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Home : Top Replacement Window : Best Composite Windows
Best Composite Windows
Explore the best composite windows, brands and models available. Find window replacement costs for each of the options and find a description of the products and links to reviews and pricing pages. While composite window frames do not make up a huge portion of the replacement or new construction market, there are a number of very solid options out there.
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Okna Starmark
This Okna window has a thick frame, which makes for a strong and durable window, but also means less glass area. It is considered one of the best composite frames, but home owners with smaller window openings might prefer something with more glass. This model is comparable to a Renewal By Andersen, although the Okna often gets better reviews at a lower price.
Installed DH Pricing: $1100
Andersen 100 Series
The 100 Series by Andersen has a fibrex composite frame, made from a mix of extruded PVC and sawdust. Designed by Andersen windows to compete with high end vinyl replacements, it is a high quality builder's composite. Released in the Southwest in 2010, it was gradually intriduced in other areas of the country. The upper sash is a little bit narrower than the bottom. Available in a variety of sizes and colors, it is generally considered a good, solid window. Some contractors think it is somewhat overpriced for what you get. Get additional Andersen window costs.
Installed DH Pricing: $750
Renewal By Andersen
RBA carries only one line of window, which is made from Fibrex, a recycled wood and vinyl composite frame. Renewal by Andersen windows are fully customizable and have a lot of hardware options and other upgradable features. They come standard with a fusion welded frame and stainless steel spacer. The window performance ratings are pretty average though, with an SHGC of 0.34 and a U-factor of 0.30. For customers that upgrade to the SmartSun glass package, the U-value goes down to 0.24 and the SHGC to 0.28.
Installed DH Pricing: $1400
Amsco Renaissance Series
Made from a wood fiber and resin composite, the Amsco Renaissance comes in six color options. It is more expensive than Amsco's vinyl options, but still considered a builder's grade window.
Installed DH Pricing: $600
Best Composite Windows vs Precision Mills
We have been asked by our HOA to fix melted rubber gaskets in our front wooden windows that are as old as our 19-years old house here in Georgia. The only way to "fix" it is to replace them. On a side note our front of the house gets a lot of sunlight and heat that is why those rubber gaskets have melted. We have a total of 8 replacements.
We have done a lot of shopping and have narrowed down to 2 choices:
1. Andersen 100 purchased from and installed by Home Depot
- all but the picture one have 3 by 3 grid layout (colonial pattern) in the upper sash with fully divided light with spacer
- the picture window is double pane with tempered glass
- the price with installation is around $11,500
2. Precision Mills BT30 SERIES 300 installed by a local contractor. He insists we do not need to replace full windows, just the sashes except the picture one. He priced us around $8,000 to replace sashes of 7 units and a full picture window.
The second offer seems tempting as it is $3,500 cheaper but I am not sure about the quality of the Precision Mills product - cellular PVC vs fibrex. Precision Mills seems to be a small company in Georgia but they do offer 20/25 years of warranty vs 10/20 from Andersen.
On the other hand Andersen is a better known company. And we would be replacing full windows vs just sashes.
Do you think that Andersen 100 is a better product than Precision Mills?
We are leaning toward Andersen 100 but then the reviews on their website are only 3.7.
Also I was not very impressed with the Home Depot Andersen 100 on display. The window seemed to have some gaps between the elements it was made off on outside. The lower sash had a bit of side to side movement when sliding it up and down. So I am a bit concerned with their quality.
Val - Homeowner - from 2023
[Site Editor's Answer]
Val, the Andersen 100 series composite is a decent series, but not a world beater. For $1500 each, I would think you could get a ProVia Endure or a Sunrise Restorations series -- these are great and they are available in much of Georgia. That's a lot to pay for 8 replacement units.
I don't know a ton about Precision Mills, but their 300 series does seem to be good. If you are just doing the sash replacement, you will be losing glass area -- that's the downside. The company in general gets good reviews, but I just don't hear about them enough to give you a knowledgeable or fair opinion on them. From the little I've read, I'd probably pass on Precision Millworks myself -- there are too many known manufacturers out there to go with one that lacks lots of data and reviews.
Here are my Georgia recommendations in case you want to continue the grind :)
Dane - Site Editor - from 2023
Best Composite Windows vs Fiberglass
Thanks for the detailed reply. Once assembled I'll shoot over my bids.
In the interim, if I have 32 windows, (many 36x72) give or take, (some needing tempored glass as they are low to floor), for an all vinyl, double pane, can you provide a range I should expect. I'm in northwest suburbs of Chicago. Firms like Bak Bros, Landmark, and Professional Home improvement.
Any thoughts on fiberglass vs composite? Are mine a size that needs fiberglass?
Thanks again for your help!
Jeff - Homeowner - from 2023
[Site Editor's Answer]
Jeff, the best composite windows are totally unique to the one you buy -- the Okna Starmark is the best on the market and there is someone near Chicago that sells that series -- but he tends to sell it at like $1200 or $1300 each (seems a little cost prohibitive in my estimation).
Fiberglass is often narrower in frame and can be painted -- besides this they are generally the same as a high quality vinyl window -- they will cost roughly 33% more so there's the rub -- I tend to think the best vinyl series are a better long term value, but that all depends on the bid you receive. Get a bid on a fiberglass series like a Marvin and see what they offer...
The are soooo many factors to any project that can drive that price up or down it's super difficult to say. But...right now for high quality vinyl I'm seeing $800 to $1200 as the general price point. I'd say shoot for the $800 range by getting a bunch of quotes.
Collecting five to six bids is the best way to try and reach the trifecta -- a great series at a fair price from a company that gets excellent online reviews.
Dane - Site Editor - from 2023