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November 2022 by Zahid B.
This is a few years late but I did want to hold out and see how well the windows and sliding door performed during the winter / summer.Well, they're performing great. Prior to my house had an old single pane with storm window setup. The biggest problem was actually just not being able to open them all up as my house was a foreclosure and the company they hired painted over everything and I do mean everything. I scraped away what I could and got the windows to open a reasonable amount. Anyway, the breaking point was over time the expansion contraction made some cracks massive, caused breaks, etc and I had ran out of leftover panes and parts the previous homeowner had lying around in the shed.The whole ordeal was great with one side mention which I'll cover around the end and perhaps Phil can speak to it as well. But Phil was great, clear explanations and would always check in on and explain any questions we had.Installation was supposed to be two days but winter was coming in soon. Not sure if the installers were making good time and wanted to get it out of the way or if they didn't want me to deal with a cold house. Either way, they got it done in one day, one very long day. It was cold outside I told them they could have their lunch inside, they politely refused. After finishing their lunch they thanked me for the offer and then explained that if they did that, they would get acclimated and then when they go back out to work it would not be comfortable. I actually know that to be 100% true so told them I get it.Anyway at any questionable point the installers grabbed me and told me what was going on, what my options were, possible issues, etc. Most of these were actually pretty minor, but this told me the Varco installers cared enough about their work and my approval to loop me in. Good stuff.There were only two items which were a larger issue both had the same issue. The old windows were very old and over time water crept in and caused wood rot at the sill. Also I don't think the original installed used pressure treated wood, or it was that old, which is standard where wood meets concrete/brick/stone/etc. The sill still gets wrapped around with vinyl on the exterior side, the actual structure didn't have rot.The installers still wanted to let me know about this which was good to know but as they had solid structure and showed me, I was okay with them proceeding. By the way, that was a remnant of old construction, new construction doesn't even have that bit as we've come a long way with energy efficiency. They removed all the rot they could and continued on with the job.There was a concern that something broke offloading from shipping. Phil and I were concerned, Phil not so much, he had an idea it was a flange but wasn't 100% sure what it was. He called and found out they shipped the sliding door with a nailing flange for some reason or another. At my house, it's surrounded by brick and on concrete, a nailing flange isn't needed ... or going to work - unless you want an ugly sliding door installation.Now here's the side mention. Des Plaines follows the IRC (International Residential Code) and the IRC is applicable for all single / double family homes. Then there's mentions by the Illinois State Fire Marshall and the NFPA (Nat'l Fire Protection Association). It says you want an egress with a minimum opening of basically 5.7 feet squared in any living area when the primary means of exit is not accessible. I won't bore you with the minimum height and window requirements as there's more to this which I hope Phil and or someone at Varco can explain.I had several quotes of which I believe two mentioned egress rules and presented me with vertical sliding windows which would meet egress. I mentioned this to Phil and he said he could do vertical but that means something else. I didn't quite get it then, I still don't get it, but I wanted horizontal windows as my in-window fans and AC are built for horizontal windows, not vertical.So I didn't
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May 2021 by Brian Check
I checked out a few companies and decided to go with Phil Varco. His honesty, thoroughness, and kind demeanor stood out above the rest. We had him replace our patio doors a few years back and they did an outstanding job. Darius and team are seasoned professionals and pay attention to the little details. My wife and I loved them so much we hired them again to replace our windows. Again, we were so thankful that we did.Phil is a no-nonsense guy who shares all options and cares about ensuring you get the biggest value for your dollar. For example, he talked me out of upgrading a few items with a great honest pro/con discussion based on experience and facts. What vendor does that.... The answer, the kind you want to hire and keep rehiring. I highly recommend them.Services: Glass installation
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December 2020 by Dan G.
I had done thorough research into window companies after purchasing our home in Des Plaines. I received four estimates, all very close to the same price range and decided to go with Varco windows based on reviews and the fact that I liked the options and presentation that Phil provided. He was straightforward and honest with no high pressure bs. I couldn't be happier with my decision and the entire process. The windows are of high quality and installation was exceptional. The install crew consisted of Darius and his assistant LA. Darius was extremely professional and was more than willing to work around our needs. He would explain any issues that would arise and seek my input and approval. The finished product exceeded my expectations. I would reccomend Varco to any friend or family member looking for new windows and installation. It was great to work with a smaller company too. It was obvious that their top priorities are customer service, quality and craftsmanship. Thanks Phil.
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November 2020 by Tammy M.
Phillip is a dear friend of mine for more then 25 yrs he is honest and hard working and has integrity
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September 2020 by John Case
Phil did several jobs for us including replacing patio doors and screen doors, as well as installing a new door for an attached garage. They were very price competitive, prompt and courteous in all things, and did excellent work. I was particularly impressed with the level of detail they went to to ensure the doors not only worked good, but looked good. They have held up well over time.
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September 2020 by Madeleine McEwen
Phil has completed several projects for us over the last five years, including window repairs, a new patio door, and a couple of new windows. He is courteous and prompt in communication, his prices are competitive, and he stands by his work. We will definitely hire him again for other projects!
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September 2017 by Nancy Fogelstrom
Sorry I ever contacted Phil Varco. Will only say that I would never recommend Varco Windows & Doors to anyone! Doesn't even deserve one star!! Not trust worthy!
