It's a shame about your previous windows. You should have been given the option for factory finishing.

The Marvin Infinity I believe are fiberglass, which means you'll have minimal maintenance

( certainly not what you have with wood windows). I can't speak to the differences in styles. You'll want a detailed contract from a highly skilled installation company with workmans' comp, liability insurance, and a valid license. This is not the time to cut corners, considering your 2 year renovation. Do not assume work will be done correctly without your being present and frequently checking on the work. Prepare your home in advance-put away valuables, make sure you have heavy duty drop cloths available. Cover your rugs/floors/furnishings to avoid dust, etc.. 41 windows is a huge number. How long will this take? How many installers? Will they clean up, daily, removing all trash, etc.? Leave nothing to what you think they should do, but get in writing everything you want, including finish work, if needed. In times of Covid, will they follow precautions? Will they leave your premises during lunch, use your bathrooms, etc. You don't want an employee living in your bathroom multiple times a day, as has happened to others. This is a large investment and you want it done right.

Sounds like the look you want is all aluminum like Fleetwood. Though I know in CA it is hard to meet title 24 energy requirements with all aluminum windows. I did see a white Marvin modern window and it looked really nice, but sounds like they come at a premium price...with fewer options...looks like just picture, casement and awning windows shows on their website.

Knowing that you could get the Kolbe VistaLuxe windows prepainted, you don't want to go that route? I am debating Kolbe's Ultra line... with primed interior. But I agree that the primed version doesn't look great. The upgraded solid wood interiors look pretty nice, but I just want a simple clean white window on the inside. So torn on which direction to go.

Today was the first time I looked at the Marvin line...their naming system is so confusing...wish they would just call them what they are.... all fiberglass (Essential), Elevate (fiberglass exterior with wood interior), (Signature) aluminum clad wood... They all looked pretty nice. The Modern was my favorite but beyond what I can spend.

Thanks everyone. I’ve finally decided to go with the Kolbe Vistaluxe line, again. Part of my reason was I just didn’t want to mix/match my window brands throughout my house. I wanted consistency.

After months of meeting with Sales Reps and going bonkers (yes, Marvin makes it EXTREMELY confusing based on their naming conventions) and looking at brands/lines, I realized Kolbe offered my “idea” of modern that I was looking for—trying to mimic that “steel frame” look in my windows, like my front door. Kolbe allowed me to just do the sash black but the frame white for interior—not all offerings do.

Also, I went with the factory painted black which will be more substantial and look much better than my painted on site windows. If I had only known this option before...The cost, prep work, maintenance, and workmanship of the windows painted onsite makes me realize the value/cost equating to having factory do it—In the long run I bet it will be cheaper.

Lastly, I think I found a reliable contractor (do they even exist?!) but my last contractor is also part of the reason I disliked Kolbe. This new contractor, as did others, spoke highly of Kolbe. i will be here to oversee and already discussed my concerns for preventing damage to newly renovated home.

Windows, like everything, are taking a lot of production time. I’m hoping 8 weeks and nothing more....

I hope this helps others out there!

Nikki E Glad you were able to decide! I'm waiting on a Marvin quote and then will compare that will my Kolbe. Are you getting any sliding windows or all casement? I have some sliding windows in my quote but I haven't seen any in person. I've only found the casements on display.

Hapahaole:

I have mostly fixed and casement windows that I'm ordering...

However, for my renovation, I had a few awning windows (opened upwards) (The opening mechanism was a "slider" that pushes out the window not a "crank"). The awnings were both in standard window sizes and transoms. I had a group of 3 windows where I did the slider mechanism too (not a crank).

I also did a giant full wall slider door....and a massive window (36 ft roughly) where they had to design/build based on structure and weight.

We haven't had any issues with our slider (EXCEPT) we got "dividers" in them and since it came unfinished wood, the painters forgot to paint part of the interior slider that when the doors were opened a certain way, you could see it! After construction, they had to carefully remove the door to paint the part they missed (I couldn't watch I was so nervous).

After getting a lot of quotes, I recall being surprised that I didn't think the Kolbe VistaLuxe was incredibly much more money, especially since Kolbe was considered higher-end than some of the Marvin lines. It definitely ended up costing more for Kolbe though but that is because I had a lot of "custom" special needs/wants for my windows and we paid an upcharge to my contractor holding him responsible for any fixes/warranties instead of buying the windows on our own and then having him just install.

Most Marvin dealers I know are soup to nuts...they will order and do install and then be responsible for workmanship. Some dealers might sub it out to window installers they only use, some have their own crew in house, and others just hire someone to do it. But, with that said, check everyone's warranty for their product line.

Good Luck!