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1. 
   joejoemiller | Jun 15, 2023 01:04am | #1

   My project is still in-progress but since no one else chimed in, I'll share my experience.
   We ordered our windows through a local contractor and that contractor did the install. They did a great job on the ordering, their install work was ok. We picked them because they were recommended by Reynaers.

   Overall, we've been happy with the product. They are high quality windows and doors. Fleetwood is very popular in our area and these windows and doors are much higher quality than that. The customer service we got from Reynaers was also very good; we probably would have spent more buying our windows from Fleetwood at the end of the day because Fleetwood doesn't allow any changes and we needed to make some changes to get the windows to fit in the structure. All that being said, there have been some issues with the install and we're still waiting to have those issues resolved.

   Looking back, the only thing I'd change is I would have fewer operable windows. The fixed windows look a lot better than the operable windows. We very rarely open windows, and we could have pared back the operable windows considerably which would have saved money and produced a better outcome (both energy-wise and aesthetically). As the case is, we have some operable windows that IMO look weird because there's too much frame and not enough glass.

   One thing to be aware of with the Reynaers windows & doors is that they don't have flush handles. Depending on how you arrange the window in the wall, the handle may stick out so far that it interferes with whatever drapes / blinds / shades you want to install. This is more likely to cause problems the fatter the window / door assembly (lift-and-slide doors in particular) or when you want to install your windows so that they're inside-flush. If you're working with a builder / designer / architect who doesn't have much experience building with windows that have handles that protrude from the surface (most American made windows have flush or nearly-flush handles), this is a big shift in thinking where extra planning needs to happen for the whole thing to finish out well. But, again, if you have fewer operable windows there are fewer places where this issue is even an issue, fixed windows have no handle at all.