"“twice as strong as vinyl.”"

Interesting claim, where did that come from? That being said not a bad builders grade window at all, you could do a lot worse.

The andersen 100 isnt something i would offer or install. its kind of flimsy looking.

renewal is actually a better design, not that i love renewal. the 100 is cheaply made in my opinion.

Our builder is recommending we do 100s as well for cost. If you get white it's less expensive. I guess with other colors it becomes somewhat comparable to 400s (color isn't an upcharge on the 400s). For a villa you can probably access all of your windows with a short ladder anyway for cleaning. We have double hung pellas now (I kind of hate them), but we also have some fixed windows on our 2nd story, which means we still need to hire window cleaners to get those cleaned anyway (and they don't come out for just 2 or 3 windows, so we're paying for all of them).

@Window Genius

Can you be more specific about the deficiencies in these windows? Also, can you recommend an alternative in a similar price range? Thanks!

My daughter just replaced her windows. We thought he 100's were cheap looking and went with the 400's.

@millworkman I found this on thespruce.com:

Andersen's claim that Fibrex is twice as strong as vinyl is true, but only in terms of compressive strength. The benefit is not so much that you get a stronger window but that the window frame is slimmer, resulting in more glazing. More glazing brings more light into your home.

Marvin will be more money than the 100's for sure (Marvin's are a better window). Pella being lumped in with anything Andersen in my opinion is a mistake, as would be purchasing anything Pella. I would definitely get a price on the Marvin Essential's. The 100's are only available as a single hung with a pockets sill and no tilt feature. Many people have and do comment that they do feel and look cheap but they are a builder grade window manufactured to compete at that price point.

If you go with Andersen 100 series, make sure you follow installation instructions to a T. All of our 100 series frames have bowed after a year and the rep came out and said since we nailed every other hole, not every hole, and put the stucco right up to the window frame, not leaving a 1/4” gap, that they are not responsible for the window bowing.

"not leaving a 1/4” gap, that they are not responsible for the window bowing."

That would be the same for every window company not just Andersen. Installation instructions are printed and given for a reason.

Millworkman. I copied and pasted my comment to many posts so that anyone considering Anderson knows to make sure the installer follows the instructions exactly. I would have been so happy if someone had warned me so I could have caught it before our house was finished.

I get it but the way your post reads is you are blaming Andersen.

We're using 100s as the baseline for many homes. We've had a great 25 year history with Anderson and this product is competitive with vinyl pricing. The next level we work with typically is double this price.

"If you go with (any product) make sure you follow installation instructions to a T."

Any product. Windows, doors, tile, appliances, etc.

We purchase windows from an installing dealer when ever possible. It might cost more or surprisingly less but prevents the finger pointing. Random independent installers who don't read manufacturer's specs are common. Your GC?.

We would not recommend these windows to anyone. Our frames are cracking in several places and the metal slashing keeps sliding down. they look terrible, and they are 7 years old.

I would not recommend 109s to anyone. Ours frames have cracked in multipl places, and the metal slashing keeps moving and sliding down. We hate these windows. They are 7 years old.

" and the metal slashing keeps moving and sliding down "

What does that mean? What has Andersen said about the issues?

At first, they told us there was nothing they would do. They said we must have put some chemical on them to make them crack. That was ridiculous. after a lot of back and forth, they have given us replacement windows to replace

at our own cost. But, we really don’t want to put these windows in again, as w’re sure they won’t hold up.

Wow, I've never seen horizontal cracks like that before.

That is odd. Has to be some integral manufacturing defect. The arguement about "chemicals" is silly and laughable.

The cracks look like cuts to me. Hard to tell from a photo.

Definitely not cuts, lol. We have hairline cracks on multiple other windows too. Clearly, these windows do not hold up to heat and cooling in Colorado.

Now that I look closer . . . those are cracks, a lot of cracks.

The andersen 100 frame is weak and its basically plastic, I dont like it at all.. Its also very cheap looking.

A high end vinyl window is stronger and more efficient, thats a fact. I will say the '"renewal" window that cannot be bought in stores does have thicker walls and is definitely stronger than the 100 series even though they claim its the same material.

It's the same material (i.e. Fibrex or Andersen's branded Vinyl Resin and Wood flour composite). Funny that the rail against vinyl and their window is about 60% vinyl by constitution.