big guys hopping" lol. I think I prefer the latter for entertainment value

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

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#7 Post by Windows on Washington »

How far North in Wisconsin are you?

bigguyshopping
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun May 28, 2017 11:12 pm

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#8 Post by bigguyshopping »

Appleton, just 30 miles south of Green Bay.

Do you know anyone knowledgeable in this area?

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

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#9 Post by TheWindowNerd »

One of the countries best fenestration specialist operates in Wisconsin. His post on this forum are as Homesealed, i think you are a little far for Brandon to travel to but he may know a few people in your area.
If you want vinyl you can try Windows of Wisconsin, they are Infinity and Soft-lite dealer. Soft-lite would be the vinyl choice, Imp LS.

theWindowNered.

bigguyshopping
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun May 28, 2017 11:12 pm

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#10 Post by bigguyshopping »

update:

Am getting estimates for Simonton and Sunrise but also took at second look at Vector (almost nothing on the internet on these) at

http://search.nfrc.org/search/cpd/cpd_s ... m=RRT-K-46

numbers looked good against Simonton

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

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#11 Post by TheWindowNerd »

Hopefully Brandon will share what your SHGC should be for your region also the condensation resistance.
What you do not see is the AI/AL test reports. Do you get any wind or air current where you live? AI/AL measures air leakage/air infiltration, how much draft the window allows. The lower the number the better. My suggestion is .05 or less.

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

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#12 Post by HomeSealed »

bigguy, the thermal numbers on the Vector are not bad, particularly with 272 glass. As Nerd was alluding to, the 366 glass will not be doing you any favors in this climate. They are a VERY small company (my research showed about $5mm in revenue), and definitely geared more toward the new construction market. The structural ratings aren't all that bad either, at .05 AI and Dp40. These are not top tier numbers, but solid none the less.

You won't find an Okna 800/500 dealer in your neck of the woods. You are definitely at the outer limits of our service area if we really stretch it, but feel free to reach out if you decide that is the product that you really like or if we can help in any other way, even if it is just somewhat locally based advice.

bigguyshopping
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun May 28, 2017 11:12 pm

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#13 Post by bigguyshopping »

Thank you!

I called Okna and they told me their local dealer was Tundraland, which is a big, high pressure sales company. I called Tundraland to find out what lines of Okna Window they carry and never got a call back.

There isn't much online about Vector, but after seeing the numbers (quoted was the 272) on the website and the price, we just may go with that unless the Sunrise dealer gives us an offer we cant refuse.

We do have an installer that will be replacing all windows and siding on the house. He redid our front porch and did a fantastic job. Slow but very particular.

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

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#14 Post by HomeSealed »

Finding the line that you want is the key part of that. Not sure on what Tundraland is offering these days, but I don't believe its an Okna 800/500

As I mentioned earlier, the Vector window doesn't seem half bad and should probably do fine for you. My only concern would be due to the size and brief history that the company will be around long term. Selling a better performing window for a higher price has not historically been a winning combo in the new construction/distribution realm, but that's purely speculation on my part.
Last edited by HomeSealed on Fri Jun 09, 2017 4:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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

Re: Wisconsin buyer - narrowed selection -advice please

#15 Post by TheWindowNerd »

BGS
contact Brandon at Homesealed, I am sure he can provide a supply only bid for you.

theWindowNerd.

Post Reply