Pella vs. Andersen vs. Marvin

From what I hear Marvin is the best of the three (and most expensive). We are replacing windows on a landmark building and apparently we have no choice but to use the all-wood Marvins for the front facade. For the back we need to save $$$ so we are considering Andersen for 4 windows and a french window. Is there a very big difference with Marvin windows, and where does Pella fall compared to the other two in terms of quality? Is there a showroom where I can go and see these 3 products all in the same place in Brooklyn?

brooklyntoqueens

in Doors & Windows 10 years and 9 months ago

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dogsarebetterthanpeople | 10 years and 5 months ago

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I have Marvin doors and not only they are expensive, but very difficult to work with. Few people know how to install them properly, my doors warped with water and the weather stripping around the doors peeled. I am not happy with this product. Warranty is a joke.

stevenjames | 10 years and 6 months ago

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Just go for the Modern Glass Designs and the experts there will help you.

georgetinoco | 10 years and 8 months ago

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I haven’t used the services of the window companies you have mentioned. But when I searched, I found some interesting reviews and discussions about these companies. Hope these links would help you take the best decision: http://homestars.com/companies/215635-marvin-windows-and-doors http://www.contractortalk.com/f33/pella-anderson-93833/ http://www.ontariowindowreviews.com/reviews/pella-windows/

NeoGrec | 10 years and 8 months ago

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We have a mix of replacement windows — the result of gradual updates. I rate the Marvin’s first, Anderson second and the Pellas a distant third. The Marvin’s are very solid, quiet, and utterly draft free. The Pellas are skimpy and under built and the lock mechanism failed long ago. I have seen very handsome arched top Louwen’s being installed in our neighborhood and am sorry I didn’t know about them sooner — the Marvin’s are way expensive. Just make sure whatever brand you choose, you hire a good installer. Our Marvin’s were done by E-Z Tilt in Bay Ridge who really know their stuff.

364house | 10 years and 9 months ago

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Presidentships; Where did you purchase your Marvin windows and who installed them?

presidentstps | 10 years and 9 months ago

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Landmarks will accept Marvin aluminum clad windows on the front, as long as you replicate the original wood molding design. That’s what they told me at least, after we had already purchased wood windows. . Anyway, so we did brick-to-brick aluminum clad on the back, and wood on the front a year ago. No issues with any of them. We also specified laminated glass on the parlor windows to avoid bars and still have some security. . When I saw the Andersen compared to the Marvin in person, they didn’t seem as nice, and I figured for resale everyone seems to know Marvin.

theoperadiva | 10 years and 9 months ago

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We installed the Andersen A series windows and love them. Our house is incredibly quiet, the windows and screens are easy to operate and beautiful, and the house is remarkably good at maintaining temperature with little use of air or heat (I credit both the insulation and our excellent windows). We purchased at Brooklyn Window and Door. You can see all three brands there. I do wish we had quoted Marvin’s but we were dissuaded by B W & D from doing so. They said they actually like the Andersen’s better and they found them to be much less expensive (although I have read on the Garden Web forum that they sometimes come in cheaper than you’d think). Good luck!

resident2 | 10 years and 9 months ago

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A neighbor of mine just put in Marvin’s, I think because they liked the label showing for a long time, to show all the neighbors that they have Marvin’s! But they found the cheapest installer to install them and they look like crap (sorry) They are not even aligned right and no doubt will have problems in the future, they did not even bother to clean and point the brick first. When choosing windows; who you have measuring and installing them is a just as big of an issue. Well put in cheaper windows are much better than badly put in expensive windows. Heights Historic as noted above are good, I have also used E-Z Tilt Windows for Marvin’s

daveinbedstuy | 10 years and 9 months ago

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Marvin has a very bad push pin screen attachment design if that matters which is why i always use Anderson now.

jbrew | 10 years and 9 months ago

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Have you considered Loewen for the front and rear? They use Douglas Fir which is a more rot resistant wood, as opposed to pine which is the standard for all of the companies you are looking into. They are a higher quality then Marvin, without the ridiculous price gouging. I am with Heights Historic and we are a distributor, we also install and handle all of the Landmark filing. Jeff