What makes Window Outfitters stand out from most of the other replacement window companies in the Minneapolis area? Unlike a lot of the other contractors, we offer a wide range of choices, in style and materials as well as manufacturers.
Our extensive selection of window lines means we can offer each customer the very best window solution for their particular home and budget. In today’s post our president, Bob Davis, talks about one of the most economical choices we offer, and that is the vinyl window. (Bob has previously shared on our wood windows. Click here to read that post.)
Interviewer: Bob, recently you talked about installing storm and genuine wood windows in historic homes. But not everyone has an older home that needs architectural preservation. Can you share with us about the other options?
Bob: With historic and many older homes, the warmth and beauty of wood is the only window that the customer should use. But with most other homes, vinyl windows fit just fine.
Many times we will put beautiful Marvin, Weather Shield, Sierra Pacific or Pella wood windows on the first floor. Then on the second floor where the living quarters are not seen by guests, we may put a high-end vinyl window that performs every bit as well but is less expensive.
That enables the customer to invest a greater deal of money in the main entertaining areas – the living room, kitchen, dining room, and so on. They will still get good performance out of the vinyl windows in the second-floor living areas but they don’t cost as much. That’s a good option for them. The windows will look the same from the exterior many times because we can paint vinyl windows today just about any color you need to match the cladding on the wood windows. But in many homes out in the suburbs it’s all vinyl windows – the whole house.
Interviewer: Is that a common type of window that has been put in over the last 30 years?
Bob: Vinyl has been around for at least 30 years, but it’s gotten much better over time. We handle only high-end vinyl lines, though; we don’t handle inexpensive, cheap (so to speak) vinyl products. They are out there – you’ve probably heard the advertisements that for $100 or $125 you can get a window. We’re not in that market. We handle contractor grade, high-end vinyl windows that will perform properly, from companies that have been around for many, many years. And these windows carry excellent warranties. Most vinyl windows we install carry a lifetime warranty that includes the window and the glass as well as breakage.
Interviewer: And what are those vinyl window manufacturers your customers can choose from?
Bob: ProVia, Lindsay (made right here in Minnesota), Unlimited (made in Wisconsin), and Sierra Pacific’s Superseal® line of vinyl windows. And Pella also has a line of vinyl windows. Most of the vinyl windows we install right now are primarily from ProVia, followed by Unlimited, with Lindsay coming in a close third.
Interviewer: What is the reason you carry so many different lines?
Bob: One reason is for options, just like a car dealer. Some of the vinyl lines don’t offer many exterior colors. Some can’t be painted, but some of them will paint it any color we want. Some have a laminated wood interior offering. Others may not have real wood interiors available, like ProVia does. It’s basically two things – price and features. That’s why we handle all those lines. Each job can be different. If you were to call and say, “All I want is a white, white window,” every one of them would fill that bill. Then it becomes a matter of choosing the best investment for you. But if you said you wanted a vinyl window on the outside with a wood interior that you could stain to go with your present woodwork, you’d probably go with ProVia.
And there are differences between the window styles. Some companies make better slider windows than others; some have better casement windows. And with some, they have better screens. Options – that’s the main reason we carry so many window lines.
Interviewer: You have displays at your location in Savage where somebody can actually come and touch the windows you install?
Bob: Yes. The advantage of dealing with us is that we have every window we sell on display in our showroom. In fact, we just expanded our showroom about another 1500 square feet because we needed more display space. But the showroom is by appointment only.
Window Outfitters, Inc. is THE replacement window company in the Twin Cities. We install quality vinyl and other types of windows in the Minneapolis area, especially the suburbs of Apple Valley, Eden Prairie, Edina, and Bloomington.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
