This is what happens when customers are busy buying location, bathrooms, kitchens and a whole host of other items before they get to considering stuff like windows and doors.

WOW, it's not just that customers aren't considering the windows along with the bathrooms, etc. when they buy a home. It's that the builders are not offering choices except for this level of windows. I.e., you buy a new-construction home in a new development, and the windows are Lincoln or equivalent, and there is nothing the home buyer can do to change that. If that home is in a location that they need for work or schools, and is the price they can afford, they are stuck with the windows the builder is providing. Hard enough sometimes to get the builder to change a countertop, much less the windows.

You are too harsh - give the consumer some credit. Even on higher-end homes, getting the builder to switch to windows the buyer wants is near impossible. The builder has already negotiated and purchased the windows for all the homes in the development before the foundation for the first home is poured. Of course if the home owner has more money, and is building a one-off home (not part of a development), then they can get the windows they want. There are many posts on this forum from people like that.

I was referring to the type of new home that QWD-Christian was referring to and not a more track built home/development.

I am not sure that my comments were "harsh" per se when defining what are dominant consumer trends when selecting or optioning out a new home. .

At the end of the day, I am not blaming the consumer for this. There are not magazines devoted to windows and "How to get the 'dream' window project" is not in Better Homes and Garden or Martha Stewart. Windows are an afterthought (or at least 3rd tier) for most people and this in only reinforced by the builders and design magazines.

No you are definitely correct. I had a builder the other day tell me windows are now a commodity and for the last few years the upgrades are going to the kitchen and bathroom etc. as long as it's meeting Energy Star and is cheap it's going in the opening.

When we built our house a few years ago, we were pushed pretty hard to keep windows "simple", they weren't didn't merit the kind of attention I was looking for. I was directed to a subdivision with +$1M to see what they were using. Almost all were using Windsor and looked pretty "nice" in their setting. After visiting a Marvin showroom, I'm convinced that these folks are in for a rude awakening in a few years. When I talk to friends about their plans for new homes, they usually are blind to windows and their choices. I think builders recommend what they are comfortable with are usually not the best informed folks to be dealing with.

Does anyone know what year Lincoln Windows made a major change in the design of their windows due to moisture issues both in between the window panes and under and behind the units themselves? I am having to replace a whole house full of Lincoln Windows, installed in 2004, and, after finally, what felt like having to pull teeth, have gotten Lincoln to agree to replace the windows. We do NOT want to have the defective windows, which have caused serious damage under and behind the windows themselves, replaced with the same defective windows, which will cause the same damage in the next 10-12 years. Any insight in to the year the change was made by Lincoln would be greatly appreciated.

Just purchased our home, Grand Lake, Ok., in March 2017. Started our remodel and found that all the windows are rotted. The house was inspected by a licensed inspector and all windows were checked off as satisfactory. We were not present for the inspection but our sales agent was. Our sales agent also represented the seller , his mother in law. When we questioned them about the windows we were told they are Lincoln Windows and they were not aware of any problems. We have contacted a law firm handling the class action lawsuit and are trying to get the previous owner to answer most of the questions since we have no info on their builder or paper work on the windows. We will have to replace all of windows in this house. Has anyone had a similar problem?

These windows are a joke had them installed during new construction within 5 yrs they all leaked and you couldn't see thru them call company they replaced some and here we are again they all are fogged up again plus condensation is ridiculous...I will never again have a lincoln window they are junk they would not replace all of them for some odd reason said they only allow so much money to replace what a crock.

Ah, good old leaky Lincolns...................

millworkman..gun to your head and all the same price points - lincoln, windsor, or weathershield - which one do you buy?

Wow, I have been out of the retail game for some time and not 100% sure any longer. Dart to the wind and no other choices, and with trepidition, Weathershield.

So we are about to do a whole house build and our window rep recommended us looking at Lincoln windows. He indicated that now Lincoln and all other major window manufacturers use cardinal glass to avoid seal issues. Does anyone know if all the previous issues still exist with Lincoln’s “new” window production set up. Also heard the paint and materials are now similar to Marvin...
Looking for some recent installed comments (from the last 3-5 years).

That is a step in the right direction on the glass. The next question would be frame warranty and design.

You set on wood?

We are looking at the aluminum exterior and prepainted wood interior (hybrid window).

Have you considered hybrid materials like fiberglass

We did, but the price was a little more...

Than a clad wood?

Yes, though I only saw Marvin with a fiberglass unit. We do like the wood interior look.

In 1999 I built a new home using 43 Lincoln windows. I have replaced 16 due to condensation, three more on order and have replaced the weather stepping on five windows. These are junk. Sent a letter to Lincoln with no response. Some of the replacements need replaced.

Judy Brosofski ohio

I’m the owner of a 7000 square-foot house with multiple windows. The home was built in 2013 and occupied in late 2014. By 2018, 75% of the windows had failed seals. I have been negotiating with the builder, supplier and Lincoln windows for the past two years. Finally after some success receiving replacement sashes, I am left with removal and installation costs . I highly recommend looking for a different window company.

I installed Lincoln - worst decision. I paid for wonderful windows. I am stuck with leaks, condensation problem and bad repairs. Hate my windows and doors!

I have contacted my lawyer and will be pursuing the matter. I have over 30 windows that are occluded. The house is only 5 years old and I have had the problem for 4 1/2 years and it just gets worse every month. This is a production and materials defect. This should not be part of the warrantee verbiage. I won’t rest until Everyone knows about the quality issues of Lincoln windows or I receive satisfaction including installation of the replaced windows!

Maybe we have a class action suit here?

I hope. I have never had window issues but now I am replacing inside walls because of leaking windows. Company denies its the windows...

I built in 2011. Had to do 5,000 repair on windows in 2014.. Lincoln said I did not use correct paint. They recommended the ” Lincoln “ repair specialist. I spent $5,000 in 2014 repairing my $32,000 worth of lifetime windows. The leaking window is one that was repaired- so angry at response from this company when dealing with this ! I am getting attorney.

FIRST WINDOW - First Window Delivered and Installed with Fogging, smudges and prints inbetween the glass. We had to reoreder another window and that one well...was worse! Had actually scratches in the glass and more palms like prints, smudges.

This week we received the 3rd replacement, and this is what we received!!!! The spacers are just loose and shaking and dancing all over the place!!! I did ask to speak with the President: Rick Bleise, I was told however, no can do! He does not speak with people, and was told "oh, you won't be able to speak with him" Not great customer service, when the company's own President refuses to deal with customers, and makes himself unavailable for customers that have had long term issues or even new issues, legitimate issues.

They left out the spacer beads on them. If the glass is already scratched, should be getting new sashes on those units in question. The grids hitting the glass will damage the Low-e long term.

Good Luck getting Lincoln to do anything!

Lincoln windows are trash i have the same problem water rolls around the weatherstripping

And seeps through the window sill walls below rotton and loaded with mold it is an expensive

Google Milgard or Pella "Class action Lawsuit" and you'll see massive class action lawsuits settled with those companies very recently. Take the info above about Lincoln windows with a grain of salt. Lots of one time posters complaining about them over the years... seems suspicious.

I heard good things about Lincoln windows so I ordered them for my house from a dealer called Atlanta specialty mill works in Atlanta Georgia. It’s been quite an ordeal. We ordered them 4+ months ago and have struggled to get the dealer to return calls or even let us know when our windows arrived. So far only 1 of six windows has shown up. Lincoln claims damage in the shipment delayed a couple and they would “rush them” to us. That was months ago. Still no date and I spent more than $20k on these windows. I would avoid Lincoln and their dealers unless you really have good connections with one of them. Atlanta Specialty Millworks is definitely not a Lincoln dealer you want to use.

"$20k on these windows" "So far only 1 of six windows has shown up"

20K for 6 windows?

Yep. One was a sliding glass door and another was a large sliding glass window

Sorry to hear that.

I built my house in 1999. Have replaced a few windows. The problem is now that I would have to replace 85% of my windows for broken seals. Lincoln will not stand behind their product. I am a builder and will never use this product again. They are some or the worst performing windows out there. It will most likely cost me 50k to fix this problem. Poor quality poor support. I’m up for a class action suit

Leaky Lincoln's is what I have always known them as.

"I built my house in 1999. Have replaced a few windows. The problem is now that I would have to replace 85% of my windows for broken seals...I’m up for a class action suit"

@Jerry Sch - 24 years is a good amount of years for windows of that price point. And you said all you have are broken seals, which occurs after decades of expansion and contraction. You have no basis for a class action suit after 24 years. How many years did you expect? 50? The Lincoln windows warranty is 10 years, so you've had almost 2-1/2 times that.

Since you said you are a builder, it is surprising that you: (A) are dissatisfied with 24 years from Lincoln windows at that price point, and (B) are looking for someone to blame for the costs of regular home maintenance after 24 years.

For what's its worth...24 years out of a new construction window...ain't bad. They are notoriously mishandled and roughly handled by framers when installed and don't exactly occupy the price point that the more premium products do. As mentioned above, 24 years is really good for that class of product.

Considering Cardinal glass moved their seal failure warranty from 10 years to 20 years in the early 2000's should speak volumes on how long the average glass should last. I am a dealer that handles multiple very reputable brands and have to say the vast majority will have many seal failures from the 90's and early 2000's at this point. The construction of windows have changed, glazing practices, spacer bar technology along with thermal breakage in the designs. Throughought the evolution of all of the brands, it seems like they are all pretty decent beyond 2010, but seeing what Lincoln has done with their casements since 2017 is pretty outstanding. Anything built since then is probably not going to have very many complaints outside of personal gripes with individual distributors.

Actually Cardinal seal failure warranty has been 20 years at least since 1993 and the introduction of the XL spacer / IG system. XL has maintained a tracked seal failure rate of .2% since introduction.

Sorry, I misspoke. Many manufacturers did not extend Cardinal's warranty until the early 2000's, Marvin being one of them in 2002. There were many who used Cardinal plate glass also, but not Cardinal IG, which was also an issue when they laid up their own units.

" but seeing what Lincoln has done with their casements since 2017 is pretty outstanding "

Do they still leak air like a screen door?

They’ve been a pretty good product, edging out the M, W, A and KK brands we provide our clients. Would have never imagined that to be the case, but the GC’s and their homeowners like it. Throughout the pandemic they’ve had the lowest rate of QC issues vs our other brands.

There were many who used Cardinal plate glass also, but not Cardinal IG, which was also an issue when they laid up their own units.

I am not understanding what you said.....Are you saying that Cardinal did not use their own float glass to make their own IG units or are you saying that Marvin didn't use Cardinal IG's but did use Cardinal float to make their (Marvin's) own IG's in house?

My situation is a little different. We had custom Lincoln windows installed. in our house. The window in the kitchen hs a half round window on top. All was great until a few seeks ago the window cracked from the corner causing multiple cracks causing moisture to appear. No evidence of being caused by a rock or anything else. Contacted American Vision windows representative about the issue. They tell me not covered under warrantee and want charge me $600 to replace. Another glass company quoted me $300 - $400 to replace. Feels like I am not only getting screwed for company's mistake but I am getting raped! Trying to find copy of their warrantee as we seem to have misplaced it... Is this worth a lawsuit? Feedback appreciated...

" Is this worth a lawsuit? "

How old is the window? Broken glass is never covered from what I know. Lawsuit would cost a hell of a lot more than $600.

I have sold and installed windows for 33 years. 99% of problems are caused by builders who let the framers install windows. They don't let framers install cabinets do they? I replaced Marvin, Pella, Weathershield, Lincoln, Kolbe and Kolbe, (insert name here)...and they all leak if they are installed improperly. I have been told 100's of times by builders who build average 10,000 sqft homes "that as long as they last for 1 year", because that is most builders warranty. Horizontal sliders are the least efficient window produced by any manufacture (not counting the cheap vinyl windows made). All label and tested windows have an air and water infiltration rating posted on their website and put on a sticker on the glass of every window delivered. Your builder can also use a product called SillDry which is the best product to install in the opening before and window is installed. When a windows starts to leak (and they will all leak because most homeowners do not properly maintain them) the silldry product will keep the water from getting into the house. So stop complaining and get the person who installed them involved because they are the ones who are probably responsible for leaking windows.

Also in the early 2000's many companies purchased cardinal float glass but very few major window manufactures purchased Cardinal I.G. units. That came from a Cardinal glass plant tour I took in 2004 with Eagle Windows which were purchased by Andersen windows.

All that is great but the reality of it is this post was about Lincoln Windows. The product is crap and doesn't last even installed perfectly. And their customer service may be worse than their window quality.

Mine have lasted 20 plus years.

I never got their windows but I purchased two of their aluminum patio doors. It's only been four years and both doors had handles break less than 2 years of use. I've had to replace 3 knobs so far but the worst is the length of time their customer service takes to replace the parts under warranty. Their products look fancy but definitely do not seem to last long.