Are Milgard Windows Good Quality?

No one wants drafty windows or outdated frames dragging down their home's aesthetics. However, not all brands deliver the same quality when it comes to finding the right windows. ‍Milgard Windows is known for its high-quality products. Numerous studies have examined its windows, and the results have always been impressive. Milgard windows in San Diego use durable materials that last a long time.

Milgard stands out from other window and door suppliers because it manufactures all its products in-house. In addition to the frames, they make insulated glass components of aluminum, vinyl, or fiberglass. Their glass is even-tempered. Most window suppliers do not sell their products but market products manufactured by another company. Milgard controls the entire manufacturing process of its windows and patio doors that allows the company to enforce specific quality standards on its products beyond what many other suppliers can.

The company's history speaks to its experience and development, which allows it to compete with other products on the market. We'll cover the quality of Milgard windows and discuss the various design options available. Milgard windows' frames use materials such as vinyl, fiberglass, and aluminum. Several window opening styles are available, but not all series have all opening styles.

Milgard's Top Materials

Milgard offers vinyl, aluminum, and fiberglass windows. The following is a brief overview of each Milgard window material:

Vinyl Windows

Vinyl is a plastic material constructed from PVC, and Milgard customizes the product's formula to deliver specific characteristics. Milgard uses vinyl for window frames, offering several advantages. Vinyl can create a durable, corrosion-resistant, and energy-efficient window frame. Over time, these window frames will require very little ongoing maintenance, lowering their maintenance costs.

Vinyl is an excellent choice for window frames because of its weather resistance, corrosion resistance, and durability. The material's energy efficiency will reduce your home's heating and cooling costs. The most common color of vinyl window frames is white or other neutral. However, Milgard's vinyl composition can produce a variety of colors.

Milgard has also developed a new vinyl coating technology to protect window frames from UV radiation, which fades most vinyl products in direct sunlight. This technology protects the vinyl, keeping the frames looking as good as new for many years to come. Milgard formulates the vinyl for window frames to provide structural strength, superior heat resistance, and maximum insulation properties.

A vinyl window is durable and can withstand moisture, making it a great bathroom option. Additionally, vinyl’s insulating properties offer energy efficiency throughout the year.US Window and Door sells more Milgard vinyl windows than other styles because they are low maintenance, UV resistant, and more affordable than other window types.

Aluminum Windows

Builders and architects have long preferred aluminum windows. Milgard aluminum windows are sturdy yet lightweight and fit any home location. Low-maintenance and noncorrosive, this material works well in noncorrosive regions. Milgard aluminum windows are lightweight, strong, rust-resistant, and durable. Due to its characteristics, aluminum is an ideal material for window frames. Anodizing aluminum can add long-lasting and fade-resistant colors.

Traditionally, aluminum window frames are weakest at the corners where the sides meet. Milgard aluminum frames avoid this flaw by mechanically connecting and sealing the frame. A common problem with wood window frames is that they sag or warp over time. A thermal break separates the inner part of Milgard's thermally improved aluminum frame from the outer part of the frame in regions with cold winters.

A polyurethane channel within the aluminum window frame acts as a thermal break between the inner and outer parts. This design reduces heat transfer, keeping your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer. These advancements in the insulating ability of aluminum window frames can help you save money on heating and cooling.

Fiberglass

A fiberglass window resists swelling, rotting, and warping. Milgard offers fiberglass windows for homes of all styles and climates. Fiberglass is a versatile material, and manufacturers imbue it with various qualities depending on its processing. Milgard uses a protrusion process to produce fiberglass, enhancing its tensile and torsion strength.

Fiberglass is durable, allowing it to hold large pieces of glass. It requires very little maintenance, and manufacturers can design it to look like natural wood. While fiberglass window frames don’t require painting, you can choose to paint the surface if desired. Fiberglass is chemically resistant and doesn't rot or corrode. Window frames from this material are highly durable and will keep their good looks for many years.

To match the fiberglass window frames perfectly with your home, the frames come in various colors, including interior and exterior.

Milgard's Various Design Styles

Milgard offers a variety of opening styles for its window frames, making it easy for you to find the one that best suits your home's design and look. You can choose from the following window-opening styles.

• Single-hung windows: They open and close by moving their bottom sashes up and down.
• Double-hung windows: A double-hung window can be opened or closed by moving both the upper and lower sashes.
• Horizontal slider windows: You can choose whether you want the window frame to extend from the left or right and slide horizontally to open and close.
• Double horizontal sliding windows: A central fixed window features smaller sliding windows on each side. You can open the left, right, or both simultaneously by sliding the two windows on the edge toward the principal panel.
• Casement windows: Similar to a door, casement windows swing open on one side. Left or right opening frames are available.
• Awning windows: The top of these windows hinges, and the bottom swings out for opening and closing.
• Picture windows: Choose from many shapes and sizes available in these non-opening windows.
• Radius windows: An arch-styled window can be a picture window or an opening window and comes in various sizes.‍
• Bay and bow window styles: A bay window comprises three or more sizes arranged in a curved pattern. The bow window also forms an angle but is constructed from four or more identically sized windows.

Milgard Window Product Lines

Many of the company's product lines offer beautiful windows that attract customers. The following is a brief overview of each product line.

Tuscany Series

Milgard's Tuscany series is its best-in-class vinyl window. ATuscany window offers a premium, elegant style that performs well year after year and feature a wider, extruded frame that resembles a traditional wooden window, even though they are vinyl. A special coating prevents fading on the exterior frame of this window style, which comes in nine long-lasting colors. All Tuscany windows come with a full lifetime warranty covering defects and replacements and glass breakage coverage. One of two Milgard window lines with the exclusive SmartTouch lock feature makes locking windows easy for homeowners.

Trinsic Series

A Trinsic vinyl window offers a wide perspective in a sleek frame, so nothing will block the outside view. The SmartTouch lock feature in this Milgard window line provides added security. Trinsic windows are backed by a lifetime warranty, and glass breakage coverage is available as an upgrade. Milgard's vinyl line is new but has been available in many markets for several years now.

Style Line

With its clean look and affordable price, the Style line of Milgard vinyl windows lives up to its name. Homeowners can choose from seven premium and two standard frame colors to achieve the exterior look they want. The vinyl frames resist corrosion, so you won't have to repaint them in the future. These windows come with a lifetime limited warranty, and homeowners can purchase a full lifetime warranty for an additional fee at purchase.

Ultra Series

Milgard's Ultra windows are made of fiberglass to prevent rot and warping in harsh weather conditions. Their strength, quality and lifetime warranty makes these windows a great choice in coastal areas prone to intense storms and winds. Four frame colors are available, some of which can be matched with the interior frames for an elegant look inside and out.

Thermally-Improved Aluminum

Thermally improved aluminum windows use high-quality aluminum, making them thin, lightweight, and highly durable. Despite their strength, these windows feature narrow frames that create a clean look without interfering with a homeowner's interior design aesthetic. This line comes with a lifetime limited warranty.

How Customizable are Milgard Windows?

One of Milgard's strengths is its extensive customization options, empowering homeowners to tailor their windows to their needs and preferences.

They offer:

• Various styles including single-hung, double-hung, casement, awning, sliding, bay, and bow windows.
• Multiple frame materials, from Fiberglass, vinyl to aluminum, to suit different architectural styles and climates.
• Diverse finish options with a wide range of colors and finishes to complement any home's exterior and interior.
• Choice of hardware to match the various styles and finishes available to your home's decor.
• Specific glass options for different climate and performance needs, including sound control, UV protection, and privacy glass.
• Our available grille patterns can enhance the aesthetic appeal of the windows.

These multiple levels of customization ensures that homeowners can find windows that perform well, perfectly fit their home's style, and meet their specific functional requirements.

How is Milgard's Customer Service?

The warranty claims process is generally straightforward, but some customers have reported difficulties navigating the process. That's why it's important to purchase windows from a certified dealer that can support you through any warranty claims that you may have. Our team at US Window and Door will respond quickly and efficiently to your requests to provide the highest level of customer service.

No matter the company size, customer service often feels the brunt of errors from other departments, but having guided our customers through Milgard's warranty process many times, we've seen how easy it can be in most situations. We can assist and guide customers through MIlgard's warranty process easing out errors and wrinkles along the way. Milgard honors its warranties and handles the work as promptly as possible. That means, with our assistance you can receive excellent customer service all along the way.

Working with a reliable installation company, like US Window & Door, can provide ongoing support and mediate any warranty claims or service requirements is vital.

Milgard's Decades of Service

Milgard stands among the largest and most trusted names in home windows and patio doors in the Western US and Canada. Maurice Milgard and his son, Gary, founded the company in 1958 as a glass business. Recognizing a market need, they soon diversified into aluminum windows. This all-American company began in a small building in Tacoma, Wash.

Milgard offers a lifetime warranty on parts and service for as long as the homeowner lives in the home. If the homeowner sells the home within 10 years of installing Milgard windows and doors, they can transfer the warranty to the second owner. However, it will expire 10 years after the original installation. As with all home-building products, homeowners should read the fine print and ask questions to avoid unpleasant surprises if and when service or repair is needed.

Milgard's Energy Efficiency 

Milgard is a partner of the Energy Star program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The windows meet the program's requirements, making them energy-efficient for specific areas of the country. Also, Milgard's windows meet the Energy Star standards for northern, north-central, south-central, and southern climate zones. With Milgard's energy-efficient window add-ons, no matter your location in the U.S. you can reduce your monthly utility bills over time. Milgard incorporates the following components into their energy-efficient windows:

• Dual and Triple glazing: Upgrading your windows to double-pane or triple-pane can increase energy efficiency.
• SunCoat(R) and SunCoatMAX(R) Low-E glass coatings: Low-E (or low-emissivity) coatings improve the window's ability to reflect heat. Milgard SunCoat is Low-E2, and SunCoatMAX is Low-E3, which are the highest levels of protection.
• Fourth Surface coating: Coatings are applied to double-pane windows to protect them from triple-pane windows. The Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) coating enhances a window's U-factor, which measures how well a window resists heat transfer. If the window has a low score, it provides excellent insulation.
• EdgeGardMAX Spacers: A spacer maintains the right amount of insulation between multiple panes of glass. According to Milgard, its patented spacers reduce condensation and heat transfer.
• Argon and Krypton gas: These gas options provide additional protection against extreme external temperatures. These colorless and odorless gasses are added between double—and triple-pane windows to boost energy efficiency.

Milgard's Prices 

When it comes to buying replacement windows, price is a deciding factor. However, you and your family will benefit from Milgard window quality. When you consider Milgard's value and quality, its prices are cost-effective and can make sense for your home and family. Milgard manufactures the windows' components, from the hardware and frames to the insulating glass.

The final price depends on a few factors, like window and door specifications. The cost of making Low-E glass, transparent screens, finishes, and sound-reduction glass may increase the cost but a certified dealer can help guide you through the best options for your price range.

Milgard Awards

Milgard has won numerous awards for its quality craftsmanship in building quality products. Many magazines, associations, and reputable organizations have ranked Milgard as the leader in many categories. Here's a quick list of some of their many awards:

• Best Quality Vinyl Window (2020) Builder Magazine
• Most Used and Most Recognized Window Brand (2019) Builder Magazine
• Best of Houzz Design — 2015-2022
• Best Vinyl Window — Peninsula Publishing (2016)
• AX550 Moving Glass Walls — 2021 Architectural Record Products of the Year
• Best Window Brand in the West — 2015 Builder Magazine
• Brand Leader in Vinyl Quality — 2019 Builder Magazine
• SmartTouch Handle — IDSA International Design Excellence (2012)

What Makes a Good Window Brand

Milgard has established itself as a reputable window brand with over six decades of industry experience, offering a compelling combination of quality, durability, and customization options. Their commitment to manufacturing high-quality windows in the United States and their lifetime limited warranty demonstrate confidence in their products' longevity and performance. Milgard's range of window materials caters to diverse needs and preferences, while their focus on energy efficiency aligns with modern homeowners' priorities.

Milgard windows and doors balance quality, customization, and energy efficiency, making them a solid choice for many homeowners. The brand's long-standing customer service reputation and commitment to product excellence make it a worthy contender in the competitive window market. As with any significant home improvement decision, potential buyers should weigh the pros and cons, consider their specific needs, and consult with experienced professionals before making a final choice.

US Window and Door is the #1 Milgard Windows Provider

Milgard windows have an excellent reputation in the market for durability and style. The company controls all parts of the manufacturing process, enabling it to produce a quality product.

A wide range of styles and varieties of windows will fit the style and décor of any home. Milgard equips the windows with innovative and stylish hardware for opening, closing, and securing them. These fittings don't detract from the look of the windows or interfere with the view. Milgard's quality window products feature precision manufacturing, smooth operation, and long-lasting frames.

Now that you know all about Milgard Windows for homes in San Diego, you can research and select the specific options that best suit your home's needs. For more information on these Milgard windows, contact US Milgard's Door for a free in-home estimate today!