Lifetime Warranty
A Belief in Our Products
Here at Castle Windows, we believe in our products, and that belief shows up in our professional reputation and in what our customers tell us. We believe in them enough to back our own vinyl windows with the best warranty in the industry: a true lifetime warranty. Lifetime means lifetime, and yes, that includes service.
Plenty of companies claim a lifetime guarantee, but read the fine print and you'll usually find out why. Our vinyl windows are designed, engineered, tested, and manufactured in our own factories in North America. Because we build them ourselves, we can stand behind the product without the loopholes.
Compare the written coverage or request a free estimate by calling (866) 813-0917. We can
explain the warranty terms that matter before you select replacement windows.
Which Warranty Covers Which Product
We install two different families of window, and they carry two different warranties. Knowing which one applies to your project is the single most useful thing you can take away from this page.
- Our Lifetime Transferable Warranty applies to Castle Windows vinyl replacement windows. Because we design, engineer, test, and build those windows in our own North American factories, we are the manufacturer of record. That is what allows us to warrant the product for as long as the units remain in the opening they were originally installed in, with no pro-rating.
- Andersen products are not covered by our lifetime warranty. Andersen windows and patio doors are built by Andersen from Fibrex composite and wood-clad materials rather than our vinyl, and Andersen warrants them under its own written terms. Those terms are set by Andersen, run for fixed periods rather than a lifetime, and are the terms that govern your Andersen units.
WARRANTY SCOPE
Two Products, Two Warranties
Coverage follows the manufacturer, not the installer.
OUR LIFETIME WARRANTY
Castle Vinyl Replacement Windows
Covered for as
long as the window units remain in the opening they were originally installed in. Includes defects in material
and workmanship, insulated glass seal failure, and accidental glass breakage, with replacement labor included.
Transfers to each subsequent owner of the property, with no pro-rating.
ANDERSEN'S OWN WARRANTY
Andersen Windows & Patio Doors
Covered
under Andersen's written limited warranties for fixed terms, not for a lifetime. Andersen's limited warranties transfer to subsequent owners. Terms vary by product series, so review the
documents that apply to the units you select.
Lifetime Window Warranty Comparison
There's nothing in the industry guaranteed quite like a Castle vinyl window. We reviewed nearly 100 of our competitors' warranties, and we're confident ours holds up best. Most "lifetime guarantees" are written to protect the company, not the customer. Every item below comes straight out of our written warranty, which you can read in full above.
WARRANTY COMPARISON
Castle Vinyl Windows vs. Other Companies
After
reviewing nearly 100 competitor warranties, we're confident ours is the best in the industry. Review the
comparison below and decide for yourself.
|
Item |
Castle Vinyl Windows |
Competitors |
|
Length of Coverage |
Life of the Window
|
Often a fixed term that expires |
|
Vinyl Frame & Sash |
Material & Workmanship
|
Typically limited |
|
Failed Glass Seals |
Free Replacement + Labor
|
Pro-rated, if at all |
|
Accidental Glass Breakage |
Free Replacement + Labor
|
Almost never covered |
|
Defective Parts |
New Part at No Charge
|
Limited, if at all |
|
Transferable |
To Every Future Owner
|
Yes, only for a fee |
| Pro-rated |
No
|
Typically |
The Castle column reflects
the terms of our written Lifetime Transferable Warranty for vinyl replacement windows and insulated glass units.
The competitor column is based on Castle's review of competitor warranty terms; individual warranties vary.
Andersen products are covered by Andersen's own limited warranties, described above.
What Our Warranty Does Not Cover
A warranty is only as useful as its exclusions are clear, so here are ours. Our coverage applies under normal use and service, for as long as the window units remain in the opening they were originally installed in. It does not cover damage caused by vandalism, abuse, alteration, tampering, improper maintenance, negligence, failure of the structure, or fire, lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other acts of God.
We also make no representation about condensation. Condensation is the natural result of moisture in the house and changes in temperature and humidity, and it does not indicate a defective window. And because glass is tinted in dye lots that vary slightly, an exact color match to your existing units cannot be guaranteed when a glass unit is replaced.
Protect Yourself When Selecting a Warranty
BUYER PROTECTION
Six Ways to Protect Yourself When Selecting a Warranty
1
Read the
warranty word for word.
If a company tells you they offer a "lifetime"
warranty, ask to see a copy and read it in full. Pay close attention to the exclusions and any language
that sounds like double talk.
2
Ask which
warranty covers which product.
A single project can involve more than one
manufacturer, and each one warrants only what it built. Before you sign, ask for the actual warranty
document for every product going into your home. A company that hesitates to show you the fine print in
advance is telling you something.
3
Get every
claim in writing.
Every part of the job that's supposed to be
guaranteed, including the windows, parts, labor, installation, glass, and seals, should be spelled out in
writing. If a representative won't put a claim on paper, take that as your answer and look elsewhere.
4
Watch out for
service charges.
Most companies will replace a defective part at
no charge, then bill $70 to $150 per hour just to send someone out to install it. Under our warranty, a
covered glass or seal replacement includes the labor at no charge, and a defective part is replaced with a
new part at no charge.
5
Let the
warranty tell you about the product.
A warranty is a window into build quality. If a
company won't stand behind the color of its vinyl, for example, that's often a sign of recycled or
reprocessed material that's more likely to stain, discolor, or fade over time.
6
Learn to spot
the phrases that give coverage away.
Below, we break down the seven phrases most
warranties bury in the fine print, and what each one actually costs you as a homeowner.
Don't Forget to Read the Fine Print
The word "Lifetime" is usually the first line of a warranty. Everything after it tends to be the exclusions. Here are the phrases that quietly take coverage away, and what they actually mean for you.
READ THE FINE PRINT
The 7 Most Overlooked Phrases in a Warranty
1. Color
"The vinyl usually maintains its color as it ages; however, atmospheric pollution and residues can cause
uniform discoloration." Or: "The manufacturer does not warrant against some degrees of normal weathering."
In plain terms, this usually means the vinyl is
recycled or reprocessed material that's more prone to discoloring and losing strength over time. A more
honest label would just say the vinyl is likely to fade.
2. Caulking (Leaks and Drafts)
"Caulking is used on some installations to seal the frames and trim packages against water and air
infiltration. Caulking is not considered part of the product and therefore not covered under the warranty."
Caulking is what actually stops air and water from
getting in, so excluding it from coverage means you're not covered against leaks or drafts at all. This
wording shows up most often with cheap-grade caulking, stock-sized windows, and shim installations.
3. Improper Installation
"Warranty does not cover damage caused by improper installation."
Many manufacturers don't know who will install
their product, so they exclude installation from the warranty entirely. The problem is that most service
issues trace back to installation, not manufacturing, which leaves homeowners caught between a contractor
and a manufacturer, each pointing at the other.
4. Glass
"Warranty does not apply to glass breakage." / "Warranty is void if the unit has been cracked or broken." /
"Warranty does not cover accidental glass breakage."
These exclusions raise an obvious question: if the
glass has to be broken before the warranty is void, when exactly are you supposed to use it? Few homeowners
break glass on purpose, and a warranty built this way tends to also exclude accidental damage of any kind.
5. Ship Part Prepaid
"If any part of the window is defective, ship the part pre-paid to (address)."
This is a common way manufacturers avoid servicing
a product directly. It requires the homeowner to remove the defective part themselves and mail it in, a step
most people never get around to, which is exactly the point.
6. Blatant Exclusions
"No glass breakage." / "Warranty applies to vinyl only." / "Glass which is cracked for any reason is not
covered."
Some warranties skip the double talk and simply
state what's excluded outright. These flat exclusions are worth reading closely, since they often carve out
the very parts of the window most likely to need attention.
7. Service
"First year free service."
This phrase means exactly what it implies: after
the first year, you'll be billed for labor every time a technician comes out. Service calls can be
expensive, and some companies will offer a discount toward a brand-new window instead of simply honoring the
repair.
As you can see, "Lifetime" warranties can be deceiving. Compare our vinyl window warranty to any other lifetime warranty in the industry; we're confident nothing else measures up.
Compare Coverage Before You Choose
Request the written warranty and a free estimate for windows, doors, or siding so you can compare the coverage before making a decision. Coverage varies by manufacturer, so we will tell you which document applies to each product in your project and how its terms handle product defects, installation, service labor, transferability, and pro-rating. Our contractor registrations and licenses are maintained in every state where they’re required, and our 24-hour personal assistance gives customers a direct path for warranty service requests.
Call (866) 813-0917 to discuss your warranty questions with our team before choosing
replacement windows.
