House window & Siding

is that a snap in piece in the header of the sunrise?

All,

Received the quote from the Okna rep for the 500's with triple pane as they are running a special offering triple at double pane prices. It was about 1k more than the Berkshire, but we will probably go this route. It looked like a well manufactured product.

He advised they use a fiberglass insulation as opposed to the spray foam which everyone else has discussed. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Okna is far superior to Berkshire, and certainly worth the extra $1000.00.

While spray foam insulation is better, it’s never a good idea to force a contractor to use a product that he’s unfamiliar with. Fiberglass does need to be enclosed in an airtight cavity to reach it’s potential, so he needs to seal all points where air or water could migrate around the windows.

Ok great, thanks for the feedback everyone. The contractor indicated they can use either, so I will probably ask for the spray foam. it seems more energy efficient.

@Builder Bill... no we are in NY.

Excellent window choice, and yes, foam is better. Airtight window and airtight opening with that combo.

lb-jb-banks@sbcglobal.net April 25 2018

Hi, Between The Alside ULTRAMAXX the SHEFFIELD the SHEFFIELD ll and MEZZO. Which would be a first choice. THANKS, LONNIE

Sheffield and ultramaxx are the same window. One has a snap in piece on the bottom to make it a slope sill vs pocket sill.

"Which would be a first choice."

Starting your search over...................

The 8000 would be my choice from the Alside lineup, although there are many windows that I'd choose over that one as well.

We are deciding between replacing 30+ windows with Alside Mezzo or Simonton 6500 (Simonton quote is about 15K more). We have also been offered the aluminum coil wrapping for around the outside trim of the window. Questions:

Which vinyl window is better? If it's Simonton, is it worth the extra price?

Is the coil wrapping a good idea? In theory it seems protective and would lower maintenance, but I don't know much about it and can't find much additional info about this process. We were told that the aluminum wrapping can be molded to still how the details of the trim below. Is that accurate?

Thanks for any insights you can share.

Im not a fan of either but if i had to choose it would be the simonton 6500.

depending on where you are located there should be much better windows available for probably a similar price. I would look at Soft lite, Okna, Sunrise, Kensington. They are built much better and look nicer as well.

As far as coil wrapping, if the installer is a good installer, I would definitely get the coil wrap. As far as the windows themselves I would agree with Window1.

Stepping up from allside to Simonton at $500 more per window sounds like you went from an independent contractor to possibly home depot. Like others have mentioned I would look into sunrise as they are absolutely beautiful windows and designed very well. I am a sunrise dealer in Louisiana and with that being said it is definitely not a biased opinion I choose to offer sunrise because they are by far my favorite windows to put my reputation on.

I have been installing the Mezzo Alside window for about 4.5 years and we do not have call backs, but maybe a very rare seal failure! You can get the Mezzo in double or triple pane glass and they look amazing! Just like any other window, it can't do it's job if the installation was poor. Our customers love the window!

MWM...ha!

Just to update the information that has been posted. The Alside MEZZO Window is offered in triple pane glass and has an impressive U-Factor.

As a homeowner I quoted 4 different contractors for our re-siding and window project and each of them had good comments about Alsides Windows. They did not try to push Alside on me, I did the research and made my decision and then consulted them afterwards to get their opinion. Each of the 4 Contractors had good things to say about the Alside Mezzo Window. I did look at other Windows but we ended up installing the Mezzo Triple Pane Window with Climatech ThermD. We also installed the Alside Prodigy Triple Pane Patio Door. We are very pleased with our decision. The product performed well during a nasty Winter and a brutally hot Summer. I think many of the negative comments are competitors with an ax to grind and their adverse disparaging comments about a fine product prove the products they push are actually not as good as they claim.

Be wary of going with a small company, because in this economy, they could be out of business next year.

Be sure to get a reliable and trusted installer who properly flashes the Window Top, Bottom and sides!!!

To anyone trying to get real true feedback on a Window (any Window), be cognizant of the facts people post about any Window. If there is no detail or relies on personal insults it is likely just a troll.

Dont forget to mention all the “fuzz pads”, aka cheat pads , that Alside needs to glue to the corners of the meeting rail because of air infiltration. Any high quality window would NEVER need fuzz pads which invariably come off.

i also like the very bendable keeper..NOT !!!

Interesting first post Rand, what exactly do you do for Alside?

Hello all,

I need to have 5 windows replaced.

I already have quotes for the Atrium 8300, Berkshire Elite, Alside Mezzo and Simonton's Assure and 5500. The cheapest were the Atrium at $2200 and Mezzo at $2400.

What are your opinions on the Vytex Fortis and Georgetown? I may contact another company for a quote for them.

It would be really helpful if you could give me an idea of what the best budget window is out there. Thanks...

The Fortis is a solid window. Best of that bunch by a good bit. Stay away from the Georgetown.

Thank you for your reply. Besides single strength glass, what else is negative about the Georgetown? Would you put the Georgetown above the other windows, like the Berkshire Elite? I'm asking because I actually saw the Berkshire Elite in person. I haven't seen the other ones in person, so I'm using that one as the standard. Can you list the windows in my list from best to worst?

Older design, flimsy, kind of a cheaper afterthought in their line up. Poorer air infiltration ratings and generally just a cheaper feeling and looking product. Best is definitely the Fortis is the top dog in that bunch.

I received a quote for 5 Vytex Fortis Windows for $2700. Is that a good deal?

I'm sorry, should have mentioned it's a very reputable company with great reviews in the MD/DC area. The quote I had received from another company for the Berkshire Elite was $2460.

It’s definitely worth the extra over the Alside window (Berkshire). If you like the company and feel good about the install then go for it. Good deal? That’s tough to say with fully seeing the job but it seems reasonable and is a great window.

Thank you for your input!

"it's a very reputable company with great reviews in the MD/DC area."

Should have mentioned that earlier. Windows on Washington should be in your area and were it me he would be my fiorst call.

As an Alside dealer, I had to comment to correct the record. Alside Mezzo windows are available with triple pane glass. It sounds like the contractor who showed you the window did not know the product line very well. Mezzo is a very fine vinyl replacement window. We had sold this window since it came out in 2014 with absolutely no problems. Jim M Manager at Windows Pittsburgh

Pretty sure the record was corrected before your belated commentary. Yes we know that mezzo now has triple pane. We also know that even Alside engineers (kind of like Burger King ”chefs”) didn’t design it to handle triple pane, but at some point some egghead with an actuarial background over there realized that these windows are probably going to get replaced in 10 years anyway, so why not offer it

I'm looking for windows in Central Florida, Okna are unavailable, Kensington are unavailable either, Soft-Lite Dealer wanted $2700 for the window alone its 190" x 48.5" triple unit, with picture window in the middle and either sliders and double hung on the end. I can get the Mezzo for about $1k from a local dealer, so what are some better choices, I would be wiling to spend more money but I'm not spending $2700 for the window and my choices in Central Florida seem to be limited.

1K for the 3 windows? How is that even possible?

Are you installing this window?

Neither is this case probably works here. The Soft-Lite numbers seems a bit steep if we are talking product only in this comparison and the other number seems way to cheap.

Try going to some of the builder supply houses and see what they have.

Both prices are for the window unit only, have a local friend who is a contractor to pull the permit which is needed in Florida. I know how to source product, and where to go to purchase the same, however not very familiar with window brands and want to buy a quality window. So I appreciate the help and the suggestion but frankly I am looking for some good quality brands that are available in Central Florida, thanks

PGT is pretty big down there as another option to compare. Simonton makes a bit of a truck of a window, but its well built.

Aspect and Endure windows by Provia are better than Alside, Simonton, Okna and Soft-Lite.

Interesting. By what metric are the Provia windows better?

central Florida isnt impact by code is? If it is I would consider looking at Conservation Windows by Regency plus. Bill Fanelli can find you a dealer just google him or conservation.

I have had three quotes for windows for my home, which would you suggest is the better option for 23 windows:

1) Zen Nirvana for $15k

2) Window World for $13k

3) Mezzo windows for $11k

if Nirvana truly is a better quality window I don't have any issues pony-ing up the extra $$

Yes. It is the better window. I don't hear anything about the companies or installers in this comparison. That is easily as important as the window.

Option 1: decent but outdated window, fake company.

2: walmart level window and install. I’ve never seen a compnay pay less to their installers. I guess they won’t go out of business so that’s a plus.

3: same Walmart window, but if the price is less, it’s probably installed by a guy that will have warm can of Busch light in his tool belt.

get more options

"it’s probably installed by a guy that will have warm can of Busch light in his tool belt."

I think I know that installer.............................

Don't we all, MWM? lol... I do have to agree though, you may want to broaden your search Mike V. For a quality product and install, search for an established local company with a great reputation, and a product with with a equally good rep and performance ratings. The options that you have do check some boxes, but there are red flags IMO as well.

A good installer would never let the Bush get warm,

So what’s the verdict guys should get Alside Mezzo or not?

There are better products as mentioned. I would start a new thread.

Good installation is obviously very important but you also want a good window. Alside Mezzo do NOT make a good window in my opinion. There are much better vinyl windows out there.

The name fits the window.

I had 32 Alside mezzo Windows install. The windows are not bad but the contractors that they have are horrible. You have to be careful because people will say that they are "Alside certified" and will rip out your windows and screw the new ones in sideway then run for the hills... One of those companies Oakland Construction or Orchard 10 is another name they go by also...