Which are the best (good quality but won't cost an arm & a leg) replacement windows?

Question

I asked this question before, limiting the answer to the 3 windows that I listed, not thinking or being open to other alternatives.

Answer 1

Anderson and Pella are considered the best. You may want to compare a company called "Far North." They are owned by a company called Sherrer Brothers. Sherrer Brothers sells building materials primarily to builders, although an individual can go in there also. There lumber is better than what you would normally find at a home store as they are a "Professional" supplier.

Far North used to be called Pinecraft. I had Pinecraft windows installed on my house when it was new some 21 years ago.

I didn't care for them properly and as a result I had wood rot in about 25% of the sills and had to replace the sills this last year. I got replacement parts for the Pinecrafts from the "Far North" manufacturing location.

I have a neighbor who had Maintenance Free Windows that I think were Andersons. Apparently the "Maintenance Free" aspect applies only to the painting, because he had about 25% them rot out under the metal cladding. The guy as Sherrer Brothers showed me how you have to caulk maintenance free windows to assure that water doesn't get below the cladding. Caulking needs to be checked each year on them.

If you get straight wood wondows I would suggest finishing the sills with as weather resistant a varnish as possible (I used 'spar" varnish) before installation.

Anyway this answer goes a bit beyond the scope of your question.

Answer 2

Pella,Anderson Myers.

Answer 3

speak to a local window fitter, every village and town has one, they will do the job privately, and being local will, you will find do an exceptional job. no one wants a bad local reputation