Marvin Essential is fiberglass. You won't need to replace them again.

Dan, I wish I had the budget for Marvin. Ideally we’d love to have fiberglass, but the quotes we got were two to three times the cost of the windows we’re deciding between.

WoW, We’re located in Colorado. My husband and dad will be doing all of the work. The house was built in 1980 and the original wood awning windows were very nice, but the lack of maintenance over the years has taken its toll. Every window is warped and/or splintered and broken. There are huge drafts and a constant battle with dust.

I’d thought we were set in the Andersen 100s, but I ran into the Simonton Daylight Max and now I don’t know what to do :(

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

I'd use the budget, all of it if necessary, to get the correct choice for windows. Two years down the line I'd do siding. Or one or more sides of the house. Break up the Reno as necessary so the long-term result is what you want to live with. Friends did this with all the benefits now.

The Andersen 100 is a considered a decent window and especially if iinstalled well.

Given the interconnectivity of siding and windows in this application, it would not make sense to split the projects.

Did you prefer one over the other?

100percent not the most common case as 999 times out of 1000 replacement windows are installed without replacing the siding. Your choice could be to do the windows and siding on one side of your house at a time to stay in budget and get the best long-term outcome. No window guy will say this. Oh, except the current tv ads from Renewal By Anderson says they're happy to do one or whatever is in your budget.

Never, ime, let a contractor determine how you spend your money.

@dan1888

A "window guy", the one that commented above you...did just say this.

The problem with the idea of breaking up the aggregate of the window and siding project (i.e. that should be combined) is that most folks don't want to live in a construction project while their house is half peeled and half not.

Bundling a roll of WRB and tacking it to the side of the house while you budget for the additional elevations because you need to take more time for your window budget is not a tenable situation for most homeowners.

@max0429

Did you have any leanings on the product one way or the other? Have you priced out the Essentials? Generally speaking, while it is a premium over the Andersen 100, depending on who you price it through, it may not be that big a delta.

The Marvin install on the front of my friends home was in the summer. It took 1 day. No construction zone. And this included increasing the size of windows in one area to update the exterior design of the house.

The reality remains less than 1 in a 1000 gets new siding when windows are replaced. People with brick get windows every day.

You can reduce costs substantially by using fixed windows in locations not requiring egress.

I'd consider triple glazing for your location. That bumps up the cost. Sorry about that.

My friends replaced t111 siding with Hardie cement plank.

When dealing with a salesman, they are only going to offer one and done options with all the arguments they've developed to back those up. They have no interest in the best long-term outcome unless it is one and done .

Attempting to not turn this into a back and forth, but there are some incorrect statements here, for anyone that might read this, to clarify as such.

1. Doing new construction windows with siding, and breaking it up into multiple phases would ABSOLUTELY leave a "construction zone" feel.
2. Where did you pull this bogus 1 in 1000 statistic from? 1....it's incorrect. 2.... @max0429 already mentioned that they are doing siding with the windows. 3....What difference does discussing any of the these other scenarios that DOESN'T apply to @max0429 benefit?
3. Fractional (i.e. can be as little as $40) delta between a Double Hung and Picture window of the same size and specifications. I don't think you price out windows too much, but this is incorrect that there is some massive saving in going with a fixed window. over an operable.
4. Triple pane might be a good fit and Colorado definitely has some weather extremes.
5. Castigating an entire industry is heavy handed and incorrect. I don't suspect you'd say that about the professionals that sell Marvin fiberglass?

I'm giving a reality check applicable beyond window salesmen. My caution applies to all interactions with salesman. Pure logic when dealing with a party to a transaction who has a vested interest in the outcome. Their first priority is their own interest, always.

The 999 out of 1000 example is important because it is the market for replacement windows. Every one of those do not require or use new construction configured windows. The industry can still do one day successful replacements of just one window in a home when necessary.

I discuss this option to stay in budget and reach the better long-term conclusion. If the budget is increased at this time the entire job at one time is preferred BUT only.by using the better long-term materials. My recommendation with a limited budget is to do the front facade or the west facade first.

For a Marvin salesman, no problem because you are not relying on him for info used in making a choice. You can still negotiate on price.

I replaced my siding when I replaced my windows - so I must be the 1 out of the 1000. And I used insert windows. It only made sense and I think I saved money. I used Andersen 400 windows - I preferred Marvin but they were just too expensive and the Andersen was a good alternative - and I've been very happy with them.

I took my contractor's ("salesman") advice on things but I made the decisions.

I hope the OP got their question answered - whether to go with the Andersen or Simonton (or Marvin) windows.

@dennisgli

Thanks for providing some background. There is a definite labor savings overlap if you do them together.

Of course, in this case, since the OP's family will be all the work there may not be any dollar savings.

Given the options listed, the Andersen 100 series isn't a bad choice if you are using casements and fixed units. Not a big fan of their single hungs though.

@dennisgli

Still a bit. Just having to recap would be a materials waste. And even if you are doing it with family labor, everyone's time still has value.

Out of pocket cost (labor wise), maybe not. But still a cost and still some materials (consumables) duplication.

" But still a cost and still some materials (consumables) duplication. "

As well as the construction mess, and general PITA factor of the house being torn apart twice.

I’d suggest doing it at the same time. New contruction/ finned windows are always best done with the siding. Inserts dont matter as much. Doing different sides separately runs the risk of changes in product,unknown cost and undpredicted financials. I say do it all at once is best . I would find a product that fits budget or just wait till you can afford to do it all at once.

Don't forget to check to see if there are any Federal Tax Credits or incentives for your state. This may help with your budget and/or deciding which windows to get.

Perhaps, local. Federal credits have sunsetted.