Building in Colorado @9500 ft...and i am having trouble finding what feels like a good value on windows.  I am trying to buy from locals, feeling like they should know what is needed for my cabin, but they are not convincing me that they know their stuff.  I would like to get teh U adn SHGC low enough to qualify for the tax credit, but this is not a "Must-have".  Some manufacturers won't put ARgon into the windows, some do...some require the panes have valves to accomodate the pressure drop.

Any recommendations?  My budget is tight, but i will pay for a good combination of quality/price.

THanks.

KYle

That high up I would be wary of any kind of sealed glass units, vents would seem to be about the only way to go, so argon is out of the picture, but you can still have low-e coatings. One way to achieve a good U-value in this situation is to get a good window with two low-E coatings in a vented double pane, and then put a cheap single pane storm window on the outside. It keeps the weather off of your good window, extending it's life and helping prevent it fogging, and the system will perform about the same as a triple pane window.

I have not heard of any window manufacturers that will put argon in any window that is going to be sold to a area of high altitude. the reason that they have to put capillary tubes in windows going to a high altitude area is air pressure change from low altitude area to a high altitude area. A window that is manufacturered in Iowa or elsewhere in a low altitude area and than is transported to Colorado during transportation the glass in the window if no capillary tubes are installed will burst out due to the pressure change and since a capillary tube is used the unit is not considered a sealed unit and therefor argon gas can't be used.

Serious Windows 500 series, build right there in Boulder, CO (formerly Alpen Glass) Picture Window Specs.: U-Value of .18 & SHGC of .26 w/ no gas fill.

I am working with Milgard and Serious Windows now...i will do the "apple to apple" comparison and go with the best value.  Thanks for all the advice.

Kyle

Who does Serious get their window from? I saw it on another forum that they buy their "protrusions" from another company?

Serious windows are made entirely by the factory that used to be Alpen windows - the 'pultrusions' - these are the fiberglass elements that makeup the window frame, could very well be supplied by a fiberglass pultrusion company. Serious bought out Alpen last year...