Looking at potential companies to replace your windows? West Shore Home caught your eye?
If so, have I got the story for you. I put on my sleuthing hat, scheduled an estimate, talked to sales folks and got some hard numbers on window replacement costs from West Shore Home, in hopes of giving you more clarity on whether
West Shore Home is a good fit for your project. Hold on to your glass-es and let’s dive in.
About West Shore Home windows
Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, West Shore Home was founded in 2006 by Penn State graduate, B.J. Werzyn. West Shore Homes has installed windows and doors since the beginning, only more recently expanding into bathroom, shower and flooring installation/remodeling.
West Shore Homes has over 40 local offices, serves 27 states and has completed over 330,000 home renovation jobs.
What we like about West Shore Home windows
Get an in-home consultation
West Shore Home, window replacement in particular, has some positive things going for it. It has many solid customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot, Angie’s List and Google.
Also, West Shore Home handles everything in-house, from window assembling to installation training, making it more likely that product and installation quality are consistent across states and locations. You can also get a quote within one to two days, and many customers report quick and efficient installs.
One other bonus is that West Shore Home also installs flooring/doors and renovates bathrooms. So if you need your windows replaced AND have additional home projects, it could save you the hassle of dealing with multiple contractors.
Our experience getting a West Shore Home windows quote
Instead of trying to piece together data from online research, I decided to go through the quote process myself to ensure the most accurate West Shore Home review possible.
Here’s what you should know based on my firsthand experience.
- Expect the quote process to take about two hours: The process is involved and includes window measuring, a company/product pitch and the on-site quote.
- Be prepared to have the salesperson in your home: The salesperson will prefer to measure and give the pitch in your home as opposed to outside.
- Be ready for the salesperson to try to get you to make an immediate buying decision: Many window companies, including West Shore Home, try to get you to make a day-of buying decision by offering multiple “day-of-only” discounts (including a call to the manager to get you a “special extra discount”). For the record, my salesperson wasn’t too pushy. He did the spiel but didn’t badger me when I said I needed time to think it over.
West Shore Home windows cost
West Shore Home pricing at a glance:
- 10 replacement windows quoted
- Lowest price: $16,518
- Standard quote: $21,734
- Cost per window: roughly $1,650-$2,170
Most West Shore Home windows reviews will base window cost estimates on online numbers the writer finds during their research. But why do that when you can just go to the source?
With that in mind, I asked West Shore Home Windows (along with Mad City windows and Lowe’s windows) to come out and give me a quote to replace 10 windows on my home (located in Lexington, Kentucky).
The salesperson ended up giving me several different numbers (which is what you can expect as well):
- Locked-in year price: $21,734, which works out to a little over $2,100 per window
- Price including monthly promo: $17,388, or around $1,700 per window (essentially a 20% discount).
- Monthly promo price + one-time manager discount (only good day-of): $16,518.60, or around $1,650 per window (additional 5% discount).
Of the three quotes I received, the West Shore Home windows quote was in the middle (for the year price). It was significantly cheaper than Mad City Windows, but around $7,000 more than Lowe’s windows’ most expensive window line (Pella windows).
How the West Shore Home windows replacement process works
Here’s how the West Shore Home windows process went for me. Granted, I didn’t actually have West Shore Home replace my windows, but I got a pretty good idea of what to expect.
- Fill out a simple online form: Just select window replacement, fill out a bit of basic info and voila. Took me two minutes to complete.
- Select an on-site appointment time: Appointments are often available as soon as the next day.
- Salesperson visit: This will include a measurement of the windows you want replaced, a product pitch and an onsite quote.
- Installation day: Removal of windows, window replacement prep, new window install, haul away/clean up of old windows, etc.
West Shore Home windows pros and cons
Pros:
- Evening and weekend appointment scheduling
- In-house trained installers
- Advertised communication throughout the project
- Quality double and triple-pane windows
- Lots of positive customer reviews
- Also renovates bathrooms, replaces doors and installs flooring
Cons:
- Some customers report feeling pressured to make a buying decision
- Not a great budget option for windows
- No service in certain areas of the country
West Shore Home window and customization options
West Shore Home offers a wide variety of window styles, exterior trim colors and grill patterns. Window styles include:
West Shore Home says that it offers “a variety of frame materials.” But elsewhere on its site, it says it only offers vinyl-framed replacement windows. For reference, the window the salesperson showed me was vinyl-framed.
West Shore Home windows quality and energy efficiency
West Shore Home windows are solid, well-engineered and made from vinyl. All corners are welded for extra structural stability and integrity during install. They also have a U-factor rating of .18, which, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, puts them in the “best/high performance” category for energy performance.
The salesperson walked me through the different design features during his visit and used a heat lamp to show me how effectively the window reduces heat transfer. West Shore Home also offers triple-pane windows, although that will raise the overall cost of the project.
Who installs West Shore Home windows?
All West Shore Home windows installers are local, in-house, W-2 employees who have completed West Shore Home’s window installation training process. This is in contrast to companies like Lowe’s and The Home Depot, which use third-party subcontractors to install their windows (inevitably leading to less consistency in installation quality from region to region).
West Shore Home windows discounts and financing options
West Shore Homes often offers window discounts and financing options. For example, as I’m writing this, West Shore homes has a 0% down deal going as part of its SUMMER BOGO sale.
Financing plans will depend on your credit, but qualifying customers may qualify for 0% deferred interest plans, low-interest monthly payment plans or even deferred payment plans.
The salesperson offered me several different potential options in person.
- Cash/check: 30% down and the rest due at job completion
- 0% interest payment plans: 12- and 18-month options
- Flexible plans: Varying lengths with as low as 10% down in certain cases
One thing to keep in mind is that West Shore Home discounts are kind of baked into the sales process, and it’s not super easy to see where and how they’re applied (emailed estimates are not itemized). The salesperson WILL try to get you to make a buying decision on-site before they leave, by offering you a variety of different discounts (some of which will expire when they leave). So, mentally prepare yourself for that.
West Shore Home windows customer reviews
Overall, West Shore Home has stellar reviews from customers on most review platforms, with ratings above 4.5 stars on Google, Trustpilot and Angie’s List (reviewed by individual location). As I browsed, many reviewers mentioned good installation practices and professional employee interactions.
Of course, there are also bad reviews mixed with the good, including complaints about install quality and projects getting drawn out if everything doesn’t go according to plan.
Another thing to keep in mind is that these reviews include all of West Shore Home’s install services, not just windows. If possible, I recommend checking out your local West Shore Home reviews on Google and Angie’s List. Pay special attention to reviews that focus on window installation to help you get an idea of what to expect quality-wise in your local area.
Does West Shore Home windows provide service nationwide?
West Shore Home Windows does not provide service nationwide, but is present in more than half of the United States. Coverage is particularly sparse in Western and Northwestern regions of the United States.
Check out West Shore Home’s locations page for a better idea of where services are available.
Alternatives to West Shore Home windows
West Shore Home is on par with quotes from other top window replacement companies, like Champion Windows and Renewal by Andersen. Companies like Window Nation might come in at a lower price point.
How USA TODAY rates West Shore Home
The USA TODAY team uses an in-house methodology to review and rank the top window replacement companies in the nation. We look at cost data, installation quality, customer experience, product offerings, efficiency and more to determine a company’s score.
Bottom line: Is West Shore Home right for you?
Get a free in-home consultation
If you’re willing and able to pay a bit more for quality window construction and more consistently trained installers, then West Shore Homes could be a good fit for you. Also, if you need doors replaced, flooring installed or a bathroom remodeled, West Shore Home can take care of it, saving you the work of communicating with multiple contractors.If you live in the Western or Northwestern United States or are on a tight budget, then West Shore Home might not be the best fit.
Frequently asked questions
Is West Shore Home a reputable company?
West Shore Home is a reputable company with thousands of positive reviews. Like any company, there are those who have bad experiences with West Shore Home, but overall averages above 4.5 stars across major review sites like Google, Trustpilot and Angie’s List.
Is West Shore Homes overpriced?
Based on my research and quotes I received from several other window companies, West Shore Homes falls in the middle to upper end of the spectrum for window replacement costs. You pay more, but you also get high-quality windows and in-house trained installers. For some folks, that’s worth paying extra; for others, it’s not worth the money.