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Stuck choosing between Kolbe and Andersen for my 90s home
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- Totally agree on install quality being the real game-changer.
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Midwest swings are no joke - thermal expansion can really test seals.
- My neighbor’s Andersens leaked after a couple harsh winters, but my Kolbes (installed by a local guy who actually cared) are holding up.
- Honestly, I’d look at who’s doing the work just as much as the brand.
- One thing: Kolbe hardware feels a bit more solid, but their lead times were a pain last year.
- Either way, no window survives a Midwest freeze-thaw if it’s not flashed right… learned that the hard way.
Either way, no window survives a Midwest freeze-thaw if it’s not flashed right… learned that the hard way.
Couldn’t agree more - flash it wrong and you’re basically inviting drafts and leaks. I do wonder, though, about long-term energy savings. My old Andersens were decent, but I swear my heating bill dropped a bit when I swapped to Kolbe (triple pane, pricey but solid). Still, that lead time nearly doubled my project. Anyone else notice Kolbes seem tighter around the sash? Maybe it’s just my install...
- Had a similar experience - my Kolbes are definitely snugger around the sash than the old Andersens.
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- yeah, that’s no joke. Mine took almost 5 months.“lead time nearly doubled my project”
- Triple pane made a noticeable dent in my heating bill too, but I did have to tweak the fit a bit during install.
- Midwest winters will find any weak spot... but I’d still pick Kolbe again for the tight seal.
Yeah, that wait is brutal. My Kolbes took forever too, but once they were in, I could actually feel less draft around the living room. Had to sand a bit off one sash - guess my old house isn’t exactly square. Still, worth it for the winter.
- That wait really drags, yeah. Mine took close to 4 months - felt like forever but honestly, it was worth it once they were in.
- Had the same issue with fitting. My house was built in '92 and nothing lines up quite right. Ended up trimming a bit off the frame, not just the sash. Guess that’s just how it goes with older places.
- Totally agree on the draft. Noticed a big difference right away, especially near the couch where it used to get chilly. Heat bills dropped a bit too, which was a nice bonus.
- Was nervous about messing up the install, but honestly, even with a few tweaks, it wasn’t too bad. Just took some patience.
- Only thing I’d say is, Kolbe’s finish scratches a bit easier than I expected. Not a huge deal, but something to watch if you’ve got pets or kids.
- Overall, feels like the hassle’s worth it when winter rolls in. House is just cozier now.
- If you’re weighing Kolbe vs Andersen, both have quirks. For me, the Kolbe look just fit the house better. Either way, you’ll probably end up doing a little adjusting if your place isn’t perfectly square.
Ended up trimming a bit off the frame, not just the sash.
That bit about the “house isn’t perfectly square” hits home. Mine’s from ’94 and I swear, every window opening has its own personality. I went Andersen for the warranty, but honestly, had to shave more than a little off some frames. Didn’t expect to basically become a part-time carpenter, but here we are. Finish has held up okay with my dog, but fingerprints show up more than I’d like. Can’t say my heat bill dropped a ton, but it definitely feels less drafty - especially in the living room.
That “every window has its own personality” line made me laugh - so true with these 90s builds. I went with Kolbe in my last house and the install was still a wrestling match. No matter what brand, you end up making more adjustments than the brochures suggest. I will say the Kolbes felt a bit heavier, maybe sturdier? But the finish on Andersen is easier to clean, fingerprints aside. Either way, I think you’re right: less drafty is about as much as you can hope for unless you want to rip out half your walls.
Funny, I had the same battle with Kolbe in my place - felt like every window was a unique puzzle, and none of the frames were actually square. I do agree, the Kolbes seem beefier, but honestly, sometimes that just made them harder to shim right. Did you notice any difference in noise reduction between the two? I swear my Andersens cut street noise a bit better, but maybe that's just me.
I do agree, the Kolbes seem beefier, but honestly, sometimes that just made them harder to shim right.
Man, that’s the truth - Kolbes are like trying to fit a linebacker into a tux. I’ve had to break out the big shims more than once. On the noise, I’ve noticed Andersen’s double-pane does seem to muffle more street noise, especially if you go with their higher-end glass options. Did you end up using the standard glass package, or did you spring for the upgrade? Sometimes it’s all in the glass, not the frame.
Kolbes are like trying to fit a linebacker into a tux.
That’s exactly how it felt when I swapped out the old windows in my den last winter. The Kolbes looked great on paper, but getting them to sit flush in my 90s framing was a wrestling match. I ended up shaving down a couple of rough spots and still had to use thicker shims than I’d planned. Not a dealbreaker, but it definitely slowed me down.
On the noise - Andersen’s glass is no joke. I went with their “SmartSun” package for the master bedroom, and it’s almost eerie how much quieter it is compared to the rest of the house. I used standard glass elsewhere and honestly, you can tell the difference if you’re paying attention. I’m not convinced the frame matters as much for sound, like you said.
If I had to do it again, I’d probably mix and match: Kolbe for the spots where looks matter, Andersen where I need peace and quiet. But man, the price tag adds up fast...
That’s pretty much my experience too. Kolbes look sharp, but getting them into my 1994 framing took a lot more persuasion than I expected - like, break out the planer and hope for the best. Andersen’s glass is wild for noise though. The wallet pain is real...
Funny, my experience was kind of the opposite. I actually found Kolbes went in easier than I expected - maybe just luck with my framing being a bit oversized? Andersen’s glass is killer for blocking out street noise, but I swear the install took twice as long with all the shimming. The price tag made me wince too, but at least you get some serious performance for it.
Totally get where you're coming from on the Andersen install. That shimming can be a pain. But I gotta say,
- that's a huge plus if you’re anywhere near traffic. The price tag's rough, but honestly, I think of it as an investment in comfort (and probably lower energy bills down the line). Funny how Kolbe fit easier for you, though. My neighbor had the opposite and had to trim a bunch just to get them to sit right... guess every house is its own adventure.Andersen’s glass is killer for blocking out street noise
Andersen’s glass is killer for blocking out street noise
Yeah, that’s definitely true - Andersen’s glass is no joke for noise reduction. I’ve seen it make a night-and-day difference on busy streets. But man, you nailed it about every house being its own adventure. I had a Kolbe install go super smooth on a 70s ranch, but then the same model was a bear to fit in a newer build. Sometimes it feels like the framing gremlins are out to get you. Price-wise, Andersen stings, but I do think you feel it in comfort (and your utility bill) over time.
Totally get what you mean about the framing gremlins - my place is a 90s two-story and nothing is square, so every window swap turns into a mini-adventure. I do like how Andersen keeps things quieter, but honestly, Kolbe’s finish options looked a bit nicer to me. The price tag on Andersen made me wince, though. Did you notice any big difference in drafts or energy bills after the swap, or was it mostly the noise?
Funny you mention drafts - I swapped out a few old Andersen units for Kolbe last fall, and honestly, the biggest difference was noise. Energy bills didn’t budge much, but I’m not freezing in the living room anymore. Kolbe’s finish is definitely a step up, but the install on my crooked frames took some creative shimming. If your 90s place is anything like mine, expect a little extra cussing during install... but the end result’s worth it.
- Totally get the crooked frame struggle - my 90s place had zero right angles, I swear.
- I did Andersen for the bedrooms and Kolbe in the kitchen. Kolbe’s finish is noticeably nicer, but Andersen was a bit easier to fit.
- Didn’t see much change on my bills either, but it’s way less drafty now.
- If you’re picky about looks, Kolbe’s worth the hassle. Otherwise, Andersen’s not a bad call for tricky installs.
Yeah, crooked frames are the worst - my living room window took three tries to get level. I’ll agree Kolbe’s finish is slick, but I found their lead times dragged out way longer than Andersen’s. Did anyone else deal with that, or was I just unlucky? For draftiness, swapping out my old windows made a bigger difference than I expected, but my bills barely budged too. Wonder if that’s just the 90s insulation showing its age...
Funny you mention the insulation - I’ve started wondering if my 1994 walls are just letting all the new windows’ hard work slip away. When I swapped to Andersen in the kitchen, the drafts vanished, but my winter gas bill didn’t really budge either. I’m curious if anyone’s tackled adding insulation to an older home and actually seen a difference, or is it just wishful thinking? Sometimes I think it’s a losing battle with these 90s builds...
I get where you’re coming from - my place is a ’92 and I swear those walls are basically tissue paper. I blew in cellulose insulation a couple winters ago, hoping for a miracle. Honestly? The house felt less drafty, but my gas bill only dropped a little. I think the windows helped more with comfort than actual savings. Sometimes I wonder if these old walls just hit their limit, no matter what you do...