Caught an article this morning saying Home Depot is phasing out Simonton windows from their stores—kind of surprised me since I thought they were a pretty common option for folks doing renos on a budget. I remember checking them out last year when I needed to replace a few in my 80s ranch, but honestly, the wait time for custom sizing was a pain, and the in-store displays always looked a little beat up. Still, seemed like they were one of the more affordable choices.
I’m curious if anyone’s noticed this at their local store or heard why they’re moving away from Simonton? Wondering if it’s quality issues, supply chain stuff, or just making room for another brand (Andersen maybe?). If you’ve used Simonton from HD before, did you have any issues or would you recommend something else now?
Yeah, I noticed the Simonton section shrinking at my local HD too. From what I’ve read, it might be less about quality and more about shifting partnerships—Home Depot’s been pushing Andersen a lot lately. Simonton’s U-factor ratings were decent for the price, but honestly, I always thought their air leakage numbers could be better. I replaced a few with Milgard last year and saw a drop in my winter heating bill, so maybe there are better options now for energy efficiency. Still, losing a budget choice kind of stings.
Still, losing a budget choice kind of stings.
Yeah, I’m feeling that too. I went to grab some window pricing ideas last week (first time actually shopping for this stuff, so I was totally clueless), and the Simonton display was like, half the size it used to be. I kept thinking maybe they just hadn’t restocked yet, but now I’m wondering if it’s more permanent.
I keep seeing Andersen everywhere now—like, literally every aisle has some kind of Andersen promotion. The sales guy tried to tell me they’re “worth the investment,” but honestly, my wallet disagrees. Is Andersen really that much better? I get that there’s probably a quality difference, but if I’m just trying to stop my living room from turning into a wind tunnel every winter, is it overkill?
I hear you on the air leakage thing with Simonton. My neighbor swapped his out last year (not sure what brand he picked, but it wasn’t Simonton or Andersen), and he said his house feels less drafty. But then again, he also upgraded his insulation at the same time, so who knows what actually made the difference.
Has anyone actually compared Milgard to these? I saw your note about lower heating bills after switching, which is super tempting. But are they in the same price range as Simonton used to be, or are we talking more like Andersen money? I’m trying to stay realistic here—my house is old and needs about a million other things fixed, so windows can’t eat up my whole budget.
Kinda weird how Home Depot just phases stuff out like that. Makes me wonder if there’s more behind it than just “partnerships.” Maybe they got tired of dealing with warranty calls or something? Or maybe it’s just all about profit margins... wouldn’t be shocked.
Anyway, curious if anyone else has found a decent budget option now that Simonton seems to be disappearing. Or am I stuck with Craigslist specials and hoping for the best?
The Simonton thing has been bugging me too. I’ve installed a lot of windows over the years, and it’s weird seeing them fade out at Home Depot. Used to be you could count on them for a solid mid-range option—nothing fancy, but reliable and didn’t break the bank. Now it’s like Andersen or bust, unless you want to gamble with whatever off-brand is left in the corner.
Andersen’s good, don’t get me wrong. The build is solid, hardware lasts, and their warranty is actually worth something. But for a lot of older homes (mine included—built in ‘62, drafty as heck), it feels like overkill if you’re just trying to keep the cold out and not planning on staying for another 30 years. The price jump is real, especially if you have more than a couple windows to do.
Milgard’s an interesting one. I’ve put in a few of their Tuscany line for clients who didn’t want to splurge on Andersen, and honestly, they’ve held up better than I expected. Price-wise, they’re usually closer to what Simonton used to be—maybe a little higher depending on features and glass options, but nowhere near Andersen territory. The only catch is availability; not every region stocks Milgard, and sometimes you have to order through a local dealer or specialty supplier instead of just grabbing them at the big box store.
On the budget end, Reliabilt (Lowe’s house brand) isn’t terrible for the price, especially if you’re handy and can do some of the install work yourself. They’re not going to win any awards for aesthetics or energy efficiency, but they’ll stop the wind from whistling through your living room. I’ve also seen some folks go with American Craftsman (which is actually owned by Andersen now), but those can be hit or miss—quality control isn’t always consistent.
I do wonder if Home Depot got tired of warranty headaches with Simonton or just wanted to push higher-margin stuff. Hard to say. Either way, it’s frustrating when you lose that “good enough” option in favor of premium everything.
If you’re open to secondhand, sometimes Habitat ReStore has new-in-box windows from overstock or remodels. Bit of a treasure hunt, but I’ve found some decent deals there when budgets were tight.
Definitely not stuck with Craigslist specials... but man, it does feel like the middle ground is shrinking fast.
That’s super helpful, thanks for breaking down the options. I actually looked at American Craftsman when I first moved in last year—needed to swap out a couple of basement windows ASAP before winter. Ended up with them mostly because they were in stock and fit my budget, but I hear you on the quality control. One of mine closes a little stiff, but it’s not a dealbreaker for now.
The price jump to Andersen is pretty wild, especially if you’re just trying to get the basics done and not go full HGTV. I’d never even heard of Milgard until reading your post—sounds like it could be worth checking out if I can find a local supplier. I do wish there were more “middle ground” choices at the big stores though, because not everyone wants to go bargain basement or top shelf.
Funny you mention ReStore—I scored a door there once for half what the box stores wanted. Definitely hit or miss, but sometimes you get lucky.
I do wish there were more “middle ground” choices at the big stores though, because not everyone wants to go bargain basement or top shelf.
Totally get this. I’ve put in a ton of those American Craftsman windows for clients on tight budgets—sometimes you get a decent one, sometimes you’re fighting it every install. Milgard’s solid if you can find it, but around here it’s hit or miss. ReStore’s a wild card... once found a brand new window still in the crate for $40, but most days it’s just old stuff that won’t fit anywhere.
Milgard’s solid if you can find it, but around here it’s hit or miss.
Yeah, Milgard’s been tough to source here too. Funny how the “middle ground” stuff just disappears from the shelves. Anyone else notice Lowe’s pushing Reliabilt more lately? Wondering if it’s just my area or everywhere...
I’ve noticed the same trend with Reliabilt at Lowe’s lately—seems like they’ve really ramped up shelf space for them, at least in my store. I was actually looking for Milgard about a month ago and got the same “out of stock, no ETA” answer. Oddly enough, when I asked about Simonton at Home Depot, they said they were phasing them out in favor of American Craftsman. Not sure if that’s just our region or a bigger shift, but it lines up with what you’re seeing.
The “middle ground” comment hits home. Used to be you could walk in and pick from a few brands in that $300-500 per window range, but now it’s either the real budget stuff or you’re jumping up to semi-custom orders. Reliabilt is okay for basic replacement jobs, but I’ve found their build quality a little inconsistent—sometimes the welds are clean, sometimes not. I’m probably more picky than most, though.
One thing I’ve noticed is the supply chain issues seem to hit the mid-tier brands hardest. The higher-end lines (like Andersen) are still around, but the lead times are brutal and prices have gone up. Low-end stuff is always in stock, but it’s kind of a gamble on long-term durability. I ended up ordering Simonton directly through a local distributor since the big box stores weren’t much help, but it took almost 10 weeks for delivery.
It’s weird—window shopping used to be pretty straightforward, but now it feels like you’re playing the lottery. Maybe Reliabilt is just easier for Lowe’s to keep in stock, or maybe it’s a margin thing. Either way, I wouldn’t mind a little more variety back on the shelves.