Replacement Window Brands
Window Manufacturers: What to look for when choosing a window company for your project
There are a lot of window manufacturers out there who provide replacement windows. The big question I am sure you want to answer is which company will provide the best product for my project? Selecting a quality window from a quality window company is just as important as selecting a quality company to replace your windows.
Wading through all of the window companies out there can sometimes be confusing. Most window companies include a replacement window option in their product offering. In addition, within each window manufacturer's product offering they may even offer multiple types of frame material in a replacement window option.
You will find out that some companies may carry a greater national brand name, while others may be very strong in certain regions of the country. On top of that, each window company will have a proprietary name for the same "bells and whistles" that other window companies have, making it hard to figure out if you are getting an "apples to apples" comparison.
Does this all sound a bit overwhelming? Well let's slow down a second and look at what are the key items you should consider when comparing window manufacturers and their product offering.
Brand Recognition
What's in a name? Well a lot if you are basing your decisions off of brand name products. There are several nationally recognized window and door manufacturers who have a very strong brand name and reputation behind them. These are companies that most people can easily name, but probably cannot easily tell you exactly what each company offers.
If you are more comfortable selecting a window company that has an established national brand and presence, you should start your replacement window project with one of these major window manufacturers. However, keep in mind just because they have a brand name does not mean they have the product to meet your needs. Smaller brand names, or regional window manufacturers sometimes offer equal quality products with better warranties that the major window companies.
Think Visio TVs. This is an off brand name LCD TV that can deliver equal if not better picture quality than Samsung, Sony, or Toshiba. While the latter three names are strong recognizable brands, Visio has lacked the recognition of brand but delivered the quality of product. The same can be said for window manufacturers so start with the brand names, but explore the options as well.
Warranty
All manufacturers in today's market offer some form of warranty on their product. This can vary from one year to a life time warranty depending upon the window. When choosing a window company based on its warranty, be sure to read the fine print. Check the length of the warranty, check to make sure if it is a full warranty or prorated. If it is a lifetime warranty, check to see if it is transferrable.
Always check to see exactly what the warranty does and does not cover. Most window companies have comprehensive warranties, but there may always be a catch so it is worth it to understand the entire warranty before selecting a window manufacturer to supply your windows.
Service
The service a window company is willing to provide after the sale is complete can be worth the price of the window itself. When selecting a window company for your project, it helps to ask what amount of service should you expect from them. Why is this important? If you are planning on making the large investment in replacement windows, shouldn't you want to know that you can count on the company to back up their product with quality service?
When choosing a window company to replace your windows ask about the service policy for the company. Many window installation companies will sell a window product, but not always service it. Often times they rely on the window manufacturer to handle all of the service issues for the product once it has been installed.
If this is the case for the window replacement company you are considering, find out what the process is in the event that service is required.
- Do you contact the window replacement company or the manufacturer?
- Does the manufacturer have a local service presence or do they subcontract the work out?
- Who determines what is considered warranty repair and what is the responsibility of the owner?
- What are typical service lead times if something does go wrong?
Knowing exactly what to expect from customer service after the sale will give you a good indication of how much the window company believes in their product.
It is also important to determine if service labor is or is not included in the manufacturer's warranty. Some window manufacturers' warranties will include parts and labor, some will include service labor for the first two years after the purchase, and some will not include service labor at all in their warranty. With service labor charges averaging $150 for a single visit, it can get expensive quick even when you have a warranty issue where labor is not covered.
You can expect to pay more for a window with a better manufacturer's service warranty, but it will be worth it in the long run to insure you have a product provided by a company that will be there for their product long after it has been installed in your home.
The above factors are high level considerations for choosing a window company for your project. In addition to consideration of product brand, warranty, and service, you will have many other factors to consider with choosing a window. Product reliability, product offering, and availability of product in your area are just a few. If the window company you select to provide the windows for your project has all of the qualities you are looking for, you are guaranteed to have a great window replacement experience.
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