I would begin by suggesting you read the there topics in this forum labeled Renewal by Andersen, i think you would find the consensus suggesting you look in another direction.

I would suggest Pellas Imprevia window which is made of fiberglass. Many of the new homes I have built recently as well as remodels I have done, my customers have really liked this unit. It offers a great look with the best structural integrity as well as thermal stability. It truly dwarfs the Renewal in terms of looks and durability and is less expensive to boot.

my dear, i would like to help you .This is my mail: jessica_2008zehao@hotmail.com

I wish i can give you some useful solution by then.

Last winter we replaced 20 year old windows with ENERGY STAR rated windows. While good, they were expensive and I am not convinced we will ever recoup the investment.

To me, a window really is nothing more than something to plug a hole in the wall ... yes, that's right, a hole in the wall.

I haven't lived in any house where in the winter the glass doesn't feel very cold to the tough, including our new ENERGY STAR rated windows.

From your initial posting it seems that a major concern is the summer heat. Not all solutions have to be new windows. It could be the absense of sufficient caulking around the window frames both inside and outside the windows. I noticed that even on our new replacement windows there was still significant gaps between the interior wall and the window frames that I put lots of caulking there myself.

I would also suggest to you another option (with or without new windows) would be to stop so much direct sun light coming into the house. Have you thought about exterior solar blinds, the type that go across the entire window on the outside yet you can still see out from inside the room?

I hadn't heard of these until I started to become more and more focuses on energy conservation. I've provided the link I like to point folks towards for a posting on our blog showing a full.....no joke......15 degrees F on our portable temperature guage once we installed the exterior solar blinds we purchased. And, we put them up ourselves .... and as my wife will attest, I am not the 'handiest' of weekend handimen :-)

If the concern really is more summer cooled air loss and heat buildup vs winter heat loss, I would go for the middle of the road windows price wise and then install exterior solar blinds.

Good luck!
Dan

Here is a link that might be useful: Exterior Solar Blinds

The first thing is what type of windows do you have? Does the entire unit need to be replaced or can it be updated?
Do you have wood units with casing on the inside or Al units with drywall return? There are alot of options need more info.

mylab 123,

Many posters on this site have dug a deep hole for Andersen. I don't mind filling the hole with a little dirt now. Andersen is a company in trouble and in all likelihood won't be around much longer to take care of any problems you might have down the road. Andersen has truly become a company that is selling its name attached to an outdated, shabby product.

If you are really considering paying Andersen's prices, check with a couple other companies. Vinyl is the popular trend--but do your homework. Try searching "impartial window estimate" and some pretty helpful links should appear. Also, you should refer to the Cost Vs. Value Report published by Remodeling Magazine: go to www.costvvalue.com OR www.trueestimate.org to know that you are getting your money's worth.

Windows should be a lifetime investment if you plan to be in your home for a lifetime. Be sure to invest in a quality product from a reputable company--many are mentioned on this site. Quality windows will pay you back over a lifetime.

I would look into triple pane windows,it would cost less then the one your looking at.

Here is a link that might be useful: window replacement Boston

While I am not really a fan of Andersen windows I am really interested in where your info came from, as I have quite a few friends who work for them directly and I am sure this would be news to them

tblundell

Where in the world did you get the idea that Andersen is in trouble? Or that they may not be around long?

alot of misinformation circulating these days.

I'm trying really hard not to be bash Andersen as much as so many homeowners I run into that own Andersen products. Maybe it's just up here in the Midwest where the weather beats the crap out of their windows, I don't know. My parents own a beautiful home full of 38, 12-year-old Andersen's that are literally falling apart. I'm sorry, but I'm only passing on what I see and hear on a very regular basis. It's not misinformation. My good buddy is a service tech for Andersen and says they're not doing real well (and that's putting it very mildly). I hope there's nothing behind what I see and hear, and that it's just coincidence that every time Andersen comes up in my profession, there is a negative tone to the conversation.

I hope the best for Andersen and no one should judge them as a company based solely on my opinion. But my opinion is just that, my honest opinion based pretty credible sources--Anderson's customers and its employees. Sorry if you don't like it.

Tblundell

So you have concluded Andersen is in trouble and not doing well based on the opinion of a friend who is a service tech and that whenever Andersens name comes up with your buddies who also sell vinyl windows it's always a negative conversation? No surprises there, eh?

No surprises there knucklehead.

(If you don't understand what Skydawggysnoopdawggydawggydog and I are talking about, check out the "What replacement window is best" thread. As you will see, snoop doggy has it all figured out.)

Tblunder

Problem is I didn't post to that thread. But don't let that stop you. I find the naivity very amusing.

You're handlers have done a good job from the "Secret Factory". Do the elves sprinkle the windows with magic fairy dust?

Your right buddy. Thanks for pointing that typo out in case someone couldn't figure it out. It's the "new to the window world" thread where you and your boyfriend are having all your fun. I'm pretty sure your momma used all the ferry dust on you. You're an idiot-get a life.

Why don't you explain why you are so offended by my opinions and why yours are so much better. Just try to come up with something other than vinyl windows cost too much for a good one.

I wonder who you work for?

How much do your windows cost?

What makes your product better for the price?

Nevermind, don't bother. I'm getting bored with a simpleton who thinks it's just good ole fun to assume things about other people. You're probably pretty racist too aren't ya? Is naivity really a word?

Good night... I'd love to stay up and chat. This is a really productive conversation you have started, but I gotta get up early tomorrow so I can go sell a whole bunch of crappy overpriced plastic at first drop from the factory I made up.

Pointless.

Oh, God bless you and your infinite wisdom.

I'm not offended by your opinions. I and others have simply asked you several times to back them up and your only response has been to cite Remodeling Magazine Cost Vs Value Report which everyone in this industry knows contains inflated information. How many copies would you imagine Remodeling Mag sold of their November Edition? Just a copy of the report sells for $29.95. Whom do you think would want to buy just that report and would be willing to spend that much? Why?

Your other response is you can't disclose who manufactures your window, provide data such as U values, air infiltration, DP, and structural ratings etc. I've also asked you why you consider your window better than other windows, which apprently your trainers don't want you to explain either. Is your window AAMA and NFRC rated?

And because you've become frustrated, I'm a racist. Nice!!

BTW we carry several different vinyl windows like Simonton and Gorell because most consumers like to have choices in quality, price, and options rather than having one window shoved down their throat with a high pressure, price only good today approach. Deny it all you want, but anyone in the industry for more than a few years who's read your postings knows what I'm saying. It's also the reason you won't reveal your companys name or window manufacturer.