Horrible Marvin Ultimate quality
Lauren Ploch
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
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toddinmn
2 months agoRelated Discussions
Pricing on Marvin Ultimates seems high
Comments (14)Here's the deal with windows, and it's quite simple. If you will be owning your home for more than 7 years, you need to spend the money. Vinyl windows don't last, clad windows don't last, Andersen windows might last for 10-15 years. Marvin Infinity is a true lifetime window. I have never had one fail, and I have installed maybe a hundred of them throughout projects over the years. Either new construction or replacement. When I have used Milgaard, or Andersen, or Pella--which is to say, if I still own the building--I have had to replace them after 7-10 years. It stinks. So if you are on a budget, and see yourself selling the home within 5-7 years, certainly, do not spend the money on Marvin. But if this is your home, and you are in it for the long run, the cost is cheaper to buy Marvins, because you'll never have to mess with your windows ever again in your lifetime. Marvins cost twice as much. The installation costs the same. But if you are spending, say, $15,000 to replace your windows every 10 years, not to mention living through the headaches of maintenance and seeing problems, and dealing with customer service people, where is the savings in that? If you would just spend $30,000, you'll never have to think about it ever again. And living with gorgeous functionally perfect windows that look and feel like real windows--not the plastic junk--is really very nice. If you do sell, come resale time, buyers react subconsciously to nice windows. They do. If they are well informed enough to be conscious of what brand window you used, they might say, "Gee, if these people spent the money on Marvins, they probably really maintained the rest of the house." True that. So it's your call. There are great reasons to buy lower end Andersen and Milgaard windows. If you're selling your house and won't have to deal with them, who cares, go ahead and save your money. But if it's your home, and you see yourself there for a while, do the right thing....See MoreMarvin Integrity vs. Marvin Ultimate vs Crestline Acclaim!
Comments (3)Hi friedajune, I was just wonder if the $4K more is worth it for the better quality and lifetime warranty in the Ultimate series. Here is a discussion of the cost-of-marvin-ultimate-vs-marvin-integrity in 2010!...See MoreContractor pricing for Marvin Ultimate windows in New England?
Comments (9)Alarm bells rang when I read you will be purchasing the windows. Who will be providing to the window seller the measurements and other specifications? I am surprised your contractor is OK with this arrangement. Doesn't he have a relationship with a lumberyard--preferably Marvin-certified? And if he doesn't, why not? If you are set on Marvin windows, you should find a contractor who actively sells them. My contractor sent me to his preferred lumberyard so I could pick out which of the Marvin lines I wanted and see and touch them live with their pros and cons. The person helping me there said several times that my contractor would be providing the specs, and they'd arrange delivery with him. If your contractor's price is higher than you'd like, get bids from other contractors, and/or look at other less expensive brands. You can go on Marvin's website and see a list of suppliers in your location. But they will expect to work with your contractor. Even if they will sell to you directly, I don't even see how you can save money that way. Any Marvin supplier will not be able to charge you a contractor price....See MoreMarvin Ultimate Narrow or Ultimate Tripane (Not narrow frame)
Comments (8)Thanks, everyone..great thoughts and if anyone else has input, I'd love to hear... if you have Marvin ultimate double pane, do large openings feel cold when close to them ? We are in Madison, WI ... cold winters and hot/humid summers. We have a mid century ranch with 24" soffits. We have somes large trees and many of the windows are south facing. So we get quite a bit of sun in the winter and almost none in the summer because it's overhead. We have air sealed the attic and sprayed the box sills and have R60 in the attic... so we are improving things greatly as we continue to upgrade. Just two more windows and front/patio door to do in the future. Unfortunatly we can't do house wrap because we have valuable redwood siding in great condition. We do have whole house humidification/dehumidification though. Seems like what people experience is largely due to site conditions like a few mentioned. It also sounds like tripane doesn't solve issues either. Tough because windows are $ 2.5-3k per opening before install, so don't really want to get it wrong! Thanks again!...See Morechispa
2 months agoLauren Ploch
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2 months agolast modified: 2 months agoLauren Ploch
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Lauren PlochOriginal Author