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Windows

Weather Shield Windows Review

Modernize Rating: 4.5/5

Average Cost: $160 - $1,000

Weather Shield is one of the nation’s largest window and door manufacturers, known for its wide range of styles in wood and aluminum-clad windows. Their offerings combine elegant design with practical durability, suitable for harsh climates, and feature energy-efficient options that meet or exceed EnergyStar requirements. Weather Shield stands out for its commitment to sustainability and customizable design choices, backed by a robust warranty that ensures their windows are a long-lasting investment for homeowners.

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Modernize maintains homeowner-first editorial integrity, meaning we accept no commissions and no partner links for this review. Our reviews are thoroughly fact-checked by our home improvement experts. Ratings are determined by a sophisticated algorithm to rate brands, including analyses of products, materials, quality, costs, sizes, durability, energy efficiency, and warranties.

Weather Shield Windows Brand Review

With more than 1,900 employees nationwide, Weather Shield is one of the nation’s larger window and door manufacturers.

Edward “Lee” Schield founded the company in 1955. He used personal savings to purchase aluminum that he turned into windows and storm doors and sold to homeowners throughout central Wisconsin. A savvy businessman, Schield began offering his doors to regional contractors, which formed the roots of Weather Shield’s expansion as a leading door and window manufacturing company. More than six decades later, Weather Shield is still owned and run by the Schield family.

Weather Shield’s national headquarters and manufacturing facility is located at Medford, Wisc. The company offers a full range of styles in wood and aluminum-clad windows in four different collections that range from elegant to affordable. Read on to learn more about the benefits of Weather Shield windows, including costs, styles, designs and more.

Weather Shield Window - Top Window Brand - Modernize


Weather Shield Window Materials

Weather Shield Wood Windows

Weather Shield wood windows offer homeowners great flexibility in design choices. Homeowners have many different species of wood and finishes from which to choose when purchasing wood windows from Weather Shield. Species for the interior of the window include:

  • Pine
  • Oak
  • Maple
  • Vertical- and mixed-grain fir
  • Mahogany
  • Alder
  • Cherry

Windows can be stained and sealed at the factory in a wide range of finishes to match your home’s interior furnishings and style, from light golden oak to a rich reddish mahogany. The interior wood also can be painted in white or black or primed for painting at your home. Weather Shield’s premium stain finishes include dark coffee, caramel, ember, ebony and many other options to best match your furniture.

Wood species for exterior include pine, mixed-grain fir or mahogany.

wood windows in a modern living room


Weather Shield Aluminum Clad Windows

Weather Shield makes three complete lines of aluminum-clad windows that are perfect for homeowners who live in harsher climates. The interior can be made in any of the wood species mentioned above, while the exterior of the wood frame is clad in weather-resistant aluminum. Weather Shield offers aluminum-clad windows in its contemporary, signature and premium product lines, which we’ll cover in detail below. Aluminum-clad window styles, meanwhile, include double-hung, casement and awning windows.

Weather Shield offers 12 different standard color options for the interior and exterior of aluminum-clad windows, and 45 designer finishes for the inside and out to match any architectural style or homeowner preference. Two-tone color options greatly expand the design choices as well.

Weather Shield offers five different types of insulated glass for its windows, as well as five different specialty glasses, such as bronze, gray or satin etch to add increased privacy and design options.


How Much Do Weather Shield Windows Cost? 

Like other independent window manufacturers that operate through extensive networks of dealer-representatives, Weather Shield only provides cost and pricing for its windows once you have a representative visit your home to determine your needs. Window pricing can vary greatly depending on the type of wood you choose, finishes, frame styles, hardware options, and type of energy-efficient glass panes used in the windows. Window size and the overall number of replacement windows also can add to your overall costs.

Window prices also can vary by location and difficulty of installation – it’s usually much easier to install Weather Shield replacement windows in homes with siding than in homes that are stuccoed, for instance. Window prices can fluctuate by 10 percent or more depending on where you live. Homeowners can use this window cost estimator to determine baseline costs for replacement windows in their region. 

You also can look at prices at big box home improvement centers to get a rough estimate on pricing. Wood double-hung windows run around $160 to $1,000 – a huge range that’s largely affected by overall quality, glass, and manufacturer. Wood casement windows range from around $325 to $475 per window. Aluminum-clad sliding windows cost between $500 and $800.

Window Replacement Cost Calculator

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Weather Shield Window Styles

Weather Shield Double-Hung Windows

Double-hung windows can be built to either open vertically or with tilting sashes, which makes it easy to clean the window panes from inside your home.

double hund windows visual illustration

Weather Shield Casement Windows

Casement windows are a timeless design that features a crank at the base or a push-out style. Casement windows work well in cramped or hard-to-reach spaces.

casement windows visual illustration

Weather Shield Awning Windows

Awning windows have a hinge at the top with a sash that swings outward from the bottom – you can open these windows in the rain and the interior will remain dry.

awning windows visual illustration

 

Weather Shield Sliding Windows

Sliding windows are another common option to let increased light and ventilation into your home. The sliding sash moves horizontally to the left or right.

sliding windows visual illustration

Weather Shield Special-shape Windows

These stationary windows can be made into arches, half-arches, rectangles and many other custom shapes to meet your needs.

round circle window visual illustration


What’s the Difference Between the Weather Shield  Window Series?

Contemporary collection

These aluminum-clad windows are designed primarily to enhance the views of high-end homes. They feature slim frame lines to expose views, and top-of-the-line hardware. Weather Shield’s contemporary collection is available in the following styles:

  • Crank and push-out casement
  • Awning
  • 90-degree corner
  • Direct-set
  • Bifold

Premium series

One of Weather Shield’s most popular collections that harken back to the company’s roots. Features include cladding that mimics traditional wood windows, recessed latches and energy-efficient glass. Premium series windows are available in the following styles:

  • Double-hung
  • Crank and push-out casement
  • Awning
  • Slider
  • Bifold
  • Specialty sizes

Premium coastal

Oceanside homes have different requirements that homes in other climates. Weather Shield’s premium coastal collection features windows specifically designed to withstand seaside climates while enhancing ocean views. Premium coastal windows are available in four styles:

  • Casement
  • Awning
  • Double-hung
  • Direct-set specialty sizes

Signature series

Another popular choice among budget-conscious homeowners, the company’s signature series lineup of windows feature classic looks with slim frame designs, low-maintenance and a wide range of configurations. Signature windows are available in five styles:

  • Slider
  • Double-hung
  • Casement
  • Awning
  • Specialty

Weather Shield also makes patio doors to match its window collections.


Weather Shield Windows Warranty

All Weather Shield products are covered under the same warranty policy, which differs slightly by product.

There’s a general 20-year warranty on all Weather Shield products and insulated glass. If within this time frame something in your window goes amiss, Weather Shield’s warranty policy states that it will either repair or replace the damage or refund the purchase entirely if it’s determined there’s a defect in materials or workmanship.

Aluminum-clad windows, meanwhile, have a 30-year warranty against wood rot – mildew and discoloration from water condensation are not covered. Unclad wood windows are warrantied for 10 years against rot provided the finish has been maintained.

Hardware has a 10-year warranty that covers mechanical operation. If you sell your home, warranties are transferable for a period of 10 years. 


Weather Shield Window Maintenance

Routine maintenance is the best way to ensure your Weather Shield windows continue working as well as the day they were installed. Follow these tips to keep your windows in top shape.

Weather Shield window hardware and operation

Regularly inspect the tracks of double-hung and sliding windows for dirt and detritus that can impede smooth operation. Remove dirt, dust, spiderwebs and any other material with a microfiber dusting wand or hand-held vacuum. Add lubrication as necessary with a silicon-based spray since it won’t attract dirt and dust like other common household lubricants.

If your home is in a dry climate or near salt water, you’ll have to regularly lubricate any operating hardware with a silicon-based penetrating lubricant. Examine crank gears, sash latches and any other moving parts to see if they need additional lubrication to ensure smooth operation. 

Cleaning Weather Shield window panes

You can use any common household glass cleaner to remove dirt and buildup from the window panes, or you can make your own solution of 90 percent vinegar and 10 percent hot water. Apply with a spray bottle, and wipe down with a clean cloth or use a squeegee. If you see streaks after cleaning, apply plain hot water and wipe off with a dry cloth. 

How to clean Weather Shield window screens

You can clean the dirt and dust off your screens with a hand-held vacuum, or you can remove them and rinse with a mild detergent. Let them dry thoroughly before reinstalling. 

Cleaning Weather Shield window frames

Never use a wire brush or other abrasive cleaning tool to clean the window frames since they can damage the frame’s surface. Likewise, don’t use a pressure washer, even on lower power. Rinsing with water and rubbing the surface down with a sponge is the best way to remove dirt without damaging the frame. Remove mildew with a solution of one-third laundry detergent and bleach mixed with two-thirds hot water. Be sure to rinse the solution off with clean water after removing the mildew.

If you need to restrain or repaint your window frames, consider calling in a professional painter unless you have ample experience using stains and paint. The job isn’t difficult, but it’s easy to leave paint drips or blotch and over-apply the stain.

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