Replies

1. 
   davidmeiland | Jan 06, 2011 10:53am | #1

   Couple of brands I would look at

   One is Loewen, which I usually use, in wood interior/clad aluminum exterior. They are fir. Very nice windows, from Canada.

   Another is Marvin Integrity. They are fiberglass, either in/out or with a wood interior. Lower price, definitely not as nice as wood clad but I would take them any day over vinyl.

   I get both of these brands from Simmonds Glass in Anacortes, WA. They are just about my best vendor.

   Vinyl windows can perform well but the manufacturing and disposal of PVC products is an environmental nightmare.

   In this climate you want to consider solar heat gain (SHGC), which is listed on the NFRC sticker on almost all windows. On your north elevation you want high SHGC, on the other sides you may want low or high depending on a number of factors. Window manufacturers will automatically sell you low SHGC glass, because they can get away with it. It's a lot more appropriate in the south, where controlling heat thru the glass is a lot more important. Up here you want that heat in your house whenever possible, it's free.

1. 
   sapwood | Jan 06, 2011 11:43am | #2

   Info Co-opt

   David, Thanks for the tip on the Lowen windows. I've already sent them an email for information. There's an outlet in Seattle that is a lot closer to me than Anacortes. My remodel will begin in a month or so and we've yet to decide on a window brand. We'll be needing plenty of them too. 

   And thanks also for the reminder about SHGC. I'd read about this but not being in the contractor business it sort of slipped through my brain matter. I'll do some additional research and information gathering. 

   Jeff (Bainbridge Island)

1. 
   davidmeiland | Jan 06, 2011 03:22pm | #4

   Anacortes

   If you decide to buy a brand that they rep, I would absolutely get a quote from Simmonds, even if you're on Bainbridge. My contact there is Dan Villiott, (360) 293-5886.

1. 
   sapwood | Jan 06, 2011 09:30pm | #6

   Thank you, David. I will check in with Simmonds when the time comes. 

2. 
   BillA | Jan 06, 2011 03:33pm | #5

   which brand windows

   Thanks for the response. Nice to have one from a "local". My cabin is on Vashon Island. My picture windows ( I mispoke when I stated "bay windows") have clear western and southern exposures.  One pair each of double-hung windows have western, northern, and eastern exposures. The north and eastern exposed windows are in shade 90%+ of the time.

2. 
   kalats | Jan 06, 2011 01:20pm | #3

   Agreed

   Marvin Integrity is the way to go.  Fiberglass' low coefficient of expansion makes it a stable & great product for a great price.

3. 
   sunsen | Jan 08, 2011 02:03pm | #7

   pella

   In my opinion, Pella makes the best stock windows I've seen.

1. 
   calvin | Jan 08, 2011 03:30pm | #8

   Pella makes the best.........

   Maybe.  Once they started installing their cladding with the right orientation, at least there's a chance they won't introduce water into the wood behind it.

   And their distributor reputation has alot to do with their followup and warranty.  We went from a family owned supplier here to one that is now in operation out of Detroit that is like talking to the wall when any questions arise.  Poor customer service and sometimes faulty order delivery.  I went from a fan of the product to a big time skeptic over the last several years.

1. 
   sunsen | Jan 08, 2011 05:13pm | #9

   In my experience the windows themselves are very well designed and well built. Better than others I've used and seen.

   I generally go with a custom manufacturer though because of design flexibility. You can draw up the details exactly the way you want and a custom shop will meet your specs. With any stock windows you're stuck with what they have available. Of course, they're less expensive.

1. 
   calvin | Jan 08, 2011 05:23pm | #10

   So you've never seen the bottom overlapped mitre cladding?

   I'm surprised, they made them like that for a long time-only changing to the sides overlapping  a couple yrs ago.

   What climate are you in?  Here in NW Oh there's PLENTY of rotted out from the inside casements.  Not all or the majority admittedly, but way more than should be and the back up on them wasn't very exciting either.

   And let's not forget their fastening system for fixed sash, which pretty well screwed any chance of just replacing that sash.  Couple that with a ganged unite and homowners ate alot of bad taste.  Failure close to just past a warranty doesn't do much for a builders reputation either, no matter who's at fault.

   Like I said, with the good distributor and their quality at the time-I was a fan.  Now, I take claims with a grain of salt.  Deal with the distributor out of Detroit and I'd have to be pushed into recommending their line.

1. 
   sunsen | Jan 08, 2011 06:59pm | #11

   I first became familiar with Pella's products in Hawaii. I live in California now. I haven't used their windows since the mid-nineties on account of I always go custom. No problems with Pella though, ever. The guy building next door to my current project just put them in and is very pleased. This is California though so I can't say I've seen how they hold up in extremes of climate.

   The last house I used them on, the owner loved the action on both the windows and sliders. There haven't been any issues with the cladding so I've never had cause to look at whether or not it was engineered properly.

   Overall, what I've used of theirs since back on Maui in the mid-seventies was very well constructed.

2. 
   Tim | Jan 10, 2011 02:49pm | #15

   Things have changed

   since 15 plus years ago. I've not heard anyone speak highly of Pella in at least the last 5 years. Mine are servicable for the most part, but not a good value and wish I would have gone another route.

2. 
   Piffin | Jan 08, 2011 09:17pm | #13

   Pella sucks,

   Every experience with them a bad one. Poor windows,, poor communiations, poor service, poor guys can't read a tape measure or an order form

1. 
   Tim | Jan 10, 2011 02:43pm | #14

   Hey, now, I've had my Pella

   Architect series (i.e. the best they offered at the time) windows and doors in service for 7 years now, and only the ones I use regulary have fallen apart and required repair/replacement. The ones I don't use very often? Almost as good as new.

   Never expected anyone to list them in the "best" of anything. Must be a salesman, that sunsen fella....

4. 
   Piffin | Jan 08, 2011 09:13pm | #12

   well then...

   "I suppose I would want "best value" as opposed to "best overall""

   Then you don't want wood or vinyl, you want Marvins Integrity line of composite frame windows