Residential Window Dealers (Houston, Anderson: house, buy, live)

[AVTechMan]

I will be in need of some new windows for my house and I would like to know what brand of windows are decent? I also would like to know what places in the Houston area is best recommended for windows? I have all old aluminum single-pane windows and need to change them out to more energy efficient ones. I am also planning to add one to a bathroom that previously didn't have one before for more natural light.

Some windows I know can be very expensive, but for an older home I do want some decent cost-effective windows that wont break the bank.

[ZeroTX]

I heard the ads for Gulf Coast Windows on the radio and gave them a call. The lady was nice, took my info and made an appointment for me. Then the salesman called me to confirm. When I described what I wanted at the moment (2 new windows a 1 new french-style patio door, generally about $1500+ just for the door), he seemed annoyed and said they had a 5 window minimum. I asked him was he serious? I buy $1500-3000 of merchandise and you won't install it unless I buy 5 windows? He said yes.

I won't be calling them again.

[BTD]

We have a sunroom with double 4' wide x 8' high double pane sliding glass doors. These doors fill the entire 16' width of the room...4' fixed pane - 4' slider - 4' slider - 4' fixed pane.
The glass seal has failed and the windows are fogged up.

Gulf Coast Windows came out and discussed the project. They didn't have 8' high sliders and proposed an alternate w/ two standard 6'8" sliders, a central post, and two transom lights to fill the space at the top.

The salesman wrote "$15,000" on a blank sheet of paper.

I asked for a written estimate and the salesman got really confused. He said he didn't know why I needed anything in writting since he had gone over everything in detail. I took the blank paper with the $15K on it and wrote what I needed to see on the estimate..description of the parts and labor, what was included, what wasn't included, payment terms, delivery, warranty...basically everything you would expect to see on an estimate.

He emailed me a plain word doc today with only those items mentioned. No company letterhead, no warranty, just a basic description.

I Googled Anderson windows and found a 15' 11" wide x 8' high double slider for around $4,500 with all the trimmings...low E glass, double seals, choice of colors and hardware, etc.

I am of the impression that Gulf Coast Windows is, while not a scam, certainly overpriced for what they offer and very unprofessional. I won't be calling them again.