April 2023 - Page 2 of 5 - TheWindowDog | Replacement Windows Reviews

ThermaStar by Pella Series 20 Windows Reviews From Lowes

Update: While this ThermaStar by Pella window review was originally written several years ago it’s been updated as we continue to work to provide the best replacement window information on the entire internet and beyond. See info towards the bottom of this post for the most recommended window companies. Be sure to post a comment or send us a message with any questions!

Today in the top secret WindowDog lair we have captured a ThermaStar by Pella Series 20 replacement window. You can find these sitting on the shelves at Lowes stores all over the country. We captured this one at a store in Maryland and the same line appears to be in all Lowes stores east of the rockies.

Pella ThermaStar replacement windows from Lowes — Here is the Pella ThermaStar 20 replacement window from Lowes.

These windows are cheap and that’s the point. This one cost us about $125 and it includes low-e glass and a full screen. That sounds like the best price you’ll find for replacement windows.

Is it worth the cost?

There are a few distinct drawbacks to buying stock replacement windows from a big box store like Lowes and this window will illustrates them well.

First, as you can see on the label, this window has a nominal size of 24×38, and an actual frame size of 23.5″x37.5″. If the holes in your house happen to be just that size then you’re in good shape. If not, you’re going to get creative. You can rip down some lumber and fill an opening by an inch or two to make a stock window fit, but you’re not going to have the prettiest results.

The biggest drawback is the most obvious. They just won’t fit right. You can get cheap custom sized windows from distributors that will still be flimsy, but at least they’ll fit right.

Why are these so cheap?

Here’s a good example, look at this screen. As you can see in the picture below it has a roll-formed frame, the spline is on the outside, the corner keys are exposed, and on and on and on.

Lowes replacement windows by Pella — That’s a cheap screen on the ThermaStar by Pella series 20 window from Lowes.

If you install this window and never touch that screen for the rest of your life it might hold up. If you try to remove it, or open it, or stare at it for too long it’s going to bend. I’m not sure if I have the words to describe how flimsy it feels in your hands.

Next, let’s look at the quality control. This is a picture of the meeting rail. You can see the big black scratch that came with this window along with the big thick welds.

Pella ThermaStar windows reviews — This Pella ThermaStar 20 replacement window from Lowes is in our office today.

This was a brand new window and while things do get dirty it’s hard to imagine how it got that scratch. It may have come from the shelves at Lowes, but it was under the plastic wrapping. More likely it came from the Pella plant. It will probably come clean with some soft scrub, but it’s a chore I’d rather not deal with.

As an aside: Soft Scrub will clean anything off of a vinyl window. It’s amazing.

Here is a quick look at the night latches that can limit how far the windows open. This mechanism looks similar to many others out there. I sometimes prefer the type without the button as this seems like it may be a failure point in the future, but it works ok for now.

Pella-ThermaStar-20-Night-Latch — Night latch on the ThermaStar by Pella series 20 replacement windows from Lowes.

How about the warranty on the Pella ThermaStar 20 windows from Lowes?

As you’d probably expect the warranties on stock windows from box stores like Lowes aren’t the same what you’d find on nicer windows. In this case you only get 2-years of labor coverage to fix a manufacturing issue and the non-glass components are only covered for 10 years if you don’t live in the home. Many folks might use these windows in a rental property so that is a factor to consider. If you get the fancy blinds between the glass you’ll only get a 5 year warranty. That’s an expensive option to only last 5 years.

You can download the entire ThermaStar by Pella windows warranty right here.

What’s the bottom line?

Well, the price was about $125, the quality is questionable, the sizes are limited and the warranty is pretty weak. As you might expect this one isn’t a great buy.

If you’re looking to install windows yourself post a comment and we’ll try to direct you to a local distributor that can help you with custom made windows. For something like $25-$50 more per window you can get a MUCH nicer custom made window.

For now you might want to take a look through our detailed replacement window reviews to get a better idea of your options. You’ll be glad you shopped around.

If you’re looking for a window company right now, the best advice we have is to check out our list of the best window companies all over the country. You can find it right here.

The Best Window Company in St Louis – Zen Windows!

We know our readers in St Louis are looking for great windows installed by a great company which is why I’m happy to recommend my friend my friends Dennis and Rhonda, the owners of Zen Windows in St Louis. If you’re looking for the best window company in St Louis Dennis and Rhonda are the folks for you.

Zen Windows operates just the way you’d want a window company to operate. They can give you a quote in 5 minutes, they don’t send a salesperson to your house and you can work directly with the owner to make sure your project turns out great.

If you’re looking for the best window company in St Louis or any of the surrounding area you should definitely give Zen Windows a look.

Dennis and Rhonda will be publishing guest posts as their company has become a supporter of our site and they’re working hard to make the window business easy for folks in St Louis.

How did they get into the window business?

Glad you asked! Both of them have been in the home building and remodeling business in St Louis for years. Of course neither of them like being on the either end of the high pressure sales process so when they heard about the Zen Windows business model they knew it was a great fit for them.

Luckily for all of you in St Louis the business is booming and they’re making the process of buying new windows absolutely as easy as possible.

How do they make the process easy?

They do many things differently than a traditional window company. For one, they don’t need to come to your house and camp out in your living room to get you a detailed quote for your project. You can send them and email or give them a ring and they’ll explain how things work. It’s really easy.

What areas do they service?

They offer great windows in all of the St Louis metro area. To find out if they cover your area just send them an email, the address is below and they’re very friendly. I promise.

How can I reach them?

You can find their website here and when you’re ready to get in touch there are 3 easy ways.

You can give him a ring at 314-399-0856
You can send him an email at Dennis@ZenWindows.com
You can fill out the form below and your info will go straight to them. We do NOT share this info with anyone.

The Best Window Company in Atlanta – Window Universe!

Announcing the Best Window Company in Atlanta – Window Universe! My good friend Don owns the Window Universe store in Atlanta and he’s standing by waiting to help you with your window project.

Don over at Window Universe has been in the business for years and he knows windows inside and out. He’s currently offering some fantastic windows with professional installation from factory authorized installers. His lifetime warranty is backed up by the manufacturer who is a billion dollar company with 60+ year history in the manufacturing business.

What can Window Universe do for me?

They can do a lot of great things for you, but the most important is that they can make this process easy. Don and his team are experts at this and they know how to cut through all of the usual fluff to get you the info you need at the best prices in town.

It’s really easy.

Do they offer other products?

They sure do. In addition to great windows and doors you’ll also see that they offer siding and roofing options to completely transform your home.

Even if you’re just thinking about windows now, you can be sure they’ll be ready to help when it’s time to replace your roof down the road. It’s nice to know you have a guy in the business.

How do you know Don at Window Universe?

That’s a great question. As you probably know we’ve been working on this site for a while now and it’s gained quite a bit of attention in the industry. I thought I knew a lot of people in the window business before and I know a whole lot more people now.

Don’s been a fan of the site for a while and he reached out a while back to see if we could work together. After working together for several years he opened a Window Universe location in Atlanta to take his business to the next level. He’s currently working on a few guest posts to help folks make sense of things and his many years of experience and invaluable. Now that we have a business relationship I wanted to make sure our readers (you!) knew about this great local company too.

So how do I get a quote from Don?

Good question. His system is a little different from some other companies out there. His process starts with an email. When you fill out the form at the bottom of this page an email will be sent directly to the owner of the company. Don will then be in touch to schedule your appointment.

You’ll see the form asks when you’re typically available and how urgent your need is. This cuts out a few steps and helps them serve you faster and more efficiently.

If you’re in the Atlanta area and you’re thinking about new windows you owe it to yourself to fill out this form just to see what Window Universe can do for you.

Be sure to post a comment to let everyone know how it goes!

We will NEVER share this info with anyone and you’re going to LOVE what Don has to offer!

Are you the best window company in your town? We’d love to meet you and our readers would like to find you. Meet us here.

Best Replacement Windows

So what are the best replacement windows? There’s a question that’s been asked a million times before. As you’re sorting through the options remember that there is no one “best” product. If there was, everyone would know it and your decision would be easy.

Why isn’t there one type of best replacement windows?

There are several reasons, but the biggest factor is that different people want different things. For instance, some of our customers buy windows because they’re moving soon and they want to dress up the house. Some buy new windows because they’re about to have a baby and they want to make the house less drafty. Some folks buy new windows as part of a larger remodeling project and some folk just want to make their home more comfortable in the hot summer. The best replacement windows for each of these folks are completely different.

So, before you can decide what the best replacement windows are for you, you’ll need to be really clear about these factors:

How long are you planing on living in the home?
If you don’t live in the home at all, are you flipping the house, renting or is a family member living there?
Rank these characteristics: efficiency, looks, durability/warranty, price

Once you have a more clear idea of what you’re looking for the question of what are the best replacement windows will become easier to answer.

For example, if you’re going to be renting the house you’ll want windows that look nice, and won’t cause problems. Perhaps you’re less concerned with efficiency and price is probably an important concern. You probably don’t want junk, but you also don’t need the greatest windows ever produced by mankind.

On the other hand, if you’ve just bought your new home and you’re undergoing a substantial remodel to turn it into your dream house that you plan on living in for the rest of your days you probably have a different set of priorities. You want a product that looks great, keeps the house as comfortable as possible and will last a very long time.

Of course, even if you’re in the exact same situation as someone else you still may end up choosing a different product. You might be more concerned about a product that looks and feels great like a wood window or maybe a fiberglass option while someone else might want the most efficient option available which would probably be a triple pane vinyl window.

So you’re starting to see why there are so many options. Why isn’t it easy to find answers regarding the best replacement windows?

Well, it’s a competitive business. There are just about no patents in the industry so every company is building windows from the same parts and they’re fighting to earn your business.

Companies that are trying to produce the “best replacement windows” are all fighting to say they’re better than the rest. Companies trying to produce the least expensive products for the price sensitive customer are all trying to be less expensive than the rest.

Keep this intense competition in mind when you’re learning about new windows.

A wise man once said, “before you can find the answer, you must find the question”. Don’t bother trying to find the best replacement windows until you really understand what you want.

If you’re thinking vinyl windows and you’re interested in being on the low end of the price spectrum you’ll see companies all over the place advertising “new windows installed for $189” or sometimes even less. Of course they’ll try to up sell you on all sorts of options so most end up being easily double that price.

You’ll also find companies that claim to offer the “best replacement windows” with a 3 hour sales pitch that leads to one discount after another in an effort to get you to sign up right away. I always ask why they need to work so hard to sell these windows if they really are so good. You’d think if they genuinely were the best replacement windows folks would just buy them and the dramatic sales pitch wouldn’t be necessary.

So, be sure you don’t waste your time meeting with companies and sorting through options until you have a clear idea of what you want. Start to get an idea of what the best replacement windows for you will look like.

Once you have an idea of what you want and how you’ll rank the variables of efficiency, looks, durability/warranty, price you’ll be ready to start finding a local window company. A quick google search will show you more window companies in your area than you can shake a stick at. For example, when I google “replacement window company” I get 102,000,000 results. That’s a lot.

Here’s another post on how to identify the best replacement window installation company. stay tuned. For now, take a look through some replacement window reviews get an idea of what’s out there.

If you’re looking for a window company right now, the best advice we have is to check out our list of the best window companies all over the country. You can find it right here.

The Best Window Company in New Jersey – Taylor Rae Construction

If you’re in northern or central New Jersey and you’re looking for new windows you’re in luck. My friends at Taylor Rae Construction will surely be able to help. That’s one reason they’re the best window company in New Jersey.

My buddy Jeff Dowling is the owner of Taylor Rae Construction and he’s been in the business for over 10 years. He has a different background than many home improvement types. Jeff has a degree in engineering and worked as an engineer before starting the company.

Best window company in New Jersey — Taylor Rae Construction is the best window company in New Jersey!

Initially they started working on all types of remodeling projects, but soon focused on exterior work including windows, doors, siding and decks. They’ve become window and door experts and they lead the industry in their professionalism with modern techniques and the best materials.

Jeff has recently become a contributor to the site and he is committed to making window shopping easier. They are certainly one of the easiest companies to work with in all of New Jersey.

What areas do they serve?

Taylor Rae Construction is based in Boonton Township and they serve all of northern and central New Jersey. If you’re thinking new windows and doors it’ll be worth your time to touch base.

best window company in New Jersey - and doors too! — Here’s Jeff looking all fancy with a new entry door that was just installed.

Where did the company name come from?

Jeff’s such a family man that he named the company after his first two daughters.

How can I contact them?

Great question! There are thee easy ways to get more info on how they might be able to help with your project.

Give them a ring at 973-394-0949
Send Jeff an email at jdowling@taylorraeconstruction.com – Not too many business owners offer up their personal email!
Fill out the form below and your info will be sent straight to them (and only to them).

Be sure to let them know you found them on TheWindowDog.com!

Remember, we will NOT share your info with anyone. Ever.

The Best Window Company in Nashville – Zen Windows!

If you’re looking for the very best window company in Nashville you’re in luck. My friend Brad owns the Zen Windows location in Nashville and I’m sure he’ll be able to help out.

Brad has been in the construction business for years owning his own home improvement business since 1994. You’d have a hard time finding someone in Nashville who knows more about windows and doors than Brad.

Zen Windows operates very similarly to the way my company operates so it’s easy for me to recommend them. They make the process of buying new windows absolutely as easy as possible. They’ll give you a quote in 5 minutes, they offer great products and you don’t pay for the windows until the project is complete.

If you’re in or around Nashville and you’re looking for the very best window company in Nashville you should touch base with Brad at Zen Windows in Nashville.

How can I get a quote from them?

Great question! There are three easy ways to get a quote. No matter how you reach out, be sure to tell him TheWindowDog sent you!

Give Brad a ring at 615-424-8102.
Send him an email at BradA@ZenWindows.com
Fill out the form below and he’ll contact you. Don’t worry we don’t share your info with anyone. Ever.

Remember, we’ll never share your info with anyone.

Harvey Classic Windows Reviews

Did a contractor or window salesman recently tell you about Harvey Classic windows? Here we’ll look at Harvey Classic window review to see if they’re a worthwhile choice.

For starters I’ll tell you this has never been a fantastic window option. While you do see Harvey windows all over the Northeast that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the greatest thing around.

The Harvey Classic window is an older design. It was never designed to be the greatest option around and it offers relatively limited features.

How efficient is the Harvey Classic window?

About average. One thing that stands out is that there are only three efficiency packages available for this window model. That’s pretty limited.

The options are ThermaLock, SunGain HSHG and ThermaGuard.

The efficiency ratings will be relatively similar between the ThermaLock vs the ThermaGuard pacakges. Both are Energy Star rated in the North and North Central zones. The big difference for me is that you get much more light through the ThermaGuard package. For me that’s a big deal and I would defininltey pick the ThermaGuard package for my house.

The chart above can be a little hard to read. To save you the trouble the VT rating is 0.55 for the ThermaGuard vs 0.49 for the ThermaLock package. That means you get about 10% more light through the ThermaGuard package. It’s a better option in most cases.

What about the Harvey Classic warranty?

We mentioned the Harvey window warranty in our review of the Harvey Tribute model as well. The long and short of it is that the warranty isn’t the best.

There’s no labor coverage, no installation coverage, and a limited 20 year warranty on the glass. Overall, just like the rest of the windows, the warranty is ok, but not the greatest.

So, what’s the bottom line?

Well, the features are pretty limited, the efficiency packages are limited, the warranty is mediocre at best. We’ve also seen some negative feedback from readers of the site about Harvey windows as well.

Overall I’d say if a contractor is recommending the Harvey Classic window to you he probably tells you that he’s been dealing with them for years. Is that a good thing or is a sign of a guy who’s not evaluating the options to offer the best choices?

Harvey windows are very widely distributed. They’re easy for a contractor to get and that can make them preferable to sell. Unfortunately that doesn’t really make them better for you.

I’d look for a better option.

If you’re shopping for windows I do always suggest finding a great installation company before you fall in love with any particular window model. There are plenty of great window options out there but not as many local companies that are great to work with.

To find our recommended window companies all over the country check this section. If we know someone in your neck of the woods they’ll be listed there and they’ll be happy to help.

If we don’t know anyone local to you be sure to let us know who you find. I’m sure you’re not the only person looking.

Remember, for more great window company info you can find our suggestions for the best local companies in your area right here. There’s no need to work with a company that gives you the run-around or makes the process difficult. There are plenty of fish in the sea as they say. The best way to get started is to check out our list of great window companies.

Kensington HPP Windows Reviews

Update: The friendly folks at Kensington HPP have reached out to us with some new info about their company and it’s relationship to another company formerly known as Kensington Windows. This post is an update to an earlier post I wrote about Kensington. Everything you’ll read in this post is accurate as far as I know based on my conversations with the folks at Kensington HPP.

So, with that said, if a google search for Kensington Windows lead you to this page you’ll fall into one of two camps.

If you have Kensington Windows in your house and you’re looking for warranty or service information:

You’ll want to pay close attention to when the windows were manufactured. There was another company, legally unrelated to the current company, that went out of business in 2008. They don’t exist anymore and if you have warranty issue you’re likely out of luck.

If your windows were manufactured after that you’re likely in luck and you can contact Kensington HPP or the contractor that installed them for service issues.

If you’re shopping for new windows and a contractor recommended windows from Kensington HPP then you’re in better shape. Here’s the scoop on that company.

After the old Kensington Windows company went out of business in 2008 and the assets of that company and another window manufacturer called Republic Windows in Chicago were purchased by Serious Materials out of California in 2009. They were trying to get into the window business on the cheap during the financial crisis.

I remember reading an article about their maneuvers with the financing and the unions back then thinking they sounded like a smart group of people. Unfortunately that plan didn’t work out so well and Serious left the window business in 2013.

A group of the former executives from the old Kensington Windows got together and reopened a new company called Kensington HPP that now offers windows in most of the eastern half of the country. If you’re wondering Kensington HPP stands for High Performance Products.

They took over operations from Serious in 2013 so they’re been around in their current form for 4 years or so as of this writing. That certainly doesn’t make them the lowest tenured company around, but we all started out somewhere. My company is about to turn 10 years old and when we had only been in business for 4 years we still offered great service.

The models offered by Kensington HPP are:

Quantum 2
Huntington
Williamsport
Kingston
Euro Tilt and Turn

At this point I don’t have enough info about their products to offer great reviews, but if they send the info I’ll be happy to publish more content.

They are also the only vinyl window manufacturer in the country that uses heat mirror technology. This is a 3 pane sealed unit with the center pane being a plastic material instead of glass. I’ve heard of some rather high prices for Heat Mirror products. To decide if it’s right for you be sure to get past the sales jargon and compare the efficiency ratings vs the cost. You should be able to tell rather easily if the increase in efficiency is worth the increase in cost.

If I hear about any new info from the folks at Kensington HPP I’ll be happy to post it and if you have any experience with their company or their products feel free to post a comment for everyone to see.

What if I have more questions about Kensington HPP windows?

We can help! Find our Kensington HPP windows FAQ page here. If you don’t see the answer to your question post a comment and we’ll answer your question for everyone to see.

Looking for any additional information on Kensington HPP windows that you’re not finding here? Post a comment and let us know. We’ll be glad to help out!

How can you find a great window company?

When shopping for windows I do always suggest finding a great installation company before you fall in love with any particular window model. There are plenty of great window options out there but not as many local companies that are great to work with.

To know which companies to avoid you can find common window sales tactics here. That’s become one of the most popular sections on the site.

Remember, for more great window company info you can find our suggestions for the best local companies in 2023 right here. There’s no need to work with a company that gives you the run-around or makes the process difficult. There are plenty of fish in the sea as they say. The best way to get started is to check out our list of great window companies here.

The Best Window Company in Raleigh Durham – Window Universe!

If you’re looking for replacement windows in Raleigh Durham, NC the very best window company in Raleigh and the surrounding area you’re in luck! My company, Window Universe, is offering windows in the Raleigh Durham area and I’d be happy to personally help you with a window order.

We’re a little different than most companies in that we will email you our complete price list so you can see what everything will cost. We’ll listen to what you’re trying to accomplish and make a suggestion that will accomplish your goals.

In the Raleigh area we’re currently offering 7 models of windows with over 100 energy efficient options. We have the solution to just about every window problem which is why I’m confident we’re the best window company in Raleigh.

Best of all we’re doing it with no pushy in-home salespeople!

If you’d like to get a simple and easy quote for your project the process is pretty easy. You can either complete the form at the end of this post and we’ll be in touch with more info.

If you’d like more info you can check out our website at WindowUniverseTriangle.com for more info about what we’re up to.

How does this work?

Good question. We’ve tried to design the absolute easiest way to get new windows. Here’s how it works:

You fill out the form on this page to request a quote
We’ll send you a detailed and itemized quote for your window project
You can ask any questions and we can make any revisions as necessary
When we have the order the way you want it we have the windows custom measured, manufactured and expertly installed.

It’s so easy you won’t believe people still order windows the old fashioned way.

You can even order custom windows without installation to install yourself.

I want to see how this works!

Great, we want to hear from you. Fill out the form here and we’ll be in touch with more info about the products and services that we offer in Raleigh. You’re not going to believe how easy this is.

What happens next?

You’ll receive an email with the following info:

Window brochures and product details

Efficiency ratings and tax credit information

Itemized window price list

Showroom address and hours

Project pictures and customer feedback

Much more

If you’re considering a window project you’ll want this information.

Not in Raleigh Durham? We can probably still help out. Find our directory of great window companies right here.

The Best Window Company in Pittsburgh – Window Universe!

If you’re looking for the very replacement windows in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area you’re in luck! My company, Window Universe, is offering windows in the Pittsburgh area and I’d be happy to personally help you with a window order.

In the Pittsburgh area we’re currently offering 7 models of windows with over 100 energy efficient options. We have the solution to just about every window problem which is why I’m confident we’re the best window company in Pittsburgh.