Pella vs. Andersen Replacement Window Competition

Posted by on under andersen windows, quality craftsmanship, optis, specialty windows, lowe s, mammoth size, power amp, pella windows, household name, three colors, windows color, window manufacturers, remarkable growth, trademarked name, compas, j d power, opti, remodel, st |

It’s remodel time, and replacing your windows is at the top of the list. Two of America’s best-known and most reliable window manufacturers are Andersen Windows and Pella Windows. Andersen is backed by a century-long history of quality craftsmanship and is most famous for their trademark window, Renewal. Pella, through its mammoth size and partnership with Lowe’s, has essentially become a household name in window replacement. The two companies are not equal, however. There are certainly big differences in the brands’ window selections, features, materials, eco stewardship, cost and warranty that set them apart.

Let’s take a look at how Pella and Andersen each stack up in the most important categories.

Overall

Pella has claimed the prestigious J.D. Power & Associates Award for Customer Satisfaction in the Window and Door category. Among the areas of rating were overall satisfaction, warranty, order & delivery and price. Although Pella has claimed high ranking on the list, Andersen ranks in the top three, particularly gaining high marks for its warranty and repair & replacement categories. Andersen has a steady approach and flawless track record, but Pella has remarkable growth and incredible popularity.

Selection

• Both companies offer a full line of window types, including specialty windows.
• Color: Only Andersen’s high-end windows, the Architectural Monumental Series, come in a wide array of colors. There are twenty-one exterior color options and seven interior finishes. Most other windows come in only three colors.
• Because Pella has a wider array of materials, they have a lower selection of color options.

Features

• Both companies are neck-to-neck with their array of features, varieties and styles.
• Pella windows come with the option of a disappearing Rolscreen, which does exactly as its trademarked name suggests.
• Andersen has a better array of color and trim options.
• Pella has more customizable options, such as screen options, specialty paint options, trim options and other small customizable features.

Materials

• Andersen uses mostly Fibrex, a sturdy composite material formed from 40 percent mostly recycled wood fiber and 60 percent thermoplastic resin. Because even Andersen wood windows are completely vinyl-clad, protection against rotting and bad weather is superior.
• Pella aluminum-clad wood windows have been noted as a slightly deficient product, though significant improvements have been made. Some water seepage and subsequent rot has caused problems for consumers and for the company. Nonetheless, they offer a quality array of wood, fiberglass composite, fiberglass and steel windows.

Environmental

• Andersen windows have the Green Seal stamp of approval. In addition, their windows are Energy Star certified and bear the SCS indoor air quality rating. Andersen windows are indisputably safe and reliable. As a charter member of the U.S. Green Building Council, Andersen products qualify for LEED and ICC 700 credits.
• Pella products not only bear the Energy Star qualification, but they have actually won the Energy Star Partner of the Year Award for the past two years. Pella is also a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, a pioneer in LEED certification and a loyal protector of the environment.
• Both brands offer maximum energy efficient windows on the pricier product lines, especially with glass customizations.

Cost

• For a standard-size, no-frills, dual-pane double-hung window, Andersen prices start around $270. The 400 Series, which boasts increased energy efficiency and enhanced features, including Low-E glass, ranges from $400 to nearly $600. The high-end Architectural windows have a base price of $2,300.
• Pella, generally speaking, has higher prices. With their giant status as American’s leading window manufacturer, they have, perhaps, earned the right to charge more. This makes the decision easy if price is the most important factor in your window-replacement decision.

Warranty

• Andersen has what they call the “Owner-2-Owner” limited warranty program. What this program offers is the ability for a transferable warranty through home sales and multiple owners. Because a feature like this enhances a home’s value, it certainly makes for an attractive investment option. Andersen protects product failure due to defects in manufacturing. The glass is protected under warranty for twenty years. Non-glass components of the window are protected for ten years.
• Pella’s warranty, devoid of the transferable feature, nonetheless offers the same ten-year coverage for non-glass components and twenty years for glass. Laminated glass, however, is only eligible for the ten-year warranty (including HurricaneShield). Pella’s warranty also covers interior paint finishes for two years, decorative between-the-glass panels for two years and screens for five years.

So the stats are in. Which brand do you think is #1?

Tagi: andersen windows, quality craftsmanship, optis, specialty windows, lowe s, mammoth size, power amp, pella windows, household name, three colors, windows color, window manufacturers, remarkable growth, trademarked name, compas, j d power, opti, remodel, st

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