Does anybody have an opinion on a good choice for windows and doors for an SIP house, in MAnitoba, which has days as cold as -50C and as hot as +50C, quite the climate change winter to summer.  I don't see the sense in building an SIP home if you have crappy windows and doors.

Thanks Derek

There are so many manufactures of good windows and everyone has their own opinion. It's like the proverbial Ford vs. Chevy debate.

I would avoid big-box generic windows sold at your local hardware store or HD/Lowe's.

You need:
Low-E2 windows
Low U-factor (0.35 or less)
Reputable manufacturer that will stand behind their product.

If you have a predominantly heating climate, then you want a window with a low Solar Heat Gain, unless of course you're going for passive solar on the southern side.

I used Marvin Integrity windows on my SIP/timber home. I was sold on fiberglass windows because of their strength, low expansion compared to vinyl, and it is a poor conductor (unlike aluminum). They are reasonably priced and very nicely made. Other brands include Weathershield, Milgard, Lowen (Canadian manufacturer and pricey), Andersen, Jeld-Wen, Pella, and the list goes on.

As a note the Marvin Integrity windows site is worth visiting just for the videos - http://www.integritywindows.com

Steve

Those are great videos. One guy who posted here a while back mentioned fiberglass reinforced windows as well. He said that they don't shrink or expand much with temperature changes, and it does make some sence given the low thermal expansion of fiberglass.

Dick Mills

I'm going with Fibertec for my SIP house. They can tune your glazing to match the exposure. Not one size fits all like most companies. Also check out thermotec. I wanted to use them, but their service sucks. However they have a lot of good information on their web site. Good luck

I used Milgard fiberglass in my last SIP house. The quality was very high, but I wouldn't call them low priced either (in this instance they were clad with vertical grain DF). For a package easier on the budget, I recommend Jeld-Wen. They have a process that makes their pine rot and insect resistant but still stain grade. Very reasonable.