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.

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.

Replacement windows Buffalo, NY

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:

  1. You fill out the form on this page to request a quote
  2. We’ll send you a detailed and itemized quote for your window project
  3. You can ask any questions and we can make any revisions as necessary
  4. 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.


Itemized Price List Request Form


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.

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.

best replacement windows of 2015

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.

best replacement windows of 2015

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
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.

In addition 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.

simonton reflections 5500
See this Simonton Reflections 5500 window with inexpensive constant force balance and no balance covers.

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.

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.  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. 

Andersen 400 Series Window Review

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.

Andersen 400 series review
This is the mechanism that releases the sash on these Andersen 400 series windows

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.

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:

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:

Alside Mezzo Warranty

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.

Alside window warranty

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.

Alside Ultramaxx Windows Reviews

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.

Alside Sheffield vs Ultramaxx
The Alside Ultramaxx and Sheffield models are almost identical the differences are the design of the sill and the lift rail at the top of the bottom sash.

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:

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. 

Alside Sheffield Windows Reviews

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

Here we’ll be taking a look at the Alside Sheffield windows.  The Sheffield windows used to sit near the top of the Alside window line.  Very similar products are sold under various brand names including Alside Ultramaxx and Comfort World 6000 series.  This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s  a better window than the Alside Excalibur or the Alside Mezzo (their other common offerings), but it does mean it will likely cost more.

In comparison to the newest window in the Alside line, the Alside Mezzo window (which we reviewed recently), the Sheffield doesn’t compare very well except in a few specific situations.  For example, the Alside Sheffield window is available with triple pane glass while the Mezzo window was not when initially launched.  The Mezzo window now has this feature available so that leaves one less reason to buy the Sheffield model.  Obviously this only matter to you if you’re  a triple pane kind of person.

Another point of differentiation is the fact that the Sheffield window has a few extra pieces of weather stripping.  This sounds good and the salesperson might tell a great story, 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 Sheffield isn’t doing you much good.  It provides the salesperson a nice story to tell, but it doesn’t do much else.

The biggest drawback in my mind is that the Alside Sheffield window uses a much thicker frame which reduces the glass area considerably.  If you’re looking at samples in person take a look at the thick frame, especially the sill, and decide if that’s what you want in your home.

Alside Sheffield vs Ultramaxx

The Alside Sheffield and the Alside Ultramaxx 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 Sheffield uses a sloped sill that allows water to run off and the Ultramaxx uses a pocket sill that drains water out through weep holes in the frame.  There are advantages and disadvantages to both systems.

Alside Sheffield vs Ultramaxx
The Alside Sheffield and Ultramaxx models are almost exactly the same product.

The second difference between the Sheffield vs the Ultramaxx is the lift rail on the sash.  The Sheffield has a lift rail at the very top and at the very bottom.  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.

To sum up the Alside Sheffield review I’ll say if you’re getting triple pane glass it’s a fine option.  If you’re not this window does’t really make sense and you’ll be better off saving a few bucks with the Alside Mezzo.

Keep reading window reviews or learn a little bit about window ratings?

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

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. 

Triple Pane vs Double Pane Windows

When deciding on triple pane vs double pane glass for your new windows there are several important factors to consider.  There are differences in sound transmission, weight, efficiency and cost.  Here we’ll take a look at all 5 factors to help you make the best decision for you and your home.

double pand vs triple pane windows, cost, prices, noise and sound
When comparing double pane vs triple pane windows there are many factors to consider.

How about noise through triple pane vs double pane windows?

It is VERY common for replacement window salespeople to tell folks that windows with triple pane glass will reduce noise in the home.  In fact, switching from double pane to triple pane has a very small impact on sound.  You’d be much better served by going with laminated glass.  We go into more depth on this in our sound transmission post.  The long and the short of it is if you’re buying triple pane windows to reduce noise you’re overspending.

best replacement windows of 2015

Are triple pane windows heavy?

Well, yes they are heavier, but it shouldn’t matter to you.  A high quality replacement windows will have a balance mechanism to counterbalance the weight of the sash.  Regardless of how heavy the glass is the window should slide up and down effortlessly.  If your new windows are hard to open it’s either because the balance mechanism is not working correctly, the windows don’t fit in the opening just right or something else is impeding their motion.  The weight of the glass or the sash shouldn’t have an impact.

Along these same lines, some folks think triple pane windows will have a higher failure rate because of the weight and the fact that they have 2 air chambers.  This stems either from the days of old or from a salesperson pushing an agenda.  All nice new windows come with a complete warranty that protects you against any future problems.

How beneficial are triple pane energy efficient windows?

There is certainly an improvement in efficiency when comparing triple pane vs double pane windows.  It’s important to compare the window ratings including u-factor, shgc and visible transmission when comparing the options in order to understand the differences.

Triple pane windows will typically have u-factors that are about 20-30% better than a similar double pane window.  That’s a pretty substantial improvement.  They will also have better SHGC ratings as they tend to have two surfaces coated with a low-e coating.  These coatings will leave you with a lower visible transmission rating meaning it will typically be darker in a home with triple pane windows.

Are these increases in efficiency worth the trade off of increased cost and decreased light?  Only you can decide that, but with the cost difference likely being lower than you might expect more folks are picking triple pane options.

single pane, double pane, triple pane
Some folks even compare single pane with double and triple pane options.

Cost of triple pane vs double pane windows:

In my experience, when the topic of triple pane glass comes up some homeowners immediately say “oh no, we don’t need that!”  I find they tend to say that because they’ve received a quote for windows with triple pane glass before and the pricing was HIGH.  This led them to believe that pricing for all triple pane windows will be high.

As with everything relating to prices of replacement windows there are many factors at play, but the cost difference doesn’t need to be too substantial.  Perhaps $100 per window is a decent estimate.  So if you can get a great vinyl replacement window installed for around $350 with double pane glass then switching to triple pane glass would put you in the $450 neighborhood.  Sure, it’s more expensive, but it’s nowhere near the $800 per window that some companies try to charge.

Why do some companies try to charge $800-$1000 per window for triple pane windows? 

We’ll be writing a whole series on the tricky practices of some window companies out there.  The short answer is because people pay it sometimes.  If nobody was buying they’d either change their ways or go out of business.  Congrats to you for not taking the bait, but you can be sure there was someone behind you snapping it up.

These companies will likely tend to continue to struggle due to the fact that people are much more informed than they were years ago.

Remember, when deciding between triple pane vs double pane think about how long you’ll be in the home and whether energy savings over time are worth spending money upfront today.  

Other posts you might find helpful:

If you haven’t taken a look yet, try out our window reviews pages to get a better idea of the options.

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. 

Alside Fusion Warranty

The Alside Fusion window warranty is one area that this less expensive model compares very well.  We’ll go through the details of Fusion warranty on this page.  When you get to the bottom you can find a pdf of the Alside Fusion warranty.

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

One factor to keep in mind is the difference between parts, labor and installation.  For example, if you get condensation in-between the glass panes in your windows what will you do?  Do you call the company that manufactured the windows or the company that  installed them?  Do you get new glass or a new sash?  Do you know what a sash is?  Will anyone install the new parts for you?  What if you get a leak in your window down the road?  Will the manufacturer say it’s an installation problem and the installation company say it’s a manufacturing problem?  What will you do then?  These questions illustrate the important differences in “lifetime” warranties.

The Alside Fusion warranty includes:

Lifetime warranty on glass seal

  • Lifetime warranty on vinyl
  • Lifetime warranty on screens and screen frames
  • Lifetime warranty on moving parts
  • Glass breakage NOT covered (optional warranty is available and must be purchased or it’s not included)
  • 1 year warranty on labor
  •  Installation NOT covered (may be offered by your installation company)

The Alside Fusion window 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.  Perhaps it does speak to how long Alside is interested in standing behind the products.

Overall this is a pretty decent warranty as it includes several things that are often excluded (screens, hardware, etc).  Remember that glass breakage is NOT included unless you get the optional warranty.  Make sure you get this in writing if you think you’re supposed to.  You don’t want to find out you don’t have it when the glass breaks 5 years from now.

On a positive note, Alside has been in business for over 60 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 Fusion warranty here.

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