Month: June 2022

The Sunrise Verde windows are a decent option. If you’ve been shopping for Sunrise windows you might notice that they offer several models but usually not all through the same dealers.

There might be one dealer in town offering Sunrise Verde windows, another offering Sunrise Essential windows and maybe a third offering Sunrise Essential windows.

The downside there is that the company offering the Sunrise window model that is the best fit for your project might not be a great company to work with. If that’s the case you’re better off finding another window product rather than dealing with a company that isn’t great to work with.

You should definitely not work with a company that treats you poorly just to get a certain window model. There are plenty of fish in the sea.

If the dealer in your town is a great company this isn’t an issue, but it’s something to be aware of.

What are the advantages of Sunrise Verde windows?

Like the other Sunrise windows you get the upgraded hardware and components in the Sunrise Verde windows line. That’s the same upgraded type that you’ll see from other nicer brands like Okna, Preservation, Gentek, etc.

I’d say that’s a good sign that Sunrise set out to make higher quality windows than many other companies.

Another advantage of the Sunrise Verde windows is that they come with foam insulation in the frames. This can be a good thing or it can just be an excuse for the salesman to add to the price.

So, whether or not foam in the frames is actually an advantage depends on the cost premium that they’re charging you. If this option is only $5 more than the Sunrise Standard windows without foam that might be a good deal. If it’s $100 more it’s probably a bad deal.

What are the disadvantages?

The disadvantages to the Sunrise Verde windows are similar to the other Sunrise window models. If the local dealer is pushy or expensive or otherwise not great you won’t have any options.

Also, Sunrise was recently purchased by low end window producer Mi windows. I assume they bought Sunrise to get some exposure to the nicer end of the market. If that’s the case, it makes sense.

Sunrise did have some management turnover in recent years which can be a sign of trouble. It’s also possible Mi windows bought them because they were on sale. That would be less of a great sign.

Ultimately Mi has all of the resources to make a nice window without buying Sunrise. Why would they spend the money? We can only guess, but it’s something to be aware of.

Do you get more glass area with Sunrise windows?

It’s possible, but not guaranteed. In other posts we’ve pointed out how Sunrise brochures will often make comparisons that aren’t quite as clear as you might think. We talked about that in relation to the Sunrise warranty here and the Sunrise air infiltration here.

They do the same thing with glass are. Here’s an example from their brochure:

If you just saw this picture you’d think Sunrise windows will obviously provide more glass area than any other window, but that’s not exactly true.

It looks to me like this picture is showing you a Sunrise window vs Alside Ultramaxx. The Alside Ultramaxx windows are a super old design and they do use thick frames.

What Sunrise doesn’t mention here is that there are many other vinyl window options (including some from Alside) that will offer much slimmer frames.

So, it’s true that the Sunrise windows will allow for more glass area than this one other model, but it’s also true that there are many newer windows with slim frames. Sunrise isn’t particularly unique in offering this design.

Is the warranty on Sunrise Verde windows any good?

Yes. The warranty is the same for all Sunrise windows and it’s perfectly decent. If a salesman tells you that it’s super special or that it’s “unlimited” that’s not exactly true, but it is perfectly decent.

They offer a lifetime transferable warranty is the same as you’ll see from many vinyl window manufacturers. It’s certainly longer than the warranty you’ll see from wood or composite windows like Renewal by Andersen.

There are still limitations. For example, the exterior colors are covered against fading for 10 years and if your house burns down that would not be covered by the window warranty.

Overall I think it’s fair to say that the warranty on Sunrise windows is perfectly decent.

How efficient are Sunrise Verde windows?

We’ve talked about the efficiency of Sunrise windows in our other recent reviews. The bottom line is that the efficiency is perfectly good, but often presented in a way that makes them seem better than they might be.

We’ve written about the Sunrise windows air infiltration

in another recent review. Here’s an example using the Sunrise SHGC ratings.

As you can see in the picture above, Sunrise windows are available with a very low SHGC rating. That doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story. For example, a low SHGC rating is actually less efficient in a cold climate where you want heat from the sun in the winter.

The low SHGC rating can also mean the windows have darker glass which can make it feel like you’re always wearing sunglasses. A package like this might make sense in a hot climate but it won’t be the best solution everywhere.

If you’re ordering Sunrise windows you’ll want to talk to the salesperson about the available packages. Remember, lower isn’t always better when it comes to efficiency ratings.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall it’s possible that the Sunrise Verde windows could a good choice. It’s also possible that they could be overpriced. This is due to the distribution model that Sunrise uses where they only sell to one or two companies in any town.

Don’t feel like you’re stuck working with a company that treats you poorly because you have to have Sunrise Verde windows (or any other model). There are lots of great windows out there and there’s no need to feel pressured.

Other popular posts about Sunrise Windows:

• Sunrise windows warranty review
• Sunrise windows complaints – Is there a problem here?
• FAQ – Sunrise Windows

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows.

Other posts you might find interesting:

• The BEST replacement window reviews
• Why you should NEVER buy Simonton windows
• Is triple pane glass worth the cost?
• Can you get window prices online
• How to find a great window company

The Sunrise Standard windows, also often just called Sunrise windows, are a step up from the cheeper Sunrise Essentials that we reviewed yesterday. That’s a good thing.

They Sunrise standard windows use a nicer window extrusion. That’s the actual vinyl window frame. They’re not as energy efficient as the nicer Sunrise Verde, Vanguard or Restorations windows that we’ll be reviewing in the coming days.

Will these Sunrise windows offer a good balance of quality, efficiency and price? Let’s find out.

What are the advantages of the Sunrise Standard windows?

As with all Sunrise windows you get upgraded block and tackle balances with these windows which are a nice feature. As I mentioned before I think the hardware that companies use can be a good indication of the quality they’re trying to provide.

Since the standard Sunrise windows have the upgraded frame they will be a better solution than the cheaper essentials model. That said they’re still not going to be as nice as the other Sunrise options.

What are the disadvantages?

One disadvantage to this model is that it’s not as efficient as the Sunrise Verde model. That model will come with foam inside the frames and the standard model does not.

Now, readers of the site will know that I often discount the value of foam in the window frames. That hasn’t necessarily changed. The trick is to look at the difference in efficiency and the difference in cost.

For example, if the price of the Sunrise Verde vs the Sunrise Standard is $100 per window different and the difference in U-Factor is 0.01 I’d say that’s not worth it. I would not suggest paying $100 more for a 0.01 improvement in efficiency.

You may not be able to easily compare the options like that for a few reasons.

One is that Sunrise only sells through limited dealers in any town. And, they’ll offer different models through different dealers. That means there’s probably only one company in your town offering each Sunrise window model. If they happen to be great that’s not a problem, but if they’re not great you’ll have no other options.

Another downside is that Sunrise was recently purchased by Mi Windows. They are known to be a low cost window producer. That might make me a little nervous if I were a Sunrise window dealer who is used to selling quality.

Is the Sunrise Standard windows warranty any good?

Yes. We have a full Sunrise windows warranty review coming soon so keep an eye out for that. To offer a quick summary here, the Sunrise windows will come with a lifetime transferable warranty.

Those are terms you’ll hear from most vinyl window manufacturers. It seems almost everyone offers a lifetime transferable warranty. Sunrise does have fewer limitations to their warranty than some other companies so that’s a good thing.

But, check out this picture from a Sunrise sales brochure:

Note that they’re comparing the warranty on Sunrise vinyl windows vs Marvin, Renewal and Andersen windows that are not vinyl. It’s true that wood or composite windows like Renewal by Andersen will often have shorter warranties than vinyl.

It would be a better comparison to look at other nicer vinyl windows. If you were to do that you’d see that the warranties are often pretty similar.

So, I’d say that graphic seems to be a little misleading, but it is true that the Sunrise window warranty is perfectly good.

How efficient are Sunrise windows?

The efficiency options from Sunrise have always been on the better end of the spectrum. As with most vinyl window manufacturers the windows are all custom made and you can pick from several efficiency packages.

When comparing the options you’ll want to take all of the ratings into consideration. The U-Factor is one factor, but there’s also the SHGC, VT, CR and Air Infiltration.

It can seem like a lot to compare, but it’s easier than you might think. For example, if the cold is the mail factor you’ll want to look for a lower U-Factor and a higher SHGC. That’s because you want the heat from the sun to help warm your house in the winter.

If you’re concerned about getting nice light into the house you’ll want windows with a higher VT rating. The lower the VT rating the less light gets into the house.

We’ll often see customer weighing options and focusing on one rating or another without recognizing the whole picture. Would you be happy if you were in a cold climate with windows that don’t let any solar heat through while also blocking a lot of light? I’d say probably not. Packages like that are better for very hot climates, but we see them offered in Detroit or Cleveland or Boston and that makes basically no sense.

What about Sunrise windows air infiltration rates?

Similar to the way they presented the warranty info, the info on Sunrise windows air infiltration rates is also pushing the envelope a little.

Here’s another chart from a Sunrise brochure. Note they’re comparing their windows with Andersen 400 series wood windows and then a mystery competitors vinyl window.

I’d say that’s not the most clear info since there are many other vinyl windows with air infiltration rates very similar to Sunrise. Generally speaking we tend to suggest looking for a double hung window with an air infiltration rate under 0.05 and there are plenty of choices in that range. So the rating here is perfectly good, but not as remarkable as this graphic might lead you to believe.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall the basic Sunrise Standard windows could be a good choice. I would suggest you’ll want to compare a few other options and also evaluate the efficiency packages. If you’d like us to look over your quote and offer suggestions you can find our Quote Review service here. Note, it’s completely free.

Other popular posts about Sunrise Windows:

• Sunrise windows warranty review
• Sunrise windows complaints – Is there a problem here?
• FAQ – Sunrise Windows

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows.

Other posts you might find interesting:

• The BEST replacement window reviews
• Why you should NEVER buy Simonton windows
• Is triple pane glass worth the cost?
• Can you get window prices online
• How to find a great window company

If you’re looking for Sunrise Essentials Windows Reviews you’ve come to the right place. Sunrise is a smaller window manufacturer based in southeast Michigan. The company was founded by former Great Lakes windows executives a while back.

Since then Great Lakes was purchased by Ply Gem and Sunrise has been purchased by Mi Windows. There has been a lot of consolidation in the window business over the last several years.

The Sunrise Essentials windows are the lower end option from Sunrise. Generally speaking I don’t tend to recommend buying the lower end options as you’ll have the windows for decades. The windows will be around long after you’ve forgotten the cost. That doesn’t mean you should overpay for windows, but it does mean buying quality is a good idea.

What are the advantages of the Sunrise Essentials windows?

Since this is a lower end window there isn’t a long list of advantages. One real advantage is that Sunrise uses upgraded block and tackle balances in their windows vs the lower end constant force hardware you’ll see elsewhere.

Of course Sunrise isn’t the only manufacturer to use nicer hardware, but it’s not the most common choice.

Beyond that they also offer a pretty solid warranty. Since they’re now owned by Mi Windows which is a pretty large manufacturer I’d say that warranty is more reliable than it might have been in the past.

What are the disadvantages?

The downsides to the Sunrise Essentials windows have more to do with efficiency than anything else. The air infiltration rate is higher on this model than on the nicer Sunrise windows. You’ll also have fewer efficiency packages and you don’t have foam in the frames.

Overall it’s hard for a manufacturer who is trying to make nicer windows to offer a lower end option. The product just doesn’t necessarily fit anywhere. It’s probably too expensive for a customer with a flip house or lower end rental, but it’s not nice enough for someone looking for a top quality solution.

Is the Sunrise Essentials windows warranty any good?

Overall I’d say the Sunrise windows warranty is pretty decent. We’ll have a full warranty review posted soon and it’ll be linked on this page. For now I’ll give you the summary.

Sunrise windows will come with a lifetime transferable warranty. You’ll hear those same terms from most vinyl window manufacturers, but Sunrise does something interning in their brochures. Check out this picture:

If you were to only look at this chart without knowing much about window warranties you’d think Sunrise has the best warranty in town. But, if we look a little closer something stands out.

What do all of those other companies have in common? They’re not vinyl windows. Andersen, Renewal by Andersen and Marvin are all wood or composite windows that do have shorter warranties. So, they’re acting like their windows have this super duper warranty when they’re really comparing themselves to different types of products.

To be fair the Pella example is a vinyl window, but they’re mostly new construction windows with shorter warranties.

Most nicer vinyl windows will have very similar lifetime transferable warranties so there’s really nothing too special about that despite what this chart tries to claim.

I would bet there’s a salesman out there who also tries to tell you those other companies offer “limited” warranties and theirs is different. That’s a post for another day as it’s a silly thing to even say out loud.

Some basic limitations are that the exterior colors are warrantied against fading for 10 years, there’s no coverage for caulking and the commercial warranty is 50 years which is definitely better than you get from most companies.

What colors are available?

Sunrise offers their windows in a range of standard colors and they also offer custom colors. Before we get into why you might not want to order a custom color let’s look at the standard options.

The standard colors offered by Sunrise are pretty typical. These are the types of colors you’ll see from most manufacturers. One difference that Sunrise offers is custom colors.

I know you may be concerned about matching your existing trim or shutters or doors, but before you jump into a custom color I’ll offer a word of caution.

You may need to reorder parts one day and matching a custom color might be a real hassle. Often times it’s easier to repaint your trim or your door to match a standard window color than it is to mess around with custom colors.

Let’s say in 5 years you have a window break. It’s much easier to replace the sash (with the vinyl frame around it) than to replace just the insulated glass unit. If you have a custom color you’ll then need to have the replacement sash painted which can be expensive and time consuming.

If you really need a custom color they are available, but I would only order one if you really have no other options.

How energy efficient are Sunrise Essentials windows?

Overall Sunrise offers decent efficiency packages. Like almost every manufacturer they’ll have a range of options that you can choose from. Every package will not be available on the lower end Essentials window line. If you’re looking for the most efficient choice you’ll want to look for a nicer window model.

For double hung windows with double pane glass you’ll typically be looking at packages with U-Factors in the range of 0.26-0.29 which is pretty common. This is about what you’ll see from most manufacturers.

So, the efficiency of these windows is perfectly good, but not really remarkable.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall the Sunrise Essentials windows are certainly nicer than some low end options you’ll see from other companies. You still get upgraded hardware and decent efficiency.

My company considered carrying Sunrise windows a few years back, but we decided against it. If you’re completely in love with the Sunrise brand I would suggest picking one of the nicer window models.

Other popular posts about Sunrise Windows:

• Sunrise windows warranty review
• Sunrise windows complaints – Is there a problem here?
• FAQ – Sunrise Windows

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows.

Other posts you might find interesting:

• The BEST replacement window reviews
• Why you should NEVER buy Simonton windows
• Is triple pane glass worth the cost?
• Can you get window prices online
• How to find a great window company

The Great Lakes Harbor Light windows are the low end offering from Great Lakes. Does that mean they’re a great value or a piece of junk that should be avoided? Let’s find out.

First, it’s important to note that Great Lakes is owned by Ply Gem and Ply Gem also makes several other window brands. They tend to separate the window brands by sales channel and quality so Atrium would be a lower end brand and Great Lakes is a higher end brand.

Knowing that, you might think that the lower end Great Lakes window is still a better choice than a nicer Atrium or Simonton window? You might be right, but there are several factors to be aware of. Let’s get into it.

What are the advantages of Great Lakes Harbor Light windows?

One obvious advantage to the Harbor Light windows is the cost. These will be cheaper than the fancier, and more expensive, EcoSmart and Comfort Smart window lines. What do you give up by going to the lower end option? Mainly efficiency and options.

The best efficiency package in the other models yielded a U-Factor of 0.14. In the Harbor Lights model the best advertised U-Factor is 0.22. Remember lower means more efficient when it comes to windows so that’s a pretty big difference.

So, the Harbor Lights model is less efficient but it’s also less expensive. Ultimately a 0.22 U-Factor is pretty good so it may be worthwhile to save the added cost you’ll find in the other models.

As you can see in the list of features above, these are all perfectly nice but very common features. You’ll find the same options in most every replacement window on the market.

What are the disadvantages?

The main disadvantage of this model is mainly the efficiency and the lack of options.

We touched on the difference in efficiency above, and the color options are another factor to note. This lower end model is only available in white or beige. There are no other interior or exterior options. If you need an exterior color, like black windows for example, you’ll need to pay more for the other window models.

How much do Great Lakes Harbor Light windows cost?

The pricing for all replacement windows has been rather volatile lately. If you’ve received a quote for Great Lakes windows lately it would be helpful for everyone if you can post a comment below to let us know what you saw.

I would expect you’ll see prices from $500+ installed for these windows and you might find prices closer to $1000 per window. It’s been a strange time.

Additional transparency makes this industry easier for everyone to navigate so sharing info about a quote you’ve received will help everyone who is shopping for new windows.

What colors are available?

The available colors for this model are pretty limited. Here you can see the white and beige and those will be the only options for this lower end model.

If you want any other exterior or interior color you’ll need to pay more for the upgraded window models, and then you pay even more for the other color options.

How efficient are Great Lakes Harbor Light windows?

The efficiency of these windows is not as great as the EcoSmart or Comfort Smart window lines. However, that doesn’t mean these are not efficient windows.

The efficiency ratings for the popular EnergyGuard and SmartGuard packages are pretty similar to ratings you’ll see from most any manufacturer. They advertise the best packages with U-Factors in the range of 0.22 to 0.25 and there are other packages available as well.

Overall, I’d say the efficiency is perfectly good, but not really any better than other window models.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall I’d say this option may be a better value than the other Great Lakes window models as long as you don’t need any other colors or fancy options. If you have a basic project in mind this could be a decent choice.

I would still probably pick different models and we’ve elected not to carry any Great Lakes window models in our stores.

Other posts about Great Lakes windows that you might find helpful:

• Great Lakes windows complaints
• Great Lakes windows prices
• Why you should NEVER buy Great Lakes windows
• Great Lakes window warranty review

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows.

Other posts you might find interesting:

• The BEST replacement window reviews
• Why you should NEVER buy Simonton windows
• Is triple pane glass worth the cost?
• Can you get window prices online
• How to find a great window company

Here we have Great Lakes Comfort Smart windows reviews. We’ll look at the advantages, disadvantages, efficiency, warranty, prices and more. If you’re wondering if these are the best replacement windows for you we’ll find out right here.

What are the advantages of Great Lakes Comfort Smart windows?

Great Lakes remodeled their window like a few years ago. The new products, including the Comfort Smart windows, are defininltey an upgrade.

You’ll find they have basically all of the features that you’ll see in most nicer replacement windows. Things like virgin vinyl, welded corners, low-e glass, etc are all pretty standard and not really remarkable anymore.

The Great Lakes Comfort Smart windows will typically have slightly lower prices than the EcoSmart windows that we recently reviewed and that’s a good feature as well.

Overall I’d say the best advantage of the Great Lakes Comfort Smart windows is the newer design that does make it much more competitive than their older offerings.

However, there are a few disadvantages to be aware of.

What are the disadvantages of Great Lakes Comfort Smart windows?

The disadvantages to this model might be important to you. One disadvantage that is important to me is the loss of glass area. They heavily focused on efficiency when designing these windows and that’s great. One cost of that focus is the thicker frames.

That means you’ll get less glass area in the same size window with this model than you would with some other popular window models.

That can be a bigger deal if you have an older house with smaller windows. If you already have large windows in your house it may be less critical if you loose a little bit of glass area.

Another downside is the higher condensation resistance ratings that typically come with the interior coating of low-e. More on that below.

Finally, while the Great Lakes Comfort Smart windows are backed by Ply Gem, a very large manufacturer, the warranty isn’t as great as you might find with other brands.

How energy efficient are these windows?

Great Lakes offers a pretty wide range of efficiency packages in the Comfort Smart windows and that’s always good. It’s nice to have choices, but you’ll want to understand exactly what you’re getting.

They advertise Energy Guard packages in the brochure with very good ratings. You just want to be aware that those packages are only included if they’re clearly specified in your order. Those packages will also drive up the price.

The question you’ll be faced with is whether or not any improvement in efficiency is worth the increase in cost. Very often you’ll find diminishing returns as you get to the top end of the efficiency spectrum.

Beyond the price there are also other downsides to a more efficient window. For example, windows at the top end of the efficiency range will often use darker glass that can make it seem like you’re always wearing sunglasses. This might be fine if you live in Phoenix, but it might not be ideal if you live in Pittsburgh.

Overall, the efficiency ratings for the Comfort Smart windows can be great, or they can be pretty typical. If you’re considering one of the more efficient packages be aware of the VT rating that will show you how much light gets through, the CR rating that shows you how likely you are to get condensation on the glass and the price which can be substantial.

What are Great Lakes Comfort Smart prices?

Speaking of Great Lakes Comfort Smart Prices, they can defininltey span a pretty wide range. One reason for this is that is the limited dealer network.

Great Lakes tends to only sell their windows through certain dealers in every town. This limits competition and tends to increase prices. That might not be a bad thing because a more profitable dealer can also provide better service. That’s the positive spin. The other side of that argument is that the dealers can easily inflate prices because there is very limited local competition.

If you’ve recently received a quote for Great Lakes windows we ask you to post a comment below to let us know. Transparency is what this industry is lacking and you can help by sharing some info about your experience shopping for these windows.

What colors are available for these windows?

The Great Lakes Comfort Smart windows are available in a range of interior and exterior colors that you can see below.

As you can see they do offer a black exterior which is a common color lately. There is no option for a black interior which is also a common choice these days.

It’s important to note that the warranty on the painted exterior colors is 10 years which is shorter than you might expect. In addition, only some of the exterior colors are heat reflective. That means if you live in a very warm climate the options will be limited.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall, these windows have pretty good features. The efficiency ratings are solid and the warranty is decent. Downsides included the warranty being a little more limited that you’ll see from some companies and the prices being higher than other similar options.

This is probably not a window model I would pick for my house but if your local dealer is great and the prices are reasonable then they may make a fine solution.

Other posts about Great Lakes windows that you might find helpful:

• Great Lakes windows complaints
• Great Lakes windows prices
• Why you should NEVER buy Great Lakes windows
• Great Lakes windows FAQ
• Great Lakes window warranty review

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows.

Other posts you might find interesting:

• The BEST replacement window reviews
• Why you should NEVER buy Simonton windows
• Is triple pane glass worth the cost?
• Can you get window prices online
• How to find a great window company

Here we have Great Lakes Eco Smart windows reviews to see if these are the best replacement windows for your home. For starters it’s important to note that Great Lakes windows are only sold through Great Lakes dealers in any given market.

This means that there will be only one or two companies offering these windows in your town. The downside to this is that if the dealer in your town isn’t a great company there may not be any alternative. This is one reason I tend to recommend finding a great retail company before you fall in love with any window model.

If the Great Lakes window dealer in your town isn’t great you can always find another window model to buy. There are plenty of fish in the sea.

What are the advantages of the Great Lakes EcoSmart windows?

You can tell that Great Lakes was really trying to make this Eco Smart window look like a great choice. The brochures are beautiful and there are lots of features listed.

As with most replacement windows, these are custom made so many of the features are options. You can get different types of insulation called SmartCore or EcoCore, you can get different energy efficient glass options, called EnergyGuard and SmartGuard and different colors as well.

All of this is great, but it’s important to keep the results in mind. Do you care if a window has super foam in the frame or quadruple pane glass? Not really. What you care about is the result. Is the window more energy efficient than another option? That’s much more relevant info.

Fortunately for the Great Lakes EcoSmart windows, they are very efficient. I would say the best feature is the overall efficiency. They advertise U-Factors as low as 0.14 with a 0.21 SHGC. That’s pretty efficient. Now, that also comes with a relatively substantial cost. The decision you’ll have to make is whether or not that great efficiency is worth the increase in cost.

Overall, I’d say the efficiency is the best advantage for this model.

What are the disadvantages?

One downside to this window model is the thickness of the frames. They were clearly going for max efficiency when they designed this window. That’s great, but one unfortunate result is that the glass area will be smaller than you might expect.

Other newly designed replacement windows are commonly designed with slimmer frames to maximize glass area. To me that’s pretty important as I’m a big sunlight person. You’ll need to decide if that’s important to you.

What about the Great Lakes EcoSmart windows warranty?

Great Lakes offers a lifetime warranty on the Eco Smart windows. Almost every company offers that these days and there are some important differences.

For example, the original purchaser of these windows does get a lifetime warranty that is good for as long as they own and live in the house. If the house is a rental or not the primary residence of the window purchaser the warranty is only 10 years.

The warranty is transferable, but when it transfers it gets much shorter. For example, the insulated glass is only covered for 50% after 10 years once the warranty is transferred. That percentage goes down with time.

Some aspects of the EcoSmart warranty are also more limited than you might expect. If you order internal blinds you get a 10 year warranty with only 1 year on the exterior blind operator or handle. What happens if that breaks in 13 months? It’s hard to say.

You also get 10 years of warranty on the exterior finish colors and there is no warranty on the installation from Great Lakes. If your salesperson makes claims about an installation warranty you’d want to get that in writing from them. A warranty like that would be from the installation company, not from Great Lakes.

Overall I’d say the Great Lakes window warranty is decent, but not the strongest we’ve seen. You’ll want to understand the limitations if you’re thinking of buying these windows. We have a complete Great Lakes windows warranty review post coming soon.

How about Great Lakes EcoSmart windows prices?

The prices for these windows will likely be one major drawback. Anytime a window manufacturer touts more extreme efficiency ratings (like a 0.14 U-Factor) then you know the prices will be on the high side.

My suggestion would be to compare these windows with another option or two from a different company to try to understand just how these prices compare. It’s also important to note that the package with the 0.14 U-Factor is optional and not always included.

If the prices from another reputable company are lower (I expect they will be), then you’ll want to weigh how much any improvement in efficiency is actually worth to you. Is a 0.02 improvement in U-Factor worth $200 per window? I might suggest it’s not, but that’s really up to you.

Since window prices have been relatively volatile lately we ask that you let us know what sort of prices you’ve seen for Great Lakes EcoSmart windows. If you’ve recently received a quote post a comment below to let us know. More info like that will help everyone.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall these are decent windows. In my opinion the higher prices and smaller glass area would make them less than ideal. In my house I would prefer a larger glass area with more visible light.

They do offer great efficiency ratings but those are not standard. In order to actually get those ratings you need to pick some of the more expensive glass packages and I don’t really think they represent a great value. The prices go up pretty fast as the efficiency improves.

This may still make sense for some buyers, but I don’t think these are the windows I would install in my house.

Other posts about Great Lakes windows that you might find helpful:

• Great Lakes windows complaints
• Great Lakes windows prices
• Why you should NEVER buy Great Lakes windows
• Great Lakes window warranty review

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows.

Other posts you might find interesting:

• The BEST replacement window reviews
• Why you should NEVER buy Simonton windows
• Is triple pane glass worth the cost?
• Can you get window prices online
• How to find a great window company