If you’ve searched for replacement windows, you’ve almost certainly encountered both Andersen Windows and Renewal by Andersen. They share a name. They’re both owned by the same parent company. And they both install windows in your home. So what’s the difference — and does it matter?
It matters more than most homeowners realize. Here’s a complete comparison of the two, covering products, installation, pricing, warranty, and what each one means for your replacement window project.
Andersen Windows is a manufacturer. Renewal by Andersen is a full-service replacement division. They operate completely differently, sell different products, and serve different purposes — even though both carry the Andersen name.
Andersen Corporation has been manufacturing windows since 1903 and is the most recognized window brand in America. For over a century, Andersen sold its products through a network of independent dealers and contractors. The full Andersen product line — 100 Series, 200 Series, 400 Series, A-Series, and E-Series — has always been installed by independent certified contractors, not by Andersen itself.
Renewal by Andersen was created in the 1990s as a separate division of Andersen Corporation, specifically to compete in the growing replacement window market. Renewal operates through franchised dealers across the country. They developed their own proprietary product — windows made from a material called Fibrex, a composite of reclaimed wood fiber and thermoplastic polymer — and built a full-service business model around selling and installing that single product line.
This is the most significant practical difference between the two.
An Andersen Certified Contractor installs the full Andersen product portfolio:
Renewal by Andersen sells one product: their proprietary Fibrex-based window, now marketed as the Acclaim line. It is a well-made product — but it is one product, designed for one type of installation. If your project requires a specific series, a specific material, or a specific configuration that the Acclaim line doesn’t offer, Renewal cannot help you.
Renewal by Andersen operates as a full-service company. They handle the entire process from initial consultation through installation using their own trained installation teams. This is a turnkey experience: one company, one point of contact, managed from start to finish.
Andersen Certified Elite Contractors are independent businesses — vetted, trained, and recognized by Andersen at the highest certification level, but operating independently. This means they can offer a personalized, no-pressure sales process, local market knowledge, and in many cases, more competitive pricing than a franchise model that carries the overhead of a national operation.
Renewal by Andersen is consistently priced at the premium end of the replacement window market. Their franchise model, national marketing operation, and full-service approach carry significant overhead that is reflected in the final price to the homeowner. Multiple industry surveys and homeowner reviews consistently place Renewal by Andersen among the higher-cost options in any market.
An Andersen Certified Elite Contractor can often deliver the same genuine Andersen products — with the same warranty, the same certified installation, and the same Andersen quality — at a more competitive price. When a contractor offers a Price Match Guarantee, the comparison becomes straightforward: you can verify you’re getting the best available price for the same certified quality.
Both paths include Andersen’s product warranty on the windows themselves: 20 years on standard glass and 10 years on non-glass components for most residential applications.
Installation warranty coverage varies. Renewal by Andersen includes a 2-year installation warranty through their franchise. Andersen Certified Elite Contractors provide their own installation warranty on labor and workmanship — the terms vary by contractor but are typically competitive with or better than the Renewal standard.
If you want the complete Andersen product line, a no-pressure consultation, and competitive pricing backed by an Andersen Certified Elite Contractor — an independent certified installer is the right choice. If you prefer a fully managed, turnkey franchise experience and cost is a secondary concern, Renewal by Andersen serves that need.
For most homeowners researching replacement windows in NJ, PA, and Delaware, the independent certified Elite contractor path delivers equal or better quality at a more competitive price, with the full range of genuine Andersen products available.
We are an Andersen Certified Elite Contractor serving homeowners across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Our free in-home consultations include a complete product walkthrough, no-pressure pricing, and our Price Match Guarantee.
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