Builder’s
grade aluminum dual pane windows of the 90’s. They have a narrow gap between
the two panes. Certain brands have a high rate (about 30%) of them fogging up. Several home owner’s association have sued Window Master (bought out by Jeldwen
in 05), though I am sure other brands also have a high failure rate. The newer
aluminum windows are built much better, and builders have stopped using them in track homes and condos.
Swiggle
Seal: I have their adhesive move within the dual-pane unit and the metal spacer
sag. In my sample bag, it has become sticky and adhered to other object therein
and left them with a black, sticky coating.
Anderson’s new Reliance window. It is a composite of wood
dust (from there wood window manufacturing) and a polymer (possible vinyl) which they call Fibrex. They charge twice the price of a vinyl window, and give you
less a warranty. Slick marketing.
Wood windows. The dual pane glass unit sits on a wood block in the sash. I have seen in one home half their Pozzi windows fogged up—they were 11 years old. Pozzi had been out once to replace the glass units (for which they charged for labor); now the warranty
had expired. I have seen this happen with other brands. Usually the homeowner doesn’t remember what brand they have.
Moreover, the homeowner must supply a factory invoice number to utilize the warranty. I have seen casements warp and
become inoperable. I have seen wood rot from moisture. I have seen termite damage. None of these are manufacturer’s
defects; thus they are not covered by your warranty. I have seen the plastic
track of the single hung Anderson window come unattached at one end to the wood and warp. And
in our old showroom, the double hung Anderson window installed in an outside opening was difficult to operate—and
it was then 3-years old and not exposed to the rain. If you must have wood, the
prudent choice is the wood veneer, Milgard fiberglass windows. They are
better than vinyl, and have a beautiful cedar veneer