Marvin vs Andersen replacement windows: an installer's view

Marvin and Andersen are the two window brands people around here ask us about most. We have installed both: Andersen units in a stone house in Lower Merion and Marvin double-hungs a few streets away. Both are good companies with good products. The useful question is not which brand is better, but which product line fits your house and budget, and how it will be installed.

This guide is written from the installer's side. We are not a dealer for either brand and we do not get paid more for one than the other.

Lower Merion TwpApr 2026

The two companies in a sentence each

Andersen is the largest window maker in the country, based in Minnesota, known for its Fibrex composite windows (the 100 and A-Series) and its wood windows with vinyl cladding (the 400 Series). Renewal by Andersen is its separate full-service replacement business.

Marvin, also from Minnesota, is family-owned and known for wood and clad-wood windows with a lot of custom options, plus its Elevate and Essential lines in fiberglass.

Product lines that matter for replacement

Window lines change names and details over time, so check the current catalog, but the broad structure looks like this.

Andersen

• 100 Series: Fibrex composite, a mix of wood fiber and thermoplastic. Budget-friendly, paintable inside on some colors, a good vinyl alternative.
• 400 Series: Wood inside with a low-maintenance vinyl exterior. The most common Andersen window in older houses here. Comes in insert and full-frame versions.
• A-Series: Higher end, with Fibrex exteriors and more architectural profiles.
• E-Series: Custom aluminum-clad wood, Andersen's top line.

Marvin

• Essential: All fiberglass, inside and out. Durable and simple, limited options.
• Elevate: Fiberglass outside, wood inside. A popular replacement choice.
• Ultimate: Clad or all-wood, with very wide sizing and design options, used on historic and high-end houses.
• Modern: Narrow frames for contemporary designs.

How they compare

Prices depend heavily on size, options and the dealer, so we will not quote numbers here. In general, comparable lines land in similar ranges, and the jump from mid-range to top-end lines in either brand is bigger than the difference between the two brands at the same level.

Materials: vinyl cladding, Fibrex and fiberglass

The exterior skin is where the brands differ most.

• Vinyl cladding (Andersen 400): Proven, low upkeep, limited color range. Cannot be painted easily.
• Fibrex (Andersen 100, A-Series): Stiffer than vinyl and moves less with temperature. Andersen says it is stronger than vinyl.
• Fiberglass (Marvin Essential and Elevate): Very stiff and stable, expands at about the same rate as glass, takes paint well.
• Aluminum cladding (Andersen E-Series, Marvin Ultimate): Very durable and available in many colors, used on high-end and custom windows.

For most houses, any of these will outlast the paint on the house. The decision usually comes down to looks, colors and budget.

Looks on older houses

On older Pennsylvania houses, with deep window openings, wide casings and divided lites, a few things matter for looks:

• Simulated divided lites (grilles bonded inside and out with a spacer between the glass) look much more like real muntins than grilles between the glass. Both brands offer them on their mid and upper lines.
• Narrow sightlines. The less frame you see, the more the window looks like an old one. Compare frame and sash widths side by side.
• Interior wood. If you want stained or painted wood inside, look at Andersen 400 or Marvin Elevate and up.

Lower Merion TwpOct 2025

What matters more than the brand

We see good windows installed badly far more often than bad windows. These things decide whether a window performs:

1. Insert or full-frame. A great window in a rotten frame still leaks. See insert vs full-frame window replacement.
2. Sill pan and flashing. The bottom of the opening needs a sloped pan that drains out, and the sides and head need flashing lapped with the wall's water barrier.
3. Shimming and fastening. The window must be set level, plumb and square, with shims where the manufacturer says, or the sashes bind.
4. Insulation in the gap. Low-expansion foam that will not bow the frame.
5. Trim. Interior casing and stool, exterior trim or capping that sheds water.

Both Marvin and Andersen publish detailed installation instructions, and their warranties assume they were followed.

Warranties

Both brands offer long limited warranties on glass and on their frames and cladding, with shorter coverage for parts like hardware and screens. The details differ by product line and change from time to time, so read the current warranty for the exact line you are buying. Pay attention to whether labor is covered and whether the warranty requires installation by a certified installer.

Lead times and service

Standard sizes in mainstream lines usually arrive in a few weeks. Custom sizes, colors and the top lines can take much longer. Ask your dealer for current lead times before you plan the work, especially if windows are part of a larger renovation.

Service after the sale depends on the local dealer as much as the brand. A dealer who answers the phone two years later matters.

Our honest take

• If you want a clean, durable window at a moderate price and you like white or a standard color, Andersen 400 Series or Marvin Elevate are both solid choices.
• If budget is tight and you want something better than basic vinyl, look at Andersen 100 Series or Marvin Essential.
• For historic houses, unusual sizes or specific exterior colors, Marvin Ultimate or Andersen E-Series.

Whichever you pick, put as much attention on the installation as on the brand. We are happy to install either, through your dealer or ours. See our window service and the Marvin windows and trim project.

Questions to ask before you order

1. Which product line is being quoted, exactly, and is it insert or full frame?
2. Are the grilles simulated divided lites or between the glass?
3. What glass package is included, and is it suited to the sun on each side of the house?
4. What is the lead time for your sizes and colors?
5. Who installs, and is interior and exterior trim included?
6. What does the warranty cover for labor?

Do we have a favorite?

Not really. We have trimmed out Andersen windows set in fieldstone and Marvin double-hungs in a new upstairs, and both looked and worked as they should. Where we see differences is in the details people care about: the exact color, the look of the grilles, how slim the frame is, and how long the order takes. Put a sample of each line you are considering side by side, open and close them, look at the corners and the hardware, and decide on what you see.

Hardware and screens

Hardware finish and screen type are easy to overlook and noticeable every day. Both brands offer several finishes, such as white, bronze, black and satin nickel, and both offer full screens and half screens on double-hungs. Some lines offer hidden or retractable screens. Ask to see the hardware in person; a cheap-feeling lock on an expensive window is a common disappointment.

Questions people ask

Is Renewal by Andersen the same as Andersen windows? Renewal by Andersen is Andersen's full-service replacement company, which sells and installs its own Fibrex window line through its own crews. Andersen windows sold through dealers and lumber yards are installed by independent contractors. The products and pricing are different.

Can I mix brands on one house? You can, but windows on the same side of the house should match in color, grille pattern and sightlines. Mixing brands on different elevations, or between an addition and the main house, is common.

Can I paint vinyl-clad or fiberglass windows? Fiberglass takes paint well, and some lines are offered in many factory colors. Vinyl cladding is harder to paint and painting may affect the warranty. Choose the exterior color carefully when ordering.

What about wood windows for a historic house? All-wood or clad-wood lines such as Marvin Ultimate and Andersen E-Series offer profiles and divided lites that suit historic houses. In some historic districts, wood is required on street-facing windows.

How to compare two quotes on different brands

1. Make sure both quotes are for comparable lines, not an entry line against a premium one.
2. Compare the same features: grille type, glass package, hardware finish, screens.
3. Compare installation: insert or full frame, trim inside and out, disposal.
4. Ask about lead time and warranty on labor.
5. Compare the total, not the price per window, since some quotes include trim and others do not.

Ask us about your windows