Andersen Windows Chicago, IL – Window Replacement

If you’re in the Chicago area and you’re in the market for new windows, one brand worth considering is Andersen Windows. With more than a century of experience, a broad range of window styles, and product lines designed around different materials, budgets, and architectural preferences, Andersen gives Chicago homeowners plenty of options for a window replacement or renovation project.

About the Andersen Brand: More Than 120 Years of Window Expertise

Andersen Windows & Doors is a manufacturer of windows and doors that was founded in 1903 by Hans J. Andersen. The company began as Andersen Lumber Company in Hudson, Wisconsin, before growing into the window and door manufacturer it is today. Andersen says its drive to make windows and doors that are different and better has guided the company since its founding. 

Today, Andersen Corporation is headquartered in Bayport, Minnesota, and Chris Galvin serves as chairman and CEO.

Andersen currently offers five primary residential window and door product lines: the 100 Series, 200 Series, 400 Series, A-Series, and E-Series. Each series has its own combination of materials, design options, performance characteristics, and price considerations. 

Here’s an overview of each series and what makes it different.

Andersen 100 Series

The Andersen 100 Series is designed as a lower-maintenance alternative to traditional vinyl windows. These windows are made from Andersen’s Fibrex® composite material on both the interior and exterior.

Fibrex is a composite made using reclaimed wood fiber and thermoplastic polymer. Andersen describes the material as twice as strong as vinyl, while also emphasizing its durability, energy efficiency, and resistance to fading, flaking, blistering, and peeling. 

For Chicago homeowners who want a clean, contemporary appearance without committing to a wood window, the 100 Series can be an appealing option. The series also offers dark exterior colors, including black and dark bronze, which can work particularly well with modern home designs. 

Andersen 200 Series

The Andersen 200 Series focuses on the warmth and appearance of wood while keeping the available configurations more streamlined.

Andersen describes the 200 Series as concentrating on popular designs and sizes to create a balance of design, efficiency, innovation, and price. The windows feature wood interiors with low-maintenance exterior vinyl cladding.

For a Chicago homeowner who likes the traditional character of wood windows but wants to keep the selection relatively straightforward, the 200 Series can be a practical middle-ground option.

Andersen 400 Series

The Andersen 400 Series is Andersen’s best-selling and longest-standing product line. Andersen positions it as a versatile combination of performance and style, making it suitable for a wide range of replacement and remodeling projects.

The 400 Series uses wood interiors with a protective Perma-Shield® vinyl exterior on many of its products. This gives homeowners the warmth and appearance of wood inside while reducing exterior maintenance requirements.

The selection is also extensive. Depending on the specific configuration, homeowners can choose from awning, bay and bow, casement, double-hung, gliding, picture, and specialty windows.

If you want a classic window appearance with a substantial range of configurations, the 400 Series is one of the Andersen lines worth investigating.

Andersen A-Series

For homeowners who want their windows to complement a particular architectural style, the Andersen A-Series offers a more design-focused approach.

Andersen developed the A-Series after researching how windows contribute to architectural style. The result is a product line intended to help homeowners coordinate the window sash, hardware, accessories, colors, and other details with the character of the home.

A-Series windows feature wood interiors with fiberglass and Fibrex composite exterior components. Homeowners can select from a variety of interior wood species and exterior colors. The series is also available with triple-pane glass in certain configurations, including casement and picture windows.

For a historic Chicago property, traditional home, or renovation where architectural details matter, the A-Series may be especially appealing.

Andersen E-Series

The Andersen E-Series is Andersen’s most customizable window line. It is designed for homeowners who want substantial control over the appearance and details of their windows.

E-Series windows have wood interiors and aluminum-clad exteriors. Andersen offers 50 standard exterior colors along with additional design possibilities, dramatic sizes, dynamic shapes, and multiple wood species.

This makes the E-Series particularly useful when a standard window configuration isn’t enough. Whether you’re trying to match an existing architectural style or create a distinctive contemporary look, the E-Series gives you considerable room to customize the final design.

What Are the Types of Andersen Windows?

One of the biggest advantages of shopping for Andersen windows is the variety of window types available. Not every style is available in every product series, so you’ll want to determine both the window style you want and the Andersen series that best fits your project.

Here’s an overview of the major Andersen window types.

Awning Windows

Awning windows are hinged at the top and open outward from the bottom. Because they can provide ventilation while remaining open during light rain, they can be useful in a variety of areas throughout a Chicago home.

Andersen offers awning windows in several of its major product series, including the 100 Series and 400 Series.

Awning windows can also work well when installed higher on a wall where you want additional airflow while maintaining privacy.

Bay and Bow Windows

Bay and bow windows extend outward from the exterior wall, creating additional visual dimension and, depending on the installation, additional usable space inside the home.

Andersen describes bay and bow windows as combinations of multiple windows that project beyond the wall. They’re commonly used in spaces such as living rooms and bedrooms where homeowners want broader views and a more prominent architectural feature.

These windows can be particularly attractive when you want to bring more natural light into a Chicago home while creating a focal point in the room.

Casement Windows

Casement windows open outward from the side and are operated with a crank. Their design provides a large amount of unobstructed glass and can offer excellent ventilation when the window is open.

Casement windows are available in multiple Andersen series and can work particularly well with contemporary and transitional architectural styles.

Double-Hung Windows

Double-hung windows are among the most familiar window styles for homeowners. They feature two vertically oriented sashes that can move to provide ventilation from different parts of the window.

Andersen offers double-hung windows in the 200 Series, 400 Series, A-Series, and E-Series, among others. The 400 Series also includes both standard and Woodwright® double-hung options.

For traditional Chicago homes, double-hung windows can provide a familiar appearance while still giving you the opportunity to upgrade performance and functionality.

Single-Hung Windows

Single-hung windows resemble double-hung windows but have one movable sash. Andersen currently offers single-hung windows through its 100 Series, where the windows are constructed entirely from Fibrex composite material.

Their straightforward design can be a good fit for homeowners who want a traditional vertical window appearance without the additional operation of a double-hung unit.

Gliding Windows

Gliding windows, sometimes called sliding windows, open horizontally rather than vertically. This can make them a good choice for locations where you want ventilation without requiring space for a sash to swing outward.

Andersen offers gliding windows in several series, including the 200, 400, A-Series, and E-Series.

Their simple operation and horizontal orientation make gliding windows a versatile choice for bedrooms, living spaces, and other areas of a home.

Picture Windows

Picture windows are fixed windows that do not open. Instead, they emphasize glass area and views.

Andersen offers picture windows across the 100 Series, 200 Series, 400 Series, A-Series, and E-Series. Depending on the series, homeowners can also choose from different sizes and custom sizing options.

Picture windows are especially useful when the primary goal is to maximize natural light and provide an unobstructed view of the surrounding property.

Specialty Windows

If your Chicago remodeling project calls for something outside the standard rectangular window, Andersen offers specialty windows in several product lines.

Specialty windows can include unusual shapes and configurations that allow homeowners to create a more distinctive architectural appearance. The E-Series, in particular, is designed around custom shapes and sizes, making it a strong option for homeowners with highly specific design requirements.

Reasons to Choose Andersen Windows for Your Chicago Home Renovation

If you’re still deciding whether Andersen is right for your Chicago window replacement project, there are several reasons the brand deserves a place on your shortlist:

• A long history of window manufacturing. Andersen has been making windows and doors since 1903, giving the company more than 120 years of experience in the industry.
• A wide range of product lines. The 100, 200, 400, A-Series, and E-Series are designed around different combinations of materials, design flexibility, performance, and price.
• Plenty of material choices. Depending on the series, you can choose from Fibrex composite, wood, fiberglass, vinyl-clad wood, or aluminum-clad wood construction.
• A broad selection of window styles. Awning, casement, bay and bow, double-hung, single-hung, gliding, picture, and specialty windows are among the options available across Andersen’s product lines.
• Options for traditional and modern homes. Andersen’s range includes everything from classic wood interiors to streamlined contemporary profiles and large expanses of glass.
• Extensive customization. Especially with the E-Series and A-Series, homeowners have considerable control over colors, materials, shapes, hardware, and other design elements.
• A strong reputation for reliability and versatility. Andersen describes its 400 Series as its most popular product line, with decades of engineering and craftsmanship behind it.

Customizing Your Andersen Windows

One of the biggest advantages of choosing Andersen is that you don’t necessarily have to settle for a generic window configuration. Depending on the product series, there are numerous ways to personalize the finished product.

Colors

Color can have a major impact on how your new windows look from both inside and outside your Chicago home.

Andersen offers different exterior color selections depending on the series. The E-Series provides particularly extensive color flexibility, with 50 standard exterior colors as well as additional possibilities.

For homeowners interested in black, dark bronze, or other contemporary finishes, Andersen also offers darker color options in select product lines.

Interior Wood Species and Finishes

If you choose a wood-interior series such as the 200, 400, A-Series, or E-Series, you can select from different wood options and finishes depending on the specific product.

The E-Series offers particularly broad choices, including a range of wood species and interior finish options.

This can be especially useful if you want your replacement windows to coordinate with hardwood floors, trim, cabinetry, or other existing woodwork.
Hardware

Window hardware may seem like a small detail, but it can have a significant effect on the overall appearance of a window.

Andersen offers multiple hardware styles and finishes, including options such as black, antique brass, bright brass, oil-rubbed bronze, satin nickel, chrome, pewter, and others depending on the series and window type.

That gives you the opportunity to coordinate your window hardware with the other finishes throughout your home.

Grilles

Grilles can change the character of a window dramatically. They can give a new window a more traditional appearance or help it blend with the architectural style of an older Chicago home.

Andersen offers different grille configurations and patterns depending on the product line, allowing homeowners to customize the appearance of their windows beyond simply choosing the frame color.

Glass Options
The glass you select can affect the appearance, comfort, and energy performance of your new windows.

Andersen offers a range of glass options across its product lines, including energy-efficient configurations. Certain A-Series and other products can also be ordered with triple-pane glass, which can provide additional insulation for homes where enhanced thermal performance is a priority.

When planning a Chicago window replacement project, it’s worth discussing glass options with your window professional rather than choosing based on appearance alone.

Shapes and Sizes

Standard rectangular windows are only part of what Andersen offers. Depending on the series, homeowners can order custom sizes, specialty shapes, and larger configurations.

The E-Series is particularly notable for its custom-design capabilities, including dramatic sizes and dynamic shapes. Andersen also offers custom sizing for certain picture windows in 1/8-inch increments.

This flexibility can be valuable when replacing windows in older Chicago homes where openings may not conform to the dimensions of newer construction.

Choosing the Right Andersen Windows for Your Chicago Home

With so many Andersen products available, the biggest challenge may not be finding a window you like – it may be narrowing down your choices.

If affordability and low maintenance are your priorities, the 100 Series is worth considering. If you want the warmth of wood at a more accessible price point, the 200 Series offers a streamlined selection. For a combination of traditional wood interiors, versatility, and long-standing popularity, the 400 Series is a natural choice.

If architectural character and design flexibility are especially important, the A-Series can give you more control over how your windows complement your home. And if customization is your top priority, the E-Series provides some of Andersen’s broadest options for colors, materials, shapes, sizes, and finishes.

Ultimately, the best Andersen window for your Chicago home will depend on your budget, the age and architecture of your property, the window style you prefer, and the performance characteristics you need. A professional window contractor can help you compare the available Andersen series and determine which products make the most sense for your specific home.