Lifetime Warranty
A Belief in Our Products
Here at Castle, we believe in our products. That belief has been echoed in our strong professional reputation and customer reviews. In fact, we believe in our products so much that we offer the best warranty in the industry — a lifetime warranty. Lifetime means lifetime, and, yes, that includes service. You can see a copy of our warranty here.
Many companies claim to offer a lifetime guarantee, but if read the small print, you will find out why Castle is your best option. Our windows are designed, engineered, tested, and manufactured in our factories in North America.
Warranty Comparison
There is NOTHING in the world guaranteed like a Castle window.
After reviewing nearly 100 of our competitor's warranties, we feel as though our warranty is the best in the industry. Please review the information below and decide for YOURSELF.
Most companies claim that they offer a Lifetime Guarantee; however, most warranties are set up to benefit the company rather than the customer.
Castle Windows
Our WarrantyLifetime Coverage
Leaks and Drafts
Vinyl
Color
Installation
Glass
Seals
Parts
Screens
Operation of Window
Free Labor on All Service
Transferrable
Pro-Rated
24 Hour Personal Assistance
Our Competitors
Limited Coverage
Leaks and Drafts
Vinyl
Color
Installation
Glass (Pro-Rated)
Seals (Pro-Rated)
Parts (Limited)
Screens
Operation of Window
Free Labor on All Service
Transferrable (For a Fee)
Pro-Rated
24 Hour Personal Assistance
Six Ways to Protect Yourself When Selecting a Warranty
- Read the Warranty Word for Word – If a company tells you they have a “Lifetime” Warranty. Ask to see a copy and read it word for word. Pay close attention to the exclusions and double talk.
- Ask Your Representative to See a Copy of the Warranty – Before you sign an agreement, ask your representative to show you a copy of the warranty.
- Tell Your Representative to Put it in Writing – Tell your representative to put in writing all aspects of the window that are guaranteed including all Windows, parts, labor, installation, glass, and seals. If your representative will not back up his claims in writing, find another company.
- Watch Out for Service Charges – While most companies will replace parts free of charge, they typically charge $70 to $150 per hour for each visit to your home to fix a problem. (At Castle Windows, service is free of course).
- Why Is the Warranty So Important? – You can determine the actual quality of the product simply by reading the warranty. For example, if a company cannot guarantee the color of the vinyl, you are probably receiving a recycled or re-processed vinyl, which may stain, discolor, or fade.
Take the Castle Tutorial below to spot bogus warranties and protect yourself with a TRUE lifetime warranty.
The problem with most warranties is that people don’t read past the word “Lifetime.” The first line says “Lifetime,” but the remainder of the warranty talks about exclusions. We have put together a list of the most common ways window companies will cheat you out of your warranty. These exclusions provide absolutely no coverage to the homeowner.
The 7 Most Overlooked Phrases in a Warranty
Color
Watch out for the phrases… “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.”
What does this mean? Basically, the window company is giving you a recycled or reprocessed vinyl. This re-ground vinyl tends to discolor and loose strength. This should probably read, “Atmospheric pollution will discolor your window.” We think that would be more accurate.
Caulking (Leaks and Drafts)
Watch out for the phrases…
“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.” What does this mean?
This is the type of double-talk we have warned you against. See, caulking stops water and air infiltration. The company states that, “caulking is not part of the product, and therefore not covered. Basically, you would not be covered against air and water leaks. This is typical of companies who use cheap grades of caulking, those with stock sized windows, and/or shim installations.
Improper Installation
Watch out for the phrases…
“Improper Installation.”
“Warranty does not cover damage caused by improper installation.”
What does this mean?
Many companies exclude the installation of the product. Most manufactures do not know who is going to be installing their product, so they exclude “improper installation.” The problem is that most service work is installation related, not manufacturing related. Many people get stuck in the middle of an argument by their contractor and the manufacturer of the product as to who’s at fault for the defective window.
Glass
We have seen a variety of exclusions on the glass.
“Warranty does not apply to glass breakage.”
“Warranty does not cover acceptable defects in glass.”
“Warranty is void if the unit has been cracked or broken.”
“Warranty does not cover accidental glass breakage.”
We are particularly amused by the second and third statements. If the glass is broken then the warranty is void. But, if the glass were not broken, then you wouldn’t need the warranty. When should we use the warranty? As far as the third statement, we would like to point out that most people don’t break the glass purposely. Even if they did, we would imagine that this manufacture also excludes “Acts of vandalism.”
Ship Part Prepaid
Watch out for the phrases…
“If any part of the window is defective ship the part pre-paid to (address).”
What does this mean?
This is the classic way manufacturers get out of servicing the product. They are dead serious when they say to take the defective part out of the window and ship it to the manufacturer. They know that most homeowners will not bother going through this trouble.
Service
Watch out for “first year free service.”
Obviously, these companies plan on charging their customers for the labor involved in servicing the window after the first year. If you have ever had a repairman out to the house, you know that service work is quite expensive. Of course, most of these companies will give you a break on the price if you buy a new window from them. Isn’t that nice of them?
Blatant Exclusions
Sometimes warranties flat out exclude various parts of the product.
“No glass breakage”
“Warranty applies to vinyl only”
“Glass which is cracked for any reason is not covered”
As you can see, “Lifetime” warranties can be deceiving. Feel free to compare our warranty to any other in the industry. You will find that no other warranties compare.
Download a copy of Castle’s LIFETIME WARRANTY. All information and report is copyrighted by Castle Windows. Duplication of this article in part or in its entirety is illegal.