COMMUNITY FORUM

I apologize for not responding to the post on the 17th. I did not receive an alert like I did on the post today.

To answer the question from the 17th: I didn't ask them to replace all the sashes, it was something they did voluntarily. I called the distributor in Mobile, Al that supplied my windows and he spoke to Kolbe. I lost count on the number of sashes we had replaced because of rot and was fed up. Every time I had to replace a sash I had to have the window painted and I wasn't going to spend another dime on a painter. I did let him know that I had been reading a lot of information about unhappy customers on the internet.

One of the Kolbe workman had told me that Kolbe now uses treated wood under the clading and my original windows were not treated. They also leave a piece of the weather stripping short on each end to allow for air flow.

Oh, but my saga is not over. A lot of the clading on my replaced sashes does not completely cover the corners and I have several small areas of exposed wood. I also have a window frame itself, not a sash, that is leaking water into the house when we have a driven rain. I tried twice to fix that window. Once through a private company and once with Kolbe. I have asked that they take the window out and replace it. The Kolbe distributor out of Mobile, Al is arranging a meeting where the Kolbe people from the plant will come to our home and take a look at our sashes and window. I will follow-up once that meeting takes place.

I have had no problem with condensation on the interior side of my windows, and it does sound like a humidity problem inside the house. We have the opposite problem and our humidity levels are very low. We use a humidifier in my son't room. Our house is tight, too. I think the problem originates with the HVAC system.

Caulking only has a limited life and needs to be reapplied after so many years. It's only a temporary fix. They tried caulking our bad window. It shouldn't leak and caulk is a band-aid only.

I have heard that Anderson windows are very good replacements. They have the same colors as Kolbe.

I am sorry to hear that your warranty expired. I would still try and contact the home office for Kolbe.

I hope that answers everyone's questions. Feel free to contact me at banks1011@cox.net if you have more questions. Leslie

Our home is 10 years old and the sliding Kolbe Kolbe windows are terrible. We have mold and mildew on most. We have been told it is condensation and our house is at 50% or less humidity.

The windows just plain leak and seem to draw moisture from the outside. We have been told all the same bologna and our supplier said he would send a rep. out to view the home. We have asked repeatedly and never have had a rep contact us nor stop by. We started pestering well before the warranty ran out. Who and how did you contact? We have a dead end with our supplier

We have Kolbe Kolbe French casement windows. They look beautiful, but are frail, fall apart, and Kolbe Kolbe support is non-existent. We've had a nightmare of broken promises, lame excuses ... everything but a solution.

A Kolbe Kolbe representative even visited our home, on an Island, but did nothing.

I'd avoid this company at all cost!!

Kolbe&Kolbe are very good units, good quality, warranty...We bid them when customers refuse to spend mega-bucks on Marvin..

Kenny Shalek

Senior Installer / Sales Technician

K & K Window Service

Custom Doors & Windows, Chicago, Lake Geneva, WI, Milwaukee, WI

http://kandkwindowservice.com

Hello, if your Outside temp is 20-40% your inside humidity should not be above 30%..windows do not cause condensation, they are only a meter. Glass is the coldest surface on your wall and therefore will attract any moisture.. lower humidity, install an air exchanger on your furnace.

Kenny Shalek

Senior Installer / Sales Technician

K & K Window Service

Custom Doors & Windows, Chicago, Lake Geneva, WI, Milwaukee, WI

http://kandkwindowservice.com

This year I moved into a new condo in a new building. The windows in my unit are Kolbe & Kolbe. I have never been able to open one of the windows, which is jammed shut. The problem seems to be three or four metal strips that are coiled up and lodged in one of the window tracks on the side of the window.

I wonder about the nature of the metal strips coiled up in the window track, especially since I am the first occupant of the unit and have never opened the window. Could the coiled up metal strips represent some kind of breakage that occurred during installation? Or do they function to protect the window during shipping and simply need to be removed from the window track?

The realtors who sold me the condo have not been helpful at all in this matter. Does anyone have any idea what these metal strips are doing coiled up in the window track? Many thanks if you can help!

Our firm represents plaintiffs in consumer class actions, including many cases concerning defective building products. We are currently investigating potential claims concerning Kolbe Windows. Contact me if you are interested in discussing the matter, or in pursuing claims concerning Kolbe Windows.

Matt Miller

mmiller@cuneolaw.com

(202) 587-5067

I noticed your post, after searching for other people's experience with these windows. Is there a class-action suit with this company?

jlbenda

Not that I am aware of, but there is an ongoing investigation. Please contact us (mmiller@cuneolaw.com) if you would like to discuss the matter.