New Andersen 100 Series
The gentlemen at Andersen came down and put on a “lunch and learn” to promote the Andersen 100 Series Line. The truth is, it was very hard for me to stay open for one simple reason, I don’t like Andersen. That’s right. In fact, I feel stronger and more negative than that. People love the idea of Andersen and the status symbol, but I’ve seen the other side. I’ve changed plenty of windows on the Outer Banks and Andersen just don’t cut it. In Andersen’s defense wood windows in general don’t work here. So for that reason I WAS interested in their sales pitch to see if they could win me over. This is what I found.
The 100 Series Andersen line is a step in the right direction -it’s not wood. It’s Andersen’s patented “Fibrex” material which they say is 2x stronger than vinyl. It’s a composite of about 40% wood filler and 60% polymer. Apparently, it has over 30 patents and 12 x thicker finish than painted vinyl. An eyebrow raising start.
To continue, like a wood window, you can have more than just a “white” appearance, both inside and out. Andersen offers Sandstone, Terratone, Dark Bronze, Black and White for exterior colors and Sandstone, Dark Bronze, Black, and White for interior colors. It’s my understanding that the color is part of the polymer which is a big advantage. Many of the existing colored vinyl windows on the market today don’t hold up in this harsh environment. They scratch or mar leaving a white or different color below. So Andersen is jumping into non-wood windows with both feet and setting themselves apart.
A few notables….
-The window hardware is also offered in a low-grade stainless option or can be upgraded to a Corrosion Resistant hardware. A great option and critical for the Outer Banks.
- Although not a deal breaker for many, the 100 series is only offered in Single Hung (only the bottom sash operates and no tilt-in washing for top sash.)
- From an environmental standpoint, Andersen is a Green Seal Certified manufacturer with “98% of the material that goes in through the front door comes out the through back door” according to their rep, leaving little waste for mother earth.
Is Andersen my new favorite window company? No. However, they are moving in the right direction. Where before I wouldn’t consider putting Andersen in one of my homes, now, in the right scenario, I would. Specifically, if a colored window is at the top of a client’s list due to exterior design preferences and they don’t care for double hung sashes. If you are more interested in the Andersen 100 Series or window options on your custom home give us a call and we’ll be happy to explore your possibilities.