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Thread: High performance window help

  1. #1
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    High performance window help

    Any collective suggestions for windows/doors on my newly built home located in the great PNW.

    The home has a ton of glass in very big windows. The smaller windows are 6 x 6 the big ones are 14 x 6 with 20' sliding or folding doors.

    Very Modern Home has 8 inch walls, geothermal and is insulated as much as Romney is from the general population.

    I've been looking at the usual suspects, Pella, Anderson, etc. but not too keen on what I've found thus far.

  2. #2
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    Feb 2010
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    How crazy are you looking to get? Intus Windows makes passive house windows - triple pane, low e, argon filled.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by nfaust View Post
    How crazy are you looking to get? Intus Windows makes passive house windows - triple pane, low e, argon filled.
    Those are quite the $$ too..

    Pella and Anderson don't offer a great product in my opinion.

    I prefer Marvin (out of Minnesota) and Loewen (Steinbach, Manitoba)

    Best part is that Loewen has a deal right now offering 10% off list price of triple glazed windows (deal ends mid-dec)

    Loewen.com Marvin.com
    I have some other options for ya too, depending on your timeframe. PM me if you need more info; I'm a window guy.

  4. #4
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    Dj = Marvin rep

    Pella are great windows/ doors. I sort of doubt that's the style you're looking for, though. Marvin are nice, but not much different than Pella in the end.

    This is what architects use to find a lot of shit:
    http://www.arcat.com/

    Also has a pretty useful app.

  5. #5
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    "For those who don't compromise"
    www.zeluck.com

    Hand crafted
    Not even for dentists
    for folks who have a butler to wipe them

  6. #6
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    Im guessing since the home is already in process that you're not looking for a super high end product (otherwise this would have been planned for a while ago?). Not trying to be an ass, just trying to understand your potential market.

    Pella and jeld-wen offer reasonable products with some locally sourced product lines (jeld-wen "custom" comes out of bend, or)

    Marvin is a nice window for sure, but their distribution chain has an extra layer of middleman/markup so you really have to want their product to pay the premium

  7. #7
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    You may also consider fiberglass frames for the performance (although aesthetics are just ok)

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by brice618 View Post
    Dj = Marvin rep
    http://www.arcat.com/

    Also has a pretty useful app.
    kinda sorta... we use Marvin's in our homes, I'm not a rep though. Pretty close to rep powers, but not a rep.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by brice618 View Post
    Marvin are nice, but not much different than Pella in the end.
    Really? I understand that both have many different lines, but I have installed numerous high end lines from each, including the very best Marvins. I always figured Marvin was on a totally different and higher level than Pella.

    Sierra Pacific makes some pretty nice windows, too.

  10. #10
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    From the window nerds I've talked to, that's the word on the street. That said, a window is only as good as its installer/detailer. I've only dealt with a few Marvin's and they weren't the top of the line ones but they seemed pretty comparable to the Pella stuff I've worked with. It's one of those Marmot vs Patagonia arguments, yes one is better, but in reality they are both damn good products.

  11. #11
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    We used Weather Shield Windows out of Wisconsin when we built our place. Excellent windows at a good price point, they are worth looking into. Every bit the equal of Pella/Andersen/Marvin imo but decide for yourself. I highly recommend them though.

  12. #12
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    Nov 2009
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    (Going to pull an AK Rover here as I recently bought windows in PNW coastal. I don't work for or profit from Dunn, Milgard, or Marvin.)

    Marvin is nice. I looked at them, but decided that picture windows which vent are really useless. I believe all Marvin picture windows vent by popping out slightly. There are some window installers discussion threads on contractortalk.com and pretty much they would only do Marvin for their own homes.

    There is potential that Argon or krypton filled windows leak out within 5 years and become air-filled windows. Window manufacturers claim that they seal various ways. In terms of physics, anything that can hold gas in a container long term with multiple sealed openings (glass edges all around) would be extremely expensive. Not necessarily an appropriate analogy as your windows aren't pressurized containers or intended to be refilled, but there is a reason why your tires or scuba tanks only have one opening.

    Too lazy to show the math/physics here, but to recoup the cost of Ar/Kr filled windows in my house at PNW natural gas or electricity rates would take something like 15-20 years.

    Triple-pane and/or fiberglass frames would be a different story and somewhat nice if you are in the high mountains with lots of snow.

    If you have the dough and just want to buy comfort plus feel-good, go ahead. If you are looking to have a low carbon footprint, use the saved money to buy some carbon credits. Keep in mind that WA and OR are almost 100% hydro-electric power.

    At the end, I bought Milgard 5'x9' double-paned aluminum thermal break Low-E picture windows from Dunn Lumber. Far less expensive than Marvin, and still qualified (barely) for Energy Star in northern climates. The rest of the house is just Milgard vinyl. Milgard has frequent sales drives, call Dunn or your desired dealer and ask.

  13. #13
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    Nov 2010
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    I built my house here in SE Alaska and used Anderson 200 series windows. one of my biggest regrets was not going with the more expensive 400 series or Milgard fiberglass extruded frame, I liked the traditional look of the Andersons, wood interior sashes are nice but I've found that condensation issues are beginning to take a toll on the interior wood finish.
    so my advice, wet humid climates with cold cycles and wood window frames are a bad combination.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by acinpdx View Post
    "For those who don't compromise"
    www.zeluck.com

    Hand crafted
    Not even for dentists
    for folks who have a butler to wipe them
    Tischler are in the same league... or higher. Just did a room where the windows were 1M. Yes, that's right... one room, one million dollars. And it's for teh buttahflys.
    Screw the net, Surf the backcountry!

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by BigDaddy View Post
    Tischler are in the same league... or higher. Just did a room where the windows were 1M. Yes, that's right... one room, one million dollars. And it's for teh buttahflys.
    Holy crap. For butterflys. Can you say what town it's in?

  16. #16
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    2 houses milgard windows no problems.

  17. #17
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    Must have been a hudge fucking room.

    I love our Pellas. They look great and they just fucking work. Normal double-hung replacement windows, tho - nothing large.

  18. #18
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    We ended up with Jeld-Wen. Better price than Pella, Anderson.Decent price, decent service. Good windows.
    I agree the installer is the important part.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by iceman View Post
    Holy crap. For butterflys. Can you say what town it's in?
    I already said too much, but it's east of your hometown where many aspire to attend after high school. Teh windows are super custom, beyond anything sensible, curved and made to resemble drapes. Unfortunately, pictures are not allowed.
    Screw the net, Surf the backcountry!

  20. #20
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    Home's about 8000 square feet on a lake. Mid-High end is ideal. Planning has been very low on the priority list, although given the PNW moisture I'd like to get it dried in sooner rather then later so I can put it back on the rear burner :-)

  21. #21
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    Mid-High end is ideal. Planning has been very low on the priority list, although given the PNW moisture I'd like to get it dried in sooner rather then later so I can put it back on the rear burner :-)
    Last edited by Deebased; 11-05-2012 at 10:08 PM.

  22. #22
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    Is this iceman's distant, western, and significantly less intelligent cousin? PM commonlaw for a reputable architect and contractor. You clearly need one.

  23. #23
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    My house is half that size and it's not on a lake, it's just in the woods. Who would even want to heat an 8000 square foot house? And why?

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by iceman View Post
    My house is half that size and it's not on a lake, it's just in the woods. Who would even want to heat an 8000 square foot house? And why?
    I heat my house with crisp hundred dollar bills. Is your dental practice doing ok?

  25. #25
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    I need to recommend a few more root canals apparently.

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