Geske Home Improvement Sales Guide

Geske Home Improvement has been serving homeowners in southwest Minnesota since 1974. We are local, established, and accountable. We are not trying to be the cheapest contractor. We are built for homeowners who want the job done right and backed up after the project is finished.

• Local office, ownership, installers, and service.
• One of the earlier Renewal by Andersen affiliates, joining in 1999.
• We understand southwest Minnesota homes, weather, wind, hail, freeze/thaw cycles, and older openings.
• We use quality products and trained installers instead of building around the lowest possible price.
• We are big enough to handle the job, but small enough to care.
• The project does not disappear into a call center after the sale.

Renewal by Andersen is a full replacement window system, not just a basic stock window. The window, frame material, glass package, measurements, installation process, and warranty support are designed to work together.

• Custom measured for each opening.
• Built specifically for replacement.
• Fibrex® composite frame material.
• High-performance glass options.
• Professional installation process.
• Backed by Renewal by Andersen and serviced locally by Geske.

Your windows are not pulled off a shelf. Each opening is measured, and each window is built specifically for that opening. That matters because older homes are rarely perfectly square, level, or consistent from window to window.

• Helps avoid forcing a standard-size window into a non-standard opening.
• Creates a cleaner fit and better finished appearance.
• Helps with operation, insulation, air sealing, and long-term performance.
• Can help preserve more glass area compared to bulky replacement systems.
• Gives the installer a better starting point before trim, insulation, and finish work.

In Minnesota, the window frame matters. Fibrex® gives us a stronger and more stable frame than ordinary vinyl, without the maintenance problems of traditional exterior wood.

• Fibrex is Andersen’s exclusive composite material made with reclaimed wood fiber and thermoplastic polymer.
• It is stronger and more rigid than typical vinyl.
• It expands and contracts less during Minnesota temperature swings.
• Better stability helps the window keep its shape, seal, lock alignment, and operation over time.
• It allows for narrower frames and more visible glass compared to many bulky vinyl replacement windows.
• It handles darker exterior colors better than many vinyl windows.
• It resists rot, decay, and moisture problems.
• It gives homeowners a low-maintenance frame without relying on exposed exterior wood.

SmartSun™ glass is a strong balance glass for Minnesota because it helps with winter heat loss, summer solar heat, UV fading, and natural daylight.

• Filters out 95% of harmful UV rays, helping reduce fading on floors, furniture, drapes, artwork, rugs, cabinets, and wood interiors.
• Helps manage comfort in both seasons: it reflects interior heat back into the home during winter and helps reduce unwanted solar heat during summer.
• The performance comes from the full insulated glass package — Low-E coating, SmartSun solar-control coating, dual-pane insulated glass, gas fill, spacer system, durable seals, Fibrex frame stability, and proper installation all working together.

Renewal by Andersen screen options are simple. TruScene® is about a clearer view. Fiberglass is the practical standard option.

• TruScene®: Best when the view matters.
• Fiberglass: Practical, durable, and budget-conscious.
• TruScene is commonly preferred for living rooms, lake homes, front-facing windows, and open views.
• Fiberglass is a good fit for bedrooms, utility areas, and windows where the view is less important.

Acclaim® is Renewal by Andersen’s replacement window line. The right window style depends on how the homeowner wants the window to look, operate, ventilate, clean, and perform in that specific opening.

• Custom measured and built for each opening.
• Designed with Fibrex® composite material.
• Available in multiple operating styles depending on the room and homeowner’s needs.
• Window style affects airflow, cleaning, egress, glass area, screen location, and overall appearance.
• The goal is not just to replace the old window with the same style automatically — it is to choose the style that best fits the home, the room, and how the homeowner uses it.

Casement Windows

Casement windows crank open and use a compression seal, making them one of the strongest-performing operating window styles.

• Excellent airflow because the sash opens fully.
• Strong air seal when closed.
• Good wind resistance.
• Good egress option depending on size.
• Screen is on the inside of the home.
• Clean, open view.

Double Casement and Triple Casement

Double and triple casements are used for wider openings where the homeowner wants more operation, ventilation, and glass area than a smaller single unit can provide.

• Good fit for wider openings.
• Multiple operating sections for more airflow.
• Strong compression-seal performance.
• Clean sightlines and larger glass appearance.
• Good option for bedrooms, living rooms, and larger openings where airflow matters.

Double-Hung Windows

Double-hung windows give homeowners the classic up-and-down window look, with both sashes able to operate.

• Both top and bottom sashes operate.
• Both sashes tilt in for cleaning.
• Constant-force balance system for smooth operation.
• Good ventilation control.
• Classic appearance.
• Good fit where a crank-out sash may be in the way, such as near patios, walkways, or decks.
• Screen is on the outside of the home.

Gliding Windows

Gliding windows slide side-to-side and are a good option for wider openings or areas where a crank-out sash would be inconvenient.

• Both sashes operate.
• Simple side-to-side operation.
• Good option for wider openings.
• Often more price-efficient.
• Lift-out sash design.
• Good fit for basements, bedrooms, and openings where outward operation would not be ideal.
• Renewal by Andersen gliding windows use an actual interlock where the sashes meet, helping the window seal tighter at the meeting point.
• The harder the wind pushes against the window, the more that interlock is pressed together, helping improve the seal in windy conditions.

Why Renewal by Andersen Gliding Windows Are Different

Not all gliding windows seal the same way. A cheaper slider may look similar at first glance, but the meeting point between the two sashes is a critical detail. That is where air can push through if the window does not have a strong interlock design.

• The sash interlock helps the two operating sashes meet and seal more securely.
• Wind pressure can actually help press the interlock tighter together instead of simply pushing air through the meeting rail.
• This matters in southwest Minnesota because wind exposure is a real-world performance issue, especially on open lots, farm sites, and west- or north-facing elevations.
• It gives homeowners the convenience of a sliding window without stepping down into the weak, drafty feel many people associate with cheap sliders.

Awning Windows

Awning windows hinge at the top and open outward from the bottom. They are commonly used where reach is limited or where the homeowner wants a clean, wide glass area.

• Great over kitchen sinks.
• Easy-to-reach hardware.
• Compression seal like a casement.
• Good ventilation.
• Full-view appearance with lots of glass.
• Screen is on the inside.
• Can often provide ventilation even during light rain because of the way the sash opens outward from the bottom.

Not every Andersen patio door is the same. The right door depends on the homeowner’s priorities: appearance, customization, performance, glass area, budget, and how the door will be used.

• A-Series: Premium architectural option with the most customization and a high-end wood interior.
• 400 Series: Proven Andersen performance with a traditional look and strong reliability.
• Narrowline: Slimmer profile, more visible glass, strong performance, and a cleaner modern look.
• 200 Series: More budget-conscious Andersen option with fewer customization choices.

A-Series Patio Door

A-Series is Andersen’s premium patio door line. It is the best fit when the homeowner wants a high-end appearance, maximum customization, and a premium wood interior.

Material: Wood interior with Fibrex composite exterior.

Best for:

• High-end homes.
• Custom architectural projects.
• Premium finish expectations.
• Homeowners who want the most design flexibility.
• Projects where interior appearance matters as much as exterior performance.

Why customers choose it: A-Series offers the highest level of customization, a premium interior appearance, and long-term durability with a wood interior and weather-resistant exterior protection.

400 Series Patio Door

400 Series is a strong traditional Andersen patio door option. It has the classic Andersen feel and is a good fit for homeowners who want proven reliability, traditional styling, and solid performance.

Material: Wood interior with vinyl-clad exterior.

Best for:

• Traditional home designs.
• Homeowners who want proven Andersen reliability.
• Balanced price and performance.
• Classic patio door appearance.
• Projects where a traditional wood interior look is important.

Why customers choose it: 400 Series gives homeowners a well-known Andersen patio door with strong performance, traditional design, and a good balance of quality and value.

Narrowline Patio Door

Narrowline is a Renewal by Andersen patio door option with a slimmer profile and more visible glass. It is often a strong fit when the homeowner wants performance, a cleaner look, and more glass visibility without stepping all the way into the premium A-Series price point.

Material: Fibrex® composite.

Profile: Slim frame design for maximum glass area.

Best for:

• Homeowners who want more glass area.
• Modern or cleaner appearance.
• Mid-range customization.
• Strong performance at a lower price point than A-Series or 400 Series.
• Homeowners prioritizing daylight and view.
• Projects where a bulky patio door frame would take away too much glass.

Why customers choose it: Narrowline combines Renewal by Andersen performance with a sleek design, strong energy efficiency, more visible glass, and multi-point locking security.

200 Series Patio Door

200 Series is Andersen’s more budget-conscious patio door line. It is best for standard configurations and homeowners who want an Andersen patio door at a lower upfront investment.

Material: Wood interior with vinyl exterior.

Best for:

• Budget-conscious replacements.
• Standard configurations.
• Simple projects.
• Homeowners who want Andersen quality at a lower upfront investment.
• Situations where fewer customization options are needed.

Why customers choose it: 200 Series offers solid Andersen performance at a lower price point, but with fewer customization options than the higher-end lines.

Ensemble® entry doors are Renewal by Andersen’s full entry door system, designed to be more than a basic slab door replacement. The difference is the full system: the door panel, frame, sill, weatherstripping, glass, hardware, security, and installation are all designed to work together.

Cheap entry doors can look good on day one, but the real test is how they seal, latch, insulate, drain water, resist warping, and operate after years of Minnesota weather.

• Exclusive Renewal by Andersen entry door system.
• Available in single and double entry door options.
• Foam-filled panels help improve energy performance.
• Reinforced fiberglass composite skin is designed to resist warping, rotting, and denting.
• Custom-built continuous dual-composite frame is low maintenance, stable in all climates, and designed not to leak or rot.
• Patented Andersen driven-rain-management sill system helps manage water at one of the most failure-prone areas of an entry door.
• Designed for strong weather performance, security, energy efficiency, and curb appeal.
• Customizable with panel styles, colors, stains, glass, grilles, and hardware finishes.

Why Ensemble® Is Different Than Cheap Entry Doors

A lower-cost entry door may be fine for a garage, utility entry, or short-term fix. But for a main entry, the weak points usually show up over time: drafts, water at the sill, poor latch alignment, warping, swelling, denting, fading, or a door that stops feeling solid.

Ensemble is built to solve the problems that cheaper doors often struggle with.

• Water management: The patented Andersen driven-rain-management sill system is designed to help manage wind-driven rain and water exposure at the threshold. That matters because the bottom of the door is one of the most common places for leaks, rot, and air issues.
• Frame stability: The continuous dual-composite frame is designed to be stable in all climates, low maintenance, and resistant to leaking or rotting. That is a major difference from cheaper systems that may rely on wood components in areas exposed to moisture.
• Panel durability: The reinforced fiberglass composite skin is designed to resist warping, rotting, and denting, while foam-filled panels help improve energy performance.
• Whole-system performance: A door does not perform because one part is good. It performs because the slab, frame, sill, weatherstrip, glass, hardware, and installation all line up correctly.

Why the Sill System Matters

The sill is one of the most important parts of an entry door because it has to manage foot traffic, air sealing, water exposure, snow, ice, and wind-driven rain.

A basic door can have a nice-looking slab and still have problems if the sill system is weak or poorly installed.

• The sill helps control water at the bottom of the door.
• It helps support the seal between the door panel and the threshold.
• It affects drafts, comfort, and water resistance.
• It is one of the most exposed parts of the door system.
• In Minnesota, it has to deal with snow, ice, rain, freeze/thaw cycles, and wind.

Style and Customization

Ensemble gives homeowners design flexibility without treating the door like it is just decoration. The goal is to match the home’s style while still keeping the performance of a full engineered entry system.

• Multiple panel styles.
• Color and stain options.
• Decorative and privacy glass options.
• Grille options.
• Hardware finish options.
• Traditional, craftsman, contemporary, mid-century, and modern design directions.
• Options for solid-panel, partial-light, and full-light looks.

Glass and Privacy Options

Glass in an entry door changes the whole feel of the entry. It can add daylight, improve curb appeal, and make the front entry feel more open. The key is choosing the right balance of light, privacy, and performance.

• Solid panels provide the most privacy.
• Partial-light doors add daylight while keeping more privacy.
• Full-light doors bring in the most natural light.
• Decorative glass can add style while helping obscure the view into the home.
• Grilles can help match the style of the house.
• Glass choice should consider sun exposure, privacy, entry layout, and the style of the home.

Security and Daily Use

An entry door is used every day. It should close solidly, lock properly, seal well, and feel secure.

Cheap doors often feel acceptable at first, but over time they can start rubbing, dragging, leaking air, or needing extra force to latch.

• Solid construction helps the door feel more secure.
• Quality hardware improves daily operation.
• Proper alignment helps the lock engage correctly.
• Weatherstripping helps reduce drafts and air leakage.
• A properly installed door should not rub, drag, whistle, or feel loose.
• Multi-point locking options, when available, can improve security and help pull the door tighter into the weatherstripping.

Energy Efficiency and Weather Performance

In Minnesota, an entry door has to handle wind, cold, snow, rain, sun, and freeze/thaw cycles. A door that looks good but does not seal well will still be frustrating.

• Foam-filled panels help improve energy performance.
• Better weatherstripping helps reduce drafts.
• A proper sill helps manage water and air at the bottom of the door.
• Glass choices affect heat loss, solar heat, daylight, and privacy.
• Proper installation is critical to long-term performance.
• A good entry door can help reduce the cold-entry feeling common around older doors.

We offer financing through GreenSky for homeowners who prefer monthly payments, want to preserve cash, or want flexibility on timing. Financing is subject to credit approval.

• 12-month deferred interest plan: No payments during the promotional period; interest is waived if paid in full within 12 months.
• Fixed-rate monthly payment plan: Predictable payment over 60 months @7.99%.
• The 12-month plan is best for homeowners who realistically expect to pay it off within the promo period.
• The fixed-rate plan is usually cleaner for homeowners who know they want to finance over time.
• Neither option is automatically better. It depends on how the homeowner plans to pay.

Condensation is usually a humidity and airflow issue, not a window failure. It forms when warm, moist indoor air touches a colder surface, and in winter, glass is usually one of the coldest surfaces in the home.

• Condensation happens when indoor humidity is too high for the outdoor temperature and the glass surface temperature.
• The colder it gets outside, the lower the indoor humidity needs to be.
• Better windows can make condensation more noticeable because the home is tighter and less drafty, so less indoor moisture escapes naturally.
• Closed blinds, heavy curtains, deep window treatments, and furniture close to the window can trap cold air near the glass and reduce airflow.
• Humidifiers, cooking, showers, laundry, plants, aquariums, wet basements, new concrete, and remodeling work can all add moisture to the home.
• Some condensation during extreme cold does not automatically mean the window is leaking or defective.
• The best first step is to measure indoor humidity with a hygrometer instead of guessing.

Simple Homeowner Explanation

Condensation is like a cold drink sweating on a summer day. The glass is cold, the air around it has moisture in it, and when that warm moist air touches the cold surface, water shows up.

In winter, your window glass can become the cold surface inside the home. If the indoor humidity is too high for the outdoor temperature, moisture can show up on the glass even when the window is installed correctly.

Common Signs It Is Humidity-Related

• Moisture appears on multiple windows in the home.
• Condensation gets worse when outdoor temperatures drop.
• Condensation is heavier in bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry areas, or rooms with lots of plants.
• Moisture appears near the bottom edge of the glass or along colder areas of the window.
• Condensation improves when blinds are opened and indoor humidity is lowered.

What Homeowners Can Do

• Use a hygrometer to check actual indoor humidity.
• Lower the humidifier setting as outdoor temperatures drop.
• Open blinds or shades during cold weather to improve airflow across the glass.
• Run bath fans during showers and for a while afterward.
• Use kitchen exhaust fans when cooking.
• Make sure the dryer vents outdoors properly.
• Check basement humidity and run a dehumidifier if needed.
• Move furniture or heavy window treatments away from the glass if they block airflow.
• Use ceiling fans or furnace fan circulation to keep air moving.

Winter Humidity Guide

These are general comfort guidelines. Every home is different, but indoor humidity usually needs to drop as the outdoor temperature gets colder.

• Above 20°F outside: Around 35% to 40% indoor humidity may be okay for many homes.
• 10°F to 20°F outside: Around 30% to 35% is usually safer.
• 0°F to 10°F outside: Around 25% to 30% is usually safer.
• -10°F to 0°F outside: Around 20% to 25% may be needed.
• Below -10°F outside: Some homes may need to be near 15% to 20% to prevent condensation or frost.