Just saw a local news piece about a family who had a bit of a nightmare with their window installation from Lowe's. Apparently, they chose ReliaBilt windows and things didn't exactly go smoothly—delays, sizing issues, the works. Kinda made me nervous since we were thinking of doing the same thing soon. Curious if anyone here has had similar experiences or if this is just one of those unlucky flukes you hear about sometimes...
"Apparently, they chose ReliaBilt windows and things didn't exactly go smoothly—delays, sizing issues, the works."
Yikes, that's frustrating to hear. We actually went with ReliaBilt windows from Lowe's about two years ago when we redid our sunroom. Honestly, our experience wasn't nearly as rough as that family's, but it wasn't exactly smooth sailing either.
We did have a delay—nothing major, just about a week or so longer than they initially promised. The sizing was spot-on for us, thankfully, but I remember double-checking measurements obsessively beforehand because I'd heard similar horror stories. Installation-wise, we did it ourselves (my husband and I are pretty comfortable with DIY projects), so I can't speak to Lowe's installation service directly. But the windows themselves have held up nicely so far—no leaks, drafts, or anything like that.
I wonder if some of these issues come down to the specific Lowe's location or the contractors they use for installation? I've noticed that can make a huge difference. A friend of mine had a nightmare experience with flooring installation from one Lowe's store, while another friend had zero issues at a different location.
Have you considered maybe just ordering the windows through Lowe's and then hiring your own installer or even tackling it yourself if you're comfortable? That way you might have a bit more control over the process and avoid some of these headaches. Either way, I'd definitely recommend triple-checking measurements and maybe even asking around locally to see if anyone has recommendations for reliable installers.
Hope your project goes smoothly—window upgrades can make such a big difference in comfort and energy bills. Let us know how it turns out!
We installed ReliaBilt windows on a client's home last summer. Overall, quality was decent, but we did run into some minor sizing discrepancies—nothing we couldn't adjust for, but still annoying. Makes me wonder if it's a manufacturing consistency issue or maybe just poor communication between Lowe's and the factory. Has anyone else noticed if these sizing issues pop up more with custom orders vs standard sizes?
Ran into this exact thing last spring with a custom order—thought I was losing my mind measuring twice, cutting once, and still ending up scratching my head. Funny enough, I've installed standard-size ReliaBilts plenty of times without a hitch. Maybe it's just luck, but I swear the custom orders always seem to come with a little extra "adventure" built in. Could be something about the way they handle specs at the factory...who knows.
Funny enough, I've installed standard-size ReliaBilts plenty of times without a hitch.
Had a similar experience with custom ReliaBilts about two years ago. The standard sizes were always fine, but the custom order was off by nearly half an inch on two windows. Lowe's sorted it out eventually, but it took some back-and-forth and extra waiting. Makes me wonder if their custom manufacturing process just isn't as tight as it should be. Seems like it's not just a one-off thing after all...
Interesting observation—I haven't had issues with standard ReliaBilts either, but custom sizing does seem to introduce more variables. From what I've seen, the manufacturing tolerances for custom orders can vary quite a bit depending on who's handling the fabrication and even the specific factory they're sourced from. It might be worth double-checking measurements right at pickup, just to avoid delays later... Curious if anyone's tried other brands' custom options and noticed similar inconsistencies?
"Curious if anyone's tried other brands' custom options and noticed similar inconsistencies?"
- Yep, seen this with Andersen customs too—measurements can be spot-on or slightly off depending on the batch.
- Learned the hard way to always measure at pickup; saved me a headache more than once.
- Pella seems a bit tighter on tolerances from my experience, but you pay extra for that consistency.
- Bottom line: custom sizing always introduces some risk, regardless of brand. Just gotta stay vigilant and double-check everything yourself...
Had a similar experience with Marvin customs last year—most were dead-on, but one window came in about a quarter-inch off. Luckily caught it before install, but yeah, always worth double-checking before you start pulling old windows out...
"Luckily caught it before install, but yeah, always worth double-checking before you start pulling old windows out..."
Good catch on that Marvin window—though honestly, a quarter-inch off isn't always a deal-breaker. I've had a few installs where the opening itself wasn't perfectly square (thanks, old houses...), and a slight discrepancy actually gave me some wiggle room to shim and level things out. Not ideal, obviously, but sometimes those minor imperfections can be a blessing in disguise. Just my two cents from the trenches.
Good point about the quarter-inch tolerance—I've definitely been there. Had a similar situation last summer when I replaced a couple of windows in my 1940s bungalow. The framing was anything but square, and honestly, if the windows had been dead-on perfect, I probably would've had a harder time fitting them in. A little extra space can sometimes be your friend, especially when you're dealing with older construction.
As for ReliaBilt windows specifically, I put a few of those in my garage workshop about three years ago. They're holding up pretty well so far—no leaks, drafts, or noticeable issues. Granted, they're not exactly high-end, but for the price point, they've been solid. I did notice the measurements on one of mine were slightly off from the label (maybe an eighth of an inch?), but nothing that caused me any real headaches. Still, it's always worth double-checking measurements at the store before hauling them home. I've learned the hard way that labels aren't always gospel.
One thing I'd suggest keeping an eye on with ReliaBilt is the hardware. It's decent enough, but I've found it can feel a bit flimsy compared to pricier brands. If you're planning to open and close the windows frequently, or if they're in a high-traffic area, you might want to consider upgrading the hardware down the road. Not a huge deal, just something to keep in mind.
Overall, though, I'd say they're a pretty solid choice for most DIY projects. Just make sure you measure twice (or three times...) before you start pulling out the old windows. Nothing worse than having a giant hole in your wall and realizing you've got the wrong size window sitting there waiting to go in. Been there, done that—lesson learned the hard way.