UPDATE: BF Rich is out of business. Â If you have an order pending for BF Rich windows you should contact your contractor immediately and ask for your deposit back. Â If you have a warranty issue with BF Rich windows that were previously installed you should contact them immediately to see if anyone is still answering the phone.
If you have any questions or comments about this situation please post them here and we’ll do our best to help out.
You can read our post about the situation here.
Below is the old post we had written about BF Rich windows. Â We’ll leave it here, but it should obviously be read in a different light after these latest developments. Â
BF Rich windows are a decent product produced by an old school vinyl window manufacturing company. Â They’re based in Delaware as they have been for many years. Â BF Rich is a relatively small company and their products are sold through independent distributors all over the eastern half of the country.
There is nothing particularly interesting about BF Rich windows. Â They have a reputation for decent quality, but their designs are a little dated and their ratings are unremarkable.
We’ll be examining the following BF Rich windows:
- SH-1000
- Horizon
- Chateau
- Woodbridge
- Vintage
- Cabernet
- Cabernet R-5 Green Shield
- Elite Green Shield R-5 Ar
- Elite Green Shield R-5 Kr
As you can see they produce quite a few replacement window models. Â There is really no need for such a small manufacturer to produce so many models, but we see that happen all the time. Â Many window companies just LOVE to have a whole stack of brochures.
We should note that BF Rich windows come with a great warranty. Â Their lifetime warranty is one of the most comprehensive warranties out there. Â We know some folks say “oh, I don’t care about warranties I don’t want the products to break in the first place”. Â We get that, but the warranty tells you how the company expects the product to last. Â If they think it might fail they offer a short warranty and if they’re confident that it will hold up they offer a longer warranty. Â The fine print in any window warranty can tell you quite a bit and the warranty on BF Rich windows tells us they expect the windows to last.
While we’re working on these individual reviews take a look through the best replacement window reviews online right here!
Do you have ratings available for the BF Rich Chateau windows?
Which ratings are you looking for? We have a video review of the BF Rich Chateau review that you can find on our YouTube channel right here. Click subscribe on the YouTube page to get updated when we post new videos!
Thanks for the video. We are comparing BFRich Chateau to their Vintage model and are trying to decide whether upgrading to Vintage is worth it. Any input on the Vintage?
What kind of price difference are you looking at? It might be worth a few bucks, but it’s not a substantial difference in our opinion.
If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me how to remove the upper glass from a B.F. Rich window? It is not a double hung.
It was apparently hit by a rock.
Thanks,
Jeff
Hi Jeff, if it’s a single hung window, meaning the bottom opens by sliding up and the top is fixed in place, then it may be a job for a professional. You can do it yourself, just a little more involved than the typical DIY project.
You’ll need to remove the glazing bead, small plastic trim pieces on either the inside or the outside that cover the edge of the glass. Then measure and order the new glass unit. You want to do that before you remove the old glass if it’s not broken all the way through. It’ll likely get destroyed when you remove it so you want to have the new piece first.
To order the new piece you’ll need the outside thickness of the insulated unit. That can sometimes be the trickiest part. There are different coatings that can be on the glass so matching the look of the other windows can also be a trick. You’d specify this when you order the new glass unit. It doesn’t need to be a perfect match.
Once you have the new glass unit and you have the glazing bead removed just slide a putty knife or similar tool around the other side of the glass unit to separate the adhesive from the glass. Then the old glass unit can be removed.
To install the new glass unit you can use silicone or glazing tape. Glazing tape is easier to work with but harder to find. If you’re just doing one I’d use silicone. Then put the new glass unit in place, snap in the glazing bead, wipe off excess silicone, and you’re done.
We are trying to compare Alside Mezzo to BF Rich Cabernet – is one better than the other for mid-atlantic climate? Our contractor quoted us the Alside then ordered the Cabernet due to a color-match issue for our development, so I want to make sure that the quality is similar, or better (as the contractor indicated). Do you have any opinion? Thanks!
Help!!! i got a patio door installed in 2004, the lock is broken, and i would like to upgrade the security functions on the door. I live in Maryland who or where i can contact someone to fix the problem.
Thank You
Please compare Silverline 70 series, BF Rich mid grade window and Simtonton 6100 series. We don’t know which is best for our NJ climate. Thank you!
We have two similar quotes from companies we are comfortable with. One uses the BF Rich Chateau and one uses the OKNA Insul-Tec/500 window (Sunseal Deluxe with foam filled extrusions). We live in southeastern Virginia and want to reduce sound and draftiness that we got from our old windows, which barely open. Advice? I found your BF Rich Chateau video helpful to watch, but I couldn’t find one on the OKNA 500.
We don’t have a video on the Okna 500 series window yet. I was at their plant a little while back and met with the founders of the company. They make a nice window and I think you’d be happy with it. Between those 2 I’d probably pick the Okna.
I’ve recently gotten very similar quotes for 2 different windows and am looking for an opinion on the better option:
BF Rich Chateau supplied and installed by a childhood friend’s highly reputable company. -vs- Pella 250 Series supplied and installed by Lowe’s.
Thoughts?
Buy from your friend’s company.
Thanks for the response! I also found your video review of the BF Rich Chateau very helpful. One last question … I’m wondering if the BF Rich Cabernet is significantly (or at all) better than the BF Rich Chateau? We were quoted higher for the Cabernet than for the Chateau, but I’m guessing it’s because the Cabernet offers more style/finish options. Is there any real difference in quality, performance or efficiency between the two? Thanks a lot!!!
I’m not aware of any significant difference. Perhaps someone else will chime in with more detail.
About 25% of our BF Rich windows started getting condensation inside the panels last fall. BF Rich gave us new windows replacements for them. We built our home five years ago and all the BF Rich windows were brand new. They do have a life time warranty. What do we do when all the rest of the news windows start getting condensation inside them? How will they ever be replaced?
Unfortunately I think you’re going to be in a pickle. Those smaller manufacturers are always a risky bet. I know you probably bought them based on a contractors recommendation and it would be hard for folks to understand the differences. That’s one of the reasons we started this site.
You can probably have a glass company replace the glass as needed. It’ll just cost a few bucks. I’m sorry to hear about your trouble.
I have two windows that have cracked.How do I get in touch with someone to order new bottom window sash that is under warranty?
Sorry Stephanie, I’m afraid you may be out of luck. This is one reason I tend to always recommend larger manufacturers. When the little guys go out of business there isn’t much you can do.
I love my BFRich windows! Had a leak in one picture window during hard driving rain and winds. Contacting my local building supply store (not big box store!!!) they had a man with experience working at a local glass company for many years. He took off the inside vinyl molding, put clear silicone thick in the trace along the bottom and up along the sides eight inches. We also put some in the vented drip holes from the outside of the window. Seems the wind would blow the rain right up those drip holes past their tiny vent hood, and leak all lots of water inside. Now, everything is dry and perfect! Everyone in town is very sad BFRich closed their door. They gave their workers no notice, just came in one morning and laid off everyone, terrible situation for most of those people despite many working there for decades. Sad.
Yep, they’ve been out of business for a little while. Glad to hear your windows have been doing well!
I have a BF Rich multipoint patio door lock that is broken. Is there a replacement for this lock anywhere?
I think they used Truth Hardware for some of their products. Google them and see what you can find…
I am looking to see if someone honors the warranty with BF Rich. My mother got there windows in 2006. Her installer passed away a few years ago. She has a broken window that needs replacing so I have been trying to find out who can honor the BF Rich. I just saw online that they are now closed. If someone knows anyone who may honor the warranty please let me know. My mom lives in Virginia. Thank you in advance.
Hi Gayle, hopefully someone will chime in with more info on the BF Rich window warranty. I would guess that you won’t get anything for free as the warranty likely would have gone away when they closed. It is possible that another company could make parts for their windows. You can also get the glass replaced by any glass replacement company, it doesn’t need to be BF Rich specific, but you’ll definitely have to pay for that.