Vanguard would be the better product imo. Better design, lower air infiltration rate, and the manufacture is top notch. Aesthetically its is one of the nicer windows out there. While the Simonton is a solid window and would serve you well, I am not a fan of the aesthetics of any of the Simonton windows tbh

Appreciate the input!

And you certainly get less glass area with the Simonton Reflections 5500 than you would with some competing products.

The Sunrise definitely wins the beauty contest and edges out the Simonton on the performance race as well.

We're looking at Simonton casement on the majority of all the windows except 4 sliders and 1 big picture. The Vanguard will be all single hung with 4 sliders and 1 big picture window. I should have prefaced the conversation with that. Thoughts?

Still a win-win for the Sunrise there. Their casement is very nice and you will want to stay with the same supplier for all the units as long as they have what you need.

I'm not sure I understand what brand windows are going where?

Sunrise has a much nicer casement, but the performance numbers would be similar between the 2. The sliders from both would be good from each with very similar performance numbers. The hung windows would be Sunrise's only advantage performance wise in the air infiltration only. I do not like some of the design features on the Sunrise hung windows. I wouldd consider bidding another quality brand as well.

Just to clear up the confusion, we have one group selling Simonton and another selling Vanguard.

The Simonton group is selling us 4 sliders, 1 large picture window, 9 casements for $8200.

The Vanguard group is selling us 4 sliders, 1 large picture window, 9 single hung windows for $9800. Changing the 9 single hung windows to casement windows would increase the cost to $11,400, which is more than we'd like to pay.

we are deciding between the simonton quote of $8200 and vanguard of $9800.

What is the best offer here for the two options? Thank you all again for your expertise and input.

Do you prefer casements? I wouldn't settle on the style of window imo. Your going to have to look at it every day and although I'm not really familiar with simonton Casements, i'm sure they were performed quite well as casement windows typically do

Although I kind like the look of Simontons double Hungs there casement is pretty utilitarian looking including the screens and there hardware.

I would entertain looking at some other brands. Not a fan of single Hungs either unless for commercial use.

We prefer prefer casements but the Vanguard quality was really solid and we've received lots of positive feedback on them.

As stated the Sunrise casement is excellent and one of the best imo. Although it is more money the price will only sting for a moment. You'll have, use and look at these windows for a very long time so get what you want. Obviously mentalities are different but my dad is a price buyer, always looking for the best price and I see him not happy with his purchases or buying things multiple times because he didn't want to spend a little extra. He seriously went through 3 couches in 3 years because he bought cheap from biglots instead of buying one nice one, and each time he'd complain about his couch cushions flattening and go back to big lots for another lol. Obviously if he would just spend a little more and got a good one first time it would've been less money and less hassle. I bought my couch 7 years ago and is still in great shape

fyi not saying your cheap or Simonton is like big lots just saying in the long run its not that much more. Maybe finance a portion of the purchase to ease the burden