The Pella Designer wood window is one of two high end Pella Series that gets good reviews from most industry experts. The window uses an aluminum cladding on the exterior and a pine interior that can be finished in a number of different finishes. The window can be customized with a huge number of exterior colors, hardware and grid options. The Designer is a very nice looking wood window, as are the patio doors.
The Designer wood clad window is not an inexpensive window, similar in price to the Pella Architect window. Consumers will be paying at the higher end of the wood window price spectrum if they are buying the Designer model. While I do find the Designer to be a well made and attractive window, I often have a hard time endorsing Pella Windows and Doors given the rather poor customer service that the company has become known for. This isn't to say that other consumers are going to have this experience, it's simply my take.
If you are going to buy Pella, I would recommend going with a Pella Certified Contractor who knows the products well and installation ins and outs. They will charge more than an independent installer, but they help to minimize your risk and exposure should something go wrong down the line.
Review By John M. - Site Editor - 2015
Consumers can expect to pay $60 to $70 per square foot for the Designer window itself. The Designer wood clad window is one of the more expensive wood windows on the market and will be comparable to Andersen 400 windows pricing and Eagle window prices.
-- Window Itself: $70 to $85 per square foot --
» More On Pella Designer Window Prices
The Pella Designer window with the aluminum cladding and wood interior with a low-e glass and no grids will deliver a .33 U-factor, .25 SHGC, and a .46 VT - these are decent to good performance numbers for a wood window, although they cannot compete with a quality vinyl window.
An upgrade to a slightly better low-e glass package will improve these numbers to .29 U-factor, .24 SHGC, and .43 VT.
Pella offers a Limited Warranty on their Designer wood windows and doors that includes a 10 year warranted period on all of the components (latches, locks, hardware, etc.). Manufacturing defects in the mainframe or sill will be repaired, replaced or refunded for the lifetime of the original owner. The company will also cover the cost of the installation for 2 years from the date of purchase. Non laminated glass is covered for a period of 20 years and laminated glass is covered for a period of 10 years.
Any Pella product with EnduraClad Exterior Paint is warranted for 20 years from the original date of purchase. Their Vivid View screen is warranted for 5 years, the Exterior Surround carries a 25 year limited Warranty and their Interior Factory Finish has a 2 year warranty period.
If you have used the Pella Designer window and have reviews that you would like to share with others, please do so here. Your contributions can help others to see if this would clad window is right for their home.
If you have questions about any of the Pella windows, including the Designer wood window, our site editors are here to help you. They will typically get back to you within three days of receiving your question.