There are a lot of big window brands out there. In Florida, Simonton is one of the top dogs in the window market. However, Andersen Windows is a national brand holding fully 10% of the market share across the whole U.S. (Source: OpenBrand). When comparing Simonton Windows vs Andersen Windows, which is the best fit for your home and needs?
From cost of installation to reliability, durability, and aesthetics, which brand is better? Let’s compare these two window brands and see how they stack up against each other!
Simonton Windows vs Andersen Windows: Price
The first thing most homeowners want to know about their windows is how much they’ll cost. Price is an unavoidable concern for any homeowner, so you might need to take it into account when choosing your new windows.
However, establishing the cost of your windows can be a little difficult, especially if you need custom-made windows to fit your home’s openings rather than a standardized window frame. Also, different window types may have different base prices, and then there’s the cost of installation to consider.
Andersen Windows products can vary in price depending on the type of window being installed and its size. Some Andersen products can be as little as $259 (without installation), while others can cost more than $3,600 before installation costs (Source: Today’s Homeowner). However, the cheaper price is for their “budget” 200 series window brand, which is not impact rated.
Simonton Windows prices start at around $350 and go as high as $1,300+ pre-installation. The average price for their impact windows with installation is around $1,800, which is half the cost of Andersen’s top-of-the-line window without installation. And these windows are impact-rated!
Winner: Simonton takes the win when comparing similar products. Andersen’s higher-end impact-resistant options tend to cost more than Simonton’s impact windows even without installation.
Simonton Windows vs Andersen Windows: Impact and Wind Pressure Resistance
In Florida, windows must meet specific design pressure (DP) requirements to comply with the Florida Building Code. These requirements vary depending on the maximum wind speed of your area, but any zone with an ultimate design speed of 140 mph would require windows with a DP rating sufficient to withstand over 50 pounds per square foot (psf) of force (Source: Florida Disaster.org).
Simonton’s StormBreaker Plus line of windows have High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) certification. These windows have been tested and verified to have DP ratings ranging from +/- 50/50 psf to +65/-70 psf. This is well above the required design pressure requirements of HVHZ zones in Florida without being needlessly overengineered, contributing to a more affordable product.
Meanwhile, Andersen’s “budget” 200 Series windows don’t meet this minimum requirement, as they only have a DP of +/- 20/20 psf. However, their 400 Series windows with “Stormwatch” protection can meet these requirements with corresponding design pressures ranging from +/- 50/65 psf to +/- 70/80 psf. This makes these windows more than tough enough to stand up to FBC requirements in Florida.
Winner: It’s a tie on paper. Both companies’ impact window lines have comparable DP ratings and are rated above the minimum requirements for installation in Florida. However, Andersen’s use of adulterated vinyl and wood in their window frames makes the long-term durability of their windows questionable compared to the stable reliability of Simonton’s pure vinyl window frames.
Simonton Windows vs Andersen Windows: Longevity
How long will the window you install last? It’s not worth spending thousands of dollars to replace your windows if you’re just going to have to do it again in a couple of years. That rate of replacement just isn’t sustainable for most homeowners.
Several factors play into the longevity of your new windows. Chief among them are materials and construction quality.
When it comes to manufacturing quality, Simonton is noteworthy for its overall manufacturing quality–-they have to be to consistently earn AAMA Gold Label certification for their products and get the Miami-Dade County Seal of Approval!
Andersen is similarly high-quality in their manufacturing. They have the biggest share of the national window market for a reason. In most cases with Andersen, if there’s an issue with the window immediately after install, it will be because of issues during shipment or installation.
What separates the two brands are the materials they use for their products.
Andersen installs a wide variety of window frame types. They work with wood, composite materials made from vinyl and wood scraps, and clad wood (wood wrapped in another material such as aluminum). They advertise that their composite material is “twice as strong as vinyl” and they have documentation showing an ultimate tensile strength of 38 megapascals (MPa) in the extrusion direction and 26 MPa in the cross-extrusion direction.
By comparison, vinyl resin has an ultimate tensile strength of 7,500 psi (51.7 MPa) and chlorinated polyvinylchloride (CPVC) has a tensile strength of 8,200 psi (56.5 MPa). This is notably higher than the tensile strength of the adulterated composite material Andersen uses.
Yes, pure vinyl is measurably stronger than vinyl adulterated with wood shavings.
By the way, Simonton Windows uses pure, “first-generation vinyl” for their impact window frames.
In Florida, especially along the coastline or near ports, vinyl is going to be a much more reliable and long-lasting material than wood or even aluminum. Why?
Vinyl outlasts wood and wood-based composite materials because it’s less susceptible to rot and moisture intrusion. Some pest species like termites also actively eat wood, contributing to a shorter overall useful life.
Vinyl vs aluminum is a closer match… in any market that isn’t within a mile of a sea breeze. While aluminum is several times stronger than PVC or even CPVC, it is more susceptible to corrosion from exposure to saltwater than vinyl. In any region where the wind carries lots of salt-rich sea air, vinyl is going to perform better with less maintenance than exposed aluminum.
Another longevity advantage of vinyl is that it isn’t painted to get its appearance. If the surface gets scratched, the material underneath will be the same color as that on the top. Compare this to painted wood and aluminum, where the paint may get stripped by wear and tear or exposure to the elements over time, resulting in discolorations when scratched.
Winner: Simonton. Despite their marketing, Anderson windows uses a lot of wood in their products, which will naturally lead to a shorter useful life compared to pure PVC vinyl.
Simonton Windows vs Andersen Windows: Warranty Service
Simonton Windows has one of the best warranties on the market. The quality of their warranty is why Karoly Windows likes to use Simonton’s products so much. It’s just so easy to reach out to them and get replacement parts so we can do warranty repairs/replacements for their products that it helps us help our customers better.
Under the Simonton Windows warranty, residential customers have a limited lifetime warranty on vinyl, hardware, and screens while the glass of their windows has a 20-year warranty.
It’s even transferable to another homeowner once, so whoever you sell your home to can be covered. This can be a major selling point if you ever decide to sell your home.
Meanwhile, Andersen Windows’ 400 series windows have a 20 year transferable limited warranty on glass that covers “defects in manufacturing, materials and workmanship… from the date of purchase from the retailer/dealer.” The warranty also guarantees that their windows will not “develop, under normal conditions, any material obstruction of vision or stress cracks resulting from manufacturing defects.”
However, their warranty also has a laundry list of exemptions. Many of these exemptions are fairly standard, such as exemptions against product modifications installed after the fact, improper assembly by others, using non-Andersen hardware, and installation deficiencies.
Other exemptions are less common. For example, one of the specified exemptions in the warranty simply reads “Condensation” and another is “Normal wear and tear.” So, if there’s any issue caused by condensation on the window, that won’t be covered and even ‘normal’ wear and tear is exempted from warranty coverage.
Winner: Simonton, by a long shot. The Today’s Homeowner review noted that Andersen’s “limited warranty structure makes Andersen one of the least impressive companies for warranty support.”
Despite some surface-level similarities in the duration of the warranty on their glass, Simonton is so much easier to work with and doesn’t have as many strange exemptions in their warranty coverage.
Simonton Windows vs Andersen Windows: Energy Efficiency
To keep your home cool and comfortable in Florida typically takes running your air conditioner. The harder your AC system has to work, the more energy it burns. The more energy it burns, the bigger your power bill is at the end of the month.
Windows can have a big impact on your home’s energy efficiency by better insulating your home against the heat of the sun and preventing the cold air in your home from leaking out.
Two key performance metrics to check for energy efficiency are:
- U-Factor. A measurement of how well the window insulates your home against heat transfer. Measured on a scale from 0.2 to 1.2, where lower numbers means less heat transfer and thus, better energy efficiency.
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). A measure of how well a window prevents heat from sunlight from infiltrating the home, measured on a scale of 0 to 1. On that scale, 0 indicates the best possible protection against heat gain and 1 indicates the worst possible protection.
These values may vary even within a single window product line based on the window’s size and any custom options applied to that window.
For their 400 Series Stormwatch windows, Andersen’s U-Factor ratings can range anywhere from 0.21 to as high as 0.89. The SHGC values of their windows range from a minimum of 0.18 to a high of 0.36 (on a single window product).
Meanwhile, Simonton’s StormBreaker Plus 300 VL double hung windows have u-factor ratings varying from 0.29 to 0.44 depending on if they have low-e glass and argon gas fills. The SHGC values of these windows can vary between 0.18 to 0.53 depending on the type of low-e glass used.
Winner. It’s a tie. The Andersen windows advertise lower lows for u-factor ratings, but higher peaks as well for their less energy-efficient options and their SHGC values are roughly comparable for their energy-efficient product lines.
Both products are a good choice for energy-conscious consumers if you pick their energy efficiency-enhanced products.
The Hidden Truth about “Andersen” Windows in Florida: What You Need to Know
There’s one thing that we haven’t been mentioning throughout this article that’s rather important to know: Andersen Windows doesn’t actually sell windows for Florida directly. Instead, sales of windows in Florida are handled by a subsidiary organization called “Renewal by Andersen.”
Renewal by Andersen is a part of the Andersen brand family, but they aren’t the same company that most people think of when they hear the Andersen name. They don’t even carry the same product lines as the main company, who typically makes windows for the northern states and not the Florida market.
Instead, they offer a set of windows called the “Acclaim” line, which is exclusive to the Renewal by Andersen company. It uses the same adulterated vinyl as the other Andersen composite windows.
Additionally, Renewal by Andersen doesn’t handle the installation of the windows they sell, despite calling themselves a “Full-Service Window & Door Replacement” company. Instead, they work with remodeling/construction businesses and have them serve as subcontractors. This means that the crew installing the Renewal by Andersen window isn’t on Andersen’s payroll… They’re a 1099 contractor and not a full time employee of the Andersen company.
Renewal by Andersen does require that their subcontractors:
- Have a license
- Pass a criminal background check
- Provide work references
- Own their own truck, tools, and trailer hauling hitch
- Have a Certificate of Insurance for General Liability, Automotive Liability, and Workers’ Comp
- Have a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) registration and numbers.
Notice something missing from that list? A Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) contractor’s license as a specialty contractor. When you’re looking for window replacement services, you want someone who is certified and licensed as a specialist in window replacement.
Why does this matter? Consider this: Would you go to a local lifeguard for brain surgery? Sure the lifeguard has basic first aid training and (presumably) knows anatomy, but they’ll be a generalist, not a specialist.
Worse yet, the lifeguard on duty will be different depending on when you go. One day, you might get the eager-to-please and professional lifeguard and the next day it’ll be the guy who forgot all of his medical training three seconds after finally passing the course who doesn’t know the heimlich maneuver, let alone CPR.
When you choose a window installer, you need to know they can provide consistent results. You need to work with a company that doesn’t subcontract out their installation work to any random crew with two warm bodies to throw at a job.
That’s why you should look for a dedicated installation company that does have a current license from the DBPR as a specialty contractor.
Simonton doesn’t handle their own installations, either, but at least they partner with window installation companies rather than hiring subcontractors and claiming them as their own teams. You can get a Simonton window from Karoly and know that you’re getting expert installation and service from Karoly contractors who are held to a higher standard.
Simonton Windows vs Andersen Windows: The Verdict
Comparing Simonton Windows vs Andersen Windows products is a tough call… At least, it is for homeowners not in Florida. Both companies have products that are high-end with great workmanship and materials.
However, we recommend Simonton windows over the Andersen products for our Florida customers. While Andersen does have a sturdy line of impact-resistant windows that can be highly energy efficient, and a line of products that are more affordable for residential customers, they’re two separate product lines.
Also, Andersen’s reputation is built on a line of windows and doors not made for the Florida market, and the company selling their windows in Florida subcontracts out all their work, which can lead to inconsistencies in installation quality.
Simonton takes the win for meeting all of Florida’s needs: durability, energy efficiency, and longevity. Additionally, they have a very clear warranty that’s actually useful with less of the runaround that many manufacturers tend to force into the process.
Plus, because Simonton uses unadulterated vinyl in their frames, they’re incredibly well-suited for enhanced longevity in the Florida market. Meanwhile, Andersen puts wood shavings in their vinyl or uses wood or aluminum frames that are more susceptible to rot/corrosion in wet, salty Florida air.
When you need expert installation to make the most of your new windows, you can rely on Karoly Windows to install them with expert precision and care because we don’t subcontract out our work!
Reach out to Karoly today to get started on your new window replacement!
