Author: thewindowdog

The Simonton Reflections 5500 is at the higher end of the Simonton replacement windows.  This model is distributed nationwide with several variations offered under various brand names including Prism or Prism Platinum.

Overall, as we’ve said before, Simonton makes a fine product, but this model is getting a little long in the tooth.  It utilizes some older design elements and offers less than outstanding performance numbers.

What are the drawbacks of Simonton 5500 windows?

The biggest drawback for me is the thickness of the vinyl.  You certainly get less glass area with the Simonton Reflections 5500 than you would with some competing products.  For example, in the NFRC sticker below you can see the window with a U-Factor of 0.29 a SHGC of 0.24 and a rather low visible transmittance rating of 0.45.

This window would block out too much light for my taste.  There are other models that can achieve very similar ratings with a thinner vinyl frame resulting in more visible light and a higher VT rating.

As with most windows there are several glass options that can certainly affect the numbers, but the thick frame is here to stay.

What about the window hardware?

The Simonton Reflections 5500 also uses the inexpensive constant force balance mechanism which have several drawbacks.  They also charge extra for features that many companies offer standard such as double strength glass, balance covers and heavy duty screens.

Here you can see a Simonton Reflections 5500 window with the constant force balance and no balance cover.

The last picture I’ll show you for now is of the sash stops this model utilizes.  This block at the top of the frame prevents the sash from opening all the way.  It’s not a very big deal on a large window and Simonton does a good job of making it as small as they can.  On smaller windows you won’t be able to open the window as far as you’d expect.  Why do they put it there?  They have to because of the cheap constant force balance mechanism used in the jambs.

You might ask yourself if this balance mechanism or the lack of a balance cover or the sash stops are a huge deal and the answer is probably no.  I mention them here to illustrate the idea that perhaps this product doesn’t represent a fantastic bang for your buck.

There are many old and outdated design elements in this product that just aren’t necessary anymore.  The price of a Simonton Reflections 5500 window doesn’t typically reflect the fact that it’s a bit old fashioned.

Is this window offered under different brand names?

As you’re considering your options remember that manufacturers will often offer the same or VERY similar products under many brand names.  They do this to help contractors selling the products avoid competing directly on price.  If you get 2 quotes from 2 companies offering the exact same product then the price becomes a relatively important point of differentiation.  However, if one of the companies can tell you all about why their product is “better” then perhaps the price will become less of a factor.

If you think this is a little strange, you’re right, but it happens in every industry from mattresses to bowling balls.

To sum up this Simonton Reflections 5500 window review I’d say overall it’s a fine product from a reputable manufacturer (despite my nitpicking), but you can usually do better for a lower price.

Keep looking.

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. 

Here we’ll look at the Andersen 400 series windows.  These are windows we installed for a good friend of mine.  He picked them out and was sure that these were the windows for him.  Shortly after they were installed he painted them himself and they sure do look pretty.  When writing this review of Andersen 400 series windows I will be including pictures, pricing information and specific details.

What are the advantages of Andersen 400 Series windows?

For starters the Andersen 400 series windows look great.  They look like nice wood windows.  Once they’re painted to match the interior trim they certainly do look like part of the house rather than something that was installed after the house was built (you can just ignore the interesting paint colors that were picked on this project).

Next, another positive attribute of the Andersen 400 series is the tilt latch mechanisms.  The sashes tilt in for easy cleaning like many new windows do these days.  The way they operate is a little unique.  Andersen has skipped the typical tilt latches on the meeting rail and opted for nearly invisible plastic clips that release the sash.  This is a design that is also seen on other Andersen windows and it is very effective.

As you can see in the picture, all you do is slide the plastic clips down to the top of the sash and pull it in.  This is a neat feature of the Andersen 400 series tilt-wash double hung model.  You don’t find this mechanism from any other manufacturers.

What about the top sash?

The top sash, shown above, is even easier.  It has the more traditional tilt latch mechanism on the top of the top sash.  They do it this way because these latches are invisible when the window is closed.

These mechanisms give the window the ability to tilt in while maintaining the traditional look of a wood window.  Perhaps it’s a small detail, but it does make the window look great and operate well.

The exterior of this Andersen 400 series window is vinyl clad and the exterior trim has been capped as you can see here.  This leaves the exterior completely finished and maintenance free.  Some folks prefer the look of wood brickmould or exterior trim and that would be an option, but it would then require painting.  This homeowner wanted to go maintenance free and he achieved his desired result.

What are the downsides?

After living with these windows for a while some less than positive attributes of the Andersen 400 series have come into focus as well.  For example, it’s clear that the owner ordered these windows unfinished and painted them himself.  That means you can see areas where he was not able to get the brush.  To get it perfectly finished he’ll need to go back and repaint all of these windows to get them looking great and that’s a chore.

Next, you can see the interior grids on these windows.  They are flimsy and they bend when you try to pull down the top sash.  We opened the windows from the top to get a picture of the tilt latch and we almost broke one.  There is no other way to lower the top sash which means at least some will likely break in the future.  This design alone is a serious shortcoming.

Last and certainly not least, these windows are drafty!  When I was sitting on the couch during a winter storm sorting through the pictures to make sure I had everything I needed.  I could feel cold air on the back of my neck coming from the window behind me.  I pulled up the air infiltration ratings for this model and they say it’s <0.30.  We know from the previous post on air infiltration ratings that this is pretty weak.

• Andersen 400 series windows structural ratings
• Andersen 400 series windows nfrc ratings

To sum it all up: this is a nice looking window.  The specifics of the windows installed in this house are just details.  For example the flimsy looking interior only grids are an option and you could order another type.

What about the air infiltration of Andersen 400 series windows?

The air infiltration on the other hand is a real problem.  These windows are drafty and there is no way to change that.  You don’t want to spend thousands of dollars for new windows to have a cold family and these windows just don’t provide a good seal.  After observing these windows for a few months I can’t recommend them.  Our good friend will be replacing these relatively new wood windows with another model that gets a much tighter seal.

The Andersen 400 series windows look great, but they do not seal well.  If your goal was to look pretty with no concern for anything else then go for it.  Most folks want a balance of beauty and efficiency.  This window does not accomplish that goal.

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. 

Other Andersen window posts you might find helpful:

• Why you should NEVER buy Andersen windows
• Andersen windows FAQ
• Renewal by Andersen Complaints – What’s going on?
• Andersen sells Silver Line and American Craftsman brands

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 Alside Mezzo warranty is rather comprehensive and is in line with most higher end replacement windows. We’ll summarize the details of Mezzo warranty here. At the end of this post you can find a pdf of the Alside Mezzo warranty.

If you’ve been shopping for residential replacement windows you’ve probably seen that most vinyl window manufacturers offer “lifetime” warranties. At first glance it could appear that all of these warranties are the same, but they are certainly not.

One important factor to keep in mind is the difference between parts, labor and installation. For example, if you get foggy glass in your windows what will you do? Do you call the manufacturer or the company that installed the windows? Do you get new glass or a new sash? Who will install the new parts for you? What if you get a leak in your window down the road? The manufacturer won’t cover it if it was an installation problem. What will you do then? These questions illustrate the important differences in “lifetime” warranties.

The Alside Mezzo warranty includes:

• Lifetime warranty on vinyl
• Lifetime warranty on moving parts
• Lifetime warranty on glass seal
• Lifetime warranty on screens and screen frames
• 1 year warranty on labor
• Glass breakage NOT covered (optional warranty is available)
•  Installation NOT covered (may be offered by your installation company)

The Alside Mezzo warranty is transferable, BUT when it transfers it becomes pro-rated after 10 years and is no longer a “lifetime” warranty. You might say you don’t care much about what happens after the warranty is transferred because you’ve sold the house and that’s not an unreasonable position.

Overall this is a pretty comprehensive warranty as it includes screens and hardware which are often left out of warranties. Remember that glass breakage is NOT included unless you get the optional warranty and the whole thing gets more limited when you sell the house.

On a positive note, Alside has been in business for over 70 years and they are owned by a $1 Billion corporation so they are likely to be around to honor their warranty long into the future.

You can download a copy of the Alside Mezzo warranty here.

You can also see our complete review of the Alside Mezzo window or take a look through our other replacement window reviews.

Are you looking to order new windows and doors?

You’ll definitely want to check out our listings of the best local window companies all over the country.

Disclaimer: We recently started offering Alside windows (almost) nationwide for you to install yourself or with professional installation by the manufacturer.  We do it all with no in-home salespeople.  Details here. 

For our Alside Ultramaxx window review we’ll compare the Ultramaxx to the other Alside window products.  The Ultramaxx windows sit near the top of the Alside window line.  Very similar products are sold under various brand names including Alside Sheffield and Comfort World 6000 series.  When we say they sit near the top of the line that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s  a better product than anything else, but it does tend to cost more than some other products out there.

When comparing and reviewing Alside windows, the Alside Mezzo window (which we reviewed recently) stacks up pretty well.   The Ultramaxx doesn’t compare very well except in a few specific situations.  For example, the Alside Ultramaxx window is available with triple pane glass while the Mezzo window was not available with this option when initially launched.  The Mezzo model does now offer this option so there’s one less reason to pick the Alside Ultramaxx window..  Obviously this only matter to you if you’re interested in triple pane glass.

Another difference is in the weatherstripping that the Ultramaxx window comes with.  This sounds good and the salesperson might tell a great story to go with it, but if you compare the air infiltration ratings you’ll see the Mezzo is typically better.  This tells you the extra weather stripping on the Alside Ultramaxx isn’t doing you much good.

One important factor to consider is that the Alside Ultramaxx window uses a substantially thicker frame which reduces the glass area considerably.  If you’re looking at samples in person take a look at the thickness of the frame, especially the sill at the bottom.   Only you can decide if that’s what you want in your home, but it will reduce the visible glass area and reduce the visible transmittance rating.

Alside Ultramaxx vs Alside Sheffield

The Alside Ultramaxx and the Alside Sheffield share the same frame and ALMOST all of the same parts.  There are only 2 two differences between these 2 products.  One is the type of sill.  The Ultramaxx uses a Pocket sill that allows water to run down through the frame and the Sheffield uses a sloped sill that lets water run down and out.  There are advocates for both designs, but at the end of the day they’re pretty similar.   Even the Sheffield here doesn’t use a true sloped sill, but perhaps that’s a discussion for another day.

The second difference between the Ultramaxx vs the Sheffield is the lift rail on the top of the bottom sash.  The Sheffield has a lift rail at the very top and at the very bottom of the window, but it does not have one in the middle.  The Ultramaxx adds another in the middle of the window.  Having trouble visualizing what I’m saying in this section?  Don’t sweat it, these two windows are essentially the exact same product with different names.

Why do they make these small differences between the Ultramaxx and the Alside Sheffield?

Just so the folks selling them can tell you why one is better than the other.  They’re really 99% the same window.

To sum up the Alside Ultramaxx review I’ll say if you’re getting triple pane glass it’s a perfectly fine option.  If you’re not this window might not make sense and you’ll be better off saving some money with the Alside Mezzo.

Other posts about Alside windows and doors that you might find helpful:

• Can you buy Alside windows online?
• Alside Mezzo window reviews
• Alside Ultramaxx and Sheffield windows reviews
• Climatech glass packages and efficiency options explained
• Recommended contractors or installers

Learn a little bit about window ratings or keep reading window reviews?

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.