My contractor ordered Marvin Integrity windows instead of Marvin brand. Does anyone know how the integrity line compares to the marvin name?

We specified we wanted the doors to be ordered in the same quality as Anderson Woodright (wife did not like the astragal on the Anderson, too heavy) so they would match the rest of the windows in the house.

Other than quality, only issue I can think of is that the Marvin line is aluminum clad, and Integrity is a vinyl like cladding. Maybe the contractor ordered Integrity so the exteriors would be a better match. can NE1 comment on this? TIA

 

Marvin is the largest manufacturer of custom wood windows in the world. If you buy a window from Marvin, it is a custom window...as a custom window, it will have a custom price.
You are correct, "regular" Marvin windows are aluminum clad.

The Integrity is a fiberglass clad window and rather than being a "custom" product it is a "production" product.
Does this mean that the Integrity is an inferior product?
No. The Integrity is an outstanding product and it has become quite popular. It does have more size and shape limits than the original Marvin Window, but it also has a much more affordable price tag.

Even though this window is called Integrity, it is still a Marvin product and is manufactured to the same standards that other Marvin products meet.

Integrity is a darn good window.

 

I am going to have to chime in on this one. The company I work for sells the Marvin line and the Marvin Integrity line, and I do the service work(warranty). I will just come out and say it, the I don't like the Integrity. I was going to buy a wood window with a vinyl exterior, my money would go towards an Andersen. I "wood" like to mention that the Ultimate line from Marvin is my absolute favorite wood window. I just like the way they operate, so much smoother.

 

Thanks you both for your replies.

I think we will keep the Integrity doors, I have done a bit of research and decided that for the Northeast, it's vinyl(ultrex) over aluminum. Better thermal insulation and such. I know, unless its thermally inuslated etc.

The quality is fine (wish they had exterior grills though) and it will be a better look with the rest of the Anderson windows. (ie: shiny aluminum finish vs. flat vinyl finish)

 

I am very surprised to see that you have problems with the Integrity, but that is why we have multiple opinions!
I am very curious what sort of issues you have been seeing though, just for my own education! Thanks!
And I agree that the Ultimate line is one heck of a window, but it isn't cheap!

One quick clarification. The Integrity is made with Ultrex, which is a FIBERGLASS cladding and not a vinyl.

Mavin's Infinity line is a pultruded fiberglass window, and not a clad window at all...and

Andersen's Renewal is made with Fibrex, which is a vinyl and wood composite.

 

You are so right, I get in the awful habit of calling anything that isn't aluminum or wood, vinyl. One of the gals at Marvin read me the riot act when I called it vinyl. My biggest hangup with the Integrity is the locks on the DH's. If they are not completely square there is a hard locking issue. The ultimate has a little room for error. I also think the tilt latch mech on the ultimate is incredible, however if something does go wrong, it is a hassle to fix, bottom sash only, top sash has regular tilt latches. I have also run into some humped sills and head jambs and I know what your thinking but it's not from the install.
I recently toured the Andersen facility in Minnesota, while completing their service training course, and will probably make it to Warroad for the Marvin training sometime in the spring. I'm not trying to sway anybody away from the Integrity, but in my opinion, and I am entitled to it, I would go a different route. As long as this guy is happy with them then I'm happy with them. Hey, They look great from my house.

 

And I appreciate it. We would have gone Anderson for the French doors, but, as stated, wife did nto like the Astragal. The Marvin line had a much lighter astragal than the Anderson. I woul have preffered to do Anderson all around, but hey, as I read somewhere, "happy wife, happy life"!

 

Thanks Grob! That was good information.
I have also been to both the Andersen facility in Bayport and the Marvin, Warroad plant.

That Andersen plant is unbelieveable - 2.5 million square feet under roof!

When are you going to Warroad? Personally, I would avoid going there in winter (you mentioned Spring, but they still drive on the lakes in April). That prairie gets mighty cold come January and February, and not much warmer until about June. They had snow up there last June!
Heck, those folks don't think it is winter until the mercury in the thermometer begins to freeze!