Hi Everyone,

I have gotten quotes from a number of manufacturers. Intus, Zola, Bieber, HHWindows,
SolarInnovations, Jeld-Wen, Sfera, Cometal.

I have a total of 36 windows, but some of them can be combined into a single unit,
and they total about 420 sq ft. The operable windows are about 270 sq ft. All operable
windows were designated as in-swing tilt/turn, with wide ones designated as french
tilt/turn. For my doors, I have a 3x8 entry door with 1.5 ft sidelights on both sides,
and a 1 ft transom. I have 2 patio doors that are 2.5x8 ft, and I have a folding wall
with a fixed door and a bi-fold that is 10 ft wide and 9 ft high.

I asked for screens for all operable windows. Bieber, Sfera, and Cometal are retractable.
The others are fixed screens. The retractable screen is an expensive upgrade.

I was quoted the lowest available aluminum clad wood line, or if available thermally
broken aluminum. For most companies, it is dual pane, but for Intus, it is triple pane.
Prices include shipping unless noted

Intus: Premium 78 ALU - $55,000
Intus: Aluminum Schuco - incomplete quote, rep said it is more expensive
than their aluminum clad wood line
Zola: Classic Clad - $55,000
Bieber: Alum Clad - $74,000 without entry door, estimated about another $10-15k
HHwindows: Alum Clad - $62,000 shipping not specified, but coming from Seattle
SolarInnovations: - $50,000 outswing crank casement, asking for tilt/turn so
probably higher no entry door but surround included not sure if thermally broken aluminum
Jeld-Wen: - $35,000 not sure what was quoted, because only final number
but based on product line, must be crank outswing casement
Sfera: Sfera light - $86,000
Cometal: - $62,000 thermally broken aluminum

The Intus windows are a little better spec'ed, but you can't go cheaper with a double
pane solution, so it is about the same from the least cost effective standpoint. The
biggest difference is that only a few windows are local, so you have to visit install
sites to see the windows. I have been to a house with Bieber, and I plan to see a house
with some Zola windows tomorrow. Jeld-Wen has a showroom, but the quote was just a
number, so no way to confirm what window and glazing package I was getting. Also, the
extruded aluminum was flat against the wood, so that seemed like a great spot for rot.
Sfera and Cometal are local, so I could see their product line. Also, they were quoted
with laminated windows in a few places, so that price can be reduced by changing to
tempered glass.

Lead times are about 3-4 months for the european companies, the seattle company is
currently swamped with two big orders, so they told me their lead time is now at 20
weeks, jeld-wen is 5-6 weeks, so quite a bit less. SolarInnovations is 6-8 weeks for
fabrication.

I hope this information was helpful to anyone looking for windows
I am sure that there are even more manufacturers available, but I am exhausted from
all of the emails, driving, searching, etc. Is window searching this difficult for
everyone?
eugene

It all depends on what PERFORMANCE you want. Windows are a highly volatile topic around here and there are many dynamics involved in window selection:
Is this a Passive design?
Are you looking for looks or performance?
Triple pane will give you the best performance over double pane, in most cases.

The Euro or Canadian windows will give you the best quality design and performance numbers. As you noted, the Jeld Wen windows are basically a "you get what you paid for" design. Don't expect to line up a Jeld Wen window with a Beiber, Zola or Intus wood window. That's like comparing a Chevy to a Bentley. If building a high-perf home, I would not go above a U-Value of 0.20, which typically means you need triple pane glazing to see numbers < 0.20

I have around 500 sqft of glazing (which includes numerous patio & entry door glazing), in triple pane PVC, and the Intus quote came in around $33K delivered. Wood/aluminum clad will cost you more of course but I wanted maintenance free & termite free. I don't want to be climbing ladders and staining windows or dealing with termites eating my windows. Most of my windows are large 7x5 and I am incorporating a passive solar design.

Posted By Lbear on 25 Apr 2013 11:15 PM
It all depends on what PERFORMANCE you want. Windows are a highly volatile topic around here and there are many dynamics involved in window selection:
Is this a Passive design?
Are you looking for looks or performance?
Triple pane will give you the best performance over double pane, in most cases.

The Euro or Canadian windows will give you the best quality design and performance numbers. As you noted, the Jeld Wen windows are basically a "you get what you paid for" design. Don't expect to line up a Jeld Wen window with a Beiber, Zola or Intus wood window. That's like comparing a Chevy to a Bentley. If building a high-perf home, I would not go above a U-Value of 0.20, which typically means you need triple pane glazing to see numbers < 0.20

I have around 500 sqft of glazing (which includes numerous patio & entry door glazing), in triple pane PVC, and the Intus quote came in around $33K delivered. Wood/aluminum clad will cost you more of course but I wanted maintenance free & termite free. I don't want to be climbing ladders and staining windows or dealing with termites eating my windows. Most of my windows are large 7x5 and I am incorporating a passive solar design.

If you read my post completely and comprehended what I wrote, it was information for the forum.  I wasn't asking for any advice.  Even when someone doesn't want advice, you again push your Intus windows, and if you read my post at all, you would see, that I only requested quotes for aluminum clad wood windows or aluminum windows, yet you continue with your dying breath to talk about uPVC.

I also provided this information to totally disprove your assessment that Intus windows are so much cheaper than everyone else.   It is not much different than Zola, and it isn't much better than Cometal which I are quoted with retractable screens, and it would probably be the same with fixed window screens.  The Cometal windows are thermally broken aluminum windows, whereas Intus told me that their thermally broken aluminum windows are at a higher price point than their aluminum clad windows.  I believe Intus aluminum are just Schuco windows.

I quoted Jeld-Wen because most people want to know the cost of windows that have a local showroom and are readily viewed and inspected and are also tilt/turn windows.  Most people want to know if the price of the European windows are 2x, 3x, 4x, or greater than some locally sourced brand which many people consider.  If the aluminum clad tilt/turn windows from Jeld-Wen were $10,000, not many people would be buying $60,000 European windows.  I probably wouldn't consider it either.

A corvette zr1 will kill any bentley on the track, so I am not sure what you are trying to say.  If performance is your goal for the lowest price, nothing beats a chevy corvette.

You know, your desires and wishes, aren't global.  I think everyone and their mother knows that you love Intus uPVC windows.  Please don't comment on every single window topic, just to push Intus uPVC windows.

Again, you haven't answered my question:  Do you get some kind of kickback, monetary incentive, or some special discount when you order your Intus windows or mention Intus windows?

I already answered your question that I am not a dealer or sales rep for Chinese made windows.  Please stop behaving like some kind of forum prick because you have 5000 posts.  If you feel like you can demand things of others, then you should answer other people's demands, too.  If not, stop making your asinine demands.

Posted By eugenep on 26 Apr 2013 01:17 AM
If you read my post completely and comprehended what I wrote, it was information for the forum.  I wasn't asking for any advice.  Even when someone doesn't want advice, you again push your Intus windows, and if you read my post at all, you would see, that I only requested quotes for aluminum clad wood windows or aluminum windows, yet you continue with your dying breath to talk about uPVC.

I also provided this information to totally disprove your assessment that Intus windows are so much cheaper than everyone else.   It is not much different than Zola, and it isn't much better than Cometal which I are quoted with retractable screens, and it would probably be the same with fixed window screens.  The Cometal windows are thermally broken aluminum windows, whereas Intus told me that their thermally broken aluminum windows are at a higher price point than their aluminum clad windows.  I believe Intus aluminum are just Schuco windows.

I quoted Jeld-Wen because most people want to know the cost of windows that have a local showroom and are readily viewed and inspected and are also tilt/turn windows.  Most people want to know if the price of the European windows are 2x, 3x, 4x, or greater than some locally sourced brand which many people consider.  If the aluminum clad tilt/turn windows from Jeld-Wen were $10,000, not many people would be buying $60,000 European windows.  I probably wouldn't consider it either.

A corvette zr1 will kill any bentley on the track, so I am not sure what you are trying to say.  If performance is your goal for the lowest price, nothing beats a chevy corvette.

You know, your desires and wishes, aren't global.  I think everyone and their mother knows that you love Intus uPVC windows.  Please don't comment on every single window topic, just to push Intus uPVC windows.

Again, you haven't answered my question:  Do you get some kind of kickback, monetary incentive, or some special discount when you order your Intus windows or mention Intus windows?

I already answered your question that I am not a dealer or sales rep for Chinese made windows.  Please stop behaving like some kind of forum prick because you have 5000 posts.  If you feel like you can demand things of others, then you should answer other people's demands, too.  If not, stop making your asinine demands.

First, please calm down. I wasn't pushing anything, YOU mentioned Intus as one of your choices. I was replying about wood/alum windows and merely mentioned Intus as a reference since I also got a quote from Intus (just like you did) but mine were PVC not wood/alum clad. I was just trying to show the difference in price with an Intus PVC and an Intus Wood/alum. As with any wood/alum, they are always at a premium.

??? I wasn't debating the Chevy Zr1 Corvette with a Bentley. I was merely making a comparison with windows since you quoted Zola and other high-end windows and then compared them to Jeld Wen, which is a low dollar, mass production window sold at Home Depot and Lowes. I was just trying to say it is apples to oranges. You even mentioned yourself that the Jeld-Wen window design can have long term rotting issues.

Look, you have 10 posts here on this forum and by the above post it is quite apparent that you are easily and emotionally unstable. I am sorry I responded to your post and will leave you alone. Apparently you are not adult enough to read someones post without going into rants and name calling.

To settle your conspiracy theorists mind, I DO NOT work for Intus and I DO NOT receive any monetary compensation from them.

My post amount shows that I participate on this forum in all areas; building, windows, design, etc, and I don't merely come on once a year and make a post, and if I disagree with a post go off into a rant. You have made 10 posts, all of them about windows, and you have been obscene and aggressive from day one.

Your use of profanity and personal attacks clearly shows you are immature and maybe you should return when you have composed yourself and stopped the childish name calling.

Posted By Lbear on 26 Apr 2013 02:31 AM

Posted By eugenep on 26 Apr 2013 01:17 AM
If you read my post completely and comprehended what I wrote, it was information for the forum.  I wasn't asking for any advice.  Even when someone doesn't want advice, you again push your Intus windows, and if you read my post at all, you would see, that I only requested quotes for aluminum clad wood windows or aluminum windows, yet you continue with your dying breath to talk about uPVC.

I also provided this information to totally disprove your assessment that Intus windows are so much cheaper than everyone else.   It is not much different than Zola, and it isn't much better than Cometal which I are quoted with retractable screens, and it would probably be the same with fixed window screens.  The Cometal windows are thermally broken aluminum windows, whereas Intus told me that their thermally broken aluminum windows are at a higher price point than their aluminum clad windows.  I believe Intus aluminum are just Schuco windows.

I quoted Jeld-Wen because most people want to know the cost of windows that have a local showroom and are readily viewed and inspected and are also tilt/turn windows.  Most people want to know if the price of the European windows are 2x, 3x, 4x, or greater than some locally sourced brand which many people consider.  If the aluminum clad tilt/turn windows from Jeld-Wen were $10,000, not many people would be buying $60,000 European windows.  I probably wouldn't consider it either.

A corvette zr1 will kill any bentley on the track, so I am not sure what you are trying to say.  If performance is your goal for the lowest price, nothing beats a chevy corvette.

You know, your desires and wishes, aren't global.  I think everyone and their mother knows that you love Intus uPVC windows.  Please don't comment on every single window topic, just to push Intus uPVC windows.

Again, you haven't answered my question:  Do you get some kind of kickback, monetary incentive, or some special discount when you order your Intus windows or mention Intus windows?

I already answered your question that I am not a dealer or sales rep for Chinese made windows.  Please stop behaving like some kind of forum prick because you have 5000 posts.  If you feel like you can demand things of others, then you should answer other people's demands, too.  If not, stop making your asinine demands.

First, please calm down. I wasn't pushing anything, YOU mentioned Intus as one of your choices. I was replying about wood/alum windows and merely mentioned Intus as a reference since I also got a quote from Intus (just like you did) but mine were PVC not wood/alum clad. I was just trying to show the difference in price with an Intus PVC and an Intus Wood/alum. As with any wood/alum, they are always at a premium.

??? I wasn't debating the Chevy Zr1 Corvette with a Bentley. I was merely making a comparison with windows since you quoted Zola and other high-end windows and then compared them to Jeld Wen, which is a low dollar, mass production window sold at Home Depot and Lowes. I was just trying to say it is apples to oranges. You even mentioned yourself that the Jeld-Wen window design can have long term rotting issues.

Look, you have 10 posts here on this forum and by the above post it is quite apparent that you are easily and emotionally unstable. I am sorry I responded to your post and will leave you alone. Apparently you are not adult enough to read someones post without going into rants and name calling.

To settle your conspiracy theorists mind, I DO NOT work for Intus and I DO NOT receive any monetary compensation from them.

My post amount shows that I participate on this forum in all areas; building, windows, design, etc, and I don't merely come on once a year and make a post, and if I disagree with a post go off into a rant. You have made 10 posts, all of them about windows, and you have been obscene and aggressive from day one.

Your use of profanity and personal attacks clearly shows you are immature and maybe you should return when you have composed yourself and stopped the childish name calling.

On my earlier post, you accuse me of being a sales rep for a chinese window manufacturer. So, I guess you consider that libel is totally mature. Making false accusations as totally mature. You throw about rude and accusatory comments, and then when people call you on it. They are mentally unstable and immature. Yet, when I say that it is inflammatory, you extoll the amount of your posts to my posts. How was my initial post anything but informative, so again, you lie to suit your point of view. You are the one who just adds dribble to most every thread on this forum. Who cares how many posts you make. Each and everyone one of my posts are followed by irrelevant "posts" by you. No wonder your post count is so high. You make inane comments to get your posts up. Also, all of my posts have not been about windows, so please if you are going to again accuse me of something, can you at least be accurate. You again hide behind your monitor and say what you please. You say you won't comment, and then you add another post. Also, if you would go and do your research, Jeld-Wen sells vinyl windows at home depot, but they also carry many different lines of wood and aluminum clad window which are all custom made and are not mass produced, so again, you spout totally incorrect information, which people have called you on over and over again, but you continue to say whatever you feel like saying. Everyone knows that you have gotten uPVC quotes from Intus, you post it over and over again. You don't need to add it every single window thread. You aren't adding anything new, so please stop.

I'll second that.

Thanks for the numbers. I expect they will save someone a lot of running around (or $ on windows).

Posted By eugenep on 25 Apr 2013 09:06 PM
Intus: Premium 78 ALU - $55,000
Intus: Aluminum Schuco - incomplete quote, rep said it is more expensive
than their aluminum clad wood line
Zola: Classic Clad - $55,000
Bieber: Alum Clad - $74,000 without entry door, estimated about another $10-15k
HHwindows: Alum Clad - $62,000 shipping not specified, but coming from Seattle
SolarInnovations: - $50,000 outswing crank casement, asking for tilt/turn so
probably higher no entry door but surround included not sure if thermally broken aluminum
Jeld-Wen: - $35,000 not sure what was quoted, because only final number
but based on product line, must be crank outswing casement
Sfera: Sfera light - $86,000
Cometal: - $62,000 thermally broken aluminum

I have some slight updates. I forgot to include shipping for the Sfera and Cometal windows, and that is an additional $6500, so not a small mistake.

An Intus manager called me, and he says that they actually have a thinner profile window called premier 68, and it would be a double pane window. He is getting me a quote, but he thinks it will be at least 10% cheaper. So that makes Intus even cheaper. They don't have any installations on the west coast. I am not sure if that was with the retractable screens or just any window installations. I presume it was just window installations, because I asked to see the windows, but at the same time I mentioned the screens, but forgot to clarify about what was installed out here.

The HHwindows quote wasn't quite complete, but the new quote is only $3000 more. He forgot to add the screen cost (fixed screen), and he added side lights and a transom to the entry door.

I went to the house on the Zola website, i.e. the orange windows with the gray modern siding. The windows are pretty decent. The massive slider was nice. I asked him why they didn't use a wall of windows, and he said they wanted to have few breaks in the glass. With the slider, he only has 1 break, whereas if he had panels, he would need have 6 or 7 breaks because the widest folding panel is 3-4 ft. I think the homeowner usually has the door closed, and the opening is about 20 ft wide, so the 10 ft door is sufficient, and the breaks become more important. The view was very nice. The home was at the top of Belmont Hills. The home didn't have any screens, so couldn't see how they look. Another twist to the discussion is that Zola is planning to add a line of thermally broken aluminum windows and retractable screens. The time frame isn't known, but he guessed June/July time frame. Supposedly, they will use the same window manufacturer combined with the same aluminum extrusion company, and they will work together to create a new window, and they just sent me some information about a potential screen partner, Hella

Still waiting for the solarinnovations quote for the tilt/turn. Looking at the website more carefully, it says thermally enhanced, so presumably it isn't thermally broken, because they define the doors as thermally broken, so that is a major detraction.

I am leaning towards paying a little more and having someone who has a more vested interest in my satisfaction. I have talked to a local Zola rep, and a local Bieber rep. I have talked to the Jen-Weld rep. I have talked to the store owner who carries Sfera and Cometal. I have only communicated with Intus, HHWindows, and SolarInnovations through email and on the phone. The screens are a big deal, so that removes Jeld-Wen, and temporarily removes Zola, but that might change in the next couple of months. Bieber is probably a little too expensive. They don't have a thermally broken aluminum window, and they don't seem any better than the Sfera windows. So right now, I am leaning towards the Cometal windows and a Sfera front door.

For performance, and maintenance free, was there a reason you didn't consider fiberglass?

Posted By Josh C on 09 May 2013 04:12 PM
For performance, and maintenance free, was there a reason you didn't consider fiberglass?

I just didn't think about it. I didn't know about fiberglass until I started reading this forum, and by then, I was already chin deep with too many window choices.

I hear that a lot. Maybe one day as building standards rise, more of the market will recognize the strengths in fiberglass. I'd love to know what you think if you have a chance. www.fibertec.com is what we do. I'd love your opinion. Thanks and Kind Regards. All the best on your window project.

Posted By Josh C on 11 May 2013 04:00 PM
I hear that a lot. Maybe one day as building standards rise, more of the market will recognize the strengths in fiberglass. I'd love to know what you think if you have a chance. www.fibertec.com is what we do. I'd love your opinion. Thanks and Kind Regards. All the best on your window project.

fibertec is not an option for me, because based on the website, they don't have tilt/turn windows, and i am only looking at that type of window.

I don't find much value in this thread...you are all over the map here my friend...

Thread back from the dead...
Eugenepan did you select your windows and which ones did you choose?
I need impact resistant windows and doors.
I was surprised that Intus was not driven off your list because of pricing.
I want good U-factor, SHPC as well as air tight as possible.
My need for tilt/turn isn't a requirement so I would assume that opens the selection.
Thanks

Posted By fun2drive on 06 Sep 2014 10:32 PM
Thread back from the dead...
Eugenepan did you select your windows and which ones did you choose?
I need impact resistant windows and doors.
I was surprised that Intus was not driven off your list because of pricing.
I want good U-factor, SHPC as well as air tight as possible.
My need for tilt/turn isn't a requirement so I would assume that opens the selection.
Thanks

I used cometal windows.  They are all aluminum double pane windows.  All of my windows that code required tempered, I used laminated, and a couple of windows that didn't require tempered, I also used laminated.  My window guy convinced me to go with laminated.  I have 3 small kids, and they are super active, and we have lots of glass from the main area to the backyard, so it was a small price to pay for a little more comfort.

I am not sure about your statement with regards to Intus and pricing.  Intus was probably more than my windows if I went with aluminum windows because I think they are just rebranding schuco windows.  However their triple pane wood clad aluminum would be cheaper than my cometal windows.

My biggest reason for not considering them is that they couldn't show me the windows.  No one in a 50 mile radius had them installed or at least would let me see them.  Intus told me they didn't have any house where I could see their windows installed, and so that was a no go for me.

Never heard of cometal windows but then again I just started looking into the impact resistant requirement I have to meet for windows and almost all the names I see are unknown to me. Having lived in Europe 3 years I know how good a lot of the windows and doors were I saw.
Not being able to see the product in person or my general contractor or architect not having experience with a manufacturer is a no go for me as well. My window and doors be they sliding and fixed panels will be a considerable cost. I am guessing over $100K so this is a vested interest for me.
Thanks for the insight and for whatever benefit I will post the results of my search once I get sufficient information and add a new thread for those interested in the high velocity wind (I am in the 140-130 mph range) Florida hurricane zone...

Posted By fun2drive on 08 Sep 2014 09:37 AM
Never heard of cometal windows but then again I just started looking into the impact resistant requirement I have to meet for windows and almost all the names I see are unknown to me. Having lived in Europe 3 years I know how good a lot of the windows and doors were I saw.
Not being able to see the product in person or my general contractor or architect not having experience with a manufacturer is a no go for me as well. My window and doors be they sliding and fixed panels will be a considerable cost. I am guessing over $100K so this is a vested interest for me.
Thanks for the insight and for whatever benefit I will post the results of my search once I get sufficient information and add a new thread for those interested in the high velocity wind (I am in the 140-130 mph range) Florida hurricane zone...

where are you located?  Some of the manufacturers will give you a name of a local person that uses the windows.

Panhandle of Florida, Niceville...

Looking forward to joining my fellow fenestration enthusiasts with further posts on this forum... Anyhow on the topic of window and door cost, the numbers above sound about right, but something I haven't been able to come to grips with is how these costs fit into the mainstream construction paradigm. Construction budgeting software seems to include very low costs for windows, proportionally. Eugenep would you be willing to share livable area, and nature of any key construction challenges so we could get a picture of how these window budgets fit into the larger construction cost picture? Also: Is this new construction or a renovation? For clarification these were delivered windows only with no installation, correct? Thanks. -N

Posted By ndee on 18 Sep 2014 01:45 PM
Looking forward to joining my fellow fenestration enthusiasts with further posts on this forum... Anyhow on the topic of window and door cost, the numbers above sound about right, but something I haven't been able to come to grips with is how these costs fit into the mainstream construction paradigm. Construction budgeting software seems to include very low costs for windows, proportionally. Eugenep would you be willing to share livable area, and nature of any key construction challenges so we could get a picture of how these window budgets fit into the larger construction cost picture? Also: Is this new construction or a renovation? For clarification these were delivered windows only with no installation, correct? Thanks. -N

~3000 sq ft single story.  yes, just the windows & doors.  no major issues, just needed to know some details our particular doors, like assuming the door was placed at the finished floor height.

some of my friends probably had budgets that were 1/6 to 1/8 of my cost for windows, and some had bigger homes than me.