| Hey-Jude |
Just looking for more words of wisdom from this great group!
Does anyone have any thoughts on how much it's worth it to upgrade from vinyl windows (which are standard) to wood windows (made by Pella) ?
The thermal ratings of the windows themselves, etc., are the same.
The vinyl windows sound okay but I've never heard of the company (Lincoln Windows / TimeLine ).
The vinyl would be maintenance free but Pella is a name I know and believe is excellent quality.
Not sure on the cost difference yet but I think it'd be 10-15 k roughly...which seems like a lot.
Anyone??
Thanks in advance! |
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| nightguy |
If I built our house again, I'd probably try to upgrade to Andersen (or Pella). I know there's a lot of marketing behind the name, but a lot of people in my neighborhood took the plunge. Everything about them is better quality.
Our builder's standard window is Windsor. We stayed with the standard choice and went with double hung. I hate them. They seem to be drafty as hell in the winter, partly because of the seal quality, and partly because of the way they're installed. You can sometimes feel wind coming through underneath the window trim. And the vinyl trim pieces between the windows have gaps. And although you can take the bottom pane out to wash the outside, it's just not as cool as the kind that flip back so you don't have to hang out the window.
On the other hand, I do like the idea of maintenance free windows.
Who's your builder ? |
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| Hey-Jude |
Thanks nightguy. What you describe is my fear. I don't want drafts in a brand new house. I've got that now but I've got the 50 year old house excuse. I think I'll swing by a model that maybe has the same windows and see if they 'look' okay. Not that I'm qualified to judge but feel like I should do some kind of due diligence before deciding either way.
We're building with Lundgren Bros.. It seems like they have a good reputation but we've also heard more than a few horror stories but you probably get that with any builder. Just goes with the territory I think. |
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| nightguy |
Da-ham ! Can you get me a tee-time on whatever golf course you're on ?! :D I think they are a quality builder. A lot of horror stories are exaggerated.
Remember, it's MN and nothing will be airtight in the winter. Actually, it's almost better that way. If the house is a bit leaky , you won't have to run the air exchanger as much and you can plug up the stupid furnace room vent that dumps cold air into the basement. Or if it bothers you, support a MN company and buy the 3M plastic window treatments.
By the way, if I get another new house, I might buy a model or at least a spec home. Some friends of ours did and there's a lot more attention to detail. Anyway, good luck ! |
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| renov8r |
...the big IF is there to let you know that 95% of BUYERS won't pay a premium for windows from Andersen, Pella, Marvin, or Loewen. You can't expect this to be like shiny stainless appliances, where folks fall over becuase it is "pro-style" :rolleyes:
BUT a quality window made with WOOD and then CLAB in Aluminum or vinyl will WORK BETTER, SEAL BETTER, LOOK BETTER & last longer than ANY all vinyl window.
WOOD is what your house's walls are framed from and the expansiion & contraction of the FRAMING of the house will match the window -- assuring that it fits just as tight after 15 years as Day One...
Vinyl gets sloopy, sometimes after one season, sometimes after 5, but it just cannot compete with the TOP NOTCH companies I listed. Sure, it si better than "old fashioned" windows from the 50's , but we are talking NEW CONSTRUCTION , not some drafty old place.
I 100% disagree with anybody that says a "drafty window is a good thing". You realize that when cold MN air hits the warm indoor air you will get MASSIVE condensation. That condesation can DESTROY the framing of the house, soak the insulation(making it worse than worthless as MOLD can grow in it). Belive me, if you want to OWN YOUR HOME FOR MORE THAN A FEW YEARS you want it to be SOLID and the WINDIWS to be AIRTIGHT!!
I beleive Loewen makes the finest windows yup can buy in North America.. Everything from the "hidden parts" like the nailer flange and rainshields to the actaul glazing and sealed units is built MUCH better than anything else. They have experience building for Canada, where winter can be much more harsh, and they model their seals on the stuff that is being made in Sweden -- in Europe the fuel costs are often 3x or more, so every little thing you can do to make it more weather tight is worth it -- unfortunately the freight on windiows from across the Atlantic means than no European window manufactuers can compete in the North America, so Loewen is the next best thing.... |
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| nightguy |
quote:
Originally posted by renov8r
I 100% disagree with anybody that says a "drafty window is a good thing". You realize that when cold MN air hits the warm indoor air you will get MASSIVE condensation. That condesation can DESTROY the framing of the house, soak the insulation(making it worse than worthless as MOLD can grow in it).
Sorry, I should have explained myself better. I never said get drafty windows. My point is that you'll never find a 100% tight window, but the tighter it is, the more you'll want you're house to breathe. Two separate thoughts somehow adhered together with a couple of beers. :rolleyes:
Here in MN, builders have been building houses way, way too tightly. Breathing a constant supply of indoor air is unhealthy and condensation can appear even on a "tight" window, two good reasons to have the Ven-EE exchanger systems and ceiling fans. I've also seen people cut slits in the Tyvek. A couple of bucks lost in energy costs can't compare to the health of a family.
Enough condensation to mold the guts ? I think you'd have to take a lot of showers for that to happen, especially when the furnace is running a lot and the house is dry anyway. Most people who have had mold issues have stucco exteriors with improperly installed windows. When the window drains it leaves water in the wall. The water can't vaporize through the Tyvek because of the stucco. |
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