thewindowdog, Author at TheWindowDog | Replacement Windows Reviews

The Best Window Company in Delaware – Window Universe!

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

You now qualify to receive 25% discount from Window Universe. Get pricing by email with no pushy salesman in your house and save. Don’t overpay for new windows. Info below.

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 Delaware 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 Delaware.

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 WindowUniverseDelaware.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 Delaware. You’re not going to believe how easy this is.

Not in Delaware? We can still help you find a great company to work with. Find our directly of the best window companies all over the country right here.

The Best Replacement Window Company in Buffalo, NY – Window Universe!

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

You now qualify to receive 25% discount from Window Universe. Get pricing by email with no pushy salesman in your house and save. Don’t overpay for new windows. Info below.

In the Buffalo 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 Buffalo.

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 WindowUniverseBuffalo.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 Buffalo. You’re not going to believe how easy this is.

Not in Buffalo? We can still help you find a great company to work with. Find our directly of the best window companies all over the country right here.

The Best Replacement Window Company in Billings, MT – Window Universe!

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

You now qualify to receive 25% discount from Window Universe. Get pricing by email with no pushy salesman in your house and save. Don’t overpay for new windows. Info below.

In the Billings, MT 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 Billings.

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 WindowUniverseBillings.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 Billings, MT. You’re not going to believe how easy this is.

Not in Montana? We can still help you find a great company to work with. Find our directly of the best window companies all over the country right here.

The Best Replacement Window Company in Columbus, OH – Window Universe!

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

See instructions below to receive 25% off your order. All of our readers in Columbus qualify. Note this offer is only for customers in the Columbus, OH area.

In the Columbus 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 Columbus, OH.

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 WindowUniverseColumbus.com for more info about what we’re up to

Does anyone want a commission based window salesman in their house?

I know I don’t. That’s why we send out the pricing and product info by email. We’ve taken the hassle out of replacing your windows.

If you’d like to get a simple quote for your project the process is easy. Complete the form on this page and we’ll be in touch with more info.

You can also find our website at WindowUniverseColumbus.com for more info.

Best replacement windows in Austin TX from Window Universe.

How do I get 25% off my order from Window Universe?

That’s easy. Every reader of this site qualifies for this promotion. Just click any of the links on this page to check out the Window Universe Columbus site.

Once you scroll down you’ll see the 25% off promotion listed at the top of the page like this:

Then you fill out the form at the bottom of the page and they’ll email you their price list and additional information along with the 25% savings.

The form looks like this:

Then you’ll receive an email from a window expert with detailed information about the available options, the prices, efficiency ratings and more.

It’s designed to be easy because that’s what our readers are looking for.

Note: this offer is only available to customers in the Columbus, OH area.

Do windows qualify for federal tax credits?

Yes. We offer a range of efficiency packages including options that qualify for the new federal tax credits. We can show you what those packages would cost, how they improve the overall efficiency and how much tax credit they would qualify for.

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 Columbus. You’re not going to believe how easy this is.

Note: you will also receive the 25% off promotion when you use the form on this page.

Not in Columbus? We can still help you find a great company to work with. Find our directly of the best window companies all over the country right here.

The Best Replacement Window Company in Portland, OR – Window Universe!

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

You now qualify to receive 25% discount from Window Universe. Get pricing by email with no pushy salesman in your house and save. Don’t overpay for new windows. Info below.

In the Portland, OR 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 Portland, OR.

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 WindowUniversePortland.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 Portland. You’re not going to believe how easy this is.

Not in Portland? Don’t worry, we can still help out. Find our directly of great window companies all over the country right here.

Best Replacement Windows Virginia Beach – Window Universe!

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

You now qualify to receive 25% discount from Window Universe. Get pricing by email with no pushy salesman in your house and save. Don’t overpay for new windows. Info below.

Replacement windows in Virginia Beach from Window Universe.

In the Virginia Beach area we’re currently offering 10 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 Virginia Beach and the Tidewater area.

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 WindowUniverseVABeach.com for more info about what we’re up to.

Window prices by email. It’s so easy.

We will email you our complete price list so you can see what everything will cost. The goal is to create the absolute easiest way to order new windows in Virginia Beach without any of the hassle.

This video explains the process:

In Virginia Beach we’re currently offering 10 window models with over 100 energy efficient packages and dozens of color combinations. We have the solution to every window problem which is why we’re the best window company in the Virginia Beach area.

Does anyone want a commission based window salesman in their house?

I know I don’t. That’s why we send out the pricing and product info by email. We’ve taken the hassle out of replacing your windows.

If you’d like to get a simple quote for your project the process is easy. Complete the form on this page and we’ll be in touch with more info.

You can also find our website at WindowUniverseVABeach.com for more info.

How do I get 25% off my order from Window Universe?

That’s easy. Every reader of this site qualifies for this promotion. Just click any of the links on this page to check out the Window Universe Virginia Beach site.

Once you scroll down you’ll see the 25% off promotion listed at the top of the page like this:

Then you fill out the form at the bottom of the page and they’ll email you their price list and additional information along with the 25% savings.

The form looks like this:

Then you’ll receive an email from a window expert with detailed information about the available options, the prices, efficiency ratings and more.

It’s designed to be easy because that’s what our readers are looking for.

Note: this offer is only available to customers in the Virginia Beach area.

Do windows qualify for federal tax credits?

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
You can swing by the showroom or we can send pictures of anything
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 an online quote from the best window company in Virginia Beach!

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 Virginia Beach. You’re not going to believe how easy this is.

Note: you will also receive the 25% off promotion when you use the form on this page.

The Best Replacement Window Company in Wilmington, NC – Window Universe!

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

You now qualify to receive 25% discount from Window Universe. Get pricing by email with no pushy salesman in your house and save. Don’t overpay for new windows. Info below.

In the Wilmington, NC 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 Wilmington.

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 WilmingtonWindowUniverse.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 Wilmington, NC. You’re not going to believe how easy this is.

Not in Wilmington, NC? We can still help you find a great company to work with. Find our directly of the best window companies all over the country right here.

Simonton Reflections 5050 Review

As we go through our Simonton Reflections 5050 review remember one thing: When some people say that they don’t want vinyl windows in their house because they look cheap, this is the type of window they’re thinking of. It looks cheap.

Most manufacturers offer a “low end” option and this is the offering from Simonton. It leaves quite a bit to be desired. The actual wholesale cost difference between this model and a much nicer option is only $10-$20 per window.

What are we talking about specifically?

Take a look here at the thickness of the frame and sash. As you can see in the picture the distance from the outside of the frame to the glass is about 3.75″ . This is pretty thick, especially for a model with pretty weak efficiency ratings.

Simonton Reflections 5050 review — As you can see here, the frame and sash on the Simonton Reflections 5050 are very thick which reduces the glass area of the window.

To get an idea of how this will look in your home, you can measure your existing windows. If the distance from the interior stop to the glass is currently less than 3.75″ you will likely lose glass area with this model. That might be an acceptable trade off if there were fantastic energy savings to be had, but with this model there won’t be.

Another drawback to this model is the lack of balance covers. If you’re not an expert in the bits and pieces of a window, a balance cover is a small piece of vinyl that snaps into the side of the frame to cover the window balance. It’s just a small strip, probably costs less than $0.10 to produce, but they’ve left it out of this model.

simonton 5050 review — Notice how this window does not come with balance covers. Is this a small thing, absolutely which is why it’s absence is a sign of a cheap window.

Without the balance cover you’re left with a channel in the frame where dust and debris will settle over time. It’s tough to clean out and it looks unfinished when compared with other window models.

The last component we’ll look at in this Simonton Reflections 5050 review is the screen. As you can see in the picture below the spline (the rubber strip that holds the screen material in the frame) is on the outside of the window. This is a common trait among lower end products and it leads to maintenance down the road.

Simonton 5050 screen review — Here you can see the spline on the outside of the screen frame. This exposes the spline to the sun which can cause it to dry out and fail.

When this spline is on the outside of the screen frame it is exposed to the sun. This can cause the rubber material to dry out after several summers causing your screen to fail. Nobody wants to be dealing with loose screens.

I could go on an on about drawbacks to this model, but hopefully you have the idea by now.

What’s the bottom line?

This is a low end product from a well respected manufacturer. Simonton makes fine products, but this isn’t one of them. It looks and feels cheap and I strongly recommend looking at other options.

I’m am absolutely not a window snob. There are plenty of inexpensive options that will work great for you. Just not this model.

The much nicer Simonton Prism 5500 window only costs $10-$20 more and it’s a much better mid-range option.

To sum up this Simonton Reflections 5050 review: Keep shopping.

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.

Home Depot Window Installations

Note: Since we published this post we’ve been in touch with Home Depot and they’ve provided some additional information. The original post is here and you can see additional notes at the end.

We’ve also added a new post on Home Depot window complaints and you can find that here.

So here’s a funny story. I was recently visiting the team at a home and garden show in Richmond VA. We had some information to show prospective customers regarding typical pricing for replacement windows. We try to be as transparent as we can regarding all of the costs associated with a project like this and we find customers tend to appreciate it.

One of our examples showed a real quote that one of our customers received from Home Depot At Home Services along with the quote he received from us. We use this to illustrate the idea that we can typically offer better pricing for similar products that a big box store. The example shows our pricing was over $2,000 better for a typical project than the pricing offered by Home Depot window installations team.

While we were there, someone with some affiliation to Home Depot window installations came up to one of our managers and told him that our information was incorrect. We asked him what was incorrect and he stated that Home Depot At Home Services offers a lifetime warranty on their labor. We’ve never heard this before and we’re pretty in tune with the window business so we asked him for a copy of the warranty. At first he said it was proprietary and when we asked why their warranty would be a secret he said we could find it online.

Our goal is always to be accurate so we checked online and found that the Home Depot At Home Services website clearly states that they offer a 1 year labor warranty. This isn’t the end of the world, but it is a pretty short warranty. It would be a real shame to pay thousands more for a project and then have to pay again a year later to fix something.

Our manager tried to show the friendly gentleman from Home Depot that their own website was pretty clear, but he didn’t seem interested. He told us he was a district manager in charge of 90+ stores. You’d think he’d have his facts straight 😉

Anyway, we got a kick out of it. Here’s a screen shot of their site and a link as well.

home depot window warranty — Here’s a screen shot straight from the Home Depot website. Seems pretty clear to us.

Update: Since we wrote this post we’ve been in touch with Home Depot and they’ve provided some clarity on their warranty for installed replacement windows. Home Depot offers 2 main lines of replacement windows through their installation program. They are American Craftsman (made by Andersen) and Vantage Point (made by Simonton).

The American Craftsman windows from Andersen come with the 1-yera labor warranty that we mention above. This is pretty weak, but folks buying these windows likely aren’t focusing on getting top quality.

The Vantage Point windows from Simonton do come with a lifetime labor warranty. They call it a craftsmanship warranty which the salesperson in me really likes. Craftsmanship sounds nice and warm. They did provide us with a written warranty this time which we certainly appreciated. The labor warranty comes from Home Depot and not from Simonton, and that’s the way all labor warranties work.

There are some limitations which mean it’s not the greatest warranty we’ve ever seen, but it is better than the 1-year warranty that comes with the cheaper products. We’ll likely write up a full post on window warranties from big box stores in the future.

Thanks to the folks at Home Depot for providing additional info about their services.

If anyone reading this has any specific questions on the warranty or the limitations post a comment and ask!

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.

Simonton Reflections 5500 Review

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.

Simonton Reflections 5500 window ratings

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.

simonton 5500 window review — See the sash stop that prevents the bottom sash from sliding all the way to the top.

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.