There is no question that Pella makes some of the best windows on the market.
They’re energy-efficient, eco-friendly, and stylish. The company has been around since 1925, and today is one of the leading manufacturers of new construction and replacement windows, available through the brand’s 200 affiliated “Pella Stores.”
Pella Windows are also widely available through retailers throughout the country. One of those retailers is Lowe’s Home Improvement, the home improvement and building material giant, with a history that reaches back to 1946 and a network of stores that includes over 1,700 locations in the US.
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So, the question is, if you’re going to buy Pella Windows, where should you get them? Through Pella or Lowe’s? Find out in this guide.
Pella Windows is a brand of high-quality, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly windows offered by Pella Corporation.
The company was first formed in Pella, Iowa, and has been in business for almost 100 years. Pella has a history of innovation, developing highly efficient windows that offer energy efficiency, noise reduction, UV protection, and premium security. Several of the brand’s windows meet or exceed Energy Star standards and can be customized to the customer’s preferences.
Pella offers eight product lines of windows.
They include Reserve Traditional, Reserve Contemporary, Lifestyle Series, Impervia, 250 Series, Encompass, Hurricane Shield Series, and Defender Series.
They’re available in double-hung, single-hung, casement, awning, picture, sliding, bay, bow, custom, and specialty designs.
One aspect of Pella Windows that helps its products stand out from competitors is its eco-friendliness.
Several models meet or exceed Energy Star standards, proving the company’s dedication to energy efficiency.
Also, several of Pella’s windows are made from recycled materials, such as recycled sawdust, aluminum, and glass, reducing the carbon footprint associated with production and making it a great choice for eco-conscious homeowners.
Pella Windows are available through Lowe’s or through one of its 200 other Pella Stores, which are independently operated businesses throughout the country. Despite the relatively small number of stores, they are available in all 50 states.
Pella Windows warranties are relatively generous compared to other major window manufacturers. Pella offers a limited lifetime warranty on many of its products and up to two years on labor related to installation.
Many other companies only offer 20-year limited warranties, and because most windows last 15 to 30 years, there will be several years during which the windows will not be under any warranty.
Pella Windows are obviously excellent products, and most customers will be quite happy with their purchase regardless of where they buy them. However, there are a few benefits of purchasing Pella Windows at Lowe’s.
For one, Lowe’s has over 1,700 locations across the U.S. In most cases, this means that a homeowner will be closer to their local Lowe’s than they would be to one of the 200 Pella Stores. They can speak with a product specialist at Lowe’s, get their questions answered, compare the multiple lines, and decide, all without the hassle of travel.
Lowe’s can also help customers with the installation. One of its teams of contractors can install your windows, allowing you to shop for the windows you like and let someone else do the hard work for you.
Some Pella Stores might have contractors or services that can handle installation, but it’s not a guarantee like it is with Lowe’s. The labor is then covered by Lowe’s Double Lifetime Window Warranty, which covers the labor to replace a window that Pella warranties.
Also, Lowe’s will help customers finance their projects. Lowe’s can help set up a credit card or another third-party loan with fixed payments. Customers can then have their windows installed for an affordable price rather than coming up with the lump amount themselves.
Again, some Pella Stores might offer financing, but there is no guarantee.
Another major benefit to Lowe’s is convenience. Lowe’s can ship your windows directly to your house. Pella Stores can also deliver your windows, but we compared the delivery fees, and on average, Lowe’s is less than half the cost.
If we had chosen to pick our windows up instead, we would’ve had to drive over an hour and a half to our closest Pella Store, while we have three Lowe’s within 30 minutes of us.
Finally, it’s quite likely that you’ll receive the same access to the same product lines, styles, and materials from Lowe’s as you would any Pella Store. In fact, Lowe’s access to a large network of stores and warehouses could mean better access and faster delivery on in-stock items — something we’ve noticed while placing orders through both companies.
| Double Hung Cost | Warranty | Installation | Locations | Pick-Up? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowe’s Home Improvement | $442 | Limited Lifetime | Yes | Over 1,700 | Customer or Curbside |
| Pella Stores | $834 | Limited Lifetime | Possibly | 200 | None |
Before deciding if Lowe’s windows and window replacement services are the best for you, let’s take a deeper look into what the company offers.
Price ranges and costs for window installation, replacement, or individual purchase are difficult to truly nail down because each window line, size, and style commands a different price.
However, the least expensive Pella Windows model available at Lowe’s is a new white vinyl construction window featuring Low-E glass for $238.
The most expensive window is the Lifestyle Wood double-hung window, which costs $1,116.
As for double-hung windows, we found that customers could expect to pay an average of $525 per window.
At the time of writing this comparison, over 1,900 Pella models are available at Lowe’s. Of these options, customers can choose double-hung, single-hung, casement, sliding, and bay or bow windows. There aren’t any awning windows or custom or specialty options available online, but the stores may be able to order them.
Lowe’s does in-house consultations for its window installation services. A customer interested in having Pella windows installed will meet with a rep, discuss their options, and get questions answered. Within a few days, the customer will hear back with a quote, at which point they can decide if they’d like to move forward.
Lowe’s has a handy breakdown available on its website to explain installation prices. Here’s the breakdown, which includes the cost of the window:
Warranties with Lowe’s are excellent, but they’re a little confusing. First, Lowe’s warranties its labor for 1 year after installation.
However, Pella covers labor for up to two years after installation. After the first year is up, Lowe’s Double Lifetime Warranty kicks in. This warranty covers the labor required to replace a window installed by Lowe’s installers if a manufacturer-covered repair needs to be performed.
So, if there’s an issue with a Pella window that Lowe’s installed, Lowe’s Double Lifetime Warranty will cover the labor required to repair the window. Between Pella Windows’ warranty and Lowe’s, customers should feel confident that their windows will be covered.
If you purchase your windows through Lowe’s, you’ll have access to Lowe’s customer service department. Having personally dealt with customer service, they’re quite helpful when it comes to answering the questions they can, but more often than not, they’ll connect you with the store from which you purchased your windows. But if you have issues with the windows themselves, you can contact Pella’s customer service for answers, as well.
Depending on what you need, your local Lowe’s may have them in stock. If that’s the case, you can order them online and set them up for pickup. Lowe’s will receive the order, pick the windows out of the rack, and alert you that the order is ready. When you drive the story, they’ll bring them to the customer pick-up desk or, if available, curbside for easy loading.
Ultimately, we think Lowe’s is the best place to buy Pella windows. While Pella Stores might offer some of the same benefits, we think Lowe’s access to a large network of stores, lots of stock, help with financing, and installation crews make it a better fit for most folks. Lowe’s can help customers plan their entire window project with one-stop shopping (plus an in-home consultation).
We know that purchasing windows for your home is a big investment and that any home improvement project on that scale can be quite an undertaking. For that reason, we wanted to make sure we really dug into both Pella Stores and Lowe’s to find out which is the best place to buy Pella Windows.
We compared both based on several factors:
Considering those factors, we determined that Lowe’s is the best place to buy Pella Windows. For more information, contact your local Lowe’s store.
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