Marvin Essential Windows (Formerly Integrity by Marvin) vs Pella Fiberglass
An Internal Window Comparison
UNITED HOME EXPERTS | March 22, 2014 (last updated June 29, 2022)
The perfect window or the wrong window can make or break the looks of a house. Many homeowners are afraid to purchase new or replacement windows for fear they will make the wrong choice and have to live with their mistake for the next twenty years. Pushy salesmen more interested in their commissions than in the homeowner’s needs certainly do not help the situation. To avoid pushy-salesman syndrome it is recommended that homeowners consult the unbiased professionals at United Home Experts for simple, down-to-earth explanations and comparisons.
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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.
Two of the premiere windows available here in the harsh climate of the Northeast are Marvin Essentials (Formerly Integrity by Marvin) and Pella.
Durability
One of the deciding factors for most homeowners when it comes to purchasing new or replacement windows is durability. How long will the window last and how much maintenance must the homeowner put in to keep the window looking new? This is one area where the Marvin Essentials windows stand out. The Marvin Essential’s Ultrex pultruded 100% fiberglass frames not only look spectacular (and come in a variety of colors and looks) but they are easy to install and virtually indestructible. Much the same can be said for Pella’s Duracast fiberglass frames, although Integrity has slightly better color choices.
Design
Most homes have one or more windows with a non-standard shape, design, or size. This can be especially true of older homes with window sizes that are different from today’s standards. Marvin Essentials’ line of windows allows a homeowner to design any size or shape of window, including odd-shaped glass with no problem.
Pella also offers specialty shapes for glass as well as windows. However, Pella prefers that the homeowner chooses from a set of predesignated shapes and sizes, although they will custom design and fit windows.
Warranties
A manufacturer only guarantees a product that they fully believe in. After all, a manufacturer does not want the customer cashing in on the warranty, so they design products to exceed warranties. This is very good for the buyer of a product. Marvin Essentials Windows has one of the best warranties in the business – twenty years on the glass seals (double panes are a requirement here in the Northeast) and ten years on all other hardware. An important point is that all Marvin warranties are fully transferable to a new owner should you sell your home. A warranty like that encourages a good night’s sleep.
Pella also offers a twenty-year warranty on the glass and ten years on all other hardware, although for some reason the Pella warranty is not transferable to a new owner should you sell your home.
In Summation
Both Marvin Essentials and Pella fiberglass windows are excellent products. On balance, the scale seems tipped toward the Marvin product, but keep in mind that a great deal depends on the company actually installing the windows. Here in the Northeast, the number one company for installing windows is United Home Experts. They have no reason to push one window over another so check with them and put their years of experience to work for you.
