An internal comparison survey was conducted by the United Home Experts team. We provide siding, roofing, window, and door replacement services throughout eastern New England. Unbiased opinions were retrieved based on our individual experiences using the products. The ratings provided are opinion based and not the result of lab testing or product specification examination. This article is intended merely to provide information to New England homeowners.
Quality Control
Quality control means that a company oversees all aspects of its operations, from product inception and manufacture to sales and even installation. Only one company truly does all that: Marvin. Marvin’s Essential and Elevate (Integrity) windows are only sold through Marvin and are only installed by thoroughly trained and certified installers.
Andersen Windows are sold in big-box stores, often by salespeople who are not adequately trained. And while the people installing Andersen windows may be excellent, the problem is that their skill can vary widely from store to store and even from crew to crew at the same store. Integrity’s certification requirement eliminates this potential problem.
One huge benefit of the Essentials and Elevate lines are the fact that they are framed in strong Ultrex fiberglass. Ultrex Fiberglass means stronger, sleeker frames that will not rot and does not warp as much over time as wood tends to do in the harsh climate in our area. All Integrity products come with the option of wood interior, giving the homeowner the rich, natural look of wood as well as the benefit of fiberglass.
Warranty
A warranty is only as good as the company that backs it up, and this is where Essentials and Elevate has another decided edge over the competition. Integrity products are purchased only through either Marvin itself or an authorized Marvin dealer, and all installations are performed by Marvin-trained and approved installers. Therefore Marvin backs all of its warranties itself, with no middlemen gumming up the works. All Marvin glass is warranted for 20 years, and all other window components are warranted for 10 years.
Andersen offers a virtually identical 20-year warranty on its window glass and 10 years on all other components. While Andersen backs its warranties fully, problems can arise when companies selling the Andersen product become involved in warranty disputes. Additional time and effort are sometimes needed before problems can be fully resolved.
Warranties from both Marvin and Andersen are fully transferable to a new owner should the home be sold while the windows are still under warranty. This can become a positive selling point.
Installation Experts
Here in the Northeast, where weather conditions can be extreme, many homeowners choose the expert Integrity installers at United Home Experts. The installers at United Home Experts do not have any axes to grind when it comes to recommending the right product to homeowners; they handle a wide range of products and are free to recommend whichever product is the best fit for any particular home or budget. Marvin Essentials and Elevate installations by United Home Experts are 100% guaranteed and there is never any delay in resolving any customer’s questions.
