They change the entire insulated glass unit so no issues with sealing. But in my opinion they should have been inspected and this noticed before installation and returned for replacement units or have let the factory changed the glass in their facility. Who is going to change the glass? It should be the factory sending someone out.

Thank you for your quick reply! The dealer said they were ordering the new glass but I didn't think to ask who would install it. I'd assumed it would be them because I haven't paid them yet. My concern is that the integrity of brand new windows are broken, and if the glass was bad on arrival -what else is wrong with them? I emailed the dealer that we wanted all new windows, not just new glass because they should not have installed defective windows. I've never had to put my foot down like this in the past and not sure what the outcome will be... Thank you again!

Yeah, I would feel the same way. What brand window if I might ask?

Milgard, Tuscany

Really, that's odd that they would have that issue with the glass. Never did a whole hell of a lot with them as they have most always been a west coast offering. I would definitely fight for new windows, only issue is a lot of time, installation is taken as acceptance. Was the installer also the dealer/distributor? Did you by the windows with installation as a package or separate hires?

The installer was sent out by the dealer. He's either their employee or subcontractor. Interesting enough - he was the one that informed us that they were all bad. The windows and installation were a package price.

@ddavisrn4 , this really isn't all that uncommon. As MWM alluded to, the glass is swapped as a sealed, insulated unit. There is no concern about the integrity of the window when this is done properly, which is not very difficult. Frankly, you would open yourself up to a greater chance of something going wrong if they did change the entire window as opposed to only the glass unit. It would certainly be desirable to have noticed this upfront prior to install, however most times this defects are seen until looking through the glass and doing that clean up. As long as you are dealing with a quality company and manufacturer (Milgard is solid), I wouldn't worry about this. In all likelihood they will swap that glass for you and you'll never think or hear about it again.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm also glad to know Milgard is a quality company and that our windows are an exception to their norm. I'm hoping this all works out soon!

Thank you for providing a glimmer of hope - that things aren't as disastrous as they appear! Thank you also for sharing your experience. We have 17 windows and 2 sliders at stake. I'll keep you updated re the outcome.

Well, the installers came out 5 weeks ago with all new glass, of which 12 of the 17 were bad again. They said they'd have another batch of new glass out for us in 2-3 weeks. It's been 5 and we've not heard a word. This was supposed to be a reputable distributor, in business for 30+ years, etc. At this point I can't say anything good about Milgard Windows because we still don't have them. What a fiasco!

Sorry to hear that @ddavisrn4. I'm sure that this provides little solace, but you aren't alone. The window industry is in jamb right now where the demand is at an all time high, but staffing and production at manufacturers in particular are struggling to keep up due to the pandemic. The result is delays and QC issues like this, and its happening all over the place. Very frustrating no doubt, but hopefully they will get this right for you even if it takes much longer than it should.

Thank you for the insight. (It's a shame I didn't hear this directly from the distributor though.) I'm surprised the demand is high right now. I would have thought with so many people out of work that most would be cautious about making a big purchase such as windows. Thanks again for the info!

You would think that, although I suppose everyone sitting at home for weeks looking at their shabby windows and siding sparked more interest than normal. Lots of vacation money probably unspent as well.... Siding may actually be even worse than windows. I know of one supplier that typically has a 10 day lead time and is currently at 10 weeks, and another has discontinued some slower moving lines for the rest of the season. Others "back-ordered" with no ETA. Its crazy, I've never seen anything like it.