As first time home buyers, we had no idea what to expect when it came to the windows our home builder were installing. Turns out, their normal manufacturer Harvey Windows, were out of stock and we got a new brand of Crestline Windows instead.
In hindsight we got lucky, as many of our neighbors have had multiple callbacks on their Harvey Windows and a few have been replaced entirely. Our builder choose the 300 series of Crestline replacement windows for our build. Actually, they didn’t choose them per se, it was all that was in stock with the supplier at that time. Turns out, the 300 series from Crestline is their mid-line vinyl window and has more features than basic vinyl style windows. It has a more refined profile, typical of wooden windows. It is also fade resistant and has fusion welded frames with a metal reinforced sash. We should not have to worry about replacing these for 10 or 12 years according to the builder.
We didn’t realize it at the time but that turned out to be a very good upgrade over the other homes in our neighborhood.
Upwards of $150 more per window and our home has 14 windows, so that was a big hit to the builder
After we moved in, we found out that one neighbor had the home builder come back after the first snow of the year to completely replace their Harvey vinyl windows. They went with the builder to the regional supplier and ended up choosing a wooden style from Crestline. Their wooden replacement windows have very nice natural aesthetics and look very high end. Of course, they also require more maintenance than the vinyl windows, but in this instance I think wooden was the right choice. My wife is a reatlor, and she said for the right home buyer matching the wooden windows to the interior trim or furniture can add 5% to the resell value of a home.
That is why buying from established brands is one of the smart ways to avoid losing your money in the future. You want to make sure the company will be around to honor any warranty claims.
Of course, Crestline, are not as popular as established as companies like Anderson or Pella Windows. This is something you should consider before your purchase because it can make it difficult to find replacement parts for smaller companies.
No matter how cheap you are able to get your replacement windows, there are a few features you cannot skimp out on. First and foremost, make sure the windows will be moisture resistant. This is important if you don’t want to have to replace them every 2 or 3 years.
Moisture can lead to mold which can in turn lead to difficulties closing or opening your windows. Once you get to that stage, you will likely have difficulty convincing your after sales representative to have the windows replaced for free on the warranty.
If you are not replacing your windows in a million dollar home, you should consider the Crestline windows brand. We have found them to be decent enough for our first home and have had many of our neighbors compliment them.
