The companies have long histories and good reputations.
And as long as their products are installed properly, they should work well in your home.
The Spruce / Danie Drankwalter
Both Pella and Andersen windows also are usually worth it in terms of cost.
The Spruce / Danie Drankwalter
On the flip side, Pella and Andersen windows reviews tend to be relatively positive.
Although either company should give you a quality product, there are differences between the two.
Today, it’s located in Bayport, Minnesota, as an international company with more than 12,000 employees.
As of 2021, itreported$3 billion in annual sales.
The difference between Andersen and Andersen Renewal is theRenewal by Andersenbrand is the start-to-finish window replacement division of Andersen.
Consumers can buy window-plus-installation packages from authorized Andersen installers.
Pella Corporationis a privately held company based in Pella, Iowa.
It employs around 7,000 people with an annualreportedrevenue of approximately $2.1 billion as of 2021.
Materials
One chief difference between Pella and Andersen is the choice of materials for their replacement windows.
Pella
The division making window replacements,Replacement By Pella, offers mostly all-vinyl windows.
But it also offers window replacements with fiberglass and wood frames.
Andersen
Andersen tends to steer clear of all-vinyl windows.
Instead, it uses a proprietary wood composite material calledFibrex.
Fibrex is composed of 40 percent recycled Ponderosa pine wood fibers and 60 percent polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Their recycled materials are also more eco-friendly.
This is not to say you could’tpurchase vinyl windows from the Andersen group.
New-construction windows through the American Craftsman By Andersen unit are available in vinyl.
A similar model applies to the window industry.
Cost estimates below are taken from a wide sampling ofreplacement windows.
Pella windows cost between $650 and $1,000 on average per replacement window.
This price includes installation, which averages $250 to $450 per window.
The prices swing widely based on the models.
For instance, a Pella Encompass model vinyl single-hung window costs around $155 plus installation.
A Impervia double-hung fiberglass window averages $365 plus installation.
And a 850 Architect wood casement window averages $852 plus installation.
Andersen replacement windows range from around $250 to $1,000 on average per window, excluding installation.
Installers charge around $40 to $50 on average.
The average cost of a Fibrex Andersen 100 series window is around $238 plus installation.
Meanwhile, an Andersen 400 series wood or vinyl window averages $375 without installation.
And an Andersen Architectural E-series series aluminum or wood window averages $930 without installation.
Bottom Line
Pella’s windows tend to be cheaper than Andersen windows.
But this can vary based on your window selection and installation cost factors.
Pella also offers limited warranties that differ based on window model.
Around 50 percent of consumer complaints center on claims of an inferior product.
The majority of the other claims can be traced to poor service from the local Pella dealer.
The case made news if only because of the inept handling of the suit by the plaintiffs' lawyers.
The total number of Andersen complaints are far less than Pella complaints.
Andersen countered that it expressly discloses thepossibility of gas lossin its product guides.
Andersen receives vastly fewer complaints than Pella across all complaint categories.
That being said, Pella is a smaller company that focuses more on innovation rather than overall quality.
The average lifespan of vinyl windows is 20 years or more.
Vinyl windows are maintenance-free, as they do not fade, crack, or need to be painted.
Fibrex windows are exclusive to Andersen Windows and will last around 35 years.
They do not require maintenance, as they do not fade, peel, crack, or require painting.
2021 Top Manufacturers Report.Window+Door, GlassBuild America.
2022 Pella Replacement Windows Cost.
2022 Andersen Replacement Windows Cost.
