COMMUNITY FORUM

Hello all!

In my recent decision to purchase a fixer upper home, I knew I was going to need some new windows. I browsed the internet, in search of a good, fair-priced window. I didn't want to spend top dollar, but I still wanted quality.

I had heard of Semco Windows , but was doubtful about their product after reading some of the feedback on this message board. I was strongly encouraged to give them a try by my local Hines lumber yard. I eventually settled on the Semco windows, after looking at both Kolbe and Andersen(both also nice windows), because the price was right.

I have to say my windows look just as beautiful as the ones in the showroom I was at, and they seem to be working great. I'm very satisfied with my purchase and will go with Semco again in the future.

SEMCO has never made a good window in my opionon and I should know as a previous employee on the casement line. The employess (Union Shop) just don't care and since we started making our own glass two years ago I would never purchase any of their products. The workforce does not care and has never gotten along with the family, nor does the family get along with each other,,, sad sad situation at SEMCO

First of all Semco does make an excellent product. All products are tested and built in accordance with NFRC standards. With respect to condensation, there is an excellent piece of independent literature that will answer your questions. Please go to the following link: http://www.nfrc.org/documents/Condensation.pdf

It is very interesting that most of the people posting on this website do not have to substantiate their comments. Given the same inside temperature and humidity and the same outside temperature, virtually every manufacturer's product will have interior condensation at the same time. That is simply because the glass, not the other components are the weak link in the thermal conductivity chain. Given the same type of glass and the above conditions all products will perform approximately the same. For the record, Semco and Andersen both use Cardinal Low-E.

Interesting since Andersen and Semco both use L/E by Cardinal. Condensation is a function of humidity and temperature, not just one or the other. http://www.nfrc.org/documents/Condensation.pdf

The above link will explain it to you.

http://www.nfrc.org/documents/Condensation.pdf

Pretty simple..... Incidentally, Andersen and Semco both use L/E by Cardinal.

Correct they both use Cardinal glass, Semco has their own insulated glass line they purchased 3 years ago. They should have continued to purchase "IGS" from them instead of making their own IGS. SEMCO has gone down the tubes since the owner died two years ago

SEMCO makes all of the insulated glass they use... they purchase clear and LOE from Cardinal as their website states!

You must work for SEMCO, my guess outside sales

Anything But Semco Windows...probably the best reccomendation you could get would be to ask the question of your builder..."What kind of windows do you have in your home?" But if your builder is constantly moving in and out of his newly constructed "spec" houses I would be suspectious of his answer. We have done warranty work for most brands of windows.....mostly because of poor workmanship on the installation of these windows. The next response was also right on the money....the heat and cooling systems do have a big influence on the indoors enviroment. But by saying that we have found that poor workmanship and poor installation and configuration of that system does play a major roll. I don't believe there is a #1 choice for best window on the market....too many variables. Just make sure that which ever manufacturer of the windows you choose has a track record both locally and nationally of honoring the warranty of their products. Your building budget will determine which windows your will purchase and install on your project. By the way, in my own home I have Andersen wood casement windows with a clad exterior. They have preformed well in the harsh season conditions in Michigan. We have installed Andersen, Pella, Marvin, Jeld-Wen, Semco and several other locally produced windows in our residencal projects. The better performing windows always cost more intially....but we still reccomend those higher cost brands for several reasons. #1 better insulation (R value) of the pricer windows thereby reducing heating/cooling costs. #2 lower maintenance over the cheaper windows. # 3 resale value of the home.