Choosing among a wide selection of new construction and replacement window brands can be overwhelming. In your process of finding the best window product, you might’ve come across Ply Gem Windows and Pella Windows—two of the industry-leading manufacturers of energy-efficient windows.
In this article, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive analysis of everything you need to know about these two brands to help you make an informed buying decision. Read on if you want to know which one is better—Ply Gem Windows or Pella Windows!
Ply Gem Windows Overview
Ply Gem Residential Solutions is known for being one of the leading exterior building products manufacturers and a part of Cornerstone Building Brands. The company offers a broad selection of building products, including siding, windows, patio doors, stone veneer, fence & railing, shutters & accents, gutters, trim & molding.
Ply Gem Windows features energy-efficient new construction and energy-efficient windows categorized into two brands: Ply Gem and Simonton.
Read also: Fenster’s Manufacturer Overview
Ply Gem Windows come in 14 new construction window series, namely MIRA Series Windows, 200 Series Windows, 300 Series Windows, 400 Series Windows, 1500 Series Windows, Classic Series Windows, 1100 Series Windows, 5000 Series Windows, 3700 Series Windows, 4700 Series Windows, 4800 Series Windows, West Pro Series 200 Windows, West 400 Series Windows, and West Pro Series 700 Windows.
The available Ply Gem Replacement Windows series are East Premium Series Windows, East Pro Series Windows, East 2000 Series Windows, East 5100 Series Windows, West Pro Series 200 Windows, West 400 Series Windows, and West Pro Series 700 Windows.
The available window materials for Ply Gem include Vinyl Windows, Aluminum-Clad Windows, Aluminum Windows, and Wood Composite Windows. They also come in nine window styles, including Double Hung Windows, Single Hung Windows, Casement Windows, Sliding Windows, Awning Windows, Bay or Bow Windows, Garden Windows, Geometric Windows, and Picture Windows.
Read our article to learn more about the pricing of sliding windows.
Ply Gem’s MIRA Series Windows has 5 interior color options, including Natural Wood (Stain Ready), Primed (Paint-ready), White (Prefinished), Off White (Prefinished), and Black (Prefinished), and 8 exterior color options, including White, Ivory, Sandalwood, Taupe, Cottage Red, Evergreen, Dark Bronze, and Black.
They also offer 38 Signature and Radiance exterior color options, including Signature Milk White, Signature Sandstone, Signature Seawolf, Signature Light Gray, Signature Dove Gray, Signature Smoke Gray, Signature Nighthawk Gray, Signature Atlantic Gray, Signature Charcoal, Signature Antique Bronze, Signature Medium Bronze, Signature Sepia Brown, Signature Java Brown, and Signature Brick Red.
The other available Signature color options are Signature Redwood, Signature Claret Red, Signature Boysenberry, Signature Summer Yellow, Signature Military Blue, Signature Medium Blue, Signature Deep Blue, Signature Midnight Blue, Signature Light Green, Signature Dark Ivy, Signature Interstate Green, Signature Dark Green, and Signature Hartford Green.
Radiance Platinum Ice, Radiance Venus, Radiance Shark Skin, Radiance Saturn, Radiance Patina, Radiance Sunset, Radiance Burgundy Mist, Radiance Seafoam Mist, Radiance Hartford Mist, Radiance Sapphire Ice, and Radiance Moon Stone are the available Radiance exterior color options. For more information on Ply Gem windows, we recommend you read our detailed review of Ply Gem Windows.
Pella Windows Overview
Pella Windows features new construction and replacement windows made by Pella Corporation, a manufacturer founded in 1925 by Pete Kuyper. The company offers custom-built, energy-efficient windows, patio doors, front entry doors, and storm doors suitable for residential and commercial applications.
Pella Windows features nine window types: double-hung, single-hung, casement, awning, bay & bow, sliding, picture, specialty, and custom windows.
Their Custom Windows have three special shape windows variations, including Rounded Custom Windows, Rectangular Custom Windows, and Triangular Custom windows. For the Rounded Custom Windows, the available shapes include Full Circle, Oval, Quarter Circle, Full Elliptical, Half Elliptical, Full Chord, Partial Chord, Hexagon, Octagon, and Full Springline.
Rectangular Custom Windows come in Full-Arch Head, Parallelogram, Equal Modified Rectangle, Trapezoid, and Modified Rectangle shapes, while the available shapes for Triangular custom windows are Isosceles Triangle, Right Triangle, Truncated Triangle, Gothic Springline, and Partial Springline.
Moreover, Pella Windows are available in three window material types: wood, fiberglass, and vinyl, which come in eight window product lines, namely Pella® Reserve™, Pella® Impervia®, Pella® Architect Series®, Pella® Lifestyle Series, Encompass by Pella®, Pella® 250 Series, Pella® Defender Series™, and Pella® Hurricane Shield Series™.
Pella Windows offer a wide selection of color and finish options for their window product lines.
For the Pella® Reserve™ product line, the available seven wood types are Pine, Mahogany, Maple, Douglas Fir, Cherry, White Oak, and Red Oak. Bright White, White, Linen White, Black Stain, Espresso Stain, Golden Oak Stain, Artisan Greige, Skyline Gray Stain, Dark Mahogany Stain, Charcoal Stain, Wheat Stain, Red Mahogany Stain, Natural Stain, Early American Stain, and Provincial Stain are the available prefinished pine interior colors.
White, Classic White, Black, Brown, Forest Blue, Hartford Green, Blue Ash, Matte Gray, Portobello, Spice Red, Pearl Gray, Wolf Gray, Brick Red, Soft Linen, Satin Steel, Putty, Iron Ore, Fossil, Almond, and Sage are the available Extruded Aluminum-Clad exterior colors.
Moreover, the available aluminum-clad exterior colors for the Pella® Architect Series® are White, Classic White, Poplar White, Black, Brown, Auburn Brown, Morning Sky Gray, Eldridge Gray, Stormy Blue, Vanilla Cream, French Roast, Tan, Almond, Hartford Green, Real Red, Deep Olive, Putty, Brick Red, Portobello, Cranberry, Sand Dune, Naval, Summer Sage, Honeysuckle, Hemlock, Fossil, and Iron Ore.
Ply Gem Windows vs Pella Windows: Comparison
The average price of Ply Gem Windows ranges from $225 to $2000, depending on the selected product series and window material type. The mentioned standard price already includes the materials and installation costs.
For the most accurate price, you can visit Ply Gem’s website to find the nearest distributor near you. You can get the accurate price of the windows you want to avail through them.
You can get the accurate price of Pella Windows by consulting Pella experts through a scheduled In-Home Consultation or Virtual Consultation. They will help you find the right window product for your new construction or replacement window project that fits your preference and budget as well.
The consultation includes showcasing Pella product samples so you can choose which one suits your taste. Pella experts will also walk you through the most accurate free quote, the financial and installation options.
Moreover, the average online pricing of Pella Windows ranges from $330 to $620 for the windows alone and, with the installation costs included, ranges from $625 to $3000. The standard pricing may also vary, depending on the Pella window type and selected product line.
Ply Gem Windows offers a Limited Warranty, and the coverage may vary, depending on the specific product line. It is transferable to subsequent owners, but notifying Ply Gem Windows in writing is needed.
The Limited Warranty covers 20 years for Mira™ Window & Patio Door Products, Ply Gem Windows’ 1500 Series windows, and Pro Series Windows, among others. It includes the window materials, insulating glass, metal clad and wood parts, and hardware. The warranty applies to 10 years if installations are not for the owner-occupied Single-Family Residence, namely Multi-Family or Commercial Applications.
Pella Windows offer a Limited Lifetime Warranty with various coverages, depending on the specific window product series. It applies to the original owner/purchaser and both single-family residence and Commercial applications. The warranty is transferable to the subsequent owners.
Both Ply Gem Windows and Pella Windows feature ENERGY STAR® certified windows, meaning their window products are tested, proven, and tested to provide maximum thermal performance and comfort inside the house while reducing energy consumptions and costs.
They incorporated high-performance Low-E coating into the windows to help deflect or reflect heat in the summer and keep the warmth inside in the winter. Both window brands feature Argon-gas-filled glasses to their windows, which enhance the insulation, protection, and energy efficiency of the windows. It also helps reduce heating and cooling costs and condensation.
Moreover, their Low-E laminated/insulated glass also helps protect your home’s furnishings, carpet, and flooring against fading caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Ply Gem features a cellular PVC exterior that provides strength, durability, helps enhance the windows’ ability to withstand harsh conditions, and provides minimal maintenance. They use a durable extruded aluminum exterior that protects the wood against harsh elements and helps maintain its maximum performance.
Moreover, Ply Gem also uses vacuum-treated solid wood, which enhances the windows’ resistance to water damage and rotting. Their product lines 500 single hung and casement impact windows also provide laminated glass that has high resistance to heavy-impact conditions, such as storms, hurricanes, and hails.
The window product series Pella® Hurricane Shield Series™ Windows and Pella® Defender Series™ Windows are durable, engineered windows that can withstand extreme conditions. Their product series Pella 250 Series, features window frames that use a fade-resistant vinyl formula that enhances the color retention and durability of the vinyl windows.
Moreover, Pella Windows incorporates a sealant on their wood windows and clads them in aluminum that resists mold, mildew, stains, decay, termites, and degradation. They also feature a welding process that protects the windows against warping and twisting.
Their windows also have a weather-repel system with triple weatherstripping that reduces drafts and inhibits water from entering.
Ply Gem Windows vs Product 2: Final Showdown
If you want energy-efficient new construction and replacement windows with a wide selection of window product series, window materials, and colors options at a fraction of a cost without sacrificing the overall quality, then Ply Gem Windows suits you best.
If you prefer durable and energy-efficient windows that can withstand choice harsh weather and climate conditions, such as hurricanes, storms, or hails, then Pella Windows’ product series Pella® Hurricane Shield Series™ Windows and Pella® Defender Series™ suits you best.
