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Which windows to use in my new home? Like everyone else,I too like low maintenance when it comes to my house.However,I’m not too thrilled with a white vinyl clad exterior window.I would like to have a dark green exterior and a stained wood on the inside.I know several companies offer Aluminum clad in various colors,but i’m not sold on its durability nor its colorfast ability.After all what do you do with an aluminum window that has a faded oxidized color after ten years,Paint it?Vinyl as well fades and I dont know of a good company that carries a dark green clad window.I think my only choice is to use an all wood window and be resolved to painting every 5 years or so.Does this sound right?Has anyone used Lincoln windows and if so,what do you think? I’m told the quality is good and could mean a savings of 30% over a comparable window like marvin.I have no clue and it’s getting too close to ground breaking to be deciding this now. Input Appreciated Much, Sparky
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Sparky,
I discovered too late after I committed to Andersen TW double hung for my remodel that the Marvin Ultimate double Hung is just that. It is a pretty slick window and I really like the tilt operator lever. I think they even have green clad. But pricey. Oh well next house.
kevin
*After a lot of research, I chose Willmar for my very dark green aluminum clad windows. The color is Hartford Green.Kolbe & Kolbe also makes a very dark green wood clad window, and they are a little less $ than Willmar. Both are substantially less than Marvin. Lowen makes a nice fir window, but their green isn't dark enough.I chose Willmar because they use extruded aluminum on the frame and rolled aluminum on the sash; Kolbe used rolled on everything. And Willmar uses hemlock; Kolbe uses pine. The hemlock looks substantially nicer. I also chose Willmar because they would allow me to get the casement windows without hardware and with friction hinges, so I can install antique window hardware, and not have to use those blasted cranks. Don't know what to expect for fading; don't have the guarantee in front of me. Windows are arriving in a couple of weeks, so I'm not really sure how they'll look, but the showroom models were great.
*Norco also offers a green clad. They cost less than the Marvins but offer similar performance
*I really like the Marvin double-hung. Their casements and awnings (really the same thing I guess) are fine, but the single-glazed dh + an extra pane they call an "energy panel" are the ones I liked the best aesthetically, and whose priority was WOOD and REAL muntins. I'm no wood fanatic -- our house came with aluminum siding -- but I thionk nice windows and trim really brightens and personalizes a home more than the six colors of clad and lifeless casings. Excellent workmanship. $300 each if you order carefully. Their price scheme is bizarre -- order the wrong option and the price doubles.This doesn't mean the other brands are inferior. There are several fine brands from what I hear, esp. for clad, including Hurd for casements, plus Anderson, K&K, etc. Just a satisfied Marvin customer.If you're going the dh route -- and I think it's the most practical and appealing window choice -- the only snag in fire egress standards require a pretty big window. Casements obviously are easier to exit through, but they don't keep the summer showers out very well!
*We have used Kolbe & Kolbe windows a lot, and I think they are an excellent product. Getting away from clad they offer an epoxy paint finish which I believe has a ten year guarantee, and can be painted over with conventional paint. They do offer a dark green color. Good luck.
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andrew, where was the water problem with the casements? pt. of entry? have had no probs w/andersen, marvin, pella, vinyl replacements,... always thought that the casements kept the weather (wind rain) out the best because of their seal. speak to me.
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Hi! No, the casements SEAL fine -- my problem is with having a wood casement ITSELF hanging out there in the weather and letting rain in while open. Typical D.C. weather is an afternoon thunderstorm (not this drought year) and I like the windows open. With a DH it's easy to open the top sash and not worry about water blowing in orm damaging the sash while open.
Casements CLOSED on average do seal better, and awnings are the best. But unlike so many climate control nuts, I actually open and close my windows a lot. Anyway, I think casements are boring and look awkward when open...
*Pella offers green color(s) in the Designer and Architectural series of windows. Aluminum clad, with a baked-on enamel finish. Worst case scenario? It's a good primer in 15 or 20 years.
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Which windows to use in my new home? Like everyone else,I too like low maintenance when it comes to my house.However,I'm not too thrilled with a white vinyl clad exterior window.I would like to have a dark green exterior and a stained wood on the inside.I know several companies offer Aluminum clad in various colors,but i'm not sold on its durability nor its colorfast ability.After all what do you do with an aluminum window that has a faded oxidized color after ten years,Paint it?Vinyl as well fades and I dont know of a good company that carries a dark green clad window.I think my only choice is to use an all wood window and be resolved to painting every 5 years or so.Does this sound right?Has anyone used Lincoln windows and if so,what do you think? I'm told the quality is good and could mean a savings of 30% over a comparable window like marvin.I have no clue and it's getting too close to ground breaking to be deciding this now. Input Appreciated Much, Sparky