Kolbe Windows and Doors

We purchased Kolbe vinyl picture and awning windows for our house, and the awning windows leak profusely (meaning, the living room literally filled with water). The Kolbe re-seller pushed the problem off on the installer. The installer pushed the problem off onto the manufacturer. My attempts to engage Kolbe just to help diagnose the problem went unanswered or they tried to push the problem back onto the re-seller and installer.

Finally, out of frustration from living with leaking windows for so long and getting no help, we paid the cost to have another installer remove the windows and re-install them, taking care to meet all specifications, and had an independent builder supervise. Still the windows leak. I never asked Kolbe to replace the windows, just help us diagnose the problem, so we would not spend money solving the wrong problem. Kolbe made no attempt to help. None, zero, zip. On the surface, their product looked like a quality buy, but they did not stand behind their products. Buyer beware! I have never treated one of my customers this way and never will.

Of the 30 plus windows in my newly constructed home, all but 5 have had to have some type of repair work to fix damage caused by water rotting the wood these windows are made of. The damage began a year after installation and continues 13 years later. Kolbe representatives blamed the damage on improper installation which makes no sense because they are the only thing that is rotting in my house. These windows had a factory baked finish and a 10-year warranty. Please beware and avoid this product.

The window open/closure mechanism (screw/gear assembly) is being pushed out, and the design (a sort of spline press fit) after time loses its clinching ability.

The replacement cost in labor alone is significantly costly as the design of the sill area has to be removed very carefully. I'm sure your people in charge of repair and replacement can advise you.

We built our house in 1993. After 5 years, our clad on the windows started to blister. There is a 10 year warranty on the windows. After many calls and letters, they came out. In August 2002, they replaced some clad. In 2003, they replaced 11 clad. Many e-mails, calls and letters, finally, Eric came out, took pictures and said he never saw anything like this. May 11th, Eric told me he was to step out of this. This is what happens every time. I get somebody to come out and nice person to deal with and then they forget about us again. Then I got a letter from the company Kolbe, saying why Eric said he never saw anything like this. It was because he was only with the company for 2 years. We had others working with us but then they quit.

Now, this is what my complaint is. They are telling me that the ones they replaced in 2003 have no warranty on replacements. They weren't second hand so they should have another warranty on the ones they replaced. They know how bad they are because Eric took pictures. In 1998, they gave us 2 spray cans for the clad. We should sand them off and spray this on the clad. I said to Eric, now I might be dumb, but I know for a fact that these clad have a glaze on. If I did this it wouldn't, he said no, but it would get rid of the blisters. They told us to go back to our coops in Mt. Horeb, who delivered them to our place for the builder. They passed it off instead of standing up on there product. I have 32 windows in our house. I am just sick about the windows. About 5 years after it was built, we also had several windows that had a gas leak between the window. It's a nightmare.