Marvin Essential and Elevate are two popular Marvin product lines, each offering distinct benefits depending on the homeowner’s needs. Let’s dive into a detailed and clear comparison to help you find the best choice for your new windows.
Similarities Between Marvin Collections
Before digging into the differences between the Elevate and Essential collections, let’s look at what you can expect from all of Marvin’s product lines.
You’ll find that Marvin’s commitment to quality and innovation is consistent throughout all their window collections:
- High-quality materials such as fiberglass, wood, and extruded aluminum. Marvin minimizes the use of vinyl parts within the window, unlike many competitors.
- Many popular window styles such as casement, double-hung, picture, and glider windows.
- High-performing glass options that prioritize energy efficiency, meeting or exceeding industry standards.
- Excellent options for both new construction and window replacement remodeling projects.
- The best-in-class Marvin warranty applies to the Marvin Signature, Essential, and Elevate product lines.
Essential vs Elevate: What’s the difference?
The Marvin Essential Collection features Marvin’s proprietary Ultrex fiberglass on both the interior and exterior. The Essential Collection offers a streamlined selection of the most popular window and door styles, simplifying the ordering process.
The Elevate Collection features Ultrex exteriors and pine interiors that can be ordered in white, black, clear coat, or bare wood (to be stained or painted once installed). Elevate offers a wide selection of styles with just enough customization options to provide design solutions for both modern and traditional homes.
| Marvin Essential vs Elevate | ||
| Essential | Elevate | |
| Exterior | Ultrex fiberglass | Ultrex fiberglass |
| Interior | Ultrex fiberglass | Pine wood |
| Interior Finish Options | Bronze, Ebony, Gunmetal, Stone White | Bare pine, Designer Black, White, Clear Coat |
| Stock Sizing Options | Standard | Expanded options |
| Divided Lites | Between panes only | Simulated Divided Lites or between the panes |
| Energy Efficiency | Energy Star certified | Energy Star certified |
| Replacement Compatibility | Integrity All-Ultrex | Integrity Wood-Ultrex |
Want to know more? Let’s take a deeper look at each collection.
Understanding the Marvin Essential Collection
Marvin Essential windows and doors are made entirely from Ultrex fiberglass both inside and out. Ultrex is 8x stronger than vinyl windows and 3x stronger than Fibrex. Ultrex expands at virtually the same rate as glass which improves both energy efficiency and durability.
Essential windows are available in 4 interior colors and 6 exterior colors. Generally, the window will have the same interior and exterior color. Some split finishes are available, such as a black or bronze exterior with a white interior.
The Essential line includes eight window types: double hung, single hung, casement, awning, glider, picture, round top, and specialty shapes. Sliding patio doors are also available.
Grilles-between-the-Glass, meaning divided lites placed between the panes, offers a clean look that's easy to maintain and clean.
The Essential line offers quality, low-maintenance windows with streamlined options and a simplified ordering process.
Why Choose Essential?
Modern Vibe: Narrow profiles and sleek design. Ultrex fiberglass safely offers popular dark colors that could warp in vinyl.
Simplified Ordering: Streamlined choices and ordering process, particularly beneficial for projects requiring standard sizes.
Accessible Price Point: Excellent value without sacrificing Marvin’s quality and performance.
- Virtually Maintenance-free: Doesn’t require painting or staining like wood; easy to clean.
When to Consider Another Line:
Project requires larger windows or custom sizes beyond the Essential line’s offerings.
Another line offers the needed window size as a stock size.
Prefer applied divided lites on the exterior of the window.
Prefer wood interiors to achieve your desired look.
Location requires hurricane-rated glass or triple-pane glass for harsh climates.
Understanding the Marvin Elevate Collection
Marvin Elevate windows and doors combine Ultrex fiberglass exteriors with wood interiors, giving homeowners greater flexibility to match their desired home aesthetics while still offering the benefits of Ultrex on the exterior.
Like Essential, there are six exterior colors. The pine interior comes standard in bare pine and can be ordered in Designer Black, White, clear coat, or factory primed.
The Elevate collection includes seven window types: double hung, casement, awning, glider, picture, round top, and specialty shapes (single hung is not available). There are multiple stock sizes available, plus custom ordering options. Elevate is available with triple-pane glass, whereas Essential is not.
Elevate windows are available with simulated divided lites that mimic the look of individual panes in a window sash—without sacrificing the energy efficiency of a united pane of glass. They are available with or without a spacer bar installed between the glass to create a look that more closely resembles an authentic divided lite.
Elevate’s door collection offers four exterior door options: sliding patio door, sliding French door, swinging French door, and a bi-fold door.
Elevate windows and doors are among our best sellers—let’s look at why so many of our customers decide on Elevate.
Why Choose Elevate?
Customization Options: Elevate offers just the right amount of stock and custom options that homeowners need to match their home’s existing design.
Wood Interiors: The pine interior offers several design options, including the ability to paint the interior frame either now or down the road. Those who prefer the warmth, style, and traditional appeal of wood appreciate Elevate’s interior wood.
More Stock Sizes: Elevate is available in more stock sizes than Essential, so homeowners often choose the stock Elevate size rather than ordering the window as a custom size in the Essential line.
Simulated Divided Lites: Elevate’s divided lites create a more authentic look than the Grilles-between-the-Glass option in the Essential line.
When to Consider Another Line:
Projects requiring extensive customization—Marvin Ultimate offers even greater flexibility, additional colors, hardware selections, and wood species.
Interest in automated features—available exclusively through the Marvin Signature Modern line.
When a fiberglass interior is preferred.
When the project doesn’t require much customization in terms of sizes, colors, and grilles.
Mixing Windows from Different Lines
Some homeowners consider mixing and matching window lines to balance aesthetics, functionality, and budget. For instance, homeowners might choose Essential windows for less visible areas of the home while selecting Elevate or Ultimate windows for street-facing windows that demand enhanced customization and visual appeal.
If you’re considering mixing window product lines, keep these principles in mind:
Seek design coherence between street-facing and rear-facing windows.
Use the same exterior finish on all windows.
Match window hardware finishes.
Experience Marvin Windows Firsthand
Customers tell us that visiting a showroom helped them really understand the differences between each Marvin collection. See specific styles, touch the windows, and ask ALL of your questions—it’s the best way to make a decision!
As the largest supplier and installing retailer of Marvin Windows in the Northeast, Ring’s End offers an elevated shopping experience:
Free consultations at any of our eight showrooms that feature dozens of window and door styles.
Window and door experts will help you plan your project and place the order.
Licensed window installation services for both new construction and window replacement projects, serving Connecticut, Westchester County, NY, and South County, RI.
Stop by one of our showrooms or schedule a consultation! We’re here to help with lots of information but no pressure.