Pella Reviews

The windows leak between the cladding and the glass, thus the wood gets wet. A service rep told me to silicone all the seams especially to the glass. Why are they not doing this during assembly? They seem to be okay in quality, nothing real exceptional, but there is no quality control. I have had to modify some latches to pull the sash in tighter to get a good air seal. This is not slam to Pella, but they need some follow up revisions to the quality product they supposedly have. J.D. Power says, "Best in Initial Quality." I think we all care about the quality in the long run. It's always nice when it's new.

I trusted Pella Windows and Doors' associates to be the dedicated and professionally trained service specialists they claim to be in their brochure. Apparently that was a huge mistake. My advice is to not trust this company. On the business cards it says, "Viewed to be the best." The best by whom I wonder? The unknowledgeable and unhelpful associates of the company? It should read, "Viewed to be the best in customer dissatisfaction."

Once I get a replacement door (which I am not looking forward to), I have to pay someone to remove the defective door and install a door that will more than likely be just as defective as the one I have now. Since Pella has had no costs to them associated with their defective products, I will go into Lowe's, show potential customers the photos along with the comment of having to pay out of my pocket for removal and installation. In all cases so far, potential customers will walk away and look at other vendors for windows and doors. Since this has been going on for at least 3 months, I estimate the amount of financial loss to Pella to be in the range of $80,000 to $100,000. Nothing hurts a corporation more than having a disgruntled consumer show photographs to others.

Take a look at your Pella Windows if you have them and look how they are wrapped! Instead of the upper metal clad overlapping the bottom section of clad and shedding the water properly, it's reversed! Thus, the window collects water! We now have two sills which are rotting and Pella has not stood by their product nor have they made any attempt at correcting the situation other than to say we need to replace the entire unit! We are now looking at our entire home which is a lakefront property with windows that will need to be replaced! If you are doing research on your windows and are reading this, do not buy Pella! They're worthless **! Damage and consequences to our property is categorically complete. All windows in our home will need to be replaced and there is absolutely no resolution forthcoming from Pella.

In the year of 1995, we built a new addition on our home and used Pella windows and doors, seven windows and two French-style doors. About a year ago, I started to notice one of my fixed windows fogging up, at which time, dismissed it as high humidity. This past July, I noticed black mold at the bottom of the sash. When I took down the inside pane and felt the sash, it caved under the pressure of my fingers.

Now, I was able to see to the outside. When I replaced the window, I removed the clad from the old one and found that the bottom side of it was totally rotted. It was apparently going on under the clad for years. I sent photos to Pella and they said they couldn't do anything for me. I have two original windows left in my 45-year old home at ground level that I can't even identify their brand name - that have no signs of wood rot and they are not even aluminum clad!

From reading all of the other complaints on this site, it seems as though Pella windows will self-destruct between 10 and 15 years. Beware, caulk up the clad to the glass before it's too late. That's what Pella advises.

Thomas knew exactly who the installer was and who the salesperson was for that matter because this screen was the incorrect one for the large area. I didn't have to mention any names, he knew on his own. Hmm... It then got cool out, no need for the screen. But in May, when it got hot again, I used the door and guess what? It happened again. I called service again and Thomas was here again. This was May 21, 2009. He placed a call in saying that to keep me as a customer in the future, they should replace the door. He told me I should hear from someone within 2 weeks. Nothing. I called whatever numbers I had and finally in June, I got the sales manager in Connecticut, Jim **.

He told me that at no charge, Pella would replace the screen at no additional charge and that I would need to replace the frame of my door. Someone (I didn't take the name) should be contacting me very soon for an installation time. Well here we are on the last day of July 2009 and guess what? Nothing. I called Jim. He is on vacation. I called the head of the service department several times through this Frank ** and he always has some story because he passes me to someone else. Today, I called to refresh his memory and he told me to call Lisa ** again. So, I did and left 2 messages with the whole story and of course, have not heard back.

Our lower level fixed window has leaked whenever it rains for about five years now. It has been like raising the dead to get Pella out, first of all, and then to have them own up to a faulty window has been impossible. They have reset the window and we cautiously re-hung the window shades, only to be subject to another leaky window yesterday. I cannot understand a company that sells such obviously defective products to be so unconcerned about bad service and consequently bad press. Don't get me started on the awning windows by Pella in our sun room. They hardly close. I am interested in a solution, not more excuses. Anyone? I have to put towels or plastic containers on the windowsills and have had to have the sills refished.

We've lived in other homes in the same area that had cheap vinyl windows and have never had ice form inside. These products are clearly defective and the frames have little or no insulating properties for both thermal heat loss and air leakage. There does not appear to be a thermal barrier between the inside and outside surfaces of the sash/frames of the doors and windows. On hot days, the sashes/frames are also hot on the inside. Our home is very uncomfortable because of these products. We're hopeful to get our money back, plus to be able to pay to have them replaced. It has been a horrible experience dealing with Pella, trying to get them to step up and do the right thing. We've gotten the runaround so far. I would never recommend this product to anyone and I'm surprised that there isn't a class action suit in the works.

It took 6 weeks for them to deliver the new window, because of my choice of contractors we had to install the window two times before it was installed properly and I had to take a day of vacation to bull dog the contractor. Pella was of little help as far as installation goes. After the window was set the second time and a $1000 window above was broken yes I was left footing the expense of the $1000 window because the contractor has nothing not even a Lic I fired the contractor once the window was installed correctly and the pella rep came out to view the second installation. That evening when my wife came home the first thing she said was this window does not have the opening feature we ordered.

I contacted the pella rep. Jonathan and he said this model does not have that feature, I informed him that we ordered that and even went to his showroom and discussed it with the person at their store. Jonathan said this feature is only on a double hung window and we bought a single hung window. After looking at my contract he has double hung circled then hand written in single hung. He sold us the top of the line window for $790 dollars and we got about a $400 dollar window. Now they are doing nothing not even returning my email or phone calls.

The order was placed on the 17 July unknown to me. I thought I had 3 days after the 22d so the order should not have gone in before the 26th? SO this mornig the 28th I called and after several phones calls was told the windows are in production already and nothing they could do. Well of course since order was put in on the 17th. I felt I was totally misled, and not told the truth.

Now I feel stuck with expensivce windows from a store that I certianly no longer trust. I also am surprised Pella does not back their name up, but a lesson learned. I felt I considered the contract carefully, and thought I had a little time to make my mind up. but they are holding me to the contract saying I signed on th16th and the 22d does not count since it was a corection. Pardon??? I will no never do business with Pella again nor will I endorse them. This has left an awful impression upon me, and I feel sad that some have to make money in this way.

Over 8600.00 for 2 windows not yet installed, no date to be installed, and no clear explanation on why the 22d was not honored and order placed the 17th of July. I am out this money on what I claim is a blatant lie refernce the windows being proceeded by the Pella corporation this morning and will be shipped to IN. That sure is fast!!

I contacted Pella, contact person Rhonda, who informed me they would send out a service person, at $85/hr, to instruct my contractor how to adjust the window, or, the service person would speak to my contractor on the phone and instruct him and I would not be charged for the phone call.

I was also told they would not honor any problems more than 18 months old,stating that this was installed in 2004. In fact, the windows may have been ordered in 2004 but I did not move in to the house, still not complete but it did have windows, until mid January of 2006.

About two weeks later he informed me that their policy had changed and that full payment would be needed to process the order. I sent the balance for the eleven windows, which totaled $2,014.50. I placed a second order for Nine windows which totaled $1,921.49. I received windows that did not match what I had ordered. I notified Darlene, sales representative who had replaced Michael and informed her of the mistake. Darlene informed me that they would do a trade-out and subsitute the bottom window with grills to windows without grills. I received a call from Darlene stating that she needed payment of $2,270.62 and to send the check to the Mishawaka store. Again I received a call from Darlene requesting payment of $1,043.39.

Noticing that several checks had not been cashed by Pella, i thought that perhaps they were lost or misplaced. The day that delivery was scheduled I called my bank and learned that all the checks had been cashed and I had overpaid $3,902.52. Also, the windows were not the windows that I had ordered. I contacted the Pella Store franchise owner, Herbert A. Kreigh of Moscow, PA. who, also owns Pella franchises in Chesterton and Mishawaka, that I wanted to return the windows and receive full payment of $7,838.51 and I would return the refund of $747.77 that he sent me.

The consequences of this fraud - I have windows that I did not order and do not match windows that were installed before ordering these windows from the Herbert A. Kriegh owned store in South Bend, IN. This experience has caused me much duress physically, emotionally and financially. It has been a nightmare. A class-action suit ought to be brought against Pella Windows as they do not live up to their Mission Statement to quote - People are our most important asset. The Pella culture values people and promotes and environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Mel Haught, President & CEO.

When the cold weather first started to appear we noticed moisture on the windows, which we assumed to be caused by high humidity in the house because of it being new. Close to four months after the heat had been on, and the inside humidity being around 30-35%, we noticed there was ice build-up on the glass just above the joint across the upper and lower sashes on ALL the windows. There was also ice build-up across the glass just above the bottom of the lower sash on ALL the windows. There was frost at 75% of the miter joints of all the sashes. To me this indicates cold outside air meeting warm inside air. In other words, the window weatherstrips were LEAKING. In fact, on close examination, we could plainly see daylight at the corner of the joint between the upper and lower sashes of several of the windows.

We have had Pella's rep out here no less than three times because of my complaints. Their rep has relayed my concerns to Pella with very litle done to remedy the problem. My opinion is that there is a definite design flaw with the weatherstrip.

Throughout the winter my wife and I had to constantly be aware of water running down the windows onto the oak window sills which had to be wiped up so as not to cause damage to the wood. I assume we have spent much more money on heating costs because of heat loss through these windows. We don't feel Pella is properly attacking this problem and we want to be rid of these windows in favor of a window that will perform properly throughout both the cold and hot weather we experience here in north central Wisconsin.

Still waiting for the job to be completed after 3 months. My sister has lost a lot money from work by going home to meet them and they never show up. Also she has missed Saturday overtime work when they did not show up for installation or correction work. We have yet to receive any monetary compensation, however, this is certainly not the end of this situation financially!

I signed their highly technical and cryptic manufacturing description contract with the understanding that I would be getting aluminum clad windows and casement windows that opened to a full 90 degrees. Instead they ordered three of the windows with wood exterior and two casement windows that open 30 degrees or less. They ordered aluminum exterior molding yet installed 3 wood exterior windows. They ordered and installed two windows that were frosted instead of clear.

This was all done in early July for $28,500. All of which they made me pay and took from my account before ever installing any windows.

I have written several times and emailed to Pella customer service as well as Pella Architectural Products, Inc. and never had a reply back from customer service. A Mr. Berry Taheri did contact me with an offer he faxed that requested an additional $7,500 to replace the windows they clearly ordered in error with the windows I was told I would be getting.

I trusted their company. I trusted their salesman. It was never made clear to me that I would be getting three wood exterior instead of the aluminum clad windows. It was never made clear to me that I would be getting two windows that only open 12 to 14 inches. I would never have ordered such windows. I want the windows they ordered in error replaced with the windows I was lead to believe I would be getting. This should be done at no additional cost or expense to me. This nightmare I am being put through is making me very ill and I am now under a doctors care.

We now have two windows that are useless. We also have wood exterior windows that now have to be painted every year after I paid for aluminum clad windows.

I should have had a clue that something was wrong when the first time he measured them they were way off from the measurements I already had he also missed windows in the estimate. So he remeasured and then ordered the windows which I paid for in advance with a credit card.

When the windows arrived I had my installer (a professional window installation specialist in business installing windows) start the installation. He informed me that the windows were larger than the openings by 1/2-1 inch on all sides on almost all of the windows. This means that the installation is going to take a couple of extra days because he has to cut my house/the openings to precision fit the windows. The windows will not fit in the current openings because they were ordered with measurements that were too large.

I am going to have to pay my installer for two -three extra days of labor and for the extra trim because of these incorrect measurements. I believe the Pella guy either did this because he didn't know what he was doing or because he knew that it would take extra labor since I wasn't hiring him to do the installation. He offered to do the installation on the side for about 1/2 as much as Pella would charge for their own installation.