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Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
Doors (Interior) - Install or Replace, New Windows - Multiple, Storm Door Installation,
About us
Since its inception by co founders William Barr and Michael Strmac in 2002, Universal Windows Direct has lived by the philosophy of CANEI - "Constant and Never Ending Improvement". This philosophy holds true in all aspects of our business, from sales and marketing to installation and service and has catapulted UWD from a small, local home improvement company to one of the largest exterior remodeling companies in the country. Every one of our employees strives continuously to be the best in the business at what they do and provide our customers with only the highest levels of sales, service, and support. We think our company's history speaks to this goal and to the power of what we can accomplish by never settling. Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis opened in 2017. Our products feature the exclusive UniShield brand and come with a transferable lifetime warranty on materials and labor. We are a fully licensed, bonded, and insured company and EPA Lead-Safe certified. In addition, a portion of every sale goes to support a growing list of local charities.
Business highlights
8 years of experience
Services we offer
Vinyl replacement windows, bay and bow windows, casement windows, door replacement, double hung windows, fiberglass entry doors, patio doors, picture windows, slider windows, sliding glass doors, vinyl scallops., vinyl shakes, vinyl siding
Amenities
Free Estimates
Yes
Accepted Payment Methods
- CreditCard
Reviews
4.322 Reviews
| Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 73% | ||
| 9% | ||
| 5% | ||
| 0% | ||
| 14% |
Showing 1-22 of 22 reviews
Joice C.
May 2025
Disappointing Experience with Universal Windows Direct, you do not get what you paid for. I originally chose Universal Windows Direct based on a positive interaction with Darren, who was knowledgeable, friendly, and emphasized the company's lifetime warranty. We decided to move forward with a window installation on March 15, 2023, despite the higher cost, because of this promise. The installation itself was excellent, but after a few months, the clasps on the windows began to fail. A technician replaced them at no charge, which was in line with the lifetime warranty. Encouraged by our initial experience, we decided to contract with Universal Windows for siding on June 19, 2024. Brandon, who handled the sale, again reassured us that the same lifetime warranty would apply, with no fees involved. While there were some delays and scheduling hiccups, we were willing to overlook those as we wanted the job completed. Unfortunately, the siding installation on September 12, 2024, was a major letdown. The installers faced communication issues, cut our cable line (disrupting my work), and rushed through what should have been a two-day job, finishing it in under 8 hours. Within a day, the siding began to detach. Additionally, there were holes under the sunroom, trash left in both my yard and my neighbor's, and missing flashing. When I raised concerns, the installers' only response was "it’s not in your contract"—which was incredibly frustrating. A technician came out and suggested a full reinstallation, but when work was done on January 2, 2025, only the loose pieces were nailed back up, leaving the job looking poorly done. By January 28, 2025, the siding had detached again. Another technician came out, but once again, only nailed it back up. The real shock came on March 19, 2025, when I was informed about a new $149 service fee. This was in stark contrast to the terms of our original agreements, which had no mention of service fees. I was told the siding would not incur a fee because I was still within the one-year warranty, but my windows would be charged since they were outside the warranty period. However, my window agreement never mentioned a service fee, and the siding agreement stated that such a fee would only apply if the damage was outside the warranty coverage. When I raised these issues, I was told that the company could change the terms of the warranty at any time. This felt incredibly unethical, as I was never informed of these potential changes at the time of signing. In conclusion, while Universal Windows Direct initially seemed like a solid choice, the ongoing issues, poor quality of work, and changes to the terms of the warranty have left me deeply dissatisfied. I would caution potential customers to carefully review all terms and conditions before moving forward with this company.
David A.
Mar 2024
No issues noted
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"[Member Name Removed], thank you for this stellar 5-star review and choosing Universal Windows Direct for your home-improvement needs.^J"
Patrick S.
Mar 2024
From the minute I inquired with UWD the process went a smooth as possible. From the sales rep, financing, scheduling, installation and down to job site clean up. It was an amazing experience.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"[Member Name Removed], thank you so much for sharing your amazing experience with our team from start to finish! We appreciate your for trusting Universal Windows Direct with your home-improvement needs.^J"
Claire W.
Feb 2024
Google Review
UPDATE: After seeing the reply from the company I called and left a voice mail during business hours 2 weeks ago. I would like a call back...and will update this post if and when I do. Original message: We had a large, 85-year-old casement window, replaced with a slider. The installer was friendly, fast, and attentive to keeping the worksite very clean. We have not had the window long enough to comment on how it performs However, there’s two cautions I would give to anyone with an older home, particularly brick. The installer cut the old frame out with a pneumatic saw. After he left, we found a crack In the plaster around the window. Plaster walls WILL be damaged by the intense vibration of a pneumatic saw. I don’t know if there would have been another way for him to remove the old metal frame, but be prepared to do repairs after installation. We have to patch those cracks and repaint the room, which is an expense we had not factored in the cost. We are reaching out to the company to see what they will do. Also, while I’m sure it’s in the fine print, they should ask before they place signs in your yard. It’s just common courtesy.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"We apologize for any inconvenience caused during the installation process. Our team is committed to providing high-quality service and we will address the issues with the plaster damage promptly. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Please contact us at (314) 878-0300 so we can discuss how to resolve the situation."
Karen B.
Jun 2023
They did a great job
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"[Member Name Removed], we are thrilled to hear our team provided you with such a professional experience. Thanks again for choosing Universal Windows Direct for your home-improvement needs.^J"
Steve S.
May 2023
very well, we were completely happy with the product and the insllation
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"[Member Name Removed], we are thrilled to hear our team provided you with an exceptional experience from start to finish. Thanks again for trusting us with your home-improvement project!^J"
Carlos V.
Feb 2023
Are you really looking for advice? Don’t waste your time and money here. This is my story, this nightmare started on 05/13/2022 my order was to replace windows, a back door with a storm door and a main entry door. First, I had to wait 5 months after getting news about my installation, they told me that the installation for everything could happen in one or a maximum of two days. This day (9/29/2021) windows were only installed; they brought a door but size and swing side were incorrect. I had to wait almost a year to hear about the installation of my doors, manager visited me on August 2022 to say that the color I choose for my main door was not available anymore, so I picked a new color and I didn’t hear back from them until December 2022 to schedule the installation however didn’t happen until January 2023, guess what! They only installed the back door, the storm door had incorrect side swing and the worst, they didn’t bring the door, I was told the door was never ordered! The back door was ordered with a new leverset /Handle set and for any reason was missed. I got a call from the operations manager as I was really upset about this situation however didn’t happen, he supposedly was to call me regularly to give updates but that never happened. In between I had some issues with my windows apparently were not installed correctly There are some gaps (spaces) between the windows, you can feel the air coming through with this windy winter in St Louis the rooms were like a cooler. I called to Customer Service request help and explained the situation and the answer that I received was “This is normal during the winter”. Good thing is the installation crew when they came to install the back door could see the problem and they fixed the gaps but now a couple of the windows cannot open as they should, get stuck. Installation for the storm door was scheduled for this Friday (2/24/2023), I just received a voice mail basically saying that the installation was not on the installation crew had other jobs to do and that my installation was not scheduled. I had to request PTO to be at home yesterday, they just don’t think all that I need to do to organize my day for the installation. I have names, emails, voice mails and records of everything but my intention is not to affect people but this company as an organization is a mess. I started talking with my attorney to request compensation for all my time invested but will be an onerous process. I really hope that someone in a higher level at Universal Windows can see my message.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"[Member Name Removed], we are truly sorry to hear our team did not meet your expectations during your experience. We understand your frustration and would like to make things right. Please contact us directly at 855.293.7813 so we can assist with addressing your concerns.^J"
Carliver D.
Feb 2023
Very good job
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"[Member Name Removed], we appreciate your kind words and trusting us at Universal Windows Direct with your home-improvement project.^JD"
Julia C.
Feb 2023
They took a while to get in, which was understood, but the work was done in a timely and clean fashion! The product came in as expected.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"[Member Name Removed], we appreciate your honest feedback on your experience with us and your patience with us throughout your project. Thanks again for trusting us with your home-improvement project.^JD"
Dave K.
Feb 2023
Very well great job
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"[Member Name Removed], we are thrilled to hear our team provided you with a great installation experience. We appreciate your feedback and thanks again for choosing Universal Windows Direct for your home-improvement project.^JD"
Elena C.
Oct 2022
I had the windows installed in August bit one was broken. I am still waiting on that window. Love the new windows, though.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"[Member Name Removed], we appreciate you sharing this feedback with us and choosing Universal Windows Direct for your home-improvement project. If you have additional questions or concerns about your project, please contact us at [email protected] for assistance.^JD"
MARK P.
Oct 2021
Earlier this year my wife and I signed a contract with UWD to provide us with 10 new windows in our home. The windows arrived at the warehouse in St. Louis and an appointment is made for installation. Contractor arrives with 10 windows, all in good condition, 2 of which are picture windows that require cut out and interior trim installation. Contractor starts installation without prepping site other than small pieces of old cardboard laid in front of the windows to be replaced. Contractor installs most windows without major issues other than the current, builder grade windows were extremely hard for them to remove which resulted in minor damage to existing window sills and window surrounds. Minor damage to wood flooring as well. Contractor begins work on 2 picture window cutout with an oscillating tool to cut out drywall which in turn blows dust all over our lower level, kitchen, living room, dining room, den, etc. No tarps or coverings are laid which creates a thick layer of drywall dust throughout the house. To remedy this, I purchased plastic sheeting and covered everything in our home. Contractor uses a broom to clean up large debris and a LEAF BLOWER for the visible dust. The entire situation creates issues with my wife and 2 & 5 year old daughters with respiratory issues. They have to leave the house. Contractor completes cut out and installation of larger windows but doesn't have the correct materials or right amount of Red Oak to complete the interior trim with the Red Oak they started with. Contractor informs me that I can have someone else complete it and send the invoice to UWD for reimbursement via check or gift card. I mention that we're also getting siding put on after the windows are installed and the Contractor advises that it would be better for the siding company to perform the exterior completion of the window trim/metal bend and wood framing. I contact siding contractor and they bid the job which increases my siding bid by $1,550.00 Contractor completes job having left interior Red Oak Trim and exterior window framing incomplete. Siding company installs siding, exterior metal/wood window trim, etc. on 10 windows. (added $1,550.00 to bid) UWD Salesperson calls asking for money ($1,300) for the picture window cut out and interior trim. I inform him that this wasn't completed and he states that he's going to get to the bottom of it and call me back. That never happened and I still haven't heard from him. I hire Carpenter to install interior Red Oak Trim ($972.35) I placed AT LEAST a dozen calls to a number of people in different positions at UWD sales, customer service, etc., most of whom told me they are going to try and get some sort of solution and have someone call me back. Somehow I got transferred to Mike in Pittsburgh UWD Warehouse who was very helpful, but also failed to provide a resolution. 3 different instances the St. Louis warehouse called me to set up an appointment for installation of interior trim which has already been completed. Customer Service contacts me and is very helpful. She listened to our concerns, spoke with management, and provided me with a solution which is unacceptable as it doesn't equal the amount we had to pay out of pocket for the incomplete work that should've been done by the original UWD Contractor. There is obviously a lot more to this story. The communication has been EXTREMELY POOR. At this point UWD is only removing the $1,300 charge for the window cutout of 2 picture windows and interior trim with Red Oak which wasn't completed and refunding $1,222.35. Again, we had to pay $1,550.00 to JB Exteriors and $972.35 to Helm Carpentry to complete the jobs that the UWD Contactor failed to complete, yet charged us for. Total, I owe $2,522.35 to these other contractors for their work. I'm willing to pay for half of the job for the cut out as I stated, but I'd like to, at the very least, be able to take the difference and pay the contractors what I owe them. I just want to be made whole. Logically, I should be reimbursed $1,550.00 for the exterior and $322.35 for the interior (the sum of the $1,300 - $650 = $650, $972.53 - $650 = $322.35) This entire situation has taken what should've been an exciting time for our family and turned it into a nightmare.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"[Member Name Removed], we are truly sorry to hear about this experience with us as we aim to provide a quality customer experience. If you would like to discuss your experience further or have suggestion on how we can improve, please contact us at [email protected].^JD"
Diane D.
Jul 2021
Great. The company kept in touch through the whole process and delivered and installed the windows when they said they would. 4 installers showed up at 8 this morning and were finished at 11:30. Fast and efficient. I highly recommend.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"Thank you for the 5-star review! ^AM"
Mike W.
Jul 2021
Rodney and his team - Tyler, Joey and Jordan - did an outstanding job removing and replacing our 17 windows and patio double door. All were very careful to ensure no damage to paint, woodwork and flooring when removing the old windows. All new items were installed square to their original frames, and all four sides of every item were carefully inspected and very well-sealed with caulk and insulating foam. The entire effort - 5 1/2 hours from unload to cleanup - was so efficient that we're certain an additional team member was in hiding somewhere! We are exceedingly pleased with the quality and price of our Universal Windows Direct products, and are absolutely amazed at the diligence, courtesy, and professionalism of this team. We highly recommend the Universal Windows Direct products and the professional work of Rodney, Tyler, Joey and Jordan. Thank you for your outstanding services!
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"Hi, [Member Name Removed]. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review! ^AM"
Lisa B.
Jun 2021
The windows are are great and can’t wait to see my lowered a/c bill. The windows are also an attractive upgrade to the house. The installation was fantastic! Professional quick and clean. Universal Windows also replies to questions quickly and keeps customers updated on the next step. My only remaining question is “this was buy one get one free” and I still don’t understand if that happened. It seems like we paid $1000 per window. That’s high. The sales pitch is fast
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"Hi [Member Name Removed], thank you for the feedback. I can have a member of the sales team reach out to you to explain the offer to you! ^AM"
Erica F.
Dec 2020
The sales rep Camden was great. His presentation was clear and knowledgeable. Love the quality of the windows! Would recommend them to my family and friends.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"Hello! We are so happy to hear that Camden provided you with a great experience! Thank you for sharing your feedback. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything! - MS"
Kathleen A.
Apr 2020
I called to get an estimate for 2 small basement windows. They scheduled an appointment and came to give a long detailed presentation (90 minutes) and offered a "today only" price, which they subsequently offered to lower 2 more times. The quality of the windows seems good, but above our budget, and we were turned off by the sales tactics.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"Thank you for your feedback! We will pass this information about your experience along to our management team for review. -UWD Customer Service"
Lisa K.
Oct 2018
It was a wonderful experience ... Jordan was extremely professional, personable, friendly and extremely knowledgeable with the companies product. Will definitely recommend to friends, family, neighbors
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"That wonderful! Thank you for your business and for sharing your experience with us. Thank you, UWD Customer Service"
Kate W.
Oct 2018
Perfect. We love our new windows and couldn’t be happier.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"Yay!! We are thrilled to hear this. Please let us know if we can assist you with anything else. Thank you, UWD Customer Service"
Paul F.
Oct 2018
Sales representative was very thorough on her presentation explaining all the options based on our configuration. I choose Universal Windows for their quality and warranty when comparing to other manufacturers
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"Thank you for your review! We love to hear from our customers and are happy to hear you had a great experience so far. Please let us know if we can assist you with anything else. Thank you, UWD Customer Service"
Rachel D.
Oct 2018
In September 2017 my wife and I purchased a window and door from Universal Windows Direct, and financed it with them for 0%. The salesman did a cursory measurement, then a week or two later, the professional installer came to measure. The window and doors took much longer than promised to arrive. The day came for them to be installed, and the door that was made for our house didn't fit; the measurement was either done wrong, or the company made it incorrectly. A new door had to be made, and by the time it was ready, it was late January for the install. The day the window was installed, the two installers, who were outside on the front porch, smoked cigarettes during the install, with the smell and smoke wafting into our house. The truck they drove, which sat in our driveway leaked transmission fluid. They all appeared hung over. When the door was installed in January, they didn't have the new hardware we ordered, and so we decided to just use the existing hardware from our old door. The installer installed the lock upside down. The masonry around our door was damaged. The temperature that day was in the low 30's, and the slow install made the house unbearably cold. (We were told at the sale our install would be in late October.) The install manager, whose name I forget now, attempted to make things right by coming over himself, he said, the next day to fix the masonry and correct the lock. That morning, he called to say he couldn't come, but he was sending over someone to fix it. This was a Saturday. His communication among his men was lacking, as I was on the phone with two different men who knew nothing about why they were being tasked on a Saturday to come to our house, and, each of them didn't know the other had been asked to do this job. As we had a party that night to clean and plan for, I asked one of the men how long he expected the rehab of our door would take, and he curtly responded, "it's my Saturday too, and I have no idea; I'm not there." Fast forward a few weeks, and we get a call from Ryan Forden from Universal Windows Direct. He wanted to come over as soon as possible to have us re-sign the banking paperwork for the door. Because the door took so long to produce and install, the financing window for the door had expired. Ryan was on the phone with the bank, in our dinning room for over a hour, attempting to get the financing established. The bank refused to finance the door, as it was out of agreement with the original contract. While he was there, I detailed our experience with the install manager, and the installers. I told him how disappointed I was with his company, and I would not agree to have them place their sign in our yard, nor use them again. He was visibly shaken by my disappointment and promised to make things right, and offered a discount on future windows. He also said he would talk with the owners of the company, and get back to us soon about how to finance the door. He didn't leave his business card, nor did he ever contact us again. On Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, I had a registered letter from the post office, sent by Bedford Municipal Court, and that we were being sued by Universal Windows Direct. We immediately went to their office in Maryland Heights. We asked to speak with the owner or manager, and were directed to Ryan's office. After a minute, Ryan remembered us, and asked if we could pay for the door. My wife agreed to pay, but our only option to pay for the door was with a credit card, at 18% interest. I asked him how we got to the point of being sued by his company, when it was his company that failed every step of the way. I reminded him that I promised not to air my disappointment and experience on social media, as that wasn't how I like to operate in business. All Ryan did was say his company "dropped the ball", and apologized. He made no attempt to explore how they could offset the interest rate we are now accruing, or offer any other reparations. We insisted they contact their legal office to have reflected on our account that the door was paid in full and drop the lawsuit. We still haven't heard directly from their legal office, but we do have an email from the office manager, Brittany West, that requests them to contact us.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"We are sorry to hear about your experience. We have shared this information with our management team. Thank you, UWD Customer Service"
Robin D.
Jul 2018
How did it go? Let me tell you how it went. It could not have been a better experience. Universal Windows Direct (UWD) was immediately responsive to my request for a presentation of their product and an estimate. Once negotiations were complete I was kept informed of the status of my order throughout. I changed my mind on the style of lock finishes about 10 days after placing my order and they took care of that without any difficulty. Once my order came in two weeks earlier than expected UWD provided me with an install date the same week. My installers arrived one time and immediately went to work. The friendly three person crew braved the July heat and continued to work through completion. From the demo to the clean-up, I was completely satisfied with every aspect of the install. Not a bit of scrap material was left behind. Oh, and they even took care of a couple wasp problems for me. The windows themselves look incredible. The screens are easy to see through and hardly noticeable. Additionally, I saw immediate results in their efficiency. I have a west facing bedroom window that catches every ray of afternoon sun. I had become used to going into that room and it was nearly unbearable. The day after that window was replaced, I went into that room and couldn't believe the difference. I am actually looking forward to next coming month's power bills to see my savings. I am extremely pleased with my experience with Universal Windows Direct and I have sung their praises to my neighbors and friends with my highest recommendation. The highest selling point for me was the lifetime guarantee and the 30 year transferrable warranty once I sell my home.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"Thank you for sharing your experience! We love to hear from our customers and are thrilled to hear about your experience. We hope you LOVE your new windows and please let us know if we can help with anything else. Thank you, UWD Customer Service."
Nick M.
Jun 2018
It went great. Jeff B. was very knowledgeable about the product and went the extra mile to ensure we got the best available deal. We were so satisfied we discussed potentially doing another project in the future.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"Yay! We are happy to hear about your positive experience with us. Please keep us in mind for future projects. Thank you, UWD Customer Service."
Tracy C.
Jun 2018
Jeff Becklund was a very good salesman. He explained everything to us and worked with us to get our price we needed and our financing.
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"That's great! We are thrilled to hear about your experience with our company. Please keep us in mind for future projects. Thank you. UWD Customer Service"
Molly C.
May 2018
I just wanted to say what a great experience I had with this company. From the sales associate Kim who made the decision super easy, especially after her awesome presentation with the fire, to the installers, to the ease of the billing process. I had been hesitant about making such a big purchase, but the windows keep my home warm in the winter and cold in the summer, all while saving me money on my bills! Myself and my family cannot thank you enough for such a comfortable home. If I ever need to purchase windows, doors, or siding in the future, I will not hesitate to call Universal Windows Direct!
Response from Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis
"That's wonderful! Thank you for sharing your experience with us and for your business. Please let us know if we can help with anything in the future. Thank you, UWD Customer Service"
Licensing
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FAQ
Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis is currently rated 4.3 overall out of 5.
Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard
Yes, Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis offers free project estimates.
No, Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis does not offer a senior discount.
No, Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis does not offer emergency services.
No, Universal Windows Direct of St. Louis does not offer warranties.