Marvin vs. Pella Windows Comparison

When did purchasing new windows become so confusing? If you’re in the market for new windows, you’re likely comparing Marvin versus Pella. So, which window brand is better? Let’s sort out the facts.

First, here’s a quick comparison chart of their most popular product offerings.

Pella vs. Marvin Aluminum Cladded Wood Windows

	MARVIN WOOD WINDOWS	PELLA WOOD WINDOWS
FEATURE	Ultimate	Pro-Line (450)	Designer	Architect Series
Exterior Cladding	Extruded Aluminum	Aluminum Coil	Aluminum Coil	Aluminum Coil
Extruded aluminum is thicker and is much stronger. Extruded joints are more stable, and do a better at preventing water intrusion.
Exterior Colors	19+ Custom	10	27	27
Marvin meets AAMA 2605 specification with its standard finish and carries a 20-year warranty. Available as an upgrade with Pella.
Interior Wood Species	6	1	3	3
Blinds/Shades	Yes	No	Yes	No
Transferable Warranty	Yes	No	No	No

There are many additional options to consider. Please visit Marvin.com or Pella.com for additional information.

Second, let’s dig deeper into both manufacturers’ window options and get a better understanding of your choices.

Marvin Window Options:

Marvin has three prominent lines for both Replacement and New Construction.

1. Marvin SignatureTM (all wood or extruded aluminum exterior-wood interior)
2. Marvin ElevateTM (fiberglass exterior-wood interior)
3. Marvin EssentialTM (all fiberglass)

Marvin Window Prices:

How much do Marvin windows cost?

Marvin windows are slightly more affordable than Pella windows. Marvin windows are good-quality products in an impressive array of woods, finishes, exterior colors, and options. So, even though the Marvin windows are the cheaper option, they are still very efficient and a great choice worth considering.

Pella Window Options:

Pella has a number of different lines and sub-lines.

1. Encompass (all vinyl)
2. Impervia (all fiberglass)
3. Pro-Line (450 Series- non-extruded aluminum exterior-wood interior)
4. Designer (750 Series- non-extruded aluminum exterior-wood interior)
5. Architect (850 Series- non-extruded aluminum exterior-wood interior)

Pella vs. Marvin Fiberglass Windows

Marvin Elevate Wood Ultrex Fiberglass

Since Marvin does not offer a vinyl window, we will start our discussion with fiberglass. Fiberglass windows are relatively new to the marketplace but also the fastest growing segment. Marvin has been an early pioneer in developing pultruded fiberglass. Pultruded fiberglass is made up of many strands of strong glass weaved together and saturated with resins to make a very strong, durable material. Ultrex is very strong, offers low maintenance, and comes in six exterior colors and three interior colors. Elevate Wood Ultrex offers a wood interior finish that is available in bare wood, pre-finished white, or pre-finished black. Both All Ultrex and Wood Ultrex offer multiple sizes, glass options, divided lights, screens, and hardware options.

Click here for testing reports and specifications of Ultrex fiberglass.

Pella Impervia Fiberglass

Pella Impervia (350 Series) is made from Duracast. This is a five-layered engineered fiberglass composite. Impervia is available in five interior and exterior colors. One noticeable visual difference between Marvin’s Elevate Wood Ultrex and Pella’s Impervia is the fit/finish of the joints and the texture of fiberglass. The Elevate has cleaner fit/finish and the fiberglass is smooth. The Impervia has a grainy texture.

There are other considerations that define the differences between Elevate and Impervia. Elevate’s standard glass package is Low E with Argon. Impervia offers Low E with Argon as an upgrade only. Impervia offers a “Limited Lifetime Warranty” to the original purchaser, meaning if the purchaser moves, the warranty transitions to 10/20 warranty for the remainder of what is left on the warranty. Elevate offers a 10-year components warranty and 20-year glass warranty, but it is fully transferable.

Which fiberglass window is better? Please see for yourself. Ask your window representative to provide a side-by-side comparison. If you are looking for a wood interior, then the Elevate Wood Ultrex is a terrific solution.

Marvin vs. Pella Windows—Which Is Better?

Clearly, there are many different comparisons to be made with Marvin and Pella, so it’s difficult to say that one is superior to the other. There are generally two defining advantages that Marvin has over Pella: extruded aluminum cladding and the industry’s highest standard paint finish. Pella has recently countered by introducing their Architect Reserve Series. Pella also has lower-priced options that make for a good budget fit, especially if the owner doesn’t want to live in the home for a long period of time.

Both Marvin and Pella are world-class manufacturers that deliver terrific brand recognition and deep offering of products. Many architects, designers, professional remodelers, and luxury homebuilders in Columbus, Ohio choose Marvin or Elevate for their design, construction, and lasting value.

The above information and opinions are provided by Mark Mason, a window and door industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience.

Choose APCO for Your Window Installation in Columbus, Ohio

There are many opportunities for buyers to become confused when choosing a window manufacturer, let alone when choosing a window installation company! At APCO, we aim to be your trusted advisor for every home improvement project.

These are our promises to you:

1. We will rely on our reputation, not fancy sales gimmicks.
2. We will answer all your questions without a drawn-out presentation.
3. We will give you our best price and never pressure you into buying.

Learn more about our company here, or give us a call today at 614-254-5489 for a free, no-pressure consultation and estimate.