Looking for a high quality casement window manufacture which has option for a paint-able window grill inserts. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My preference is for a fiberglass framed window.

marvin integrity

Posted By Bob I on 15 Feb 2014 11:50 AM
marvin integrity

I know most wood framed windows have the option for paintable grill inserts. What I'm looking for is a window frame made of composite materials. If the grills are wood that's fine for they can be replaced rather easily.

The wall construction of the home will be a combination of ICF and metal skin SIP panels. I really don't want to install wood framed windows in such a durable wall assembly. I would consider a heavy vinyl window if no fiberglass window frames are available with paintable grills.

Would also be nice if you have a rough idea of cost per Sq. Ft.

Composite or fiberglass? Andersen 400 is a composite window; Marvin Integrity is a fiberglass window with an applied wood interior; aka Wood Ultrex (Ultrex being marvin's term for the fiberglass) They also sell the all-Ultrex. Integrity dealers offering "truckload pricing" are usually less $$. Excellent window.

Fiberglass is my preference, second place most likely would be vinyl.

From an architectural standpoint I need paintable window grills. If there is no option for a paintable window grills I have no interest. The window frames just need to be made of a material that wont rot or break down in 25 years.

I have Marvin Integrity All-Ultrex fiberglass frame windows. The wife wanted window grills on the front of the house, I wanted no grills on the back to interfere with the view or winter sun shine, so that is what we did. We have single hung windows. The frame interiors come in stone white and the exterior is whatever color you choose. With the frame being fiberglass, you can repaint them if you wish. The grills we got are between the glass, so they are stone white on the inside and match the chosen frame color on the exterior side. I'm not sure if they offer a grill that fits on the surface of the window that would allow you to repaint them.

The home that we've chosen will require paintable frames and grills on the build to keep the architectural look we desire. Also it would keep our options open in the future if we decided to change colors. I'm also shooting for an super tight home so single hung is out of the question .... majority will be picture windows with a few casements and awning windows strictly only for ventilation during the summer months if we where to have a power outage. The home will be located in the state of Georgia which is a cooling dominated climate.

Here is the home I will be drawing plans for.


As you can see to keep to the style they need to have paintable grills.
I HOPE we don't have to go with wood frames to get what I need

Heres a red neck solution .... with fiberglass frame, Velcro the the grills to the glass .....Hahaha

Which there again 3M VHB Clear tape which I used 20 years ago doing a window mod to a computer case is some super duper stuff. Would make cleaning windows a major chore because it would take quite a bit of work using a razor removing the grills! It very well may be to strong...

Video demonstrating how crazy strong this stuff is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OtrDvDvF5I

when you look at the integrity website, look at the grille options. They'll do gbgs (between glass), snap-ins, or sdls (simulated divided lights with your choice of inside/outside/spacer between the glass (bad for r value)) in wood or clad color.

Yes Bob, I looked and they have No snap-in grills options for the All Ultrex ....... I don't want wood framed windows.

Looks as though Anderson has the answer, but they are only for there 400 & 200 series. Would be great if they were available in a fiberglass model.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWurvC8JiVA

Here's a DIY way of solving it .... its a bit of work, but may not have an option if I want fiberglass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuGx--GbxP0

Posted By ricky_005 on 15 Feb 2014 09:54 PM

As you can see to keep to the style they need to have paintable grills.

From the photo, that window frame color looks like Integrity All-Ultrex pebble grey (that is what I have).   You can request samples of the fiberglass with the various colors from a local dealer to get a more accurate representation of the color.  But, obviously, if all they offer is grills between the glass, then you can't change the color of the grills at some later date.  You might call Marvin and ask for possible options that aren't shown on their website.  I have high solar gain  low e 180 glass that wasn't listed on their website at the time I ordered mine.  I called the local dealer and asked about it.  He checked with Marvin and said they could supply that.

Posted By ricky_005 on 15 Feb 2014 10:39 PM
Yes Bob, I looked and they have No snap-in grills options for the All Ultrex ....... I don't want wood framed windows.

Have you looked at the window frame cross sections in the ADM?  On the Integrity Ultrex/wood frames, the outer portion of the frame is Ultrex with just a thin section of wood on the inside to give it the look of wood.

Here are a couple of sites I ran across that have solutions that should work very well ..... So maybe I can go with any brand of fiberglass window and have paintable grills after all.

http://www.cgpglass.com/Gallery-of-...e-SDL.aspx

http://www.jjjspecialty.com/page/page/2155420.htm

here's a link to the Integrity page that shows the wood/ultrex snap in grilles. Also a pretty good view of the FIBERGLASS frame of the window:
http://www.integritywindows.com/Fiberglass-Windows/Double-Hung-Wood-Ultrex/. I did check and looks like they do not make the snap ins for the all-fiberglass, but the wood/ultrex is a better looking window anyway.

Here is a cutaway view of a Marvin Integrity wood-ultrex window with simulated divided lights that can be painted:

I use cellular composite windows, better r-value and more stable than fiberglass

Posted By smartwall on 19 Feb 2014 09:23 AM
I use cellular composite windows, better r-value and more stable than fiberglass

Proof please.

BS Salesman...