Are Vinyl Windows Any Good (Get The Real Scoop Here!) 

The Okna 600 is a fantastic window -- one of the best vinyl windows out there -- congrats!

Thanks, kazoo. Happy to send you our recommended windows list -- dane@replacementwindowsreviews.co -- cheers!

I do think that performance data in the lab is a good indication of the overall quality of a window. The Okna 800 has an air infiltration rate of .01 - the Andersen 400 double hung is like .17. Miles apart (although the Andersen 400 is a gorgeous unit.) I find the data telling. As well, the Andersen 400 series warranty is 25 years (I believe), while most vinyl windows warranty is lifetime for the original owner. While I put little stock in warranties, I find them a good indicator of how long a manufacturer assumes their product will last.

@@replacementwindowsreviews a true fellow window nerd 🤓. You are one of the few that actually knows what you’re talking about. If I was to go with Andersen, I would only go with Fibrex by Renewal as it is where Andersen refocused their money and energy and complete business model. Warranties are a great indicator of the quality of product and service one would receive from a purchase. With that being said, in every warranty except for the Andersen warranties, they DO NOT guarantee the amount of percentage of gas that’s actually in a glass pack after it leaves the manufacturer. (That’s why plastic windows have glazing beads) This is because of the faulty/cheap capillary (injection) method. Andersen warranty covers dissipation and I haven’t seen that in any other warranty. In my particular state, there’s no such thing as a “lifetime warranty”. Whose lifetime is it? J/k but in my state, that means 6 years from a manufacturer if they honor it and don’t blame the subcontractor who installed it. There even buzz in the market the RBA is going to extend their 20 year warranty to 30 years. Now that we know there’s no such thing as “lifetime warranty”, which framing material or company would you choose if all were completely free?

I think the main reason is that unlike a washing machine, which is made the same way 100,000 times over and shipped off to retail stores, replacement windows are custom made for each project based on the size of the opening. Then you have the window glass package. You have the hardware selection. Grid or no grid option. Lift rail option. Foam fill option. Then you have the lineal price that the window manufacturer sells to the dealer that you buy from. This price per lineal foot is often based on volume, so the more windows a dealer sells the better price they get. The dealer has a "MSRP" price more or less, but they have no economic interest in sharing that with the consumer because then they have to justify the bid price. Basically, it's 50% simply too complicated an equation and 50% a racket to make more money off the backs of consumers. But...that is the free market economy in all of its glory and ugliness.

Some fiberglass windows are excellent. Respectfully, I think top tier vinyl windows offer better long term value for most consumers. Granted 60% of all vinyl windows are pretty meh in terms of their quality and craftsmanship. Alpen HPP makes one great fiberglass window though. I wish it were available in more parts of the country!

I used the Andersen 100 composite window as an example because it is one of the most popular composite windows on the market and one that many consumers have heard of...but you are correct that I should have mentioned that composite windows are all over the board in terms of their overall performance data. The Renewal By Andersen composite window AI is .18, which in my opinion is "not good" -- the Okna Starmark AI is .04 -- excellent in my opinion. Still the Okna 800 AI is .01, which is unbeatable. The point of my video was to say that top tier vinyl windows are as good or better in terms of their performance data as any window material on the market.