Over the years several readers have for Richlin windows reviews. We’ll be happy to help out. Richlin is a vinyl window manufacturer in Minnesota and they sell their products through a network of dealers in the surrounding area.
Their main product lines are the Richlin Vinyl and Richlin Heritage. They are owned by a company called Hayfield Window and Door. If you see windows marketed as Hayfield Richlin or anything along those lines, they’re the same windows.
Frequent readers of the site know that I tend to recommend staying away from the little manufacturers of the world. You probably won’t be surprised to hear me suggest the same thing here.
The original Hayfield Window and Door company was bought out by a private equity group in 2019. In my experience that’s not always great for the long term viability of a window manufacturer.
Richlin Windows Reviews
- Richlin Vinyl 201
- Vinyl 600
- Vinyl 900
Richlin Heritage Windows Reviews
Are Richlin Windows Energy Efficient?
They’re pretty average in terms of efficiency. You’ll see more efficiency options from Richlin than from other small manufacturers. That means there are more available options than some companies offer, but they’re pretty typical and not any more efficient than what you’ll find elsewhere.
Is the Richlin warranty any good?
It’s ok, but certainly not the best window warranty out there. You’ll see the Richlin window warranty covers the insulated glass units but it’s prorated after 10 years. There is also no labor coverage in the warranty which isn’t idea. Many manufacturers will cover labor for at least a little while after the windows are installed.
There is also no glass breakage in the standard warranty but glass breakage coverage is available for an extra charge.
What colors are available for Richlin windows?
Richlin does offer a wide range of color options especially in the Heritage line. That can be a good selling point if you really need a very specific color.
I do urge caution when it comes to custom window colors as that could be a hassle down the road if a replacement part is needed. You might be better off repainting your existing trim to match a standard window color. If you absolutely have to have a custom window color Richlin might be a decent option.
What’s the bottom line?
If you were my buddy and you asked me if you should get Richlin windows I’d probably suggest looking for another option. The windows look fine and the efficiency ratings are perfectly good, but not remarkable.
I see a smaller window manufacturer currently owned by private equity and it seems risky to me. In my experience the odds are decent they’ll be sold to someone else in the next 5 or 10 years and who knows what will happen after that.
With windows that are designed to last basically forever you want to be sure you’ll be able to get service or replacement parts down the road. If there were something wonderful about the products it might be worth taking the gamble on them. Since they’re not especially unique I wouldn’t take the risk.
What should you do if you think I’m wrong about something or if you have questions?
Post a comment below and let us know. It’s always our goal to post accurate info along with our opinions and I’m interested in your opinion as well.
How can you find a great window company?
When shopping for windows I do always suggest finding a great installation company before you fall in love with any particular window model. There are plenty of great window options out there but not as many local companies that are great to work with.
To know which companies to avoid you can find common window sales tactics here. That’s become one of the most popular sections on the site. You can also find the most detailed window reviews on the entire internet right here.
Remember, for more great window company info you can find our suggestions for the best local companies in 2023 right here. There’s no need to work with a company that gives you the run-around or makes the process difficult. There are plenty of fish in the sea as they say. The best way to get started is to check out our list of great window companies here.
Lots of great info on this site! Thank you for doing this! I have 21 windows we are replacing and have had numerous bids for the work. Prices range from $55k to $23k, but several came in around $34k. Comparing the NFRC data the Richlin 600 series windows actually have the best ratings (or tied) in every category. I understand the “lifetime” warranty is prorated after 10 years but we plan to sell the home in the next few so that isn’t as big of a concern to us. The installer offers a 10 year labor warranty as well. My question is for $10k what am I missing? The Richlin windows also offer a slim profile which is important because we are doing inserts. Is there another data point or something else I should be considering other than the NFRC data and warranties? The installer is well rated online and Angie’s List. The other windows quotes are for; Sierra Pacific 8500 series, Polaris Tech 7000 series+, Provia Endure, Sunrise, and Hayfield. I look forward to your input and thanks in advance!