Category: Replacement Window Reviews

Real reviews of replacement window models with pictures, videos and detailed explanations.

Great Lakes Harbor Light Windows Reviews

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

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

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

What are the advantages of Great Lakes Harbor Light windows?

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

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

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

Here you can see the main features of the Great Lakes Harbor Light windows.

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

What are the disadvantages?

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

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

How much do Great Lakes Harbor Light windows cost?

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

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

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

What colors are available?

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

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

How efficient are Great Lakes Harbor Light windows?

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

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

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

What’s the bottom line?

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

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

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

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:

Great Lakes Comfort Smart Windows Reviews

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

Great Lakes Comfort Smart double hung windows reviews, efficiency, prices and more.
Here are two Great Lakes Comfort Smart double hung windows.

What are the advantages of Great Lakes Comfort Smart windows?

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

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

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

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

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

What are the disadvantages of Great Lakes Comfort Smart windows?

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

Here you can see the ticker frame of the Great Lakes Comfort Smart windows.

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

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

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

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

How energy efficient are these windows?

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

Here is a diagram of the Smart Guard IS package. Remember, the IS or Interior Shield may make the condensation resistance rating worse. You’ll want to confirm this rating before ordering.

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

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

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

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

What are Great Lakes Comfort Smart prices?

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

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

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

What colors are available for these windows?

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

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

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

What’s the bottom line?

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

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

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

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:

Great Lakes EcoSmart Windows Reviews

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

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

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

This is the frame used by Great Lakes EcoSmart windows.

What are the advantages of the Great Lakes EcoSmart windows?

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

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

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

This is the EnergyGuard package used in Great Lakes EcoSmart windows.
Here is the EnergyGuard 3KR IS package. The efficiency ratings are good, but the prices are very high. It might not be the best value around.

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

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

What are the disadvantages?

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

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

What about the Great Lakes EcoSmart windows warranty?

Great Lakes EcoSmart warranty

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

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

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

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

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

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

How about Great Lakes EcoSmart windows prices?

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

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

Great Lakes EcoSmart prices.
Here you can see a Great Lakes EcoSmart double hung window.

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

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

What’s the bottom line?

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

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

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

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

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:

Polaris DynaWeld Windows Reviews

Here we look at Polaris DynaWeld Windows Reviews to see if these windows make sense for your project.

These are currently the lowest end windows available from Polaris. They means they make them to be cheap and they want to separate them from their nicer window lines. The nicer options are the UltraWeld and ThermalWeld Plus which we’ve already reviewed.

When companies design low end windows they need to cut corners. They do this to save costs and to avoid competing with their own nicer windows. Does that mean the DynaWeld windows are a good value or are they something to be avoided. Let’s find out.

Here is the Polaris DynaWeld windows frame. This is a double hung window model.

What are the advantages of the Polaris DynaWeld windows?

Since this was designed to be a low end option there aren’t a whole lot of advantages. When companies design lower end options they need to take out enough features to make their higher end, and higher margin, options look like a good value.

For example, if they only took out one or two features and reduced the prices by $100 per window everyone would probably buy this window. That’s bad for them. They want everyone to pay for the more expensive models so they need to make the low end windows a bad deal.

Companies will generally take out many features and they’ll keep the prices relatively similar so the low end windows look like a bad deal. This is intentional, every manufacturer does it and it’s why low end windows are usually a bad choice for the customer.

That’s not 100% true in the case of the Polaris DynaWeld windows. They have basically all of the same features that you see in the more expensive ThermalWeld Plus line with fewer available options.

See the next section about disadvantages for more info on limited options.

What are the disadvantages?

The disadvantages of this window model have more to do with the available options than anything else. For example, there are only two color options for these windows and you can see them below.

These are the only frame colors available for these windows.
Here are the two colors for the Polaris ThermalWeld windows. They’re listed as paint colors on the Polaris website, but we think that’s a mistake on the website. I would guess they’re extruded vinyl colors instead of paint.

If you want white or tan windows then these options will be just fine for your project. If you need a different color you’ll need to upgrade to the other Polaris window lines.

Another disadvantage to the DynaWeld window line is the efficiency and you can see more on that below.

How efficient are the Polaris DynaWeld windows?

These windows are less efficient than the other Polaris lines. They need to do this because they didn’t reduce too many of the window features. Since this window has lower prices there must be a drawback. Polaris has chosen to reduce the efficiency in order to justify the prices of the other lines.

Here are the common efficiency ratings for Polaris DynaWeld windows.
Here you can see the efficiency ratings for the DynaWeld windows. There are fewer options than you’ll see in the other product lines and the ratings are not as good.

As you can see in the chart above the efficiency ratings for these windows are not as good as the other Polaris window products. You’ll also have far fewer efficiency packages available and they’ve removed the options for different spacers.

Overall the difference in U-Factor from 0.30 to 0.27 is not gigantic. If you’re just looking for a decent option and not concerned about being Energy Star certified this might be a fine choice. It’s not what I would suggest for your personal home but it might work for a rental or flip house.

What about the Polaris windows prices?

The prices for all building products, including windows and doors, has been relatively volatile for the last few years now. It can be hard to keep up, but we know that hundreds of people across the country receive quotes for Polaris DynaWeld windows every day.

We need you to let us know if you've received a quote or prices for these Polaris windows.

If you’ve recently recieved a quote for these windows let us know by posting a comment below. I may follow up with you by sending an email. You can definitely help to make this industry easier to navigate. By adding a little transparency we can change this whole business. Please comment below to let us know you’ve received a quote.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall this is a low end window which typically isn’t a great value. It has nearly the same list of features as the more expensive Polaris windows which is nice.

Unfortunately, there are fewer options, fewer efficiency packages and worse efficiency ratings. Overall I’d say if you’re replacing windows in a low end rental or a flip house these may work great. If you’re going to be living in the house I’d look for a better option.

Other posts about Polaris windows that 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:

Polaris ThermalWeld Plus Windows Reviews

Here we have Polaris ThermalWeld Plus windows reviews to see if these are the best windows for your house. We’ll look at the advantages, disadvantages, warranty prices and more. Find the real info on replacement windows right here.

The ThermalWeld Plus is a middle of the line window from Polaris which is often a decent choice. In this case the ThermalWeld Plus is an upgrade over the older ThermalWeld model. Is that enough of an upgrade to make this window a decent choice in todays market? Let’s find out.

Here is the Polaris ThermalWeld Plus windows frame. You can see it's pretty typical.
Here you can see the Polaris ThermalWeld Plus windows frame. These cool angled pictures give the brochure a very amateur look.

What are the advantages of the Polaris ThermalWeld Plus windows?

Overall, like most of the Polaris window line, this model looks to be pretty average. As an example, they advertise a very typical list of features for this model. Things like welded corners, intercept spacer, sloped sill, sash limit locks. These are things basically every window made in the last 10 years will offer.

One feature that they list that isn’t 100% typical is the continuous interlock across the entire sash. As they correctly point out, some window models will have an interlock at the sash but it won’t run continuously. Often they’ll have a break near the locks.

The pitch for this interlock would be that it improves air infiltration, but you don’t see anything about air infiltration included in their marketing. To me that would indicate that it doesn’t actually have much of an impact on the ratings, but that’s just my hunch. If anyone out there has more info on Polaris air infiltration ratings post a comment below.

Other than that interlock feature, there isn’t much that stands out.

So, to summarize the advantages of the Polaris ThermalWeld windows, I’d say they have about the same advantages as any other window.

What are the disadvantages?

One disadvantage to these windows is that they are produced by a smaller (riskier) manufacturer. That can present several problems for customers that are not always evident when the salesman is sitting in your living room.

One of these problems is that it’s very expensive for a small manufacturer to improve or update designs which means they don’t do it very often. That leads to older designs being on the market long past their sell-by date. More on this in the warranty section below.

Another disadvantage to this model is that it uses the older constant force or coil balances which aren’t as nice as the upgraded block and tackle type. That can make sense with this model as it’s not trying to be a top of the line product. it’s more of a middle of the road option so it gets middle of the road features.

Is the Polaris window warranty any good?

The warranty from Polaris is decent. We cover this in more detail in the Polaris UltraWeld review linked here.

Overall the lifetime warranty covers the windows for as long as you own the home. There are limitations, for example labor is not covered. A glass breakage warranty is available, but must be purchased separately.

In addition the warranty is much more limited when some options like internal blinds or tempered glass is included. This limits the warranty for all Polaris patio door as all patio doors have tempered glass.

Also, the warranty gets more limited when it is transferred. Overall it’s a decent warranty but more limited than some others. And, since it’s offered by a relatively small manufacturer it’s riskier than the warranty you’d get from larger companies. If Polaris were to vanish tomorrow you’d have no coverage at all. Unfortunately we’ve seen that scenario play out may times over the years.

What are prices for Polaris ThermalWeld Plus windows?

This is where we need your help. Pricing for all replacement windows has been pretty volatile over the last few years. If you’ve recently received a quote for Polaris ThermalWeld Plus windows please post a comment to let us know.

We need your help gather prices for Polaris ThermalWeld Plus windows. If you've received a quote for them recently let us know!

I may send you an email for more info too. The more transparency in this industry the better it will be for everyone.

How efficient are the Polaris ThermalWeld Plus windows?

To their credit the ThermalWeld windows do have pretty decent efficiency ratings. Polaris publishes charts like that showing ratings that are very solid.

Here are the efficiency ratings for Polaris ThermalWeld Plus windows.
Here you can see common efficiency ratings for Polaris ThermalWeld Plus windows.

This is just one set of info, but it shows U-Factors as low as 0.16 with the EnergySmart Ultimate Plus package and 0.27 with the Energy Smart Supreme package. These are decent ratings so I’d say the efficiency is pretty good with this window model.

One thing you don’t see in all of this data is the air infiltration rate. That rating has been a big deal to customers for several years now and I’m sure Polaris knows that. I would think if their ratings were great they’d publish that info. Why keep good ratings secret? The fact that you don’t see air infiltration ratings advertised is a sign that they might not be too good.

This picture shows the foam filled frames of Polaris ThermalWeld Plus windows.
Here you can see the foam fill in the frames. Does foam make a difference in efficiency? In this case it makes about a 0.01 difference in the U-Factor. That means it’s mostly a sales pitch with little actual benefit.

If a salesman selling these windows makes claims about Polaris air infiltration ratings ask to get that in writing and let us know. They can make claims about anything. In-home salesman are often paid 100% commission so they want to get the sale very badly. I would not trust verbal claims about something like air infiltration because there’s no way for you to verify it. Get it in writing and let us know what they say.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall, this looks like a decent but unremarkable window. The efficiency ratings are solid, but the air infiltration is suspect. The features are relatively plain which can be perfectly fine.

If you’re looking for a middle of the road option and you get a great price on these windows they may offer a fine solution. If you’re buying them you will want to be comfortable with the risks associated with a small manufacturer.

There are plenty of middle of the road windows with similar features available from larger manufacturers so you may want to consider those options as well.

Other posts about Polaris windows that 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:

Polaris Ultraweld Windows Reviews

Here we have Polaris Ultraweld Windows Reviews to help you decide if these are windows to avoid or to buy for your home. We’ll look at the advantages, disadvantages, warranty and prices.

The Ultraweld is the top of the line window option from Polaris so you’d expect it to have all of the fancy features that you see on fancy windows.

To me, the brochure for this model reads like it’s competing with windows designed 20 years ago rather than more modern competitors.

That can be a common situation for these smaller window manufacturers. They don’t necessarily have the resources to redesign windows to keep up with the competition. They can make a fine product but it can get outdated and it seems that’s what has happened here.

Polaris Ultraweld double hung windows. Not exactly the most modern choice.
Check out this retro picture from the Ultraweld brochure. This model just feels old.

What are the advantages of Polaris Ultraweld windows?

These windows will have many nice features. For example, they have limited space in the brochure so that’s where they need to really hit the highlihgts.

The features they mention that they use intercept spacers in the glass, sash limit locks, heavy duty locks, recessed tilt latches, extruded lift rails, etc.

To save pixels I won’t explain each of these features in detail. The thing to know is that these are really ordinary features. There is nothing interesting here and basically every window will have the same features.

Here are three features listed in the Polaris Ultraweld brochure. These are pretty common features, not too exciting.
Not exactly the most exciting features. I feel like I’m in 2002.

They do also talk about using Innergy fiberglass reinforcement instead of metal. This is also something you see in most every modern window design.

Finally, there is talk about the Flex screen and internal blinds. These are two features that are a little more unique.

Overall, I’d say it’s a struggle to find too many advantages to this product line over any other modern window model.

What are the disadvantages?

I’d say one of the main downsides to this window model is the older design from a smaller manufacturer. Those can both have consequences.

There are many older window designs that are still available today. For example, the Alside Ultramaxx and Sheffield windows were not new back in 2004. That’s when I worked for the parent company of Alside. That means those models are 20+ years old at this point and still available for sale today.

Older window designs tend to have bulkier frames, use older hardware, and the typically have higher air infiltration rates. See more on air infiltration below.

The small size of the manufacturer is also something to be concerned about. In my nearly 20 years of experience in this business I’ve seen many small manufacturers vanish. It happens. It also leaves all of their customers with no warranty and no access to spare parts.

If there’s a compelling reason to take that gamble then maybe you should, but is there? Why take the chance when you don’t need to?

What is the air infiltration rate of the Polaris Ultraweld windows?

This is info I haven’t been able to find so I’m hoping someone chimes in with more info. I saw someone say that the air infiltration rate for this model was 0.01 but that doesn’t seem right to me, at least not for a double hung window.

If the air infiltration rate was that low you’d think they’d be telling everyone who will listen but you don’t see it advertised anywhere. It’s not in the brochure or on their website. It’s not even on the page on their site that is dedicated to efficiency ratings. Strange.

That would be a huge selling point, so I’m thinking the fact that it isn’t written anywhere means the actual rating might be worse.

Do you have info on the air infiltration rate for a Polaris Ultraweld double hung window? Post a comment below, bonus points if you have anything official to back up your info.

Is the warranty for Polaris windows any good?

The warranty for these windows is perfectly decent. It’s a lifetime warranty on the window frames. You get 30 years of coverage on insulated glass units, but only 10 years if they have blinds.

There is no coverage at all for glass breakage or labor which are things that some other manufacturers do cover.

Also, if the warranty is transferred the coverage of the insulated glass unit is reduced to 10 years.

So, there the warranty is ok, but there are defininltey better options out there.

What is the price of Polaris Ultraweld windows?

Here’s a section where we need your help. Prices have been all over the place since Covid and it’s a challenge to keep up. If you’ve recently recieved a quote for Polaris Ultraweld windows let us know by posting a comment below. We’ll send you and email and your info will help everyone who is shopping for new windows.

We need your help. If you've recently recieved a quote for Polaris windows please post a comment to let us know.
Have you recently received a quote for Polaris windows? We need your help!

Transparency makes this whole business easier for folks to navigate and your help is needed today.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall this isn’t a window I would tend to recommend. We’ll probably get comments on this post from folks who sell Polaris windows telling me all about why I’m wrong. That’s ok. I understand the salespeople love it.

When you look at all of the options in the market I just don’t think this model makes much sense anymore. If you think I’m wrong post a comment below and let me know why.

Other posts about Polaris windows that 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:

Vytex Georgetown Windows Reviews

Find Vytex Georgetown windows reviews here. If you’re considering these windows for your home you’ll want to read this info. We look at the advantages and disadvantages along with the warranty, prices and more to see if these windows make sense.

It’s important to note that the Vytex Georgetown window is the lower end window. Usually it’s not a great idea to buy the bottom of the line windows and that holds true in this case.

If you’re looking for a cheap window for a rental or something there are other cheap choices to consider instead of this one.

Here is the frame of the Vytex Georgetown window.

What are the advantages of the Vytex Georgetown windows?

There aren’t a whole lot of advantages to a window model like this. You could say the warranty is decent, and we’ll cover that later. Other than that the hardware is average, the efficiency is pretty typical, there just isn’t a whole lot to talk about.

Manufacturers will make windows like this so that their nicer windows look nicer. Offering a cheaper option lets their retailers offer you a lower price. The trick is that the lower price comes with sacrifices which helps them justify the cost of the nicer models.

Ultimately, windows are going to be in your house for decades so it’s typically not a great idea get the cheapest option. You’ll be dealing with the windows long after you’ve forgotten the cost.

What are the disadvantages of this window?

There are a few downsides to this window model. It’s designed to be a cheaper option so it’ll definitely have downsides.

One is that the frame is bulkier than you’ll see on other models. You can see this in the picture above vs the similar pictures on our Potomac HP and Fortis reviews. This isn’t a look most people love.

Other factor to consider is that these windows are a little less energy efficient than the other Vytex models.

They’ll also use cheaper constant force balances that you can see below. These balances are cheaper than the upgraded block and tackle balances that you see in nicer windows.

These are the lower end constant force balances that are found in the Vytex Georgetown windows.
Here are the constant force balances that you’ll find in the Vytex Georgetown windows.

What is the warranty on Vytex Georgetown windows?

The warranty on these windows is pretty solid. They come with a lifetime warranty that incudes glass breakage and it’s transferable when you sell the house.

The risk to consider is that Vytex is a smaller manufacturer which is a little riskier than a larger manufacturing company. Of course anything could happen to any company. It is important to note that we’ve seen many smaller window manufacturers vanish over the years leaving all of their customers with no warranty or access to replacement parts. That can be a situation that you don’t want to find yourself in.

Here are the efficiency ratings for common packages in the Vytex Georgetown windows.
Here you can see the efficiency ratings for the Vytex Georgetown windows.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall I would not suggest this window. Vytex intended to make a cheaper product and they succeeded. They talk about “value” in their brochures which is window code for cheap.

Ultimately if you have a rental house or a flip project where you need cheap windows there are better low end options out there. I’d avoid this model.

What should you do if you think I’m wrong about something?

That’s easy, just post a comment below and let us know. It’s always my objective to share facts as I know them to be true and my opinions. If you think I’ve missed the mark on anything I would LOVE to hear from you. Please post a comment and I may follow up by email too. Thanks for taking the time to contribute to the site!

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. You can find my company here and you can find recommendations of other companies in other parts of the country here.

More posts about Vytex windows

Other posts you might find interesting:

Vytex Fortis Windows Reviews

Here you can find Vytex Fortis windows reviews to see if these are the best windows for your home. We’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages of these windows along with the warranty, prices and more. Let’s get going.

This is the basic look of the Vytex Fortis double hung windows.

What are the advantages of Vytex Fortis windows?

Vytex is a smaller manufacturer located in Maryland and they make three main window lines. The Fortis is a mid-range product. It falls between the lower end Georgetown and the higher end Potomac HP model in terms of quality and price.

This model has most of the same features and options that you’ll see on many windows models. For example, it has virgin vinyl and welded frames. It uses the constant force balances that you see on most mid-range windows and it has similar efficiency packages to what you see on many other models.

In terms of efficiency, Super Spacer is included in the glass packages and the overall efficiency ratings are perfectly normal.

What are the disadvantages?

Disadvantages to the Vytex Fortis windows aren’t a huge deal but there are a few.

For example, the air infiltration rate on the double hung is listed at 0.09 which is decent but higher (worse) than many competitors. We tend to suggest looking for a window with an air infiltration rate at or below 0.05 so this one is a little higher. That means it will let in more air when closed and locked.

Next, they show a lot of pictures of windows with foam in the frames in the brochures, but the efficiency ratings are pretty typical. Here are the ratings for a few common packages:

These are the efficiency ratings for common packages in the Vytex Fortis windows.

These ratings are perfectly fine but not really anything special.

One thing you can see in these ratings is the lower VT rating. That means this model will let in a little less light than other models with similar efficiency ratings.

Finally the constant force balances they use in these windows aren’t quite as nice as the upgraded block and tackle balances you’ll see in most higher end windows.

So, to summarize I’d say the downsides are the slightly higher air infiltration rate, the lower visible light transmittance and the lower end constant force balances.

This is the structure of the Vytex Fortis windows with the foam in the frames.
Here you can see the structure of the Vytex Fortis windows.

What is the warranty on these windows?

The Vytex Fortis windows come with a lifetime warranty is is pretty standard in the industry. The warranty is transferable and also covers glass breakage. Overall I’d say the warranty is perfectly good.

I would suggest weighing the fact that Vytex is a relatively small window manufacturer when you’re considering the warranty. Over the years we’ve seen many smaller manufacturers vanish leaving all of their customers with no warranty at all. That’s one reason I tend to suggest working with larger manufactures.

Vytex windows use lower end constant force balances vs the nice type used in most higher end windows.
Here is the constant force balances used in the Vytex Fortis windows. It’s not the type you tend to see on higher end windows.

What about Vytex Fortis windows prices?

The prices for a replacement window project can vary quite a lot depending on the scope of your project and the options you pick. For example, a window with triple pane glass will tend to cost more than a window with double pane glass.

If you’ve recently recieved a quote for Vytex windows I’d encourage you to share any info in the comments below. The more transparency we can provide the easier this business will be to navigate for everyone.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall I’d say this is a fine window. There are a few downsides so if it was sold you to as the greatest window ever I wouldn’t agree. There is risk in dealing with the small manufacturer so that’s something to consider when making your decision.

How can you get a second opinion quote?

If you recently signed a contract for Vytex windows and you’re not sure if it’s a great deal, we can help. In most states you have three business days to cancel an in-home purchase so you should act fast. You can get an online quote by email from my company here. It doesn’t hurt to see what the alternative would be.

One of our reps will send you an email with an itemized price list and additional product info. From there they can answer any questions and make unlimited revisions until you have the order just the way you want it.

It’s the easiest way to get new windows and the best way to make sure you’re paying a fair price for your project. If my company doesn’t offer windows in your area you can find other recommendations here.

What should you do if you think I’m wrong about something?

That’s easy, just post a comment below and let us know. It’s always my objective to share facts as I know them to be true and my opinions. If you think I’ve missed the mark on anything I would LOVE to hear from you. Please post a comment and I may follow up by email too. Thanks for taking the time to contribute to the site!

More posts about Vytex windows

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows. You can find my company here and you can find recommendations of other companies in other parts of the country here.

Other posts you might find interesting:

Vytex Potomac HP Windows Reviews

If you’re looking for Vytex Potomac HP windows reviews you’ve come to the right place. Here we’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages of these windows along with info on the warranty, prices, features, efficiency and more. Get ready for fun!

As we get started it’s important to note that I always suggest folks buy windows from large and well established manufacturers and this one doesn’t fall into that category. Vytex is a small manufacturer in Maryland and I’ve dealt with them before. They make fine windows, but there are real risks in these little companies.

This is the basic look of the Vytex Potomac HP windows.

What are the advantages of these windows?

This is billed as the top of the line Vytex window so they have most of the features that you’ll see in any nicer window. These windows will all use virgin vinyl and welded corners, that’s all very common and not really special at all.

The Potomac HP windows do a good job of getting a great seal. The air infiltration rate is 0.03 which is perfectly good. We tend to suggest looking for a window with a rating under 0.05 so this one meets that goal.

As far as the advantages go, this window is perfectly nice, but there’s nothing really remarkable about it. Now let’s look at the downsides.

Here is the Vytex Potomac HP window frame and structure.

What are the disadvantages of Vytex Potomac HP windows?

I already mentioned the riskiness of the small size of this company and I don’t think that should be underestimated. We do hear about these small window companies going out of business and leaving all of their customers with no warranty or access to spare parts. You don’t want to end up in that position.

In addition to that, the sales process that companies selling these windows use can certainly leave a lot to be desired. There are a few companies who sell a lot of these windows using all of the old fashioned sales tactics. There’s no need to buy windows from a company who treats you like that.

In addition to all of that, these “top of the line” windows are still using the cheaper constant force type balances vs the nicer upgraded block and tackle balances you’ll see in most nicer windows.

These are the lower end balance mechanisms used in the Vytex Potomac HP windows.
Here is the picture of these balances from the Vytex brochure. This is not the type you’d typically expect to see on hinger end windows.

How efficient are these windows?

The efficiency ratings for the Vytex Potomac HP windows are perfectly normal. They offer the same types of energy efficient glass and spacers that you can get from any nicer manufacturer and the efficiency ratings are pretty typical.

Here are common efficiency ratings for the Vytex Potomac HP windows.
Here are common Vytex efficiency ratings.

Here you can see the efficiency ratings for three common packages. The ratings here are pretty typical. A 0.27 U-Factor for double pane and 0.21 for triple pane are very average.

One thing you can see in these ratings is the very low (bad) VT rating. For example, the 0.21 U-Factor for triple pane is pretty normal, but the 0.40 VT rating means these windows don’t let in a whole lot of light. This is usually due to the thicker frames. Light is a good thing and nobody wants a dark house. In my mind that thick frame is a real drawback to this window model.

What’s the bottom line

Overall the efficiency ratings are perfectly normal and the features this window has are perfectly fine.

There is an inherent riskiness of the small manufacturer, the lower end hardware and the thicker frames blocking light that are real downsides.

I don’t think this is a window I would suggest to you if you were my buddy asking my advice. It’s a decent enough product, but not remarkable and the retail prices are usually not very competitive. I’d suggest looking for another option.

More posts about Vytex windows

How can you find a great window company?

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

Other posts you might find interesting:

Gentek Signature Elite Windows Reviews

If you’re looking for Gentek Signature Elite windows reviews you’ve come to the right place. Frequent readers of the site will know that I tend to think the Gentek window line is one of the nicer product lines and the Signature Elite is one of the best windows they make. That’s one reason my company elected to carry them in several markets so we have real first hand experience with these windows.

Here are three Gentek Signature Elite double hung windows.

What are the advantages of the Gentek Signature Elite windows?

There are a few key reasons that this model is one of the best replacement windows on the market today.

First, these windows are backed by a billion dollar company

Associated Materials owns Gentek along with several other major brands like Preservation, Alside, Revere, Alpine and more. The backing of a large manufacturer with a 70+ year history means that these windows are likely to be around for the long haul. It also means the warranty is likely to be honored for many years to come.

In my opinion people routinely undervalue the risk associated with the smaller manufacturers. It’s always my suggestion to work with a larger company and Gentek fits this bill

Next, the Signature Elite window utilizes slim frames to maximize glass area

Glass area can be a big factor for some folks when picking a replacement window. Some models, especially older designs, will use thicker bulkier vinyl window frames and the salespeople talk about strength. The downside to those bulky designs is that you get less glass area in the same size window.

Here you can see the difference in glass area that you can achieve with the Gentek Signature Elite windows.
Here you can see the difference in glass area that you can get from a window with a slimmer frame. The difference can be substantial.

The Signature Elite line utilizes a newer design that intentionally maximizes glass area with slim vinyl frames. This is more of a factor when the existing windows are on the smaller side. If your windows are large this might not be a huge concern, but to me it’s always important.

Next, these windows use upgraded hardware and components

If you’re new to window shopping it can be easy to think that all replacement windows are pretty similar. While it’s true that many windows generally look similar, there are some pretty important differences.

One of these differences is the quality of the hardware and components used. Things like balances, locks, tilt latches, etc are not always easy to see and they’re parts that people don’t always know much about.

best replacement window balances
Here you can see the differences in the common types of balances. Many manufacturers use the cheaper Constant Force type, but with the Signature Elite windows you get the upgraded type.

In my mind the quality of these components is a great indicator of the manufacturer’s intentions with the product. For example, the Gentek Signature Elite windows use the same upgraded hardware and balances as the Preservation Reserve windows which usually sell for much higher prices.

That tells you that Gentek always intended this to be a top of the line product and they’ve succeeded.

What colors are available for the Signature Elite windows?

The interior and exterior colors are a nice selling point for this model. Below you can see the available options.

Gentek Signature Elite interior and exterior colors.

You’ll see the popular black exterior is available along with many other colors. It’s important to remember that all color combinations are not available and adding colors will increase the cost of your project. If you’re considering color options other than simple white or beige, you’ll want to talk to your dealer about the options.

What is the warranty for these windows?

Overall the warranty on the Signature Elite windows is pretty good. I mentioned earlier that it’s backed by a billion dollar company so that’s a good start. The warranty is a transferable lifetime warranty so it’s good for as long as you own the house. Then it’s transferable when you sell the house so you can use that as a selling point.

The warranty covers the frames, the glass, the hardware and even the seal of the insulated glass unit. Overall I’d say the warranty is very strong and it a great reason to buy these windows.

How efficient are these windows?

These are very efficient windows which is another nice feature. Gentek uses their Barrier XP Packages in the Signature Elite windows. This means they are available with hundreds of available efficiency packages.

These are the efficiency ratings for the common Gentek Barrier XP efficiency packages.
Here are the efficiency ratings for the most common Barrier XP packages.

You can get triple pane glass for a top of the line solution with U-Factors as low as 0.21. Or, you can pick from a wide range of double pane options to get the best solution for you.

Gentek offers several spacer options including Super Spacer, Intercept Spacer and a stainless option called ThermD. They also offer different types of low-e coatings and different gas fills like argon and krypton to make sure you can get the best solution.

This shows the foam insulation inside the frames of the Gentek Signature Elite windows.

In addition to great glass options, here you can see the optional foam insulation in the frames too.

You will see some in-home window salespeople acting like they have the very best efficiency packages but the chances are Gentek offers everything those small companies offer and many more options too.

Finally, the air infiltration rates are another huge advantage to this model. You get an air infiltration rate of 0.04 in the double hung model which is better than many competitors. That means when the window is closed and locked you won’t get a draft into your home.

This is the frame and structure of the Signature Elite replacement window.

What’s the bottom line?

This is a window model that has many advantages that can’t be matched by most competitors. They’re backed by a billion dollar company, they use upgraded hardware and components, the slim frames allow for max light and the efficiency packages are top of the line.

Overall I do think this is one of the best replacement windows on the market today. That’s one reason it’s a product we offer through my company in several markets and we’ve had great success. If you’re considering ordering new windows I’d say this is defininltey a model to look at.

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: