Quaker Windows

truckman

Installed quaker alex vinyl dh windows in a new construction home. fought with them all the way finaly got them in. frames straight and level.home owner moved in in july with no problems untill winter then they noticed that the cold wind was blowing through their windows.they called quaker windows and they sent out a rep. gave them some foam pads and said they lived on a windy hill thats why they leak air.cutomer was'nt happy so they called to have someone else come out to look at windows talked back and forth with them for a month they said they didn't think they needed to come back out until the customer threatened them with contacting a lawyer they agreed to come back out. I was there along with the home owner, salesman from the building center and the quaker rep they looked at all the windows and noted that the sashes were bowed on at least 90% of the windows. Now, as part of the solution, quaker agreed to replace two sashes to see if the problem would be corrected. However the two new sashes are the same window but with bigger felt? it still leaks air but cut it by about half any body else ever have a problem like this

woodmagman

Don't know Quaker from shaker, but sliding windows are low end. I first ask the customer if they were on a boat, would they like the cabin with a hatch door or a sliding patio door. Then finish the conversation with that is why there is no sliding window in submarines.
You get what you pay for, rarely more commonly less.

Amber

Looks like you may have an issue with DP ratings on the windows. How windy is the area were they are having the problem? In a situation like this your best option may be switching out the units with casements. They tend to have a better dp rating and hold up stronger in areas with alot of wind. If Quaker knew the area of the install on the oriiginal units I would hold them responsible for a portion of the cost.

truckman

the building center new the area and new that the house was on a windy hill. the windows are double hung not sliders what concerns me is that the uper and lower shashes are bowed in the middle and the felt just barely touches the frame they leak air in a 10mph wind.

Amber

Generally industry standard only allows for an 1/8" tolerance. I cannot see why they would argue if this is not the case. I would, however, install casements in the future in areas with large wind factors. They have a tighter seal then say a double hung. Do you have photos by chance?

truckman

sorry so long on reply been gone. i try to get some photos.

thom

and forget the vinyl's. PVC is a great product to bury in the ground but not so great in direct sun.

Home Serve

Had the same issue with double hungs from Atrium "the largest window manuf. in the country". The windows are crap, did 4 jobs with them, problems on all 4, no more Atrium.
First tried to blame it on my install, that did not quite work when I showed them my installation went over and above the guidlines on their web site.
Dave

truckman

what was the outcome, did atrium offer a solution or were you stuck with the windows?

Home Serve

For the atruim windows they continue to banter back and forth about it could be this or that, they have not made it right as yet. Hard to change the quality of a window after it's already made and installed.
Dave