Pella Windows
I received a quote recently from Bayridge Windows, for both Marvin and Pella windows. The quotes were virtually the same, (maybe off by 100 dollars or so). The Pella windows were from the Architect Series. Does this sound right? I thought Pella was less costly than Marvin.
I received a quote recently from Bayridge Windows, for both Marvin and Pella windows. The quotes were virtually the same, (maybe off by 100 dollars or so). The Pella windows were from the Architect Series. Does this sound right? I thought Pella was less costly than Marvin.
Reading through these posts, I’m sorry to say that I’ve experienced these same issues with my Pella Architect Series windows and doors (cladding problems, seal failure, rotting wood, spotted glass etc.) installed throughout my home in 1995. Pella denies responsibility for these issues. Please check out this website, detailing the various window and door failures/defects in my home: http://www.onlinelitigationdiscovery.com I’m interested in hearing any similar stories regarding your problems with Pella on my website. Thanks for your time! -A. Bailey
I am a custom home builder in a high end reort town in Colorado and have been using Pella for years. I have used other window companies in the past such as Sierra Pathetic, Kolbe & Kolbe, Marvin and Loewen. I would have to say that for the price and product Pella beats everyone. They have the best engineered window for performance out of any other window company. They have the best air infiltration ratings wich is probably the most important rating above else.
Let me say that anybody who would take their set of prints for a new home or remodel to Lowes is a dumb ass(i.e. Pella stinks). You deserve what you get in bad service. Let me tell you that Lowes is ran by Pella corp and the local branches get stuck servicing Lowes sold jobs. My rep always tells me that people who have service issues from windows they bought at Lowes, 84 Luber etc go to the bottom of the priority list for service. Makes sense since the local Pella branch never made $ on the sale why would they go out and spend resources and $ to service it.
If you are looking to build a new home, remodel or replace I would deal directly with a Pella rep from the local branch. Not some $9.00 per hour Lowes employee who sells every product under the sun.
As for other comparisons to windows I believe Pella succeeds all others except maybe Loewen. But who would buy canadian anyway? Unless you voted for Obama.
Thanks to EVERYONE who has kindly taken the time to comment on their Pella Windows.
About 7 years ago I purchased 54 windows and doors from Pella, through Lowe’s, in Portland, Oregon. The windows were horrible. All the problems everyone else is having we have as well. Windows that don’t slide up and down well. They don’t close properly. The windows have a hard time being opened, etc.
We had a top notch master carpenter install our windows and he just scratched his head in disbelief with all the problems these windows have.
Did I forget to mention that some of the windows came with glass that was cracked. Lowe’s saw it but never followed up with a repair. Besides we were so tired from our window adventure that we did not want to talk to Lowe’s ever again.
The management, supervisors, and reginal managers all stunk. They were selfish, disinterested, self-centered, and seemingly trying to escaped the blame of these windows.
If ANYONE is interested in a class action please let me know. I am in. The stress in dealing with Pella was so great I almost lost it….
NEVER EVER CONSIDER THESE WINDOWS. They have a great name and a really nice commercial however the company is rotten, like their windows, to the core.
Feel free to write me anytime about this issue.
rb@elltel.net
Tomorrow I have 2 Pella service guys coming all day to “fix” my Pella architectural double hung windows that we have only had for 2 1/2 years. We chose Pella Windows for our brand new home – what a mistake. The first round that was installed, had mutins that were not square – they looked like they were smiling.
Now…we have the same problem as “Goose 1116”. We currently have at least 7 broken windows. The hinge pins break and cause the windows to jam in the open position. Yes, you never know when another window is going to break and get stuck in the open position! We too are not hard on these windows, and some have only been opened 2-3 times!! (We live in the Chicago area.)
Not happy with these expensive, new, defective windows!
I had all the windows in my home replaced with Pella Architect Series (“the best”) double-hung dual-pane windows in mid-2005. Nothing but a nightmare from start to finish. Scratched glass, wrong muntin style (I ordered 9-Lite Prairie, they made traditional cottage style), incorrect sizes, ugly replacement trim (so I paid $1,600 extra to have it done right).
Several windows in the original order had noticable scratched in the glass. With some effort I convinced them to reorder those sash. After much waiting, the technician showed up and proceeded to install the replacement sash. After about half of them were in place, I took a look and discovered that they were THE WRONG SIZE. They were all made about a half inch too tall. Obviously they would not even latch. The installer went about continuing to install them in spite of this obvious problem! So…out with the new, back in with the old…and another reorder. Again, a long wait, then the second set of replacements finally arrived and they were made with the WRONG muntin pattern.
It took thirteen months from the day I ordered the windows until the final installation was complete.
Since the installation, several of the hinge pins that allow the bottom sash to tilt in for cleaning have broken while opening and closing the windows, causing the windows to jam in the open position. Every few months a new one breaks (and I’m not a person who is rough on things…I’ve been careful with these windows).
$21,000 worth of junk windows. I’m just sick about it.
Corporate ignored my requests for help, and my local dealer/installer sends goons (if I’m lucky enough to get anyone to come out).
Please don’t buy Pella windows.
Add me to the list of disgruntuled Pella customers. We have Pella windows throughout our house. The ones installed in 1993 apparently had some sort of design flaw that allowed the seal to fail and water to come in and rot out the wood on the inside of the house. Pella service has come out and told me that this was NOT an installation issue — that the window seal had failed. I thought, for sure, they’d stand behind their product, but they’ve done nothing at all to correct the problem. I believe all of my windows on the South have this problem, but it only has surfaced on one of them so far. Check out my web site for details, at http://www.pellasealfailure.com
I am so glad to see I am not the only who is completely frustrated with Pella windows. Our house was built in 1996 and thought I was choosing a quality product in Pella. Since then I have paid through the nose for “service” to come multiple times for windows that won’t close, and “service” can’t adjust them short of putting pennies to brace up the hinge mechanism, all the while bemoaning that the problem is the settling of my house.
Now I have a bedroom window that won’t close in spite of a “service” call; Jim came hours before my scheduled appointment time knowing I would be out of town and told me over the phone that I have rotten sashes due to the federal government mandating that asbestos be removed from the product more than a decade ago. His “solution” is that I need to pay over $2000 to replace sashes in these 5 windows and that the product will have NO WARRANTY AT ALL. I have 23 of these type windows and simply can’t justify paying this kind of money for this incredibly poor quality and service.
Usally the positive remarks are from Pella head office they scan the web to find sites like this and post comments to make them selves look good. Not every person can have an installation issue and a poor contractor. The people with the wind noise problem check your pins in the double hung windows they are probably worn out and are not fitting properly or are of a triangle shape not square. if you have casement windows your sashes are out of square.
Have serviced there crap for 10 years and it just gets worse they take your money and puff gone quicker than you can say Mastercard
$ 21000 for windows
crappy service
out $21000 for windows
PRICELESS
I see alot of Pella bashing going on here. Fact of the matter is that they received the JD Powers award for customer satisfaction. They were also ranked very highly in Consumer reports. Both these top honors were awarded by customer’s opinions just like yours. So how did they win the award? Because the facts are that they are the best in the business. Not every transaction is going to go smoothly. Yes replacement windows will still leak unless you get down to the frames to insulate properly. Yes water and wind will get in when just the smallest of things are off. that will happen with any window. Those that have problems keep pushing. Its solely up to the local reps to service. If you get no satisfaction call directly to Iowa and tell them what’s going on and request they send you a survey. If they receive a negative survey it affects their wallet. Finally, pella has been awarded the Energy star Partner of the year for two years in a row. Also Pella is a founding member of the US Green Building Council and the LEEDS rating system. They helped create the standards that are demanded in today’s market. They are hated among competitors for that reason. Everyone else had to step up their game.
For the person with the mold. If the windows are vintage Pella the windows are over 20 years old. Remember these are wood windows you need to maintain and keep an eye on them. There is a project here in New Jersey that was installed back in 1937. The windows are in top condition and perform perfectly. The only thing that has been changed on them is the weather stripping due to the age. If you install them correctly and maintain them correctly. They will last you a lifetime. The biggest problem is installation.