That sounds serious. I haven't heard of this type of thing happening. I'd like to hear what your dealer has to say about this. Post back if you can.

a rep is supposed to come over next week. The dealer said "if it wasnt shimmed properly the sides tend to bow in and pinch the rubber". Since when does shimming keep a window from bowing INWARD? Only if you fasten through the shim, but i only fastened through the nailing fins, not on the sides of the frames.

The shimming was probably done to much! They put to many in and bowed the center of the frame. They need to make the gap even from to to bottom. IF they don't you'll get this every time. Good installers will screw through the frame into the wall and snug the frame down tight to the shims. Your window installers are to blame on this one. Not Marvin.

Oh Window Guy, I think you are talking to the installer. I also think that is where the problem is.

I see the computer let both of us be Window Guys!

sorry window guy didnt mean to take your name. With regard to shimming the sides.. there are NO shims on the sides, only the tops and bottoms. so it can't be that they were shimmed "too much" on the sides to cause the bowing. They're saying it could have been due to the spray foam insulation (used the Good Stuff), however the instructions do NOT say i can't use it. And if screwing into the sides of the frame would stop this problem, how come the instructions say to only nail through the fins?

i'm not disputing that a PERFECT installation wouldnt solve this problem. My issue is that the design of the windows makes them more susceptible for the bowing to "pinch" the rubber. If i went with Andersens this wouldnt be a problem because on the 400 series the sides of the window are flexible.