For luxury homeowners - and the architects, designers and custom builders who create their dreams - Loewen is the brand that delivers an unrivaled combination of artisanship, experience and environmental sensibility in an extensive line of Douglas Fir, FSC Douglas Fir and Mahogany windows and doors. With our versatility and knowledge in engineering, manufacturing and customer service, Optimum has its focus on producing top of the line products in high-performance aluminum, steel, bronze and stainless steel.
Services
Glass Concepts is a premier window supplier specializing in custom homes and high-end commercial projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since its inception in 1998, Glass Concepts has completed more than 3,000 projects and brought a high level of design and customer service to its clientele. With more than 30 years of combined executive experience, the team at Glass Concepts has the knowledge and expertise to deliver the right product for each project.We look forward to working with you on an individual basis.
Every Loewen window and door mirrors a fascinating journey. It began at the turn of the twentieth century on the lonely prairies of southern Manitoba. Here in the village of Steinbach, a group of Mennonite families, including the Loewens, had migrated from Russia. Among the first things made by the Loewen millwork for the fast-growing community were humble items like church pews and bee-keeping equipment.
Established in 1986, Optimum Window has made its mark in the steel windows industry as the largest and most diversified manufacturer of Fire Rated windows in the United States. Competitiveness being the drive for all entrepreneurs, Optimum has continued its growth with a series of custom, high-tech metal window and door systems designed for commercial, high-end residential and landmark applications.
Reviews (11)
Jon G.
Aug 25, 2020
Great Company who stands by their products. I had a double slider that was not sliding as easily as it should. Jeff came out and also brought the rep. Victor for the door manufacturer and we spend the better part of the afternoon disassembling and adjusting/reassembling everything. They did not complain once and followed through till my client was happy with the finish. Really appreciate their follow through and will definitely use them again.
Amir Efrati
Mar 04, 2020
Marion H.
Mar 28, 2018
My complaint is with the Loewen warranty. Beautiful windows in my 5 year old home. But if the seal fails, which they sometimes do, the glass is guaranteed but not the install cost. So after 4 years we had two big windows fail and it's $3k to replace. I was telling a group last night who all said their homes needed windows replaced also but the manufacturers covered the full cost. Check your warranty before purchasing.
Peppermint P.
Jan 02, 2018
BUYER BEWARE! It's nice that this company has so many friends willing to write them a nice review. We have had nothing but problems with them. The contractor hired them and we ended up having endless problems with the windows they sold us.and they blamed the architect for everything. The installers that came to our home to inspect the windows were an hour late, surely and rude. We finally had to hire a private window contractor to fix the issues that Glass Concepts refused to deal with. Took me six months to find someone.avoid Glass Concepts.
Jono T.
Jul 02, 2017
Glass concepts owner Jeff Wilcox is professional enough but if you have a problem with their product they basically will pass you onto Jonmarie Maloney who is akin to William Macy's character in 'The Cooler' (she will basically figure out any angle to allay blame elsewhere). In my case we had windows and doors that were obviously warped but Jonmarie's response was that they simply needed to be 'heated' for a few weeks when our gas was working.
This was plainly not the case and if either one of them bothered to come out to the site to see the windows (they did not) they would have seen the deficiencies. The hardware that was supplied on the original order was obviously deficient and they did supply new hardware but after too many problems they are basically done with you and put you onto Jonmarie and then you are toast.
Here is a video of how bad the warp was. https://www.dropbox.com/s/xss0r74wikyrjpq/20160517141853PM_Screen%20Door.mov?dl=0 At the end of they day I'm sure they are fine to purchase windows through but make sure you don't have any problems because you are SOL
This was plainly not the case and if either one of them bothered to come out to the site to see the windows (they did not) they would have seen the deficiencies. The hardware that was supplied on the original order was obviously deficient and they did supply new hardware but after too many problems they are basically done with you and put you onto Jonmarie and then you are toast.
Here is a video of how bad the warp was. https://www.dropbox.com/s/xss0r74wikyrjpq/20160517141853PM_Screen%20Door.mov?dl=0 At the end of they day I'm sure they are fine to purchase windows through but make sure you don't have any problems because you are SOL
J. S.
Oct 17, 2016
My review is not about the company performance, but the owner herself. Jon Marie is the most unpleasant, unprofessional person I've had to deal with. She treats people (over the phone) like they're all incapable customers. Very inappropriate. She made extremely mocking comments while I am a customer. This probably represents why her company doesn't seem very organized.
Christie C.
Feb 29, 2012
I now consider myself a window expert. In 2010 I interviewed 4 major window retailers that do business in the Marin County area to determine which windows to install in my house. I was planning an extensive remodel, in which every window and glass door would be replaced; about 45 units in all. Listed below are the names of the retailers I visited and spoke with and the cities they reside in; all do business in Marin County.
In parenthesis I noted which windows I was considering at each retailer, and I also noted which salesperson I dealt with. 1. Glass Concepts-San Rafael (Loewen Windows)-Jeff Wilcox 2. Hudson Street Design-San Rafael (Marvin Windows)-Amy Hutton 3. Sierra Pacific Windows-Novato (Sierra Pacific Windows)-Bob Meyer 4. Truitt and White-Marvin-Berkeley (Marvin Windows)-Jim Rossi Bottom Line: I purchased Loewen windows from Jeff Wilcox at Glass Concepts, and I am thrilled with the result.
My windows are gorgeous, the quality is amazing (my contractor even commented on it), and Jeff was great to work with. My windows came sized correctly and on time. Unlike the other two manufacturer's (Marvin and Sierra Pacific) Loewen windows come STANDARD douglas fir instead of pine. Douglas fir is a stronger wood, and more beautiful for interior staining.
To get douglas fir from Marvin or SP is a fairly expensive upgrade. Also, the standard hardware that comes on a Loewen window is very nice (cast metal), whereas the standard Marvin hardware is partially plastic; you can pay to upgrade to what Loewen gives you in the standard package. Also, the Loewen standard screens are high quality and easy to see through.
The same screen from Marvin or SP is an upgrade.you get where I am going with this. For the same price, you just get a lot more quality in the STANDARD window package with Loewen windows. However, it takes a lot of work to figure this out, because buying windows is a bit like buying a car; the dealers have so many options, and to compare apples to apples in terms of what you are getting in the end, you have to understand what comes standard, and what you have to pay extra for.
That takes a lot of detail work on your part. Details of my decision: For my house, I only considered all wood windows with an aluminum clad on the exterior, known in the industry as "clad windows". This was due to a) quality of this type of window (high) and b) style of my house (cottage craftsman) which ideally needs a window with the greatest amount of depth and architectural detail; vinyl and fiberglass windows do not have the "depth" in the frame that wood windows do; they sit much closer to the finished exterior siding of the house unless the walls are thickened and the windows recessed in the walls. Lastly c) I needed to customize the size of the "lights" (squares) in the windows.
I think that Glass Concepts, Hudson Street Design, and Sierra Pacific are all good choices for retailers. All were helpful in answering my questions. Amy at Hudson even drove me around the neighborhood to show me examples of different types of Marvin windows, which I really appreciated. All three manufacturers represented by these retailers (Marvin, Loewen, and SP) make good quality windows.
For the same level of window (and you really need to understand exactly what you are getting to compare apples to apples; hardware, glazing, wind/rain resistance) they are close to the same price. Loewen was NOT more expensive, which is a misconception people have. I think this is due to the fact that Loewen windows are installed in many higher end homes with custom installations, and it's the customization (if you are not using a "standard" size window-of which there are many standard sizes, by the way) that gets really expensive, in ANY window line, so if you are looking to get the best price on a great window, stick with standard sized windows, and the basic hardware.
As a side note, if you are on a budget, and don't have to have wood windows, and you don't need customization of the lights (how many and what size the little squares are in your windows), a good window to consider is the newer line of Marvins called "Integrity". These are fiberglass, but very nicely made, and half the price of the wood windows.
They do not fade like vinyl does, and they are extremely weather resistant. If I was building a house from scratch, I would definitely consider using these windows. I didn't consider them for long because I couldn't customize the "lights" (I have a lot of these) but I loved the price! They are 50% the price of a wood clad window! I have seen many houses in Marin being remodeled recently using these windows. They look very nice. If you are interested in this type, I would call Amy at Hudson Street Design.
In parenthesis I noted which windows I was considering at each retailer, and I also noted which salesperson I dealt with. 1. Glass Concepts-San Rafael (Loewen Windows)-Jeff Wilcox 2. Hudson Street Design-San Rafael (Marvin Windows)-Amy Hutton 3. Sierra Pacific Windows-Novato (Sierra Pacific Windows)-Bob Meyer 4. Truitt and White-Marvin-Berkeley (Marvin Windows)-Jim Rossi Bottom Line: I purchased Loewen windows from Jeff Wilcox at Glass Concepts, and I am thrilled with the result.
My windows are gorgeous, the quality is amazing (my contractor even commented on it), and Jeff was great to work with. My windows came sized correctly and on time. Unlike the other two manufacturer's (Marvin and Sierra Pacific) Loewen windows come STANDARD douglas fir instead of pine. Douglas fir is a stronger wood, and more beautiful for interior staining.
To get douglas fir from Marvin or SP is a fairly expensive upgrade. Also, the standard hardware that comes on a Loewen window is very nice (cast metal), whereas the standard Marvin hardware is partially plastic; you can pay to upgrade to what Loewen gives you in the standard package. Also, the Loewen standard screens are high quality and easy to see through.
The same screen from Marvin or SP is an upgrade.you get where I am going with this. For the same price, you just get a lot more quality in the STANDARD window package with Loewen windows. However, it takes a lot of work to figure this out, because buying windows is a bit like buying a car; the dealers have so many options, and to compare apples to apples in terms of what you are getting in the end, you have to understand what comes standard, and what you have to pay extra for.
That takes a lot of detail work on your part. Details of my decision: For my house, I only considered all wood windows with an aluminum clad on the exterior, known in the industry as "clad windows". This was due to a) quality of this type of window (high) and b) style of my house (cottage craftsman) which ideally needs a window with the greatest amount of depth and architectural detail; vinyl and fiberglass windows do not have the "depth" in the frame that wood windows do; they sit much closer to the finished exterior siding of the house unless the walls are thickened and the windows recessed in the walls. Lastly c) I needed to customize the size of the "lights" (squares) in the windows.
I think that Glass Concepts, Hudson Street Design, and Sierra Pacific are all good choices for retailers. All were helpful in answering my questions. Amy at Hudson even drove me around the neighborhood to show me examples of different types of Marvin windows, which I really appreciated. All three manufacturers represented by these retailers (Marvin, Loewen, and SP) make good quality windows.
For the same level of window (and you really need to understand exactly what you are getting to compare apples to apples; hardware, glazing, wind/rain resistance) they are close to the same price. Loewen was NOT more expensive, which is a misconception people have. I think this is due to the fact that Loewen windows are installed in many higher end homes with custom installations, and it's the customization (if you are not using a "standard" size window-of which there are many standard sizes, by the way) that gets really expensive, in ANY window line, so if you are looking to get the best price on a great window, stick with standard sized windows, and the basic hardware.
As a side note, if you are on a budget, and don't have to have wood windows, and you don't need customization of the lights (how many and what size the little squares are in your windows), a good window to consider is the newer line of Marvins called "Integrity". These are fiberglass, but very nicely made, and half the price of the wood windows.
They do not fade like vinyl does, and they are extremely weather resistant. If I was building a house from scratch, I would definitely consider using these windows. I didn't consider them for long because I couldn't customize the "lights" (I have a lot of these) but I loved the price! They are 50% the price of a wood clad window! I have seen many houses in Marin being remodeled recently using these windows. They look very nice. If you are interested in this type, I would call Amy at Hudson Street Design.
C. M.
Oct 10, 2011
After enjoying our windows for over 10 years we are starting to have some problems. One window wont open, the latch on another is broken, etc. I looked online for a Loewen representative and was pleased to find one near us. They tried to locate my warranty which I very much appreciated but we are past 10 years so nothing is covered. A technician came out to diagnose the problems and I was told that in the hour he would be here, he may even fix everything.
Unfortunately our problems require parts so we are waiting for an estimate. I am hopeful that after paying $125 for less than an hour of diagnosis, we will get a fair estimate and get it all taken care of. I will follow up once we get the service finished.
Unfortunately our problems require parts so we are waiting for an estimate. I am hopeful that after paying $125 for less than an hour of diagnosis, we will get a fair estimate and get it all taken care of. I will follow up once we get the service finished.
Sam C.
Sep 29, 2011
We had the nightmare of having to replace every single window and door in our house - not the type of remodeling project we'd choose. Due to unusual circumstances including a microclimate with extreme weather conditions, we did extensive research. Loewen windows were recommended by a few people, and we first visited a dealer on the peninsula that was not very helpful.
We found Glass Concepts through a General Contractor and they were fantastic to work with. Jeff Wilcox, the owner, really knows the product line inside out and he helped us to pick the exact right windows for our location that also fit in really well with the design of the house. Jonmarie has also been really helpful when we wanted to reference similar projects and in coordinating delivery and such.
Thanks to Jeff measuring with the GC, the windows fit like gloves. The contractors love the sturdiness and beauty of the windows, and everyone else who has seen them so far raves about them and says the house looks much better than it previously did. We are really pleased with the service and the product details.
We found Glass Concepts through a General Contractor and they were fantastic to work with. Jeff Wilcox, the owner, really knows the product line inside out and he helped us to pick the exact right windows for our location that also fit in really well with the design of the house. Jonmarie has also been really helpful when we wanted to reference similar projects and in coordinating delivery and such.
Thanks to Jeff measuring with the GC, the windows fit like gloves. The contractors love the sturdiness and beauty of the windows, and everyone else who has seen them so far raves about them and says the house looks much better than it previously did. We are really pleased with the service and the product details.
Martin M.
Aug 16, 2011
Randy D.
Jul 10, 2011
When our home reached the ripe old age of 20, my wife and I decided that we needed to replace many of our dual glazed windows - despite the fact that they were originally well installed and were of acceptable quality. Sorry - in case you're wondering we have no idea what brand was used by our original builder. The problem was that several of these windows had begun to "pop" - a condition where the center gas (or air-filled) core develops an irremovable film that detracts from the outside view (which in our particular case is very nice).
After speaking with a friend who is a professional commercial window installer, I settled on his recommendation that we 1) consider Loewen brand windows, and, 2) hire a qualified and experienced contractor that knows the windows we wanted to install. Loewen (a Canadian company) produces windows that are perhaps the best around for residential use.
Since my friend was involved in the installation of some pretty amazing and beautiful windows at the new Hall of Sciences in SF's Golden Gate Park, I was going to follow his recommendations. After following a circuitous route to find the local rep (Glass Concepts) and a local builder qualified to install these windows, I settled into the complicated task of deciding exactly what windows we'd like to replace and exactly the type of window we wanted to replace it with. Luckily we had detailed plans of our home and were ready to tackle the range of questions that might be asked of us (window size, glazing, cladding, color, etc.).
This process still took us 2-3 months. Be aware, if you plan to do a retrofit (like us) you will need to be able to answer a lot of basic questions about your preferences. If you cannot do this comfortably, you might want to hire an architect or designer to help you! After speaking with Jeff Wilcox (the owner of Glass Concepts) and our builder, we settled on a nice plan to replace approximately 2/3 of all our exterior glass (including almost all of our glass doors).
With the personal and helpful assistance we received from our team, the specifying, ordering and delivery of our order has gone 100% smoothly and according to plan (and our own scheduling needs). So far - so good. As the project is so very new at this time, I will update this post as our window installation is completed. including post installation information to advise everyone on the performance of the windows. Stay tuned!
After speaking with a friend who is a professional commercial window installer, I settled on his recommendation that we 1) consider Loewen brand windows, and, 2) hire a qualified and experienced contractor that knows the windows we wanted to install. Loewen (a Canadian company) produces windows that are perhaps the best around for residential use.
Since my friend was involved in the installation of some pretty amazing and beautiful windows at the new Hall of Sciences in SF's Golden Gate Park, I was going to follow his recommendations. After following a circuitous route to find the local rep (Glass Concepts) and a local builder qualified to install these windows, I settled into the complicated task of deciding exactly what windows we'd like to replace and exactly the type of window we wanted to replace it with. Luckily we had detailed plans of our home and were ready to tackle the range of questions that might be asked of us (window size, glazing, cladding, color, etc.).
This process still took us 2-3 months. Be aware, if you plan to do a retrofit (like us) you will need to be able to answer a lot of basic questions about your preferences. If you cannot do this comfortably, you might want to hire an architect or designer to help you! After speaking with Jeff Wilcox (the owner of Glass Concepts) and our builder, we settled on a nice plan to replace approximately 2/3 of all our exterior glass (including almost all of our glass doors).
With the personal and helpful assistance we received from our team, the specifying, ordering and delivery of our order has gone 100% smoothly and according to plan (and our own scheduling needs). So far - so good. As the project is so very new at this time, I will update this post as our window installation is completed. including post installation information to advise everyone on the performance of the windows. Stay tuned!
