Duraco Windows Industries
reviews and complaints

We built a new house in 2005. Some of the windows we purchased for the house were Duraco but the majority of the windows were from a larger, national brand window manufacturer. All of the windows from both manufacturers were triple pane, argon filled and low E glass. The Duraco windows came with a "Lifetime Warranty". An excerpt from the Duraco warranty certificate confirmed the Lifetime Warranty on the frames and sealed units as follows:

" … We are pleased to provide you with our exclusive Duraco warranty.
- Lifetime Warranty on PVC Frames and Sashes
- Lifetime Warranty on Glass Sealed Units …"

Four sealed units in our Duraco windows failed in the spring of 2017. I initially attempted to contact Duraco's office in Weyburn, SK because that was the nearest Duraco outlet to me. I found the Duraco office in Weyburn is no longer in business and the phone number listed is no longer in service.

I then contacted the Duraco head office in Winnipeg on June 26, 2017. - I called Duraco's general number [protected]. I explained the issue and was assured my concerns would be forwarded to "Josh" who is the "Saskatchewan Rep" for windows. I was also told that Josh would return my call later that day or the next day at the latest. I did not receive a response.

On June 28, 2017 I called the general number again and after explaining the issue once more, I was transferred directly to Josh's number. Josh was not available and the call went to his answering machine. I left a message explaining the issue and requested that he call me when he was available. I did not receive a response.

On July 31, 2017 I emailed Ally Beauchesne (Sales & Customer Service Manager) and explained that no-one from Duraco had responded to my calls in over 30 days. I did not receive a response.

On August 22, 2017 I called Ally Beauschene. The call went directly to her answering machine. I left a message and I also followed up the telephone message with a second email to Ms. Beauschene. Both the phone calls and emails explained the problem and requested a response from Duraco. I did not receive a response.

September 27, 2017 - I sent a letter to Matthew Guberman (President, Duraco Windows) explaining the problems with the leaking sealed units and the failure of Duraco to respond to any of my phone calls, voicemails and emails.

Mr Guberman did not respond but Tanya (Customer Service Manager) called a few days later to say that:
- Duraco had come under new ownership in 2008 and was not honouring any warranties for windows manufactured prior to the ownership change. Since I had purchased my windows in 2005, there would be nil warranty.
- Duraco had called me after my June 6th call, but they had an incorrect phone number for me. Because Duraco was unable to contact me, the file had been closed.
- Tanya was unable to confirm the phone number Duraco had on file for me as she did not have my file in front of her.

(I pointed out that my June phone calls and my July and August emails to Ally Buschene and my September letter to Matthew Guberman all offered my correct phone number. I also pointed out that she had just called me on the correct number)

Tanya then stated :
- She was very busy and had not looked at my file simply because it was not necessary as the 2008 ownership change had eliminated the warranty on my windows.
- Duraco had obviously "dropped the ball" by not attempting to contact me previous to her call. Tanya apologized on behalf of Duraco for not responding sooner but reiterated that it wouldn't have made any difference anyway as the warranty had been cancelled in 2008.
- Tanya offered that Duraco could replace the sealed units but I would be responsible for all costs. Costs would include the replacement sealed units, mileage and installer accommodations for two round trips from Winnipeg and would be a "huge" bill.
- Tanya recommended a different contractor (not Duraco) that I could hire to replace the sealed units for a lower price than Duraco.

I am a contractor so I elected to simply replace the sealed units myself. My cost (contractor price) for the 4 sealed units was $730. (purchase was direct from a sealed unit manufacturer not connected to Duraco) If not for purchasing direct at contractor pricing, I expect that the total retail cost would have been around $1, 400 once markup, shipping, installation and taxes were included.

I was very disappointed that Duraco was refusing to honour their Lifetime Warranty so I drafted a review of my experiences with Duraco customer service. I intended to submit the review to the Winnipeg office of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and other online forums.
On November 22, 2017 I mailed a copy of the draft review to Mr. Guberman as a courtesy offering the opportunity to discuss the warranty issue prior to posting the review online. Mr Guberman did not respond.

On November 24, 2017 Tanya (Customer Service Manager) called again to say that:
- She "did not have all the facts" in her previous calls and had recently discovered that the 2008 ownership change did not affect Duraco warranties. However, Duraco's warranty on sealed units is only 10 years so there still would not be warranty on my windows because they had lasted over 10 years.
- Tanya asked if I had a copy of the original Lifetime Warranty certificate issued when I purchased the windows. I confirmed that I did have the original Lifetime Warranty certificate from Duraco.

On November 28, 2017 I filed a complaint with the Winnipeg office of the BBB. The complaint to the BBB included a copy of the Duraco Lifetime Warranty certificate issued when I purchased the windows. The BBB forwarded my complaint to Duraco and Duraco replied to the BBB explaining that their warranty on sealed unit was only 10 years. The BBB response to me simply repeated Duraco's 10 year warranty and suggested that I could contact the Small Claims Court. The BBB did not post my complaint or their response on their website.

If you are reading this review for pre-purchase research, in addition to the Duraco customer service described above, I also can offer a few comments on the quality of Duraco windows compared to the other brand we purchased in 2005.

Our Duraco windows have eight sealed units and half of them (four) failed after 11 1/2 years. By comparison, our other windows from a larger, national brand have 26 sealed units and none have failed to date.

I renovated my primary bathroom during the summer of 2010 and wanted a new bathroom window. I obtained 3 quotes from large established window and door installation companies. I went with Duraco because they were the lowest quote and because a work calleage was also having her windows and doors replaced by the same company around the same time.

During the in-home measurement, I asked both the salesperson and the fellow measuring the window (who was also the installer) pointed questions about how my new window would fit given the new bathroom tiles on the wall near the side of the window. I also showed them the actual peices of the narrow wood frame I wanted installed around the window's interior. I was concerned about the final fit because the narrower width of the frame I selected was the only width that would fit between the existing window and the tile. I was assured that I could use the frame and the tiles would not be an issue. Installation of the window included installation of the final interior frame.

When they installed the new (custom made) window, there was a 3-inch gap under the window and the gap was larger than the frame I had picked out. In other words, they told me I would have to use a different frame for my window, have different widths of frame on the sides versus the top and bottom and they would use an "offcut" mitre on the corners. (i.e. not a normal cut). I told them to remove the window and make me a new window which would fit. I just spent $10, 000 on redoing my bathroom trimmed in a particular wood finish and I wasn't about to put on make-shift frames or mis-matched wood on a new custom-made window! The installer and company walked off the job, telling me it was my responsibility to fix the problem and I could hire a drywall contractor to fill the 3-inch gap in with drywall! Or maybe I could contract with a speciality wood shop to custom-build me some type of framing solution!

Phone calls and emails to the company were met with the same refrain - "Let us know when you come up with a solution - we are still willing to install a frame if you can find one". They also told me they weren't willing to consider any kind of discount because there was nothing wrong with the window - it could be framed and so what if I didn't like it or it looked terrible! After much searching and enquiries, I managed to find an alternate size of wood frame and alternate method of installing it called a butt join. (Straight cuts on corners instead of mitering). The company came out when I requested and attached the new wood peices according to my directions. I deducted the extra cost of the new frame materials from my final cheque. The only reason I paid them is that I was certain a company like that would take advantage of our region's laws and attach a builder's lien to my house for the unpaid remaining amount.

When I talked to my work colleague, I found out her experience with the company was an even worse nightmare. They have installed and re-installed her front door four times now and it still doesn't fit right. You can see daylight through the crack, they can't lock it and the company is once again insisting it is just fine.

If you need to install a new window or door in your house and you live in the Winnipeg area, DON'T USE DURACO. I wouldn't have minded if they made a mistake and then admitted it and fixed it - but to leave a window half-finished with winter coming on and say the customer has to fix the problem is beyond belief.