Shopping around for new windows? You probably have looked at all kinds of manufacturers, including popular names like Pella or Marvin. But have you considered Andersen windows? What about Milgard? For many, Milgard and Andersen are usually where they start to wonder if one is better than the other.
To make your product research a little easier, we have put Milgard and Andersen head-to-head, so you can see the pros and cons of each manufacturer. That way, you will have a better idea about which brand of window to purchase.
About Milgard Windows & Doors
Milgard is a company that clearly states its mission: to provide respect and superior service to their customers. And with morals like that, Milgard has been around since 1958, when it was founded by Maurice Milgard, Jr. and his son Gary. Starting out in Tacoma, Washington, Milgard first was known as Milgard Glass Company.
In 1962, Gary left the company to focus on aluminum windows, naming his new business Milgard Manufacturing. Many innovations have been made throughout the years, resulting in a varied product line that includes:
- Tuscany Series: premium vinyl windows with an elegant design. Features the SmartTouch® lock hardware. Nine exterior frame colors and finishes. Full lifetime warranty.
- Trinsic Series: a contemporary vinyl window; narrow profile; nine frame colors and finishes along with the Milgard lifetime warranty.
- Ultra Series: high-performance fiberglass window; four frame colors. Lifetime warranty.
- Aluminum Series: Light, thin aluminum windows with contemporary styling. Uses Thermally Improved Aluminum, assisting with insulation. Comes with a lifetime warranty.
- Quiet Line Series: Noise reduction windows made with glazed windows and vinyl framing. Comes with a 10-year warranty.
- Style Line Series: The affordable line from Milgard. A vinyl window with two standard frame colors and seven premium colors. Uses the Positive Action lock for sealing windows. Comes with a full lifetime warranty.
You will find that Milgard has fewer selections than Andersen and is often called a “builder grade” window—or a bargain window.
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About Andersen Windows
Andersen is one of the oldest names in windows. Founded in 1903 by Hans Andresen, a Danish immigrant, the company first opened as Andersen Lumber in Hudson, Wisconsin. That means the business has been around for over 115 years. Andersen is committed to sustainability and has multiple subsidiaries, including Andersen®, Renewal by Andersen, EMCO, Weiland, MQ, and Heritage brands.
Andersen’s window product lines include:
- E-Series: Part of the Architectural Collection and comes with 50 standard exterior colors and finishes, as well as color choices for the interior. You can create custom windows with contemporary designs. The E-series is made of wood and an aluminum exterior.
- A-Series: Architectural Collection energy-efficient windows that are designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. Available with triple-pane and HeatLock®. Made of a combination of composite, wood, and fiberglass.
- 100 Series: An environmentally-friendly line that uses Fibrex® composite, which is 12X thicker and 2X stronger than vinyl and can withstand intense heat (up to 150 degrees F).
- 200 Series: A budget-friendly option with streamlined designs. Made with wood and a vinyl exterior that is nearly maintenance-free.
- 400 Series: Vinyl exterior and wood interior. A blend of high-performance materials and affordability. Comes with many customization options.
- Heritage Windows: contemporary aluminum windows that are marketed for luxury homes and commercial businesses in the Southwest.
- Renewal by Andersen: the full-service replacement window division of the company. Renewal by Anderson windows come in multiple forms, including double-hung, casement windows, bay windows, and more. You can choose from multiple exteriors, interior, and finish colors, as well as what kind of grilles you want.
Andersen eschewed pure vinyl, unlike Milgard, and has created many proprietary blends, enhancing the durability and longevity of their products.
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Products and Customization
As you can see, both brands have a broad assortment of window types to choose from. Milgard offers four main categories of window frames: wood, vinyl, aluminum, and fiberglass. That is the typical assortment you get.
Andersen, on the other hand, uses fiberglass-clad, aluminum-clad, and vinyl-clad for most of their windows, meaning you get wood on the inside and a protective material on the outside. Andersen also offers composite materials for their windows, which is very sustainable and a wise choice for those hoping to lower their carbon footprint.
For either brand, you can choose some customization options when purchasing new windows. Any product line has some selections, depending on the material type.
For Milgard, the fiberglass windows series has the most selection (16), since it is considered high-end. Aluminum windows come with at least three color options.
Andersen trumps Milgard in this respect. Not only do the aluminum-clad (E- and A-Series) windows have over 50 colors and finish options, but most of their other windows have at least 2 color options and flexible design selections for grilles, finishes, and more.
Milgard vs Andersen: Warranties
Milgard Lifetime Warranty
Andersen Limited Warranty
One of the main differences you may notice when comparing Milgard to Andersen is that Milgard displays their warranty information out in the open. Locating Andersen’s policies will take a bit of roving on the website, and when you do find it, there are many different warranties for each product.
Both vendors have fantastic warranties, but Milgard beats Andersen here. Why? Because Milgard offers a full lifetime warranty on most of their window products. This means you are guaranteed parts and labor on defective or poorly installed windows for the entire lifetime of the window.
Andersen, however, has limited warranties. You get 20 years on glass for most windows, 10 years on functional parts, and labor is not included in the warranty. Some finishes will also decrease the years on functional parts, as well as certain technologies.
Price Tags: Andersen vs. Milgard
For those who are looking to get more affordable window options, you may want to look at Milgard over Andersen. When you compare the products offered by both companies side-by-side, you will find that Andersen windows are slightly more money than Milgard.
The average cost of Milgard windows is about $350 to $1,200 per window. Conversely, Andersen costs about $500 per window on the low end and $1,200 or more on the high end.
Conclusion
In the end, the choice between Milgard and Andersen windows is based on a couple of things: the type of window you want, your budget, and the location in which you live. For example, if you live somewhere with a lot of noise, you will probably enjoy Andersen windows. If you need lower cost windows that don’t sacrifice quality, you can go with Milgard and enjoy peace of mind with the lifetime warranty.
The choice is yours, but if you need more helping deciding, why not give RGB Construction a call? Our team is always ready to assist. Tell us your questions or request a consultation by calling or filling out the contact form.
