Precision Home Exteriors LLC

One of our very first customers, Ken Lehman in Brentwood, TN had taken his time and gone into a lot of detail laying out his entire experience from beginning to end when finding the best vinyl replacement window and company to complete his project. Take a look at this article that he wrote and published.

Vinyl Window Replacement Project

Our Window and Installation Company Selection:

We selected Precision Windows and Doors as our vendor of choice and their Soft-Lite Imperial LS window as our window of choice. Provided is some of the research and considerations that went into making this decision.

Our Window Replacement Project:

• We have a 20-year-old home with original construction grade windows and had issues with air leakage, broken seals, and wood rot.
  
• Scope included replacing 36 windows total comprised of 23 Double-Hung (DH) windows and 13 Fixed Pane (FP) windows. Several of the FP windows in the front of our house were irregularly shaped (e.g., the top of the frames of these windows were half-round or “eyebrow” shapes).
  – Irregular shaped windows add to the cost of window replacement.
  
• The front of our house today has simulated divided light (SDL) wood grids on the windows. These wood grids are attached to the outer surface of the glass, both on the inside and outside of our windows today. They are attractive but a pain to clean and paint. My wife was adamant that she wanted replacement windows that had the grids installed inside the double-pane glass so that the grids would not interfere with cleaning the glass. Most all vinyl window companies today offer the option for grids to be installed in this manner.
  
• My wife and I limited our search to vinyl windows. I believe the technology in vinyl windows has advanced to the point where they are very suitable for homes in the Brentwood area. I also believe vinyl offers real long-term advantages over wood clad or other window types in terms of maintenance and cost.
  
• We plan to be in our home for the foreseeable future. Quality windows and warranty coverage were therefore important considerations for us. All windows we considered offered limited lifetime warranties on the window product. Labor warranties, however, varied significantly from 2 years to lifetime. Some warranties include glass breakage while others do not. It does pay to read the fine print when it comes to the warranties (see more discussion below).
  
• The exterior trim, porch, and windows of our home are currently painted a light beige/almond color. We desired to maintain this exterior color which meant that the windows we purchased would need to include an exterior color option that was close to what we have; yet the interior of the windows would need to be white to match the interior white trim in our home.
  – Purchasing windows with one color on the outside and a different color on the inside adds to the cost of window replacement. All the window manufacturers we spoke with offered either white exterior/white interior or beige exterior/beige interior as standard vinyl color options (i.e., “standard” meaning the vinyl itself is solid white or solid beige throughout – there is no painted finish or cladding necessary which is what adds to the cost).

Window Product Considerations:

I could write a book on all that went on in trying to select our window replacement vendor. It was not a pleasant process for us. A lot of claims were made by many of the companies along the lines of:

—  “we have the best glass package with the best ratings”

—  “we have the best warranty on the market”

—  “the hardware we provide is the best you’ll find in the industry”

—  “word on the street is that [competitor so and so] company is in dire financial trouble and may be headed for bankruptcy.”

—  “rating agencies are paid by window companies and their data is biased and not that useful.”

— etc., etc., etc.

I had a lot of things said to me by various window salespeople that later turned out to be false after doing some of my own research and validation. Often the facts would not support their claims.

Vendors would then lose creditability, and I would not know what to believe and what not to believe.

Therefore, when it came to window brand selection, I relied heavily on independent rating agencies; namely, the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC, www.nfrc.org ) and the American Architectural Manufactures Association (AAMA, www.aamanet.org). Learning how to best use these sites and extract information from them was likewise challenging but worth the effort. I spent considerable time on the phone directly with both NFRC and AAMA personal responsible for managing their ratings processes to understand how to use their data and to validate or dismiss certain claims from vendors about how the testing is performed. I usually limited my ratings comparison to double-hung windows only because I felt these were most susceptible to structural design issues including air and water leakage.

I found that there are two primary considerations when selecting a window brand:

• Structural Integrity – For example, are the meeting rails (i.e., where the upper sash and lower sash meet) on DH windows reinforced? Is the outer frame fully extruded vinyl or do certain sections have pop-in covers/inserts? Does the window offer a true sloped sill design or are there weep holes where water drains through the frame? What type of hardware is used for the locks and balance mechanisms? Does the window company advertise their manufacturing tolerances? Is the window AAMA Gold Label Certified and if so, what is the AAMA Performance Grade (related to the window’s Design Pressure or “DP”) of the window.
  The AAMA Performance Grade is a good indication of how solid the window is in terms of overall structural integrity. It is a measure of how much pressure can be applied to the window before structural damage occurs. The certification process also determines useful measures of air leakage and water leakage resistance.
  
• Glass Package –For example, do you want double-pane or triple-pane? Do you want a special glazing to minimize solar radiant heat into the home? This is where the NFRC ratings for U- factor, SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient), VT (Visible Light Transmittance), and CR (Condensation Resistance Rating) come into play. Energy Star ratings vary based upon where you live in the country. In the north, solar radiant heat is a good thing – in the south it is not. Likewise, how much direct sun hits your home during afternoon hours should be considered. For example, if you are on a heavily wooded lot with a lot of shade, paying for a special window glazing to block radiant heat is a waste of money. Our home gets a lot of direct afternoon sun, and the challenge in our home is not heating it during the winter months but keeping it cool in the summer months. I therefore was very interested in getting a glass package with a low U- factor and a low SHGC rating (especially a low SHGC).
  The VT rating is also important. Ideally, in the Nashville area, you want a low SHGC and a high VT rating which means you don’t want to sacrifice visible light in the home by installing window glass that is so dark that it blocks light entering the home. Cheaper glass accomplishes low SHGC simply by applying a glazing that makes the glass dark. Also, one downside of triple pane windows is that generally you get windows with low VT ratings (more visible light blockage because of the extra pane of glass).

• Tempered Glass– Be aware that building codes require that tempered glass be installed in windows over bathtubs/showers and on windows of certain and size and shape that extend close to floor level. Tempered glass will add to the cost of the window.

• Color Considerations – Interior and exterior color preferences can have a significant impact on price and warranty. I found that the raw or natural color of the vinyl in vinyl replacement windows is either white or beige. Most companies offer both of these as base colors options. By raw color I mean the vinyl itself through-in and through-out is all the same color – there is no paint applied to either the interior or exterior surface. If you can go with an interior/exterior white/white or beige/beige window, you will save money and most likely have a better color warranty on the window (see the discussion below under Warranty Considerations for more information on color considerations).

WINDOW RATINGS: Each window that carries an NFRC rating has a unique vendor specific

“Certified Product Directory” (CPD) number. This is a key reference number you can use to look up the specific window a vendor may be quoting you on the NFRC and AAMA websites to get the window’s ratings detail. For example, the CPD# for the large DH Soft-Lite windows we selected is: SLL-A-29-00767-00001. You can search the NFRC Certified Product Directory by this number and get all the energy efficiency rating information for this window.

Trying to get the CPD#’s from many of the window companies I dealt with was like pulling teeth. When speaking with them, you would hear all of the “we have the best this…” and “we have the best that…”, but when I asked for the CPD numbers of what they were including in their quotes, they either didn’t know the number or for some reason didn’t want to provide it – neither of which was good. Keep in mind the CPD#’s are on the NFRC labels that are stuck to the windows that are delivered and installed in their customers’ homes. First, they should know the CPD# of their product if they are really familiar with their windows. Second, if for some reason they don’t know the CPD#, it shouldn’t be hard for them to walk out in their shop or call someone on their installation crew and have them look at the sticker on one of their windows. I was very suspicious of vendors who would make claims like “…our windows are consistently ranked in the top 3 of energy efficiency” (as the APEX salesman claimed), but then when you asked them for the CPD#, they wouldn’t or couldn’t provide it.

Air leakage (AL) is also a big deal in our home with our current windows. Surprisingly, neither the NFRC nor AAMA provide the AL numbers for various window manufactures on their websites. Some window manufactures will voluntarily put the AL numbers on their window stickers; however, in most cases, the AL numbers won’t be volunteered and you will have to ask the window vendor for their AL rating number. Be aware that AL numbers will usually only exist on AAMA Gold Label Certified windows because it is under the Gold Label Certification program that AAMA’s structural tests for air and water leakage occur. Supposedly, the NFRC will on occasion test for air leakage, but I’ve never come across published NFRC AL numbers. I did call AAMA to inquire why they do not publish window AL numbers, and they do have their reasons which are associated with established testing agreements they have with window manufacturers and the timing as to when air and water leakage testing was added by AAMA. The bottom line as AAMA confirmed with me is that you have to ask the window manufacturer for the AL number. If they are claiming their windows are AAMA Gold Label Certified, then they should provide the AAMA Certification report which will include all of the AAMA certification detail including the AL rating numbers.

Furthermore, it is not sufficient to learn that a particular window is “AAMA Gold Label Certified;” instead, you need to obtain the specific AL rating number for the specific window under consideration. To obtain an AAMA Gold Label certification, a window manufacturer only needs an AL number <= 0.30 cubic feet per minute per 1 square foot of window area with a 25-mph wind. This is equivalent to 2.25 gallons of air per minute per square foot of window. For a 3 x 5’ DH window, this would be 33.75 gallons of air per minute coming through the window which is a lot. Granted, we do not have a lot of days in the Nashville area with 25 mph winds, but the windows are tested this way to expose design deficiencies such as weak structural components and loose manufacturing tolerances that result in air leakage when the windows are under pressure. Your better-quality windows will have AL numbers under 0.05 which is six times better than the AAMA minimum Gold Label threshold of 0.3.

Finally, for manufacturers to produce AAMA Gold Label Certified windows means that they must subject themselves to surprise inspections by AAMA to ensure that the windows they are producing are in fact being produced in compliance with AAMA and NFRC certification requirements. AAMA also verifies during these inspections that the windows on the production line match the test specimen that the manufacturer sent to AAMA during certification testing (i.e., such that the windows a vendor ultimately delivers to you are the same windows that the vendor submitted for testing). All windows that are AAMA Gold Label certified should have an AAMA Gold Label affixed to the inside edge of the head of the window frame (e.g., for a DH window, the sticker is usually stuck to the bottom of the head piece where the upper sash comes in contact with the head piece). If no label is attached, it is not a certified window.

To sum up the ratings discussion above: I found it very helpful in an attempt to compare apples to apples to get the NFRC and AAMA ratings numbers for the various window companies under consideration. Again, this was easier said than done. I suggest you insist the window vendors provide the CPD# for the DH windows the vendors are including in their quotes, and if the windows are AAMA Gold Label Certified, for them to provide the air leakage and design pressure for the windows. Then, you will have meaningful and independently validated information where you can compare window brands against one another.

– For our home, my goal was to get an AAMA Gold Label Certified window that met or exceeded:

U-Factor:	<= 0.27
SHGC:	<= 0.22
VT:	>= 0.40
CR:	>= 55
AL:	<= 0.05 for small and large DH windows
DP:	>= 35

Vendor Installation Considerations:

Just as important as choosing the right window is choosing the right vendor to install them. In other words, a window replacement project is really two projects. First is selecting the right window and getting all windows ordered with correct sizes, colors and styles. Second, is selecting the installer and knowing the details of how the installation of the windows and the window trim wrap is going to be accomplished. The installation of the exterior trim wrap in particular is a totally separate consideration from choosing the replacement window itself.

Ideally, the installation company you select will also be a dealer for the window brand you have selected. Many window salespeople will only focus their discussion/presentation on the window and won’t even mention installation considerations since often the buyer doesn’t know to ask (i.e., why complicate matters if the salesperson doesn’t need to?). I wanted one company to be responsible for the window product, the installation of the windows, and warranty support. In fact, this was a requirement for me. Otherwise, I could envision finger-pointing issues arising if I purchased the windows from one company and had a different company do the install. I eliminated companies that did not have their own installation crews as employees of their company.

Furthermore, knowledgeable and qualified installers are critical to having a successful outcome to your window replacement project. I subscribe to the saying that: “You’re better off with a high-quality installer and a low-quality window than a high-quality window and a low-quality installer.” I believe a good installer can take almost any window of reasonable quality and produce a happy customer. How well the window then performs post-installation and over the long term is going to be a function of both the quality of the window product and the quality of the installation.

Installation – Things to Consider:

1. Trim Wrap: all vendor proposals we received included not only replacing the windows, but then using aluminum trim coil to wrap the wood trim that surrounds the wood window framing on the outside. The idea here is to end-up with near maintenance free windows and exterior window trim. The aluminum trim coil used for the exterior trim wrap can be ordered by the installer to match the exterior color of the window. The trim color is applied during the manufacturing process of the trim coil and should be a high-performance paint intended to last.
   
   The labor involved in trim wrapping the windows is a big part of a vinyl window replacement project, and having this part of the installation done correctly is critical to getting a high quality finished look around your windows on the outside of your home. Again, this is all about who you select as your installer and has nothing to do with your selection of the brand and style of window.

• Not all trim coil is the same: Find out what type of trim coil your installation company plans to use and what warranty comes with the trim coil product (i.e., trim coil and the labor to accomplish the trim wrap is not covered by the manufacturer’s window warranty). The trim coil product is totally separate from the window product and is covered under its own warranty (if one exists). The labor warranty to install the trim coil is provided by the installer.
  
• It doesn’t do much good to have a lifetime warranty on the window color and then have an installer use lower quality trim coil that has no warranty whatsoever. I’ve heard of many horror stories where paint on trim coil peeled and cracked after only a couple of years. The trim coil I will be using on my home is “Performance G8” made by Alside. It comes with a 30-year warranty.
  
• Installation costs should include the replacement of any rotten wood or damaged window frame pieces that needs to occur before applying the trim wrapping (i.e., you don’t want to apply trim wrap over rotten or damaged exterior wood; otherwise, the trim wrap will likely fail down the road). I was surprised to learn (on a good note) that installers routinely build into their pricing the replacement of rotten/damaged wood without restrictions, but you need to ask to confirm this and want to make sure this is spelled out in the contract.
  
• Compression Fit or Caulk where Trim Wrap meets Brick: This was almost a major slip-up on my part as I didn’t realize that installation companies handle installation of the trim wrap differently. Some will wrap the aluminum trim coil around the exterior wood trim and bend it in such a way that it presses against the brick (called a “compression fit”). Small finishing nails are then hammered through the side of the trim coil into the existing wood trim underneath to hold it in place. Others will wrap the trim and then apply a high quality, matching color caulk to seal the edge of the trim against the brick.
  
  I saw an example of the first type of install and did not personally care for it at all. The edge of the trim coil has a flimsy feel to it as it is not bonded to the brick. If you don’t touch it, you probably wouldn’t notice it aesthetically from a distance; however, if you have porch windows where the window trim is highly visible and may even be used to set things on at times, you would definitely notice the flimsy look and feel of the compression fit method.
  
  Instead, I believe caulking the edge of the trim wrap to the brick provides a much better finished look. When you touch trim wrap that has been properly wrapped and caulked, it feels solid like a piece of wood. I also believe that the better installers can install the wrap in such a way that there are no exposed nail heads anywhere on the trim coil, which is a look I strongly prefer. Exposed nail heads can rust.
  
  From what I understand, the compression fit method is very popular in our area. I believe it saves considerable time and cost for the installers when they don’t have to caulk the trim wrap to the brick. Also, running a good/heavy caulk line down the edge of the trim coil and brick is a skill that takes experience to do correctly. It also requires high quality caulk which adds to cost.
  
  When I question vendors who use the compression method, they of course said: “It is better than caulking because brick is porous and you don’t want water to get trapped behind the trim coil.” Well, maybe, but I don’t buy this. AAMA has installation standards and from everything I’ve been able to discern about this issue, you ideally want to do everything you can to keep water from getting in behind the trim coil (i.e., you want it sealed at the brick edge).
  
  Some vendors would say they would do the install either way – if I wanted caulk, they would caulk. However, if this was not what their crews were trained to do day-in and day-out, I didn’t trust that they had the expertise to do a caulk finished trim wrap correctly.
  
  If at all possible, go to a job site or a completed window installation by the vendor under consideration and inspect the quality of their work. You can also assess the difference between compression fit against the brick versus a caulk finish. I did this and it saved me from making a decision that I later would have majorly regretted.
  
  I give all credit on this matter to Patrick Romm who is the owner of Precision Windows and Doors who pointed out to me that many window installers in the Nashville area use the compression fit method. I had not even thought to consider this. One vendor said he could do all 36 of my windows in 1 day – I learned later they use compression fit which is what makes this possible.

2. Sealing new windows into existing window frames – Again, different installers go about this differently. Vinyl replacement windows are installed within existing wood window frames (i.e., the outermost rectangular edge of your existing windows where your wood trim molding is attached – these frames are not replaced and the new windows will fit inside these frames). The question is how does the installer seal any gaps between the new window and the frame so that air and water do not penetrate into the home’s interior? Some will order windows with a foam wrap to provide some sealing capability and then will caulk around the outer edge to finish it off. Others, will inject expanding foam into the gap to provide an airtight seal between the new window and frame. My preference based upon what I learned is that the expanding foam method is better and more durable over the long term. The reason I understand more installers don’t use it is because on lower quality windows the expanding foam can distort the new vinyl window frame (i.e., push it in) and make the window too tight or out-of-square. I also understand foam wrap and caulk is also faster, which saves on installation time.
   
3. Tweaking to complete fit, get locks to align, and sashes to seal properly – Ask the installer how much tweaking is normally necessary to complete the install correctly. For DH windows in particular, see if the locks and/or the lock catch pieces are adjustable so as to get the lock to properly align and engage. See if there is any weather-stripping around the edges that appears adjustable to cover gaps, especially on the outer edges of the sash meeting rail. I found that lower quality windows offered the installers these types of adjustments which aren’t necessarily a bad thing for that quality of window, but they do indicate to me poor manufacturing tolerance control of the window when it comes out of the factory (which is why such adjustment capability is necessary in the field).
   
   For example, the Soft-Lite Imperial LS window I selected has the lock mechanism built into the lower sash and the lock catch built into the bottom of the upper sash. There is zero adjustment capability to the lock and catch in the field which means the windows must come from the factory made to fit or they go back (i.e., evidence of the tight manufacturing tolerance that Soft-Lite advertises).

4. Installation Labor Warranty – This is important and is covered below under “Warranty Considerations”.

5. References – also extremely important. The best window companies will be the ones with the best installation crews that take care of their customers over the long term. The specific window product/brand they use comes second to this. I checked every review avenue I could find on both the installation company and the window brand. This included personal referrals, referrals provided by the vendors, NEXTDOOR reviews, online forums on window replacement (e.g., https://www.vinyl-replacement-windows.com/forum/index.php), Better Business Reviews on both the installer and window company, etc. Go to job sites if all possible to inspect their work (e.g., how professional does the trim wrap look, how well are the caulking lines run, are the caulk lines dirt free, how well do the DH windows operate, can you detect any visible gaps where air can leak through, etc.). I found doing an on-site inspection to be very helpful.

Warranty Considerations:

1. Is the Window Warranty a Limited Lifetime Warranty? I only considered windows that provided a limited lifetime warranty on the windows which among other things covered frame/sash structural failure, seal failure, hardware failure, color cracking or pealing, etc. Read the fine print and understand what the vendor’s exclusions are – not all lifetime warranties are the same.
2. Does the Window Warranty include Lifetime Glass Breakage? Glass breakage coverage is usually optional. Some vendors include it – some don’t. Again, read the fine print and understand what the exclusions are. For example, APEX/Insignia does include glass breakage but excludes coverage for “Special Shape” windows and tempered glass units. Soft-Lite includes glass breakage with the Imperial LS window and has no exclusions for special shape or tempered glass windows. APEX I believe includes replacement glass if broken but doesn’t include the labor to replace it.

3. Is the Lifetime Window Warranty Transferable? Some offer no transfer; some offer a one-time transfer good for 30 years after the transfer (APEX and Alside), and some offer a one-time transfer with a fee to cover the transfer but no limitation on the time the warranty stays valid for the transferee (Soft-Lite, $250 transfer fee).

4. Exterior Color Window Warranty? Unless you are getting a solid white exterior/white interior vinyl window or a solid beige exterior/beige interior color, chances are the window manufacturer will be providing a high-quality exterior paint to the outside of the window to match the exterior color you desire. I found consistently among the window vendors I looked at that when an exterior color is applied, the warranty on the color is reduced to 10 years. Keep in mind that color warranties do not protect against fading and weathering of the windows, only unnatural fading or weathering that may occur to one window relative to others that have been installed (i.e., if they all fade and weather uniformly, this is not a warranty issue). Also, just because you have a lifetime warranty on the color, doesn’t mean at some point down the road (20 years?) that you may want to put a fresh coat of exterior paint on the windows.
   
   Another color option offered by some window manufactures (e.g., Wincore and Alside) is that you can get an all beige window and then the manufacturer can provide a white vinyl or simulated wood grain vinyl cladding to the inside of the window. This cladding is on the interior facing part of the window and therefore the warranty for the exterior color is not subject to the 10-year warranty limitation (i.e., it is a lifetime color warranty as if you had a solid white/white or beige/beige window).
   
   I believe the Sunrise Verde is one window that can be co-extruded in two different colors and then welded together in some fashion. I believe you are still limited to white and beige in this case, but it is another option it you are totally averse to having an exterior painted finish applied by the manufacturer.

5. Trim Wrap Warranty: The trim wrap warranty is not included by the window manufacturer. It may or may not be included in the installation labor warranty. This will be something you will want to get an answer to (i.e., what is the warranty on the trim wrap and who is responsible for it)? Keep in mind that you have the color to consider on the trim wrap also. Even if you go with all white or all beige vinyl windows that have a lifetime color warranty, the aluminum trim wrap will still come with a high quality (hopefully) exterior painted finish to match the color of the window. The best trim wrap warranty I’ve seen is the G8 trim coil warranty from Alside which is 30 years. This trim coil can be used with any window product – not just Alside windows. It too has exclusion language around natural fading and weathering:
   
   G8 Warranty Language on color: “Uniform fading and color change are not considered to be a Product defect because normal weathering and aging will most likely cause any painted aluminum surface to fade, darken, chalk or acquire a surface accumulation of dirt and stains.”

6. Installation Labor Warranty: You will want to know what warranty (if any) the installer is providing on their installation work. Installation labor warranties seemed to vary all over the place from none, to one year, to 2 years, to 10 years, to lifetime. There are a number of installation issues that can arise that you will want covered:
   • Trim Wrap: was the trim wrap applied correctly? Is it dent free? Does the fit look professional in all areas, including the corner joints and how it adjoins the brick (compression fit or caulking), and does all the caulking look professionally applied and is it dirt free? And for how long are you covered if trim wrap problems develop down the road?
   • Window Fit & Operation: when a new window is installed within an existing frame, it is possible if not done correctly that the frame can be warped (not square) and/or the fit and insulation around the window frame can apply pressure to the window frame which may distort it. Any warpage or frame distortion will likely mean that the window will not operate correctly (e.g., in a DH window, the sashes my not line-up correctly within the frame and/or may not easily slide up and down nor tilt out properly). The installer can void the manufacture’s window warranty in such cases which means that the warranty coverage must come from the installer if issues like this arise.
   • Hardware Operation: In my case this is basically the locks, catches and balances on the DH windows. Do they line-up and operate correctly. With Alside windows in particular, this is often a installer issue and not a window manufacturer issue.
   • Air/Water Leakage: If a window is not properly installed, wrapped, and insulated around the existing frame, you may notice wind and/or water leakage inside your home. This too can often be an installer issue and not a window manufacture issue. Water leakage can occur inside your walls that you may not see which can cause mold and wood rot issues over time. Such repairs can be expensive which is why getting a good, qualified, experienced installer is so important. This is also why having an extended warranty on the labor is helpful because some of these issues may not appear until years after the installation.
   • Labor Coverage on Window Warranty Issues: I found that most window manufacturers will provide a one or two labor warranty to service/replace window specific issues during this time (i.e., the manufacturer will have their own people in the field provide warranty service separate from the installer). After this, the window manufacturer will provide the parts (e.g., new window, new glass, new hardware, etc.), but you will be responsible for the labor to replace the parts. If it happens to be a large picture window that needs to be replaced, labor costs can be expensive. You will want to ask under your installation labor warranty whether the installer will provide labor coverage to service any window warranty issues under the term of the installation labor warranty.  I found most installers would do this and include it in their contract, but you have to ask for it. In other words, you want parts and labor covered under your installation warranty for as long a period as you can negotiate.
   • Is installer licensed, insured, and bonded? You will want to make sure whoever does your install that they are properly licensed, insured, and bonded. Accidents can and do happen, and if damage occurs to other areas of your home during the install (e.g., hardware floors, drywall, roof, etc.) you will want the assurance that the installer has the insurance to cover this.

Specific Vendor Reviews & Decision Factors:

Once I understood what mattered to me in terms of specific window considerations, vendor installation requirements, and warranty coverage, I applied my decision criteria to 7 different window companies in the greater Nashville area.

I found that with some of the long established and big-name window companies like Renewal by Anderson, Marvin, and Pella that they tended to be high priced alternatives that offered sub-optimal vinyl windows based upon independent performance reviews and ratings. Warranties were also sub-par. I validated this with a quote from Pella which was by far at the high end of the pricing range for the proposals submitted ($59,834).

I also found that not all vinyl window companies offer their product in the Nashville area. One good example that I would have definitely considered based upon online reviews are windows made by OKNA; however, OKNA surprisingly has no dealer in Nashville (only Knoxville and Memphis).

The remaining six window companies (besides Pella) I considered are listed below in terms of where they finished finishing in my evaluation:

#1 – PRECISION WINDOWS AND DOORS, Gallatin, TN  [THE COMPANY WE SELECTED]

Patrick Romm (contact and owner), 615-571-7322, Gallatin, TN

Window Quotes: Soft-Lite Imperial LS and Wincore [We selected the Soft-Lite Imperial LS]

I found Precision Windows and Doors by first deciding on the Soft-Lite Imperial LS as a window of interest based upon online reviews and independent ratings, and then finding Soft-Lite dealers for the window in the Nashville area.

• Patrick has been doing window installation work for the past 15 years, mostly in the Baltimore Maryland area working for his father’s company AGS Windows, Doors and Siding and then S&K Roofing, Siding and Windows. He opened his business in Gallatin in 2018 and while ramping up his own window business, he is currently doing contract window installation work for American Home Design (they sell the “Preservation Window” which is made by Alside) and other window companies (Renewal by Anderson I believe).
• Patrick is the only installer I spoke with who has completed the “AAMA Installation Masters” certification program (see https://aamanet.org/pages/installationmasters).
• Patrick personally installs the windows himself to ensure the job is done is right versus having a separate crew do his installs.
• Among all Soft-Lite window dealers in the area (Zen Windows and TipTop Home Solutions being two others), the regional Soft-Lite representative in NC who handles the mid-south for Soft-Lite pointed me to Precision Windows and Doors saying “…Patrick brings a lot of experience to the table, is extremely knowledgeable, and does very high quality/professional work.
• His references both in Maryland and for local installation work were all 5-Star.
• I got no exaggerated sales claims from Patrick – I found all of his statements to me to be credible and above board. He brought an Alside double-hung Window to my home to compare side-by-side with the Soft-Lite Imperial LS. This was very helpful and eye opening. You could plainly see differences in the design and quality of the windows:
  • Structural integrity – the frame was more rigid, and where Alside has some pop-in filler pieces at the top of their frame, there were none with the Soft-Lite window.
  • Manufacturing tolerances – with the Alside window there was play in the sashes but none was present with the Soft-Lite window. Also, Alside attempts to address potential air leakage gaps at the ends or corners of middle sash rails (i.e., the meeting rail) in their double-hung windows with weather stripping patches that don’t exist with the Soft-Lite window. I believe these gaps are there by design because of the low tolerances inherent in Alside’s manufacturing process.
• The ratings for the Imperial LS window I selected are:

CPD#:	SLL-A-29-00767-00001 (DH, double-pane)
U-Factor:	0.27
SHGC:	0.20
VT:	0.46
CR:	59
AL:	0.02 cfm/ft
DP:	65

• Better Look: In my opinion, because of the solid frame extrusions with rounded edges on the interior, better hardware and lock mechanisms, and a more finished trim look around the glass that the Soft-Lite window offered a better look.

OTHER VENDORS CONSIDERED:

I appreciate all vendors who took the time to provide quotes for my window replacement project. I believe most all of these companies provide good products and services and have many happy customers. So, what I am sharing below are my personal experiences only, and I’m only going to highlight the more significant things that influenced my decision.

#2 – Apex Energy Solutions, Nashville, TN – The first company I called based upon a referral from a friend and the runner up in my evaluation was APEX. Their Insignia window is made by Alside and falls under their Insignia 8000 series window. I initially worked with Jeremy Wilson (Sales Manager) and Will Hoover (Rep) and then later directly with the owner of the Nashville APEX office, Bryan Kenney.

– I 100% did not care for Apex’s high-pressure sales approach: “… if you sign with us tonight (1^st call) and agree to be a showcase home, do a video testimonial, put a sign in your yard, etc. we’ll give you an XX% discount.” I don’t recall the discount they stated – it was something outrageous and I believe north of 50%. For me, I found it very disingenuous.
Without going into details, there were many things said and claims made that did not sit well with me when they were said or later when I did my own research.

– I repeatedly asked the sales guys for the CPD#’s for the windows they were quoting so I could verify the ratings and claims they were making. I never got the numbers from them.

– Despite my challenges with the APEX salespeople, the main reason I kept APEX in the running and that they finished #2 is because I believe their installation crew does very good quality work. I’ve inspected two of their home installs and the trim wrap work they do is very professional with caulked trim wrap to the brick edges (i.e., not compression fit). Apex is also well established and has many good references in the greater Nashville area (i.e., they appear to take care of their customers).

– I finally reached out to Bryan Kenney, the owner, to get the CPD# and ratings information for the Insignia window that for whatever reason I could never get from his salespeople. The ratings info he sent me is below:

CPD#:	ASO-A-71-02426-00001 (DH, triple pane)
U-Factor:	.22
SHGC:	0.22
VT:	0.37
AL:	0.10 cfm/ft
DP:	35

– Setting my concerns with the sales process aside, there were several other reasons why I did not select APEX:

1. Quality of Window: Although I feel the Apex/Alside window is of acceptable quality, I do believe the Soft-Lite Imperial LS window is a higher quality window. The ratings, the actual structural integrity and tolerances in the construction, and all independent reviews support this. I do not feel triple pane glass is necessary in our climate zone; plus, I am getting a better SHGC rating without sacrificing visible light transmittance with the Soft-Lite window. These were two of the most important rating factors for me.
2. PRICING: The APEX price for a white/white window was competitive, but I needed a white interior with a beige exterior. This added over $6,000 or 20% to their price. This APEX price was 21% higher than the price from Precision Windows for the Soft-Lite Imperial LS windows which were being quoted with an exact color match (Almond) to our home’s exterior trim color. The Soft-Lite window with the almond color is a painted-on exterior finish which has the disadvantage of a 10 year color warranty; however, keep in mind the trim coil wrap around the windows even with a standard white or beige vinyl window will still be a painted-on finish (i.e., I anticipate at some point even with a white or beige standard vinyl window that I would want to have the windows and trim repainted with a fresh coat of paint due to color fading and weathering – I’m hoping to get 20 years out of the original color).
3. WARRANTY: I found the presentation of the APEX warranty was misleading. Even when I escalated things to the owner and I was specifically requesting details on their installation warranty, he sent me a copy of the “Associated Materials Warranty”. Associated Materials is the parent company of Alside who manufactures the APEX window which APEX private labels under the name “Insignia.” The point is that this is a window warranty only. There is nothing in this warranty that addresses the installation work itself such as damage that could occur to the window by the installer during installation, inadequate sealing of the window that could result in water or air leaks, or any potential issues with the installation of the exterior trim wrap around the windows (see warranty discussion above). I didn’t pursue this matter with Mr. Kenney because the first two items above were enough for me to decide to go with Precision Windows. However, if you are considering purchasing from APEX, I would strongly recommend clarifying whether they warrant their work to install the windows and trim wrap. If they didn’t, this would be a showstopper for me (and they wouldn’t have finished as my runner-up recommendation).
   • For a point of comparison, I negotiated a lifetime warranty from Precision Windows on all labor including their installation work, trim wrap installation, and labor to service the windows themselves (e.g., replace broken glass, faulty locks, or whatever). I believe 10 years is somewhat standard in the industry.

#3 FORST BUILDERS, Franklin, TN – I dealt with Blake Forst (615-512-0229) primarily and with his father (Mark, company owner) at one of their job sites. The primary window they promote and sell is the Alside Mezzo window. Forst has just private branded the Alside Mezzo window under their own name: “Optimum Pro”.

– Like APEX, Forst is well established in our area and has many satisfied customers. I too came very close to signing with Forst as my vendor of choice.

– Right before signing, Patrick Romm of Precision Windows brought up the issue of how many window vendors in the area do not seal and caulk their trim wrap to the brick during installation. Instead, they do a compression fit method as discussed above. Forst is one such company. I therefore visited one of Forst’s job sites to get a firsthand appreciation for the appearance of the compression fit approach. I eliminated Forst based largely on their compression fit method of installing the trim wrap. I have a strong preference to have the trim wrap sealed and caulked to the brick. Blake said they could do it either way and maybe so, but I was not comfortable moving forward with Forst knowing that sealing and caulking the trim wrap to the brick was not the standard method followed by their crew of workers.

– Secondly, the Alside Mezzo window is a medium grade window which Forst prices very attractively. I put it on the low end of being acceptable for my home, possibly even a notch below the APEX Insignia window. Nonetheless, I did strongly consider going with Forst because their price was so attractive, their installation crew is top-notch also, and they have a great reference base in the area. This was, however, before I visited their job site before signing. Sure enough, just as Patrick Romm of Precision Windows had pointed out to me when we did a side-by-side comparison of an Alside window with the Soft-Lite window, I could see air gaps at the ends of the meeting rails on the set of double-hung windows that I examined (i.e., these were small open air spaces where I could see light coming from the outside into the inside of the home – gaps where outside air could freely flow into the house). I pointed this out to Mark Forst, the owner who was onsite at the time, and he examined the window and felt it had been installed out-of-square which was contributing to the problem. He immediately had a couple of guys from his crew come over to make some adjustments/tweaks to attempt to close the gaps. I do believe Forst with their experience with this particular window knows how to address such issues; otherwise, they wouldn’t have the happy customer base that they do. Nonetheless, I believe such issues are characteristic of lower quality windows and are things that will have to be dealt with if you go this route.

– Forst’s pricing was very attractive. Their quote was 26% less than the Soft-Lite quote and 52% less (more than $10,000 less) than the APEX quote. I suspect a significant reason for their cost advantage is their lower cost of installation because of the compression fit method they use for the trim wrap. They also include a 10-year installation warranty. If I were in a home that I did not intend to be in for more than 5 years and I could get comfortable with Forst’s compression fit method for their trim wrap, I would likely select Forst as my preferred vendor because of the significant price advantage they offer.

#4 TipTop Home Solutions, Hendersonville, TN – I dealt with Rick Mabrey the owner. I looked at TipTop because they were a registered dealer for Soft-Lite (this was before I learned of Precision Windows also being a dealer). TipTop tends to promote the Soft-Lite Classic window more than anything else. Mr. Mabrey made some statements about the independent ratings from the NFRC and AAMA and how they conducted their testing which I found not to be accurate. He was also unaware that AAMA had a certification program for installers. I did not pursue TipTop after the Soft-Lite rep put me in contact with Precision Windows who offered the window I was most interested in; namely, the Soft Lite Imperial LS.

#5 Zen Windows, Franklin, TN – I dealt with Brad Alexander the owner. When I began looking at Soft-Lite as a window alternative, Brad was the first person I called because he was the only local Soft-Lite dealer on the south side of Nashville. Brad was very responsive, and he sent quotes for their Zen Nirvana window (this is Zen’s private label name for the Soft-Lite Classic window), Joyce Windows, and Soft-Lite Imperial LS.

– His price for the Soft-Lite Classic came in 14% higher and his quote for the Imperial LS came in 34% higher than Patrick’s quote to me for the Imperial LS.

– Second, Brad doesn’t have his own installation crew. He subs out his work to 3rd party contractors. This was a showstopper for me.

#6 Durante Home Exteriors, Nashville, TN – I dealt with Durante’s sales rep John Hinely. I called Durante because they are a registered dealer for the Sunrise window brand. I believe from my research that the Sunrise Restoration series window is a high-quality window on par with the Soft-Lite Imperial LS. However, the pricing quoted by Durante was 32% higher than the pricing from Precision Windows and the second highest I received from any vendor next to Pella. I, therefore, eliminated Durante because of price.

That’s it – good luck with your project!