Pella Impervia Review

I recently had Pella Impervia fiberglass replacement windows and doors installed in my newly purchased home.  I chose this brand and type because it got very good reviews in Consumer Reports.

The windows are a huge improvement over the 40-year-old aluminum windows that were there before.  I had wanted casement windows, but also preferred fiberglass over wood or vinyl, and casements are not available in the Impervia line.  I went with double-hung windows without panes, for the most modern look I could get.  I am happy with the fiberglass...no upkeep needed really.  Wood windows have to be kept up.  Clad-wood windows can be prone to problems.  And vinyl, well, who wants to live with that stuff in their environment?  I have to say that my main motivation to replace the windows and doors was that bugs seemed to be getting in through the old ones.  Big bugs.  Happy to say these windows and doors seem to have solved that problem completely.  They look really good, as well, and I know they have to cut the energy costs in my home, not to mention increase the value.

Here are the downsides I have notices so far on the windows.  The top part of the double-hung windows can be a bit difficult to close, especially on the windows which are higher up on the wall.  A short person would probably need a stepstool to be able to close the window without a struggle.  Also, I went with the standard white window hardware.  I had checked into getting the satin nickel finish, but it increased the price quite a bit.  In the long run, it may have been worth the money, because the white hardware has already got scratch marks on it from opening and closing the windows.  Overall, though, I am very satisfied with the windows.

I ordered three Impervia doors.  One is mostly solid with two small windows at the top.  One is a half-glass with the blinds-between-the-glass option.  The last is a full-glass door with the blinds-between-the-glass option.  I did order these with the satin nickel hardware option, and it looks really good.  If you are wanting the blinds-between-the-glass option, please note that these blinds are micro-blinds, so about 1/4 inch wide per slat, I would say.  I didn't know that when I ordered this option, but it looks cool to me, so it's no problem.  The controls for the blinds, though, are plastic, and I did not really anticipate that.  Given the price of the doors, I think they could have been metal.  They do work as they should, though, and are not hard to operate. 

One thing to consider is your door hardware (knobs, deadbolts and locksets).  I told my sales rep he needed to give me all the specs I needed to order my hardware...he knew I had not gone through this process before.  I told him I knew door hardware fit differently by brand, style, etc..  Very long story short, he did not give me all the information I needed and I ended up with a $329 entry set I could NOT use on the front door.  An entry set which, if I returned to the online store where I purchased it, would cost me a 25% restocking fee plus shipping.  No thank you, I will just end up selling it on e-Bay.  But now I am stuck shopping for modern entry door hardware again, which is no easy task.  PLEASE note that these doors are pre-drilled with five and a half inch centers, so make SURE you buy accordingly.  My guy didn't give me that info, and he said I had to have the door hardware ready when the doors were installed, so I didn't know any better.  You will need to know the backset (which on most knobs, deadbolts and locksets is adjustable to the two standard sizes, but not all), the depth or thickness of the door, and the measurement from center to center if you buy a pre-drilled door.

ALSO, when I ordered the replacement doors, I had a custom wrought-iron modern security door on one and an Andersen storm door on another.  I was not informed that after my Impervia doors were installed that these doors would NO LONGER FIT.  I informed my sales rep that I was extremely unhappy about this, and that I expected him to rectify the situation in one way or another.  One day out of nowhere my security door was back on, but did not close properly and did not look very good.  Basically they had to rig something up to make it fit.  So, I complained again, and again, out of nowhere, with no contact from the sales rep, the door seemed to close better, but it still doesn't look very good.  I will have to install some moulding or something to make it look semi-decent.  I had so much trouble out of my sales rep I just decided to give up fighting for any solution or compensation for the Andersen door. 

Overall, the Pella Impervia windows and doors look good, and I was very pleased with the installers.  They were very nice, very professional, and as helpful as they could be with my problems.  I have not been contacted by the sales rep to see if I was satisfied with any part of this installation, let alone the problems that arose because of his failure to give me all the information I requested and needed.  I would say I would absolutely buy Pella Impervia products again, but NOT if I had to go through their existing replacement window and door sales rep.  Just make sure you have all your information correct and complete before ordering any replacement doors or windows of any kind.