Window basics · Article
Identify a Window Before You Quote It
The three kinds of photos to gather before discussing repair or replacement of an existing window.
Scott’s contractor resource centerAnswers for the job
in front of you.
Identify a window, work through a hail project, or find the right care guide. Practical resources to help your team move forward.
A useful next step
Have photos and a question?
Not sure what you’re looking at? Send me a few photos and your question. Whether it’s identifying an older window, understanding damage, or exploring replacement options, I’ll help you figure out the next step.
Ask Scott →You don’t need an active order to ask a question.
Scott’s training library · Free resources
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Window Field Guide
Window anatomy, hail documentation, replacement options, product identification, and clearer customer conversations.
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Find current and earlier resources in one place.
Start with the material and the lookWhich window series
Which window series
fits the project?
Explore 250 Series, Impervia, Lifestyle and Reserve in a simple visual guide. See Lifestyle Dual-Pane and Triple-Pane with optional blinds side by side.
Compare the series →Window displays in the Pella Omaha showroom.
Repair & replacement guidance
Insurance & hail questions.
Start with product identification, vintage and the condition of the entire unit.
- Replacement aluminum cladding
- The 20-year replacement rule
- When frame condition changes the scope
- Fixed ProLine sash replacements
- Discontinued product service
Local guidance: Pella Windows & Doors of Omaha/Lincoln. Manufacturer changes summarized from the 2019 cladding and 2022 product-change bulletins. Reviewed with Scott, October 2026.
Can hail-damaged aluminum cladding be replaced by itself?
Pella eliminated replacement aluminum cladding for its wood window and patio-door brands in 2019, including current and older vintages. Where available and appropriate, replacement sashes or panels are used instead. When those are unavailable, the frame is damaged, or local replacement criteria apply, full-unit replacement may be necessary.
Scott will review the product and condition before recommending the scope.
What is the local 20-year sash replacement rule?
Pella of Omaha/Lincoln requires full-unit replacement for products 20 years old or older.
Older sashes and frames can change shape together. A new square sash may not fit or seal correctly in a frame that has warped, twisted or moved out of square.
Can a younger window still need full replacement?
Yes. Frame damage, warping, twisting, or a frame that is no longer plumb, level or square can require full-unit replacement regardless of age. A replacement sash must also be compatible with its frame; Pella replacement sashes are not intended for non-Pella frames.
Can the sash in a fixed ProLine casement be replaced?
February 2007 is the key vintage cutoff. The local hail guide identifies fixed ProLine casements manufactured from February 2007 onward as candidates for sash replacement. Earlier fixed ProLine casements require full-unit replacement.
The 20-year rule, frame condition and replacement availability still apply. This guidance is specifically for fixed casement windows, not every fixed window or patio-door panel.
Which older products were affected by permanent service eliminations?
The 2022 bulletin records elimination of configured service for ProLine products made before April 2000, and configured service parts for Designer Series with a double glazing panel (DGP). It also records June 5, 2022 date changes for the pre-2000 service-parts and Original Pella eliminations.
Original Pella and Designer Series with DGP are identified for full-unit replacement in the local hail guide. Send the label and photos so Scott can distinguish DGP products from later Designer Series with a hinged panel.
What other permanent changes were listed in 2022?
The bulletin also eliminated self-closing sliding patio-door screens and prefinish astragals for pre-2019 Architect Series and Pella-branded entry doors. It eliminated storm-door models 3525 and 3550 and selected colors in other storm-door models.
These are historical changes, not a complete current parts catalog. Share the model, vintage and requested component with Scott for an availability review.
Does every damaged patio-door panel require a full door replacement?
No. The local hail guide distinguishes active panels from fixed panels. Active-panel replacement may be possible; fixed-panel damage generally calls for full-unit replacement, with a stated exception for replaceable fixed panels on 250/350 Series sliding doors.
Product identification, age, frame condition and current panel availability still need review.
What should I send for a hail review?
Include the address, room and elevation labels, overall interior and exterior photos, close-ups of damage, and product labels or serial numbers. Include the approximate age and any operation or frame concerns you observed.
Need help collecting it? Ask Scott about a site visit for inspection, chalking, documentation and measurements.
Can you provide documentation for the insurance company?
Scott can help explain the product identification and repair or replacement scope, and provide applicable supporting documentation for an individual project. These FAQs explain product and local service guidance; they do not determine an insurance company’s coverage decision.
Start with the right product
What window is this?
Start with three kinds of photos to help identify an existing window, then explore the product history guides below.
A label photo and the right history guide can help narrow it down. Scott confirms the product and replacement options.
Find your Pella serial number
Product identification & history guides
PDFs open on Pella’s website. These are identification references; a product’s appearance in a historical guide does not establish current parts availability.
Keep the right instructions close
Care & troubleshooting.
Choose the guide that matches the material and product. Keep the SunDefense glass instructions separate from standard glass cleaning.
Official Pella documents open in a new tab. If a document will not open, contact Scott for help finding the applicable instructions.
Care, cleaning & condensation
Window & door troubleshooting
Pella Wood and Clad TroubleshootingPella Fiberglass TroubleshootingVinyl (East Region) TroubleshootingVinyl (West Region) TroubleshootingWOCD TroubleshootingTrilennium® Function Check - Entry Systems-CompositeTrilennium® Trouble Shooting Guide - Entry Systems-CompositeTroubleshooting and Remedies - Entry Systems-CompositeDouble Glazing Panel (DGP) - Condensation Troubleshooting
Motorized blinds, shades & sensors
Insynctive - Pella Lifestyle Motorized Blinds and Shades TroubleshootingInsynctive - Designer Series® Motorized Between-the-Glass Blinds & Shades TroubleshootingInsynctive - Integrated Sensor Troubleshooting Guide for Awning, Casement, and Double-HungInsynctive - Integrated Sensor Troubleshooting Guide for Entry DoorInsynctive - Integrated Sensor Troubleshooting Guide for Garage Doors and Universal SensorsInsynctive - Integrated Sensor Troubleshooting Guide for Hinged DoorsInsynctive - Integrated Sensor Troubleshooting Guide for Sliding Doors
Additional service references
Pella service resource directoryChoose for the application
Performance & materials.
Bring the project requirements. We’ll discuss the product, glass and installation details that matter for the opening.
See commercial possibilities →Energy efficiencySound resistanceWeather resistancePella fiberglass vs. Andersen Fibrex — Pella’s comparison
How should I compare aluminum, fiberglass and clad wood?
Compare the complete products and project requirements, not just the material names. Aluminum conducts heat readily, so its thermal-break design matters. Wood and fiberglass provide different frame approaches; glass, dimensions and the complete assembly also affect performance.
U.S. Department of Energy: window materials and technologies ↗
Can Pella be considered for a commercial storefront?
Yes. The examples in our commercial gallery pair Impervia fiberglass windows with Reserve wood/clad commercial outswing doors. Send the drawings and requirements to Scott for an application review, including sizes, joining details, hardware, performance and installation scope.
Does choosing a factory-made window settle every installation detail?
No. We still need to define the opening, attachment, flashing and surrounding construction. Scott can help coordinate the product requirements and installation scope with your team.
More ways to move your project forward
