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Home : Replacement Windows Comparisons : Pella Windows vs Marvin
Pella Windows vs Marvin
Pella Windows vs Marvin - do these two well known brands stack up on company structure, what they sell, how they market, and what they cost. Let's take a closer look.
Bottom Line: Pella is the better known name in this head-to-head match up and it's a closer race when it comes to the overall quality of their wood clad series - both companies make excellent wood windows. However, Marvin focuses on fiberglass and has a very good reputation for high quality products in this space. Pella's fiberglass option is just okay. Their vinyl window series are decent, but tend to be priced higher than they should because of the Pella name.
Dane - Site Editor - Page Updated In July, 2024
"Marvin tends to be quite expensive, but also usually worth it for the overall quality and craftsmanship of their fiberglass windows."
Pella Costs: $$$$/$$$$$
(4/5 out of 5)
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Pella Windows vs Marvin
Company Information
Pella is headquartered in Pella, Iowa, and has been in business since the 1920s. The company is best known for making high-end wood clad windows. The company also makes several vinyl series and one fiberglass series. Pella has a deservedly good reputation for their wood clad windows; however their other window series leave something to be desired in my opinion.
Pella Windows Reviews
Marvin Windows And Doors are much less well-known than Pella. However, to many industry insiders, Marvin has just as good of a reputation as Pella. The company is based out of Minnesota and has been in business since the 1920s. The company focuses on fiberglass windows, which are sold at a relatively high price point, but are also usually worth it for the overall quality and craftsmanship. Marvin enjoys a very good reputation for quality products in the industry.
Marvin Windows Reviews
What They Sell
Pella sells a handful of different window and door series. In terms of vinyl, the company sells the 250 and Encompass series. These are, I would say, mid range, viny windows, although they tend to be sold at a higher price due to the Pella name. They also sell the Impervia, which is just an okay fiberglass window in my opinion. The company really shines in the wood clad department where they sell the Reserve, Architect and Lifestlye series. These are high-end wood windows (especially the Reserve and Architect series) that are also quite pricey. Marvin sells four different fiberglass window series, as well as one wood clad option. Their fiberglass window series include the Infinity, Integrity, Elevate, and Essentials. The Infinity and Integrity are older models that they no longer advertise, but are nonetheless still sold through select dealers. Their Elevate and Essentials are the newer models with the Elevate as the higher end (and more expensive) of the two. In terms of wood windows, the company sells the Ultimate series.
How They Market
Pella Marketing Pella is quite a large company who uses every marketing tool at their disposal in order to sell as many window and doors as possible. They sell their vinyl windows through the big box stores such as Lowe’s. Their wood and fiberglass windows are sold mainly through local distributors, builders, and contractors, who then sell them directly to the public. Marvin Marketing Marvin does not market or sell any of their fiberglass windows direct to the public or through the big box stores like Pella. Instead, they focus exclusively on their dealer network of local companies, who then sell direct to consumers and homeowners. As well, Marvin is also available to certain builders and/or contractors who sell them to their clients (or in the case of developers they purchase them in bulk for a certain commercial or residential projects).
Cost Comparisons
Pella Windows cost for their vinyl windows will run 6 to 7 out of 10 when compared with all vinyl window prices. Their Impervia series will run 7 to 8 out of 10 when compared with all fiberglass windows cost. Finally, their wood windows will run 8 to 10 out of 10 for all wood window costs. As a general rule of thumb, Pella is quite expensive. ( Pella Impervia Reviews )
Marvin Windows Cost for their fiberglass series will run 7 to 9 out of 10 when compared with all fiberglass window pricing. Their Ultimate wood-clad series will run 8 to 10 out of 10 for all wood-window pricing. As a general rule of thumb, Marvin is quite expensive, but also usually worth it for the overall quality and craftsmanship.
Have a question on Pella Windows vs Marvin? Hit me up. dane@replacementwindowsreviews.co
Andersen vs Pella vs Marvin
I would appreciate your view on Composite (Andersen) vs. Wood-Clad (Pella) vs. Fiberglass (Marvin) for a brick home built in 1992 in a nicer neighborhood. Below is a summary of cost by room. The reason for different numbers of windows in each quote is that some companies quoted 1 "3 lite" window and other quoted 3 windows in some situations. Given the size of this project, I think we are likely to phase the work and do the upstairs first. As I mentioned, I think Apex windows is out of the running, as vinyl windows don't feel like the right solution for a higher end home (maybe I'm wrong). A few other notes:
Andersen's cost may be able to decrease by another 5%. Andersen and Pella had standard exterior colors that are almost identical to the existing trim color of our home, while Lifetime/Marvin's closest color was not as close. The Marvin/Lifetime windows are the Infinity Series
Given the prices are close for "Upstairs Only" and "Total Excluding LR, Grg, Bsmnt" below, I think this really boils down to which window/material is best. My gut says to go with the wood clad Pella window, but I think that is just because I'm accustomed to a wooden window. Very interested in your opinion here.
Apex Cost: $178,387
Andersen 100: $232,504
Pella wood-cald: $262,513
Marvin: $229,285
- Homeowner - from 2024
[Site Editor's Answer]
Thorne, I apologize for not getting back to you sooner - I've been swamped. So, for me, wood-clad is problematic long term - and is one reason I don't often advocate for it on behalf of consumers. It sounds like this is a pretty big job and quite a nice home.
My own view on your situation is to suggest that they look at a vinyl window with an interior wood laminate interior and a custom color exterior. I like this from an energy efficiency and longevity perspective. Is this what you have in the Apex? I know that the Apex can be upgraded to an interior wood laminate that (I think) looks quite nice - in fact, with the wood stain or treatment that typically goes on wood windows, I think they look nearly identical by the time they are installed. But it kind of sounds like you aren't going in this direction.
Pella makes a very nice wood clad window. Marvin makes a very nice fiberglass window. I like them equally and think they will hold up roughly the same - the nod going to Marvin. The Andersen 100 composite is a decent performer and nice looking, but I'd rather have the Apex for the price I think.
As long as the client knows and understands the warranty on wood-clad windows and they love the look of Pella, then I think that's a viable option. All good brands -- I just always try to imagine what the windows look like in 20 years and sometimes the wood-clad is not doing so well :)
Dane - Site Editor - from 2024
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