[Merged] Windows/Doors

[Tjalfe]

How about Northstar windows ? I have installed a few, but would like to know if I would be better off for the money to go elsewhere. I have bought from Home Hardware in the past.

[windowguy]

Wow its getting busy in here, nice. Nope i am not that guy from Baltic. But yes i read his post, and tell you the truth i would do the same thing, if i am not mistaken the costumer mentionned that guys first an last name first which i found to be unfair as we move around in this industry, and when you attach a personal info to the complaint you are a fair game. Compain about the companies and if you have problems with employees go to the owners of the business, dont propagate their names on the web site. Employees of companies are dependant most of the time on decisions made by their bosses, not their own........ moving on
Why do i mention Baltic Windows, becouse that was the first company that started to push the envelope with energy ratings, they were first to start pumping out windows based on insulation so they deserve a mention.......

Which one would i choose. Brock or Marvin. Hands down Marvin Windows. The quality of Marvin windows is 100% better than North Star..............
North Star since it got sold about year or two ago, its quality has been decreasing, (I have heard that from alot of guys using their windows) so I would definatelly say that it is worth it for you Tjalfe to compare with couple more companies....... what do you have to loose except couple hours of your time.

B Prime, Seymour is a respectable company and good at what they do. If your contractor installed their renovation series you will be fine if he did their new construction line its a different story. But overall good choice.

[stealth]

Thanks, ya I guess its window replacement season.

Is there a real benefit for fiberglass windows over vinyl? How much more expensive are they on average?

[windowguy]

They are about 15% more, but even thou their expansion rate is as close to wood as it gets they are potentially disaster waiting to happen. As opposed to vinyl windows, fibre glass windows are mechanically fastened on the corners of the frames. That means those window frames are screwed on the corners and over time with the contraction and expansion and a natural movement of your house joints will not be sealed anymore (I am not saying that this will happen for sure) where vinyl windows are welded 2gether on the corners, material is basically fused into one piece. so there is no danger of corners coming apart.
Fibreglass windows are great for government projects especially like schools and hospitals, they have money to spend every 15 years or so.

I can tell u that i have replaced fibreglass windows in some of my costumers home after 5 years and the water damage on the drywall (in the corners) of the windows wasn`t pretty.

[stealth]

Thanks.
As an FYI I spoke with Marvin today, they dont do vinyl, only fiberglass and wood now.

[Mint]

Ok, so I got my first two quotes to do about 13 windows.

- I got a quote from HD which was about ~$8.5K for Farley windows. The windows come with a lifetime warranty, installation is 1 year.
- I also got a quote from Olympia windows for about $9K. This is for their performance line windows.

Both seem priced OK but I don't know much about windows. How are the windows from the above? The lifetime warranty seems pretty good!

[PLUSorMINUS]

Hi,
I have had Pella patio door installed recently and am very happy with the product. I am now thinking of upgrading some windows (6' x 4 1/2' openings) and am doing some homework before I proceed. Have you heard of Magic Windows? What do you think of their product? They have a 'slide n hide' screen that I haven't seen with other windows.

http://magic-window.com/main.html

TIA.

[susan123]

Are you aware of the reputation - good or bad - of Brant Windows (Burlington) or Fasada (Oakville). Any others I should check out in this area?

[stealth]

Ok, so I got my first two quotes to do about 13 windows.

- I got a quote from HD which was about ~$8.5K for Farley windows. The windows come with a lifetime warranty, installation is 1 year.
- I also got a quote from Olympia windows for about $9K. This is for their performance line windows.

Both seem priced OK but I don't know much about windows. How are the windows from the above? The lifetime warranty seems pretty good!

I wouldnt get too caught up in "lifetime warranties" They can always find exclusions, and it also assumes that the vendor will still be operating under the same ownership/name in the long future. If you can get 10-15 years out of a warranty, but solidly backed, you're probably doing pretty good.

[windowguy]

Stealth ur right again........ lifetime warranty means absolutely nothing, did u guys actually know that in case of dispute the court will only acknowledge 7 years as time span on lifetime warranty on product. in reallity high end vinyl window is expected to last 35 years where low end window used typically in new construction is about 7.
Mint i would not loose my time in getting any of those two, Farley is recycled vinyl, the best sealed units u can get from them are with Solar-T glass, stainless steel spacer and believe it or not they dont even put a desacent. Olympia is not any better. Well if you really want those windows you should contact Kaycan Ltd. they are a distributors of Farley windows to contractors, they sell them under the brand name Kaytec. I am sure they will be able to refer you to one of their contractors, and best it will most likely cost you less.

Now Magic Window here is a great example of a company that sings great song to crappy music. They are one of those companies that took no effort to improve their energy performance of their windows. They went out certified only four windows and blast it left and right how energy efficient they are. Companies like that make all of us look bad, i would not loose my time with them.

Susan --- check out Meyer and Zapp, two ex-sales guys from Repla opened that company in `06, they know what they are doing, their installers are great, besides that they carry Bonneville, North Star, Strassburger, Tiltco and Baltic, so you are covered with them. Fasada is ok, a reputable company dealing with Vinylbilt product (something that a builder would use for low end window), Brand Windows --- Jacks of all trades, they work their butts of, yet again reasonable company.

On the last note, that screen that magic window has, you can get it from Phantom Screens, not a big deal...

Warranties, look for something simple, 5 lines at the most, and the only exclusion on that warranty should be "acts of god". otherwise companies will be able to get out of that warranty with no problems..........

Try to buy from manufacturers directly if you can, think about it, it would be difficult for a factory to disappear on you over night, large size dealers fall within the same category if you can not buy direct, contractors are contractors, they are here today, tomorrow they are gone and their cell phones are off.

[Elmo]

I would like to buy my own windows and take a shot at installing them on my own. I'm planning on doing a full frame, brick-to-brick replacement. I have no clue how to measure properly so that I purchase the right size. Please help!

1) Is there anyone I can hire to help me do a professional measure? I just want to be certain I order the right windows...
2) My house has a brick exterior and all the existing windows sit sort of inside the brick. Where do I measure from? Outside, inside and how deep?
3) How do I measure basement windows? The ones I have now are much deeper?

Thanks for your help Windowguy!

[Shockey]

Which one would i choose. Brock or Marvin. Hands down Marvin Windows. The quality of Marvin windows is 100% better than North Star..............
North Star since it got sold about year or two ago, its quality has been decreasing, (I have heard that from alot of guys using their windows) so I would definatelly say that it is worth it for you Tjalfe to compare with couple more companies.......

Thanks for this awesome thread. I was seriously considering going with North Star before i read this nugget of industry knowledge. The sales rep made them sound so good, quoting how their ER ratings were higher than everyone else's, and how they windows were Energy Star ceritified for zones A, B, C and D.

windowguy or anybody else, do you have any recommendations for a window manufacturer in Ottawa? Anybody have any experience with Scheel Windows?

Thanks!!

[Quick_lude]

I would like to buy my own windows and take a shot at installing them on my own. I'm planning on doing a full frame, brick-to-brick replacement. I have no clue how to measure properly so that I purchase the right size. Please help!

1) Is there anyone I can hire to help me do a professional measure? I just want to be certain I order the right windows...
2) My house has a brick exterior and all the existing windows sit sort of inside the brick. Where do I measure from? Outside, inside and how deep?
3) How do I measure basement windows? The ones I have now are much deeper?

Thanks for your help Windowguy!

Best way is to measure is like this.
Inside, take of the casings and measure your existing window from one edge of the window frame to the other. Usually frames are 3/4" thick but you never know.
Outside, measure the opening from one side of the brick to the other, right where the brickmould finishes.
Once again, usually if your window frame is say 40" x 50", your brick to brick measurments should be 2" more, so 42" x 52". This is not always the case that's why for a brick to brick replacement I always measure the outside brick to brick and the inside window frame. If you give those two measurements to the store, they should know what to do with it.
Also, you need to measure the depth of the window, starting from the edge of window inside/drywall to the outside, before the brickmould starts, and then you add the brickmould. Typically you get the new windows a bit deeper than the old ones so you don't have to scrape off the old caulking.

[utopianbl]

Wow I love this forum.

Hey Window Guy,

I have a really whacked idea in my head right now. We have just purchased a new condo in downtown. I was thinking of removing the entire en suite washroom wall (shared with the bedroom) and place a glass wall there. The catch that when the door (sliding or otherwise) is closed the entire glass would fog up. Do you know:

a) what is this sort of set up called? What is the name of that kind of glass
b) How much does it cost to breakdown a wall and then replace it with glass
c) how much does that glass itself cost?

Thanks a lot for your help

[stealth]

Wow I love this forum.

Hey Window Guy,

I have a really whacked idea in my head right now. We have just purchased a new condo in downtown. I was thinking of removing the entire en suite washroom wall (shared with the bedroom) and place a glass wall there. The catch that when the door (sliding or otherwise) is closed the entire glass would fog up. Do you know:

a) what is this sort of set up called? What is the name of that kind of glass
b) How much does it cost to breakdown a wall and then replace it with glass
c) how much does that glass itself cost?

Thanks a lot for your help

Ugh, hopefully you have a 2nd washroom in your condo...for times when you need, privacy.
I'd be cautious with something like this if resale is an option in the near future.