New Construction Window Choices

[elwd1]

I will be building a new 2500 sf house north of Pittsburgh PA. Among the seemingly thousands of choices we have to make, the choice of windows is really confusing.

My builder uses mid grade Peachtree or Vetta windows, but would use anything I choose. Local and web opinions do not speak highly of either of these choices. Family members have used Andersen as a choice for a very expensive exterior french door, and it has not been impressive either.

A previous home I built in upstate NY had Lincoln windows, but I only lived there for 3 years. I had to have them serviced once for condensation, and once to replace some glass. Service was good, but I am only so so on these as well.

I would really appreciate the opinion of someone in the trades or an informed consumer as to what would be my best choice. Primarily I will be using double pane, argon, double hung, wood interior, clad exterior.

[Rich]

IMO - the best window, excluding price, is Marvin.

[Vector]

IMO - the best window, excluding price, is Marvin.

Agreed. I have 4 Marvin windows and one sliding french door in my new house. The rest are Marvin's Integrety line, which is still very, very nice and a significant savings.

[Dragon]

Definately Marvin.

[Tom_in_SC]

Seems that Marvin is a popular choice. I am considering the Marvin Integrity line - wood interior, fiberglass clad exterior. Much cheaper than their Ultimate line (aluminum clad exterier). Any opinions on these?

[Vector]

Seems that Marvin is a popular choice. I am considering the Marvin Integrity line - wood interior, fiberglass clad exterior. Much cheaper than their Ultimate line (aluminum clad exterier). Any opinions on these?

Other than the exterior, and the snap-in grilles vs. built-in, I see very little difference between my Marvin Ultimate windows and the Marvin Integrities. The Integrities are worlds better than any vinyl exterior window I've ever seen.

I used Marvin where people were going to come in close proximity to the windows on the outside - specifically the first floor windows on the front that will be right on the sidewalk from the driveway to the front door, the sliding french door from the kitchen to the deck, and then in one place where I needed 16" wide casements (smallest Integrity is 17"). From 20' away, you can't tell the difference at all. Inside, they're all nice clear fir and good hardware. The Integrity line doesn't have a lift handle, and the Ultimates do, that's about it.

[Sweep]

As an architect, I first start with the owner's wishes regarding interior appearance, then exterior appearance, then maintenance vs authenticity, then price, color, etc. Often these considerations greatly limit the possible manufacturers. The window that most often makes it through the process is a wood framed window by Eagle with factory applied wood trim and sill nosing with aluminum clad sash with applied mullions with dark spacers between the glass panes. (Marvin will put a clad sash in a wood frame too) People who want very narrow mullions or hidden jamb mechanisms choose the Marvin Ultimate Double-hung. People who want an all-wood window with baked-on factory paint choose Kolbe & Kolbe. I stay away from Andersen and Pella because of their unusually limited style and color choices. For the low budget owners I either use Norco ( http://www.jeld-wen.com/ ) or Boston Sash ( http://www.bostonsash.com ). Boston Sash will make an all-wood copy of the Marvin EZ Tilt with double pane glass or single pane glass with glass energy panel and cedar sill for far less cost. They make a historic window that cannot be distinguished from the real thing, even uses wavy glass (this is not cheap) they can make a sash with the pulley mechanism in the side of the sash so that it can be installed in an original frame opening between the stop beads and the cord attached with one screw at the mid point of the jamb; virtually nothing shows.
The reason I use wood frames is that the trim is factory installed which solves many installation problems. I do not like field installed trim because of cost, appearance, maintenance and waterproofing issues.