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Andersen Windows: Over a Century of Innovation

From a Wisconsin workshop in 1903 to North America's most recognized window brand. Here's what makes Andersen worth knowing.

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Why Andersen Has Led the Window Industry

Founded in 1903 by Danish immigrant Hans Andersen in Hudson, Wisconsin, Andersen Windows has spent more than 120 years refining how windows are made. From introducing assembly-line window production in the 1920s to developing proprietary materials like Fibrex® composite, they've consistently moved ahead of where the rest of the industry was standing.

At Mountain View Windows, Buster and Aaron have 35 years in the construction trade and install windows across Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. Andersen is one of the brands they reach for when a homeowner wants proven durability, real energy performance, and design options that don't box them into a corner. If you're weighing a window replacement and want to understand what you'd actually be getting with Andersen, this breakdown covers the product lines and technologies worth knowing.

Product Lines

Andersen's Four Main Window Series

Each series is built around a different material and buyer. Here's how they compare.

A-Series

Materials: Wood with a fiberglass or composite exterior. The A-Series combines natural wood interiors with weather-resistant exteriors, available in a wide range of finishes and glass options. Best for homeowners who want custom design flexibility and premium energy performance in a new build or high-end renovation.

400 Series

Materials: Wood with a vinyl exterior. One of Andersen's best-selling lines for good reason, the 400 Series balances style, performance, and price. The wood interior can be painted or stained to match existing trim. Best for homeowners who want a durable, classic-looking window without going to the top of the price range.

100 Series

Materials: Fibrex® composite. The 100 Series uses Andersen's proprietary Fibrex® material, a blend of reclaimed wood fiber and thermoplastic polymer that resists fading, peeling, and cracking far better than straight vinyl or wood. Best for buyers who want low-maintenance performance and an eco-conscious material at a budget-friendly price.

E-Series

Materials: Aluminum-clad wood. The E-Series is Andersen's most customizable line, unique shapes, specialty hardware finishes, and colors not available in other series. Best for homeowners with architectural details that off-the-shelf windows won't accommodate, or for modern custom builds where the window itself is part of the design.

Technology

Window Technologies Worth Understanding

These aren't marketing names, each one solves a specific performance problem.

Fibrex® Composite Material

Made from reclaimed wood fiber and thermoplastic polymer, Fibrex® outperforms vinyl on thermal efficiency and outlasts standard wood on durability. It doesn't expand and contract with temperature swings the way vinyl does, which matters in climates like the Santa Ynez Valley, where summer inland heat is followed by cool marine air.

SmartSun™ Glass

Blocks up to 95% of UV rays while still allowing natural light through. In practical terms: less fading on floors and furniture, and lower cooling costs during the months when Central Coast homes are working hardest against the heat.

HeatLock® Glass Coating

Reflects heat back into the room during colder months rather than letting it escape through the glass. Particularly useful for inland homes in areas like Paso Robles or Solvang where overnight temperatures drop significantly even in spring and fall.

TruScene® Insect Screens

Traditional window screens block a noticeable amount of light and obscure the view. TruScene® screens use a finer mesh that's nearly invisible from inside, you get the ventilation and bug protection without the screen dominating what you're looking at.

Why Andersen Works Well on the Central Coast

Coastal homes in Santa Barbara and southward deal with salt air, marine layer moisture, and UV exposure that accelerates wear on standard window materials. Andersen's Fibrex® and aluminum-clad options hold up in those conditions better than bare wood or hollow vinyl. Inland, where Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley swing between warm days and cold nights, the HeatLock® coating and double-pane construction reduce the thermal loss that drives up heating bills. The design range also matters here. Wine country homes, Spanish Colonial architecture, modern farmhouses, the window style that suits a house in Buellton looks nothing like what belongs on a newer home in Camarillo. Andersen's series lineup is wide enough to cover that range without forcing a compromise.

A Brand Mountain View Windows Stands Behind

Buster and Aaron don't install brands they wouldn't put in their own homes. Andersen has been one of the names they've recommended consistently because the product holds up after installation, which is ultimately what matters to a homeowner five years down the road.

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Investment

What Makes Andersen Worth the Cost

Durability That Holds

Fibrex®, aluminum-clad wood, and energy-efficient glass don't fade, crack, or warp the way older window materials do. Andersen windows installed correctly should look and operate the same way fifteen years from now.

Real Energy Savings

SmartSun™ glass and HeatLock® technology aren't features you pay for and forget, they reduce cooling and heating loads every month. For a home that was running single-pane windows, the change is noticeable on the utility bill. You can also compare fiberglass vs vinyl options if you're still weighing materials.

Design That Fits the House

Four distinct series means four different starting points, from the no-fuss 100 Series to the fully customizable E-Series. Most homeowners land somewhere in the 400 Series range, but the right answer depends on the architecture and what else is happening with the renovation.

Sustainability Built In

The Fibrex® material uses reclaimed wood fiber that would otherwise go to waste. For homeowners who factor environmental impact into product decisions, that's a meaningful spec, not just a marketing bullet point.

Common Questions About Andersen Windows

What is Fibrex® and why does it matter?

Fibrex® is Andersen's proprietary composite material made from reclaimed wood fiber and thermoplastic polymer. It's stronger and more thermally stable than vinyl, and it doesn't require painting or staining the way wood does. It's the core material in the 100 Series and shows up in other Andersen products as well.

Which Andersen series is right for a coastal home?

For homes near the coast, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Pismo Beach, the 400 Series or E-Series with aluminum-clad exteriors holds up well against salt air and moisture. The 100 Series Fibrex® also performs well in those conditions. Bare wood exteriors are generally not the right call within a few miles of the water.

Does Andersen work with Mountain View Windows on warranties?

Andersen provides product warranties on their windows. Mountain View Windows also backs its own installation work separately. If you want to understand how those overlap and what's actually covered, read our breakdown of window warranties for coastal homes before you sign anything.

Can Andersen windows be installed in sliding door openings?

Yes, Andersen makes gliding and sliding door products in several series, and they integrate well with window replacements happening at the same time. If you're replacing both windows and a patio opening, it's worth doing them together so the frames and hardware match.

In the field

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Questions About Andersen for Your Home?

Buster and Aaron have installed thousands of windows across Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. Call to talk through which Andersen series makes sense for your house, no pressure, just a straight answer.