Kolbe Windows and Doors

Ordered a set of Kolbe retractable doors from the local dealer in Las Vegas for a customer we were doing a remodel for. Doors were delayed and when they did arrive they came in pieces to be put together on site. This would not have been a problem except they did not send all the parts. Upon install the local dealer admitted the doors were bowed slightly but said they would not be a problem because they were within industry standards. This of course was a problem that no one will take responsibility for.

I am a retired architect with over 45 years experience. Purchased Kolbe doors on my personal residence. All have leaked during rain storms. After careful review I discovered the door design was flawed, allowing rain water to flow down the door face into a channel that overcame the drainage in the door threshold allowing water to flow into the interior. The ground floor doors leaked destroying the wood floors and the upstairs door caused mold and rot in the walls below. When I contacted Kolbe the said the warranty was expired and would not honor any compensation.

We installed quite a few Kolbe windows in our new home. We move in last December. The initial set of screens didn't fit. They sent out a team to remeasure and sent another crop of screens... Most of them didn't fit either. Now the salesman won't return our contractor's calls. The windows have a design with a lip at the top and bottom to hold the screens. With no lip on the side, the screens have to fit to prevent bugs coming in. We have too many bugs. The windows are beautiful, perfect for a modern home but the screens have been just awful.

I have Kolbe Windows throughout my house. One window was opened and the hardware came out of the bottom of the sash. I found it was totally rotten. I checked the rest of my windows and found four sashes totally rotten in the bottom. This included a stationary window. One sash was rotten across the bottom and six inches up the side. Kolbe offered less than a 20 percent discount on their ridiculously expensive replacement sashes. I would not chose these if I were installing new windows.

I spent a fortune on aluminum clad, wood casement windows when I built my house. I have 33 windows. They leak inside from condensation frost on the outside. They are drafty and the screens are so flimsy they fall apart when cleaning. I would not use this product again!

We had a custom home built in 1999 and used all Kolbe and Kolbe windows. The home is large and because we like light and the view we installed a total of 29 on the upper level and 17 on the lower walkout level. About one third crank out the remainder are fixed. In 20 years we have replaced only one fixed pane because it developed a gas leak. We live in Iowa hence we have brutal winters. All seal well against drafts. The secret is good initial installation to prevent air and water leaks. YES, happy after 20 years!

New home built in 1994, I purchased brand new Kolbe and Kolbe single sash casement windows for new construction. These are aluminum clad wood, double glass glazings with a metal bead separating the two glazings. I precisely installed these windows myself so I know it's not an installation issue. Every window operated perfectly when I first installed them. About 1 year in, many started to become difficult to close. This is when I first noticed the amount of water being held inside the sash. I thought I had a high humidity level so I started running ventilation. It hasn't helped. I live in PA and as soon as the weather starts turning cold, I get an amazing amount of "dew" developing on the bottom inch or two of glazing and if I open the window, it contains about two shot glasses of water all along the inside of the frame and sash. The moisture is condensing on the cold surfaces. I don't know where the cold is getting thru.

Almost all of my windows blow cold air in. I have to put towels and tape to minimize the cold air. None of them align correctly to lock properly but one will not lock at all, resulting in noticeable wind blowing in my bedroom. These windows leak like sieves and are worst than 1940s casement windows I once had.

Windows are horrible, wind blows right through, actually had a thermometer in the window inside and it read 32 degrees when the inside temperature was 72. Just had a double pane window break randomly on the inside and Horner Millwork says Kolbe will replace the window but we have to pay $150 for installation.

I wish I would have looked at reviews of Kolbe products before I signed the purchase order. I will not be buying more of these and If they could be taken out I would do it. They smell horrible and I have to run an air filter on high to sleep in the room. I’m really concerned now that others have had such terrible and costly issues with these doors and windows. Shipping damage and sending the wrong screen size is certainly an inconvenience as now the new panel coming to replace the damaged one will be day one smell again. I won’t comment on the extra cost of my contractor getting them in. It was $$$. The lock set already seems like it will be an issue and the screen lock was not drilled. The sash holds water when wet which requires wiping it down to get rid of the water. This is probably why people are getting mold, sweat and leaking. Has anyone else had an issue with the toxic smell?