Windsor Windows Consumer Reviews

DES MOINES, WASHINGTON -- I ordered a complete new construction package of factory finished fir clad windows and sliding doors from my dealer who is their authorized representative. I spent $58,000 on my windows. So, I rightfully expected a top notch and top quality product to be delivered to my project.

What I received was damaged products in shipping, products that were left with nail holes, leftover hole patch material, contrasting color exterior plastic parts. I have products where the wood was damaged in assembly, the windows' casements were out of alignment, and the cheap quality of plastic locks and handles is unacceptable and I was expecting metal handles.

Then there was the outright lies by the company as told to my dealer regarding delivery dates. I expected my window/door package to be delivered completely within the timeframes as given to my dealer by Windsor. Yet they came 2-4 at a time. This is impossible to install as a subcontractor cannot keep coming back at my whim.

I contacted my dealer about the issues. He was apologetic, yet I knew it was not his fault. I was contacted by a regional Windsor representative regarding my request to have them come out and adjust the casements, fix the paint damages, repair the wood damage inside the windows. I was told Windsor's warranty does not cover these items and it is up to the Builder to make all repairs and adjustments.

Wow, all the other mfr's came and fixed issues, made adjustments to spec and took care of the products they made. No, not Windsor. Windsor just takes your money, locks you in and makes you wait. Then they walk away. I can understand this attitude from a box store product, but not at $58,000. Now, I am stuck with windows that have cosmetic issues, have odd colors outside. I have been able to hide some flaws, but others remain.

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA -- We moved into our custom Timber Frame home last May. However after countless issues we experienced before taking possession we are still waiting to have many items resolved. We purchased the Windsor Window Package from the Timber Frame company with the understanding that coordination, warranty, etc. would be handled promptly by the window dealer.

Our problems started early on when the windows arrived. The contractor quickly flagged to me that the jamb extensions had not been ordered the correct length -- 1/2" short! We immediately contacted the Windsor dealer and he admitted his mistake, and agreed to pay for additional costs to rectify the issue. Little did we know, although it was our house, the solution they wanted was the cheapest, not what we would be prepared to accept so we ended up paying the balance (finishing costs, custom trim, paint, etc.).

Our next item was we had ordered a custom Fiberglass Door Slab in a Windsor Frame from the dealer. When this was three months late arriving when we needed to get the house locked up we are told that they couldn't make this work. Funny they had a year to resolve from when they received the order and it was now a surprise they couldn't do it? So we accepted a clad door...not what we wanted.

Our next issue was one door which shipped damaged was replaced with another slab that had more damage. We couldn't believe it but had to fight to get the original damaged slab back and paid our finishing carpenter and painter to repair the door. Next in nonessential areas we ordered primed jambs to save some money. What a mistake. The wood used was terrible. Our master painter spent almost a month trying to get these to look like something. His costs far exceeded any savings and we now have to live with it.

Next the dealer took it under his authority to order white screens and hardware for all the primed windows. Funny colour for windows in a wood timber frame house? We have been trying to get a price on getting these replaced to match the rest of the windows but we still do not have anything after six months of dealing with a territory manager and customer service.

Another issue we have is we have extremely bad leakage on two garden doors and we have been given no explanation but "check this, check that" which we have. It's my opinion it is a manufacturing issue. One of these same doors had to have both slabs replaced as they had been manufactured incorrectly and wouldn't close. I assume this is another manufacturing issue!

Our final issue is we have a patio door that is warped 3/8". We cannot seem to get any solution or how we get resolved from Windsor. Again it's "check this, check that." If this company truly wants happy customers, appoint top shelf dealers who do what they say they will do and have credibility and are honorable, address issues promptly as they aren't going away, get customers' responses. We made a mistake by choosing Windsor and caution others to look at other options.

PUEBLO, COLORADO -- Just know what you're getting into with your warranty. I have Pinnacle Series windows on my house. They were installed in October of 2005. In 2012 to 2014 I noticed that the paint on the outside was chipping off. I checked into the warranty and saw that it was a 10-year on the paint.

I contacted Windsor on October 2015 (10 years from instillation), with pictures of the windows. (Only 3 out of 12 total windows were affected.) They informed me that the 10 years started from the manufacture date, not the installation date. The manufacture date was February of 2005. So the windows sat in the warehouse for 8 months using up the warranty. They told me I was out of luck. Live and learn but I will not use them in the next house I build.

OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN -- We built our cottage in 2006 and by the recommendation of the lumber company, we went with Windsor Windows and doors. Right away we had seal problems with the doors. They were drafty and you could see light around the door seals. The representative came and looked at it and said in a chuckle "you got better seals than I do"! They did order thicker foam seals for us that seemed to help but they definitely do not keep out the weather. I have 4 of these pricey doors and all 4 have water stains, mold and are warping on the bottom. Rep said there is nothing else they can do for us.

Flash forward to 2014 when we contacted representative again. Curt **, Territory Manager, was not helpful at all when we told him about the windows. We believe water got within the metal cladding and then expanded the wood when it froze. It cause the cladding to deform. The representative denied it was possible and said that the damage was from blunt force trauma. There is clearly no impact point. He would not even come to look at it and dismissed our claim. Last spring, a second window is doing the same thing. No response from representative at all.

OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN -- We built our cottage in 2006 and by the recommendation of the lumber company, we went with Windsor Windows and doors. Right away we had seal problems with the doors. They were drafty and you could see light around the door seals. The representative came and looked at it and said in a chuckle, "you got better seals than I do!" They did order thicker foam seals for us that seemed to help but they definitely do not keep out the weather. I have 4 of these pricey doors and all 4 have water stains, mold and are warping on the bottom. Rep said there is nothing else they can do for us.

Flash forward to 2014 when we contacted representative again. Curt **, Territory Manager, was not helpful at all when we told him about the windows. We believe water got within the metal cladding and then expanded the wood when it froze. It cause the cladding to deform. The representative denied it was possible and said that the damage was from blunt force trauma. There is clearly no impact point. He would not even come to look at it and dismissed our claim. Last spring, a second window is doing the same thing. No response from representative at all.

IOWA -- Purchased 27 windows for a new home on September 18th black inside and out. Windows arrived November 8th. Nearly all windows were scratch at delivery. Windsor sent out representative on November 30th who determined 5 windows needed to be replaced, and that the other 22 can be touched up in the spring. Waited from November 30th until last week of December for the 5 replacement windows. Only 4 windows arrived. One with a broken jamb extension and 3 missing the jamb extension and the fifth window was just missing.

Waited again from last week of December until last week of January for next attempt for replacement windows. This time no windows were even shipped. Waited again for next attempt which was suppose to be February 8th. Once again no windows arrived. Now was told they don't know when they will be ready. Sitting around with plywood over my window openings all winter so far with no end in sight. Never should have used this company.

IRON MOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN -- We built our cottage in 2006 and upon recommendation of the lumber company, purchased Windsor products. I have never been so disgruntled by anything like this before. The outswing doors have bad seals and leak air horribly. Moisture seeping in is causing mold. Curt **, Territory Manager came and looked and said we had a better seal that he did! He ordered us extra thick replacement seals but that really didn't do much. We have 4 of these doors and 2 have warped to the point that if we open them, we can't get them back closed.

2 of our Windows allowed water to penetrate the cladding and when it got cold, froze causing the frame to distort. Again, Mr ** claimed it was nothing that a warranty would cover. He suggested it was caused by blunt force but there is no damage to anything except for the cladding. He dismissed our concerns promptly saying there was nothing he could do. We paid a lot for our doors and Windows and we are very disappointed in their quality. I will NEVER recommend them to anyone - even for a camp!

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA -- Water is trapped and does not drain from underneath closed windows in newly installed Windsor Next Dimension windows. This is a result of an absolute design flaw in this window. Even the very experienced installer agrees that this is a basic design flaw.

The dealer from whom the windows were purchased refuses any responsibility for this. I am hoping to reach Windsor manufacturer and have them replace these windows with satisfactory style without that problem. In order to post this situation to this site, I am forced to select a rating. I am doing so but I hope there will be a pleasant resolution of this problem with new windows immediately. If so, I will happily change my recommendation.

ILLINOIS -- We have our house build in 2001. The builder used Windsor windows. The problems started slowly and we dealt with them. Every winter we have had condensation and icing issues. I spend every spring cleaning mold and ruined wood from the interior of our windows. I have sanded and re-sanded re-stained and even used marina polyurethane, nothing works. We monitor our humidity, checked seals, you name it. Now we have given up. We are in the process of getting quotes for new windows.

I am stunned that window would have so many issues and need to be replaced so soon. I would never recommend Windsor windows to anyone. I can now understand the saying, "Have a great experience and tell a friend. Have a bad experience tell everyone.." I'm telling everyone who is considering these windows, run the other way!!! Now I need to scrape up 20K plus to replace and inferior product.

I have purchased these windows for my construction work for many years and then my dealer was told that Windsor was changing the distribution of their product. I have a customer experiencing the glass actually exploding and when it happens on the inside pane it becomes very dangerous as some of the windows are next to beds and it has happened during the night. I contacted my dealer and they couldn't help as they had no further connection with the company.

I contacted Windsor to be put on hold for an eternity and then was told the person to speak with was at lunch. I told that girl who answered that I've been calling for 3 months at different times of the day and funny how the one person that can handle the problem is always at lunch when I call. The last call was the best as I was now told that I was calling the wrong department and needed to call the sales dept. Called them a few times and left voice mails without one courtesy call returned.

The best is that Windsor is now available from my lumber supplier where I buy hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of materials a year and they now know that Windsor is not responsive to their customers, therefore the product isn't pushed. Going to cost you big Windsor and I won't purchase them again with this kind of treatment and embarrassment to my good customers. Stay away from this company.