Simonton vs. Andersen windows - worth the extra cash?

I get where you’re coming from -

I’m not sure if I’ll really notice the difference, or if I’m just paying for the name.

maybe lean Andersen? Either way, I don’t think you’ll be kicking yourself, unless you go super cheap and regret it every winter.

Had an almost identical debate with myself last year. Ended up picking Simonton because, well, budget. They’re decent, but I do notice a little more chill by the window on windy days than at my friend’s place with Andersens. Not a dealbreaker, but if you’re obsessed with energy bills like I am, it’s something to consider. If this is your “forever-ish” home, those little drafts add up over time.

- Had Simontons in my last place - honestly, they were fine, but I did notice the cold spots during windy Chicago winters.
- Upgraded to Andersens in this house. Pricey, yeah, but my living room stays way warmer now.
- If you’re planning to stay put for a while, I’d say it’s worth stretching the budget if you can swing it.
- That said, if you’re not super sensitive to drafts or your climate’s mild, Simonton’s still decent.
- Just depends how much those little annoyances bug you over time...

- That said, if you’re not super sensitive to drafts or your climate’s mild, Simonton’s still decent. - Just depends how much those little annoyances bug you over time...

Funny timing - my neighbor did the “buy cheap, buy twice” dance with windows a few years back. He went Simonton, then grumbled every winter about drafts and condensation. Meanwhile, I bit the bullet on Andersens when we remodeled. It stung (my wallet still hasn’t forgiven me), but honestly, I don’t miss the plastic-y feel or fogging. That said, if your winters are mild or you’re not picky about a little chill, Simonton’s fine. But if you’re planning to settle in and hate wearing socks indoors, Andersens might be the move.

- Gotta say, I’ve had Simontons in my 80s ranch for six years and honestly, no major regrets.
- Winters here (central VA) aren’t brutal, so a draft here and there isn’t a dealbreaker.
- Did have to reseal one window last year - quick fix with some caulk, nothing wild.
- For me, the price difference just wasn’t worth it…especially since we’re not planning to stay forever.
- If you’re sensitive to cold or plan to be in the house for decades, I get why Andersens might win out.
- Otherwise, Simonton’s been solid for the money - just keep an eye on the seals.

For me, the price difference just wasn’t worth it…especially since we’re not planning to stay forever.

I get where you’re coming from, but I went with Andersens in our old colonial and honestly, even after a decade, they’re still tight as a drum. We had Simontons in our last place - cheaper upfront, sure, but I was constantly chasing down little drafts and condensation issues. If you’re planning to stick around or just want less hassle over time, sometimes that extra cash really does buy peace of mind. Just my two cents.

Funny, this reminds me of when we first moved into our place - mid-winter, wind howling through every crack, me with a roll of weatherstripping and a prayer. We had Simontons back then. Not terrible, but I swear I could feel the breeze from the couch some days. Fast forward a few years, we finally bit the bullet and did Andersens throughout. Pricey? Oh yeah. But honestly, I’ve barely thought about those windows since. No drafts, no fussing around with towels on the sills during storms.

That said, if I knew we’d only be here a couple more years, I’m not sure I’d have splurged. It’s a tough call - sometimes you just want a quick fix, especially if you’re not putting down roots. Still, I’ll admit, I don’t miss my old “indoor wind tunnel” days.

Man, I totally get that “wind tunnel” vibe. We had Simontons in our last house too, and they were... fine, but I always felt like I was losing a battle against drafts no matter how many times I tried to seal things up. Honestly, it was like the windows were just pretending to close all the way.

We’re in a spot now where we went with Andersens when we did a big reno - yeah, that price tag stings at first. But after a couple winters, I kinda stopped thinking about them, which is probably the best compliment you can give a window. No more cranking the heat or shoving blankets against the sills.

That said, if you’re planning on moving soon, I don’t know if I’d bother dropping the extra cash either. Simontons aren’t terrible, especially if you do a decent install and maybe beef up the insulation around the frames. But if you’re settling in for the long haul, I’d say the peace and quiet (and lower energy bills) are worth it. Always comes down to how long you wanna stick around, I guess.

Yeah, that’s exactly it - if you stop noticing your windows, they’re probably doing their job. I had a similar experience: went with cheaper vinyl windows in my old place, and even after re-caulking and stuffing insulation in every gap, I could still feel cold air sneaking in during winter. It was like the drafts had a personal vendetta or something.

When we moved and did our remodel, we sucked it up and got Andersens too. Price hurt at first, but our heating bills dropped a bunch and the house just feels quieter. I’m not sure I’d have spent the extra if I thought we’d move in a couple years though. The ROI isn’t there if you’re not sticking around.

One thing I noticed - install makes a huge difference. My neighbor got Simontons but paid for a really meticulous installer, and honestly, his house feels way tighter than mine ever did with cheap windows and a slapdash install. Sometimes it’s less about the brand and more about who’s putting them in.

Curious if anyone’s tried adding those interior window inserts or storm windows instead of replacing the whole thing? I’ve heard they help with drafts and noise, but never actually used them myself. Wondering how they stack up against just biting the bullet and swapping out for better windows.

Sometimes it’s less about the brand and more about who’s putting them in.

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen high-end windows lose half their value from a sloppy install, and mid-tier ones outperform expectations if the installer actually cares. On the inserts - yeah, they can help, especially in old houses where ripping out original frames isn’t an option. But honestly, they’re more of a band-aid than a cure. You might cut down the drafts, but you’re still living with the old glass and frames, so energy savings and noise reduction only go so far. Ever notice condensation issues with inserts? That’s one thing I’ve seen pop up, especially in humid climates.

We went with inserts in our 1920s place because the original frames were gorgeous but drafty. Honestly, I noticed more condensation than before, especially on humid mornings. Not terrible, but enough to wipe down sometimes. Install was decent, but yeah, it’s not a total fix.

- Interesting you mention condensation - I've actually had less of it since switching to full-frame replacements, not inserts.
- Wonder if the inserts just don't seal as tight around the old wood? Maybe the original frames are part of the issue.
- Install was a pain, but honestly, the drafts are gone and I barely wipe windows anymore.
- Have you tried running a dehumidifier in the mornings? Helped me a bit before I swapped windows.

Simonton vs. Andersen - worth the extra cash?

I keep going back and forth on this. On one hand, Andersen’s price tag makes my wallet twitch, but I do wonder if you’re just paying for the name or if there’s a real difference. The condensation thing is interesting - anyone else notice that full-frame replacements actually help more than inserts? I’ve got an old colonial with original frames, and honestly, I’m not sure any insert would ever seal up right. But then again, is it overkill to rip everything out? And do those “premium” windows really last longer, or just look nicer for a while? Sometimes I think the drafts just find a new way in no matter what you do...

- Full-frame replacements usually do a better job with drafts and condensation, especially in older homes where the frames are warped or out of square.
- Andersen’s price isn’t just for the name - hardware and finish do tend to hold up longer, but you’re right, it stings the wallet.
- Simonton’s solid for the price, but their inserts can be tricky if your old frames aren’t perfect (which, let’s face it…most aren’t after 80+ years).
- I’ve seen “premium” windows last 30+ years, but only if installed right. Otherwise, even top-tier stuff can leak or fog up.
- Ever tried a blower door test before and after? Sometimes those sneaky drafts just move to the next weak spot - like playing whack-a-mole with air leaks.

Curious - has anyone had luck keeping original trim intact with full-frame installs? That’s always the pain point in these old colonials...

Tried to keep my original trim with a full-frame swap in my 1920s place… didn’t go perfectly. Even with a careful crew, we lost a few chunks of the old molding. I ended up patching and repainting, but it’s not 100% seamless. Worth it for the draft fix, though.

I hear you on the trim - mine’s from the 30s and even with all the prep in the world, some pieces just didn’t survive. I patched and caulked too, and honestly, unless you’re staring right at it, nobody notices. The draft fix made a bigger difference than I expected, especially last winter. About Simonton vs Andersen: I went Andersen for a couple main rooms and yeah, it stung the wallet. But the finish and hardware feel more solid to me, and they seem quieter against street noise. If you’re already going through all that trouble with old trim, I’d say splurge where it counts... but mixing brands room by room isn’t the end of the world either.

Interesting point about mixing brands - I’ve been debating that myself. I keep wondering if it’s noticeable to have different window styles in adjacent rooms, or if that’s just something only I’d pick up on. For those who went with Simonton, did you notice any difference in how well they block noise or drafts? I’m in a pretty noisy neighborhood, so that’s a big factor for me.

I keep wondering if it’s noticeable to have different window styles in adjacent rooms, or if that’s just something only I’d pick up on.

- Mixed brands in my house - honestly, nobody’s ever commented. I notice it because I know what I picked, but unless you’ve got drastically different trim or grids, most folks won’t spot it. If the color and general style match, it blends in fine.

- About Simonton and noise: I swapped out old wood windows for Simonton double-hungs in the bedrooms last year. We live a block from a fire station, so noise was a big deal for us too.
- Noticeable drop in street noise, especially high-pitched stuff like sirens or loud cars. Not dead silent, but enough that we sleep better.
- Drafts are pretty much gone compared to the old ones. The install matters a ton, though - if the contractor rushes or skips caulking, you’ll still get leaks.

- One thing: Simonton’s basic glass isn’t as thick as some Andersen models. If you’re really sensitive to noise, look into their laminated or “sound control” glass upgrade. It costs more, but it’s worth it if you’re right on a busy street.

- I did Andersen in the living room (budget wouldn’t stretch for the whole house). They feel a bit sturdier and maybe block sound a hair better, but it’s not night and day. The price jump is real - Andersen was about 40% more for the same size.

- For drafts, both brands are way ahead of what I had before. Simonton’s weatherstripping is solid, but again, installer makes or breaks it.

- Only regret: didn’t do all the windows at once. Now the old ones in the kitchen feel draftier by comparison.

If you’re worried about mixing brands/styles, just keep the main sightlines consistent - like all front-facing windows matching. Inside, most people don’t notice unless there’s a big difference in color or hardware.

I’ve been wrestling with the same thing about mixing window brands, especially since I’m super detail-oriented and tend to notice stuff like that. My house is a 1950s ranch, and when I started replacing windows, I got totally hung up on matching the profiles and hardware. Ended up with two Simontons in the back bedrooms and an Andersen in the front room (the price difference made me pause, too). Honestly, unless you’re standing there comparing side by side, it’s not obvious - at least not in my place. The trim covers most of the differences.

About noise, I’m curious - did you notice any difference in sound insulation between the Simonton and Andersen after living with both? I’m near a busy street, and my current old windows do almost nothing for noise. I keep reading that the glass thickness matters more than the brand, but I’m not sure if the cost to upgrade is worth it. Also, did anyone else get a draft after installation even though everything looked sealed? I’m worried about spending all this money and still feeling cold air in winter...