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As a Marvin Windows & Door Dealer in Carmel, Indiana, one of the top requests we get is for a comparison quote because the Marvin brand is considered one of the “Top Three” brands in our market.
In Indianapolis, Indiana, the Top 3 brands for windows and doors are Marvin, Pella & Andersen and as a result many of our potential customers want a quote or bid for each brand. There are several problems with that request.
The first problem being that Marvin has 3 different window lines, Pella has about 5+ window lines and Andersen has too many to try to count. So when someone says they want a Marvin quote to compare to Pella & Andersen, my first question is “which line of Pella or Andersen?”
Unfortunately, many of our potential customers can't answer that question because they weren't told which line of windows they were quoted.
Another problem is the windows are very different between all of the lines, in other words, they are not an “apples to apples” comparison.
To make this simple, I am going to give you an easy to follow comparison of the most popular 3 lines we see in the Indianapolis, Indiana market including:
The following lists are breakdowns of components & details for each of the Big Three:
Marvin- Extruded Aluminum Cladding
Pella- Roll Form Aluminum Cladding
Andersen- Vinyl Cladding
Extruded Aluminum is about the thickness of a quarter. It is structural due to the thickness of the metal.
Roll Form Aluminum is thinner like a soda can so it can be wrapped (formed) around the wood. It is not structural because it is thin.
Marvin Cross Section showing Extruded Aluminum Cladding
Pella Proline Cross Section showing Roll Form Aluminum Cladding
Andersen 400 Series Showing Vinyl Cladding
Marvin- Butt Joints in Corners
Pella- Mitered Corners
Andersen- Mitered & Welded
Marvin Butt Joint Corner
Pella Mitered Corner
Andersen Mitered & Welded Corner
Marvin- 19 exterior finished colors that meet American Architectural Manufactures Association (AAMA) 2605 Standard. Custom color matching is available.
Pella- EnduraClad for the Architect Series is available in 27 factory colors.
Andersen - 7 colors
Marvin- Wood (Black Walnut, Cherry, Mixed Grain Douglas Fir, Honduran Mahogany, Pine, Vertical Grain Douglas Fir, and White Oak.)
Pella- 3 wood options for standard windows: Mahogany, Douglas Fir, and Pine. White Oak, Cherry, Red Oak, or Maple are only available for custom windows.
Andersen- Wood (pine only)
Marvin- Your choice of 7 factory stains & 3 painted wood finishes.
Pella- Pine can be pre-finished in your choice of 7 stains or 3 paint colors.
Andersen- 3 colors (white, black or bronze only available with coordinating exterior color)
Marvin- Single Hung, Double Hung, Casement, Casement Swing, Awning, Glider, Bay & Bow, Round Top, European Style Tilt-Turn, Picture Frame, and Specialty & Customized Shapes.
Pella- Double Hung, Casement, Awning, and Single Hung. Custom sizes and configurations are available for the Architect series.
Andersen - Double Hung, Casement, Awning, Glider, Bay & Bow, Specialty Shapes
Marvin- Standard Option:Dual Pane with Low E & Argon
Additional Options Available: Additional Low E & Argon options, Triple Pane, Specialty Glass (Sound Abatement, etc.),
Tinted , Obscure & Decorative Glass
Pella- 4 different options are available. All with dual or triple pane glass with argon or krypton.
Andersen: Standard Option: Dual Pane Low E/ Low E4
Additional Options Available: SmartSun, Sun Glass & Passive Sun Glass, Obscure & Art Glass
These three window lines are significantly different. Different Material Types, Different Options & Different Construction. As a result, they come with different price tags.
This explains why obtaining a quote for each one doesn't give you a good comparison. When determining which window is the best fit for you, it is important to ask yourself some defining questions such as:
These are all important questions to ask yourself to help you determine which window is the best fit for you. Do not forget the Installation aspect of your window project as well. There are several methods for installing a window that will affect your overall quote price as well.
If you are in the process of replacing your windows and would like to discuss the differences in the product lines or work through which option might be best for you. Give us a call at 317-993-3660 or contact us here for a SHOWROOM visit to learn more.
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