Weather Shield is a company with decades of experience in creating cutting-edge windows and doors.
If you need to replace your windows or you’re looking for designs to use in a renovation project or new construction, this is one of the top manufacturers in the business.
What Are Weather Shield Windows?
Weathershield windows are some of the best choices you can make when looking to restyle your home and improve its energy efficiency.
This brand enjoys a good reputation regarding craftsmanship, style, and performance. You can find a wide range of standard windows and also many ENERGY STAR, LEED, and Zo-e-shield Glass windows.
These are ideal for environmentally conscious homeowners and contractors and are made possible by the company’s mission to drive performance where it matters most.
Weathershield Window Costs
$3,520 - $6,895
Material Type | Estimated Starting Price |
---|---|
Vinyl | $140 |
Wood | $300 |
Aluminum Clad | $450 |
Finding the right window manufacturer is one of the toughest decisions for homeowners and contractors. Unfortunately, Weather Shield doesn’t make the decision any easier when it comes to pricing.
Weather Shield operates through a large network of representatives and dealers. That means that there aren’t any standard price listings.
Typically, potential customers have to first choose the style, material, finish, frame, glass panels, and desired hardware options before they can get a quote.
In addition, location and installation difficulties may also play an important role in determining the cost of Weather Shield windows.
For example, if your home has siding, you may get a better deal than you would if your home has stucco siding. Your state or city sales taxes can also influence the price in any direction by up to 10%.
Therefore, Weather Shield windows can have an average cost of between $100 and $700, depending on the many previously listed factors.
Double Hung windows can run you as little as $140 but can end up being over $1,000 for specific materials and finish combinations.
Casement windows can start much higher at $300 and even exceed $450 per window. Of course, as you move on to more advanced styles, like sliding windows, the base price is even higher.
Weather Shield aluminum-clad sliding windows range between $450 and $720.
You can use our Windows Replacement Cost Calculator to estimate the cost of installing new windows.
Weathershield Window Types
Double Hung windows
The double-hung style features two vertical gliding sashes. They are easy to operate and often come in classic designs that can be integrated into various decors.
Weather Shield also offers tilting versions of this style which makes the windows easier to clean.
Casement windows
A casement window comes with a single sash that can be hinged on one side. You can crank it open vertically and even open the sash with a single handle turn.
The benefit of these windows is their convenience and ease of use in tight spaces.
Awning windows
Window Shield’s awning windows come with a top-hinged sash. This allows the windows to be opened from the bottom, giving them an awning effect, hence the name.
While they can be combined with various styles, awning windows make it easy to aerate a room even if it’s raining.
Slider windows
For optimum lighting, slider windows win by a landslide. These come with a stationary sash, as well as a gliding sash that you can move in either direction for optimum airflow and light.
It also comes in handy if you don’t have enough exterior clearance.
Did you know? If you replace old windows with ENERGY STAR-rated windows, you can significantly lower your energy consumption. By some estimates, these new and improved windows are responsible for an average 12% national drop in household energy bills.
Special windows shapes
Weather Shield does a great job at giving customers complete control over their lighting and décor. The special shapes category features many stationary windows with custom shapes and geometric designs for enhanced home aesthetics.
$3,520 - $6,895
Weather Shield Frame Materials
Despite providing premium energy-efficient windows, Weather Shield is somewhat limited in its frame materials offering.
The company only allows customers to pick between wood, aluminum, and vinyl. While these are great materials, and Weather Shield uses high-quality craftsmanship, other manufacturers may have richer material offerings.
Weather Shield Notable Features
There are certain qualities of Weather Shield windows that are easily identifiable as their top-selling points.
Feature No. 1 – Impact Glass
Weather Shield has an impressive lineup of Premium Coastal Windows. While energy efficiency is the company’s main concern, the manufacturer knows how to cater to specific markets.
Therefore, customers can also opt for hurricane impact windows. These products are designed for areas prone to high-wind-velocity hurricanes and withstand wind speeds of over 140 miles per hour.
These windows further contribute to the homeowner’s quality of life by reducing noise and minimizing UV fading.
Feature No. 2 – Environmental Stewardship
Weather Shield is a manufacturer that encourages environmental stewardship. This is evident in the window design and in the manufacturing process.
The company is big on recycling materials and using renewable practices in both craftsmanship and logistics. Weather Shield is highly environmentally-friendly, which is often a big selling point for customers.
Supporting the company means contributing to pollution prevention, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and reusing resources.
Weather Shield Windows Pros and Cons
Here is a summary table for the pros and cons you can expect with Weather Shield Windows
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Design Variety | Difficult to Get a Price |
Energy Efficiency | Deals With Select Dealers |
Extensive Warranty | Poor Customer Service |
Innovative Solutions | |
Elegant Craftsmanship |
Pros
Let’s have a look at the main benefits of installing Weather Shield windows.
Pro No. 1 – Design Variety
Weather Shield prides itself on offering customers the most impressive array of materials, finishes, styles, and colors.
The design flexibility is truly impressive given the many well-established series and styles.
Additionally, the custom shapes give customers the opportunity to personalize their windows and come up with millions of unique combinations.
Pro No. 2 – Energy Efficiency
One of the biggest Weather Shield windows’ selling points is energy efficiency. Of course, this will differ depending on what customers can afford.
However, even the most affordable windows are created for efficiency and strength to ensure optimal comfort. Furthermore, the manufacturer has an extensive line of ENERGY STAR-rated windows.
Pro No. 3 – Extensive Warranty
Not only does Weather Shield pride itself on its quality craftsmanship, but it also backs that confidence with warranties of up to 20 years on workmanship and materials.
Some warranties go up to 30 years and even cover wood rot for clad windows. As a bonus, these warranties are transferable. Thus, they can add more value during a renovation project.
Pro No. 4 – Innovative Solutions
Weather Shield has over 60 years of experience in the industry. But time in the industry hasn’t made the manufacturer complacent.
The brand is known for its innovative solutions, and for using its own R&D center to test new designs, material combinations, engineering methods, etc.
Pro No. 5 – Elegant Craftsmanship
Having a good balance of functionality and affordability is important to many customers. But there’s something to be said about Weather Shield’s elegant approach.
Even some of the most basic styles and designs have a luxurious feel, which is hard to beat by rival manufacturers.
Did you know? Weather Shield got its start back in 1955. Initially, the company was a one-man operation that only sold doors. And even though the company eventually expanded, it remains family-owned.
$3,520 - $6,895
Weather Shield Windows Cons
As no window manufacturer is perfect, let’s see what might make some customers opt for a company other than Weather Shield.
Con No. 1 – Difficult to Get a Price Quote
Customers can’t get a sense of Weather Shield prices unless they ask for a quote. This makes it difficult to compare them to other similar manufacturers.
Con No. 2 – Deals With Select Dealers
Anyone who wants Weather Shield Windows will be limited to working with the company’s exclusive dealership network.
Although the company has a good nationwide presence, its windows might be unavailable in some areas.
Con No. 3 – Poor Customer Service
The customer service department doesn’t offer homeowners the best follow-up support.
Weather Shield vs. Marvin Windows
Both Weather Shield and Marvin windows are among the most popular window manufacturers in the nation.
But if you have to decide between the two, it’s worth knowing some of the differences.
For example, Marvin windows can have a higher base cost than Weather Shield. Prices tend to start at around $300 to $350 and go upwards of $600.
Again, this will depend a lot on the window size, materials, installation costs, location, etc.
In terms of craftsmanship quality, the two brands are evenly matched. However, Weather Shield gets the nod when it comes to energy efficiency.
It has more ENERGY STAR-certified windows than Marvin.
On the other hand, Marvin comes with 10 primary window styles, which is more than what Weather Shield offers.
Bay, bow, round top, and hopper window styles are where Marvin gets the edge in diversity.
Both companies offer custom or specialty window versions, so customers can appeal to both manufacturers for custom, unique renovation projects.
There’s a difference in terms of window frame materials too. Marvin gives customers a choice between wood, aluminum-clad, and fiberglass, whereas Weather Shield only offers vinyl, aluminum, and wood.
This can split customers’ loyalties. It also shows why Marvin may have a higher base price point per window.
Both companies offer replacement windows and construction windows. But Weather Shield gets another significant nod in terms of the warranty.
Marvin doesn’t offer anything over 20 years for glass and 10 years for non-glass components. Weather Shield warranties are more extensive and can stretch up to 30 years.
Weather Shield vs. Pella Windows
The Weather Shield versus Pella windows debate is an interesting one.
Pella is similar to Marvin from a pricing standpoint, which means a higher starting price point compared to Weather Shield. However, the ceiling on costs is lower compared to Weather Shield.
Pella also has more availability. Weather Shield windows are only available in the brand’s exclusive dealer network. Pella goes a step further to please potential customers.
The company sells its windows through its own dealership network, Pella retail stores, and Lowe’s stores. Therefore, you have a much easier time testing and price-checking Pella windows.
The window style category also goes to Pella for offering bay- and bow-style windows, which Weather Shield doesn’t offer. Both manufacturers can handle custom window orders.
The two companies are almost matched in material offerings. Pella and Weather Shield create wood and vinyl frames, but the former also uses fiberglass while the latter opts for aluminum.
The warranty battle is tricky to judge. Weather Shield offers customers between 20 to 30 years on its products.
However, Pella windows come with limited lifetime warranties and 2 years of skilled labor coverage. The downside with Pella is that transferring the warranty sets a new maximum term of 10 years.
Did you know? Some buyers view a non-transferable warranty as a bonus. That means it could increase both the value and appeal of a home.
However, this doesn’t matter too much in most cases as it isn’t considered a deal-breaker in a transaction.
$3,520 - $6,895
Weather Shield vs. Andersen Windows
While window performance plays a big role in customers’ preferences, it’s hard to not give the nod to Weather Shield over Andersen windows regarding energy efficiency.
The former has more energy-efficient products and stronger windows.
In fact, Weather Shield windows are consistently rated better against pressure and air infiltration than Andersen windows, even when comparing the manufacturers’ flagship products.
Andersen, on the other hand, uses wood and vinyl-like Weather Shield and offers fiberglass frames. Some customers may prefer this material and see Andersen as a stronger competitor.
The warranty comparison isn’t close, with Weather Shield getting the advantage. The company offers at least a 20-year warranty for frame finishes, glass, and parts, while Andersen doesn’t cover parts and finishes for more than 10 years.
In addition, Weather Shield has a special 30-year warranty against wood rot in many products, which few other manufacturers offer.
Andersen offers a high-quality replacement and installation service that comes with a 2-year warranty.
But as far as availability goes, both companies sell their windows through exclusive dealership networks.
Weather Shield vs. Alside Windows
If Weather Shield provides some of the strongest and most energy-efficient windows on the market, Alside comes with some of the most affordable options.
Alside windows prices range between $200 and $500. This makes them considerably cheaper than the Weather Shield alternatives.
Alside has a good variety of styles and offers casement, awning, and double-hung windows. But it also gives customers some styles that Weather Shield doesn’t cover, like garden, bay, bow, and impact windows.
Furthermore, Alside comes with a limited lifetime warranty for all of its windows, something that Weather Shield doesn’t do.
Of course, there are various conditions and exclusions that apply to each product depending on its design, materials, etc.
Alside even has a good lineup of energy-efficient windows, but doesn’t offer the same range as Weather Shield, nor does it have as many ENERGY STAR-rated products.
But this is where things slide in favor of Weather Shield. Lower prices and limited lifetime warranties are the biggest selling points.
If you look at material options, you’ll notice that Alside offers little variety as most of its frames are made of vinyl.
This makes their offerings very limited. On top of that, the availability isn’t better because Alside only sells through local dealers.
Did you know? Energy efficiency is a big deal in the window industry because homes lose most of their energy through windows.
Glass plays a crucial role here as a low-quality component can lead to substantial losses and higher energy bills.
$3,520 - $6,895
Homeowner’s Reviews
Customer reviews of Weather Shield vary wildly based on their experience. Some homeowners appreciate the luxurious feel and premium quality of the windows. Many contractors choose to work with Weather Shield instead of other window manufacturers.
However, many homeowners seem to complain about the customer service department. In addition, there are mentions of many warranties being shorter than advertised and not always extended for the full 20 years.
How Long Do Weather Shield Windows Last?
Most Weather Shield windows come with 10- to 20-year warranties. But their clad wood products tend to fare better as they’re also covered against rotting for 30 years.
It’s safe to say that Weather Shield windows can last between 20 to 30 years with good maintenance.
Where Are Weather Shield Windows Made?
Weather Shield windows are manufactured entirely in the U.S. at the company’s production facility in Medford, WI. This hasn’t changed since 1955.
Is Weather Shield the Right Window Manufacturer for You?
Unless Weather Shield simply isn’t available in your area, chances are this is one of the names you’ll run into when browsing for new windows.
The company might not have the best customer service, but its products speak for themselves. The combination of using recycled resources to create energy-efficient windows makes a strong argument in favor of Weather Shield.
That said, this isn’t the cheapest manufacturer by any means. The good news is that Weather Shield may be able to tackle far more diverse projects than other manufacturers.
And if premium prices are an issue, you could always opt for some of the brand’s less flashy window products.
This is one of the strongest contenders on the market. It offers a fair warranty (longer than many competitors), sufficient price points for every budget, and some of the best ENERGY STAR-rated windows on the market.
$3,520 - $6,895