I would do black aluminum and check out commercial style windows

That's a cool outside-the-box idea, Patricia...thank you for weighing in! I'm sure I'd like the look of those windows...I've been staring at windows in local restaurants for months and that's been part of the reason for my interest in aluminum. Do you have knowledge about commercial-style aluminum? Any idea how it would perform in a high desert climate?

I wish I had a peacock sitting on my roof!

Yeah, the peacocks are a pretty cool thing about living here! They roam wild through the neighborhoods near the river in the north valley of our city. We have a family on our street and this is “Petey”, the male.

We have thermally-broken aluminum windows and doors, which ensures high energy efficiency (unlike many commercial windows or aluminum windows from 20yrs ago). I would also pay attention to the SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) since you are in a warmer climate. Our aluminum window are powder-coated so they won't fade and will be able to withstand the drastic climate. Aesthetically, we have dual color options --one color for interior, one color for exterior. We have never heard of our windows having any problems performing in harsh climates such as yours and we have a very large project in Las Vegas (closets climate for comparison). If you have your window measurements, we would be happy to provide you with a quote. However, we are generally a 20% higher price point than Marvin.

Hope this helps in your research!

P.S. Love the style of your home and Petey is gorgeous!

Thanks for the info Glo...your windows are really gorgeous. I DO dearly wish they were in my budget, but we have to stretch this money to tackle our 1940s kitchen next and after that we have a bathroom to fix up. I'm afraid the window budget is tight. Also, I don't think that our mid-century, middle class neighborhood could support an investment like those windows.

In the past few days I've visited some window showrooms and I'm thinking a lot about Anderson 100 series windows. I like the way they look and operate and the sales associate was very persuasive...still waiting on a quote.

Can anyone chime in with knowledge of Anderson 100 series or any other recommendations? Is there another category/brand that I should be considering?

I might, however, consider a gorgeous back door from Glo. I'm looking at the site and it's difficult to tell if you all have local distributors in various locations...? I'll follow the prompts to receive a quote from the site, but is there anyone in NM who distributes your windows and doors? I'd love to see them in person...

Oh...now I see that you all have a 10 unit minimum. I went ahead and requested a quote by sending a list of windows needed--thanks again for reaching out!

Andersen’s 100 series casement is actually quite nice, however, it does not offer particularly narrow frames. We’ve installed quite a few of the casements, and have been pleased with the product overall.

Its definitely smart to stay within your budget! Things can get out of hand quickly if you're not diligent. That's why I tried to be upfront with what to expect for price point.

Unfortunately, we do not have any dealers in NM. However, we have projects all over the US! Typically what we do is send samples, etc. Shoot us an email at hello@glowindows.com or mark@glowindows.com and we can go from there. Were you looking at the D1 Door or Aluminum Double/Triple Pane Door?

Just saw the quote request come thru! We'll be in touch soon and may call if we have any questions.

Ultra windows, thanks for the reassurance about Anderson 100 series. You're right that they do not offer particularly narrow frames. I'm currently calculating what I need to sacrifice in order to stretch the budget. Do you have other window recommendations that might fit our needs?

Don Young aluminum may be a good window to look into.

Unfortunately, Don Young’s aluminum casement is really thick and not too attractive.

I think the Marvin Integrity all Ultrex casement is the best option, if your budget allows for it.

Thank you for that info Ultra I should have remebered that that is your area of the country and know that product much better than I.

No problem. If it weren’t casements, it would have been a good recommendation, and still could be as long as the OP is okay with the look.

Here’s the exterior.

Wow, you're rigth that is quite bulky. Of course being a faily small sample makes it look worse but still a lot of bronze surface showing.

Thank you for your responses. Yes, Ultra Windows and millworkman, I did get a quote for Don Young windows. It's the most affordable quote so far, but I do not love the way they look and I'm also not convinced that pure aluminum will work well in my climate.

When comparing Marvin Integrity and Andersen 100 purely from a quality/performance perspective, are there BIG differences? In other words, can I expect the Integrity fiberglass option to give me a couple decades of good performance and is that same quality not expected from Andersen 100, since it's their entry-level window? OR would you say they're similar in this regard? I ask because, for the same 8 windows (no divided light grids), the quote for Integrity is $5803 and the quote from Andersen 100 is $3910. So, obviously, if there are no significant performance differences--AND because I generally like the look of both, I would go with Andersen.

However, here's the catch. I am considering a different stylistic option as well. Since I'm so fond of the steel casements that were originally on my house, I'm considering paying extra for divided light grids. IF I go with divided lights, I'm thinking of going with Semco aluminum clad wood, which quote the same 8 windows above (WITH divided light grids) at $6512. The cost to add grids to the Semco windows is only about 20% more than non-grids.

Mysteriously, the Andersen price jumps to 60% higher (from $3910 to $6111) with grids! What's the deal with that?? I asked the rep why the price jumps so much with grids but she didn't really have an explanation except to say that the MORE grids you have the higher the price...I'll be sending her a list of windows specifying how many grids per window.

I'm not considering the Integrity grid windows because they only have grids between the glass--not on the interior and exterior, and I'm not a fan of that look.

That's a LOT of information--now you all have a view of the chaos currently in my mind. I appreciate whatever insight/expertise you can share!

We've arrived at a compromise. We'll use open (no grid) windows (casement, awnings, and picture) for the majority of our windows, with the narrowest frames we can afford (Marvin Integrity, Semco, or Andersen 100 series). And, in one or two key spots, we'll splurge on divided lites (large front porch window and possibly the kitchen window).

Any tips or insight about the comparative quality/longevity of Marvin Ingegrity, Semco, or Andersen 100? I'm leaning toward Andersen for the majority (non-grid) windows (because the price is right) and Semco for the feature windows.

Since you’re going with casements, if you’re good with the frame dimension of the Andersen 100 I’d just go with it and save the money. As to windows with SDL’s do you not like the look of the 100 series with SDL’s?

I do like the SDL Andersen windows and since I’m only going with one or two of them, and they’re about the same cost as semco or integrity with SDL, I may use ALL Andersen. Good call. Thanks for your guidance.

That’s what I would do. I don’t have personal experience with Semco, but what I’ve heard hasn’t been positive. Millworkman might have some better insight on that brand.

Been a while but as Ultra mentions but from what I recall not a quality product.

Thought I'd add to this convo as I was searching for Andersen 100 series quality control issues. Just received my 8 largish windows (gliders) and my contractor opened them today and literally all of them have scratches on the frames (haven't even taken the plastic off the glass yet) and all of them have the orange peel look on the frame closest to the glass as you can see in the top picture. I would have loved the windows without the scratches and if they had the smooth like surface the fibrex is supposed to have. As it stands now these are going back and hopefully HomeDepot will make right with me and I will not be ordering these again as I can't afford the long lead time only to have other quality issues. I'm quite bummed and am so surprised every single window has this orange peel look...this is not something a reorder might fix imo. Good luck and now I too am on the lookout for a similar black/black narrow line without wood window. Plus I'm in CA so need to be close to the title 29 regs. This is for a major remodel not a new build but I used new construction windows as I changed the sizes.

Thought I'd add to this convo as I was searching for Andersen 100 series quality control issues. Just received my 8 largish windows (gliders) and my contractor opened them today and literally all of them have scratches on the frames (haven't even taken the plastic off the glass yet) and all of them have the orange peel look on the frame closest to the glass as you can see in the top picture. I would have loved the windows without the scratches and if they had the smooth like surface the fibrex is supposed to have. As it stands now these are going back and hopefully HomeDepot will make right with me and I will not be ordering these again as I can't afford the long lead time only to have other quality issues. I'm quite bummed and am so surprised every single window has this orange peel look...this is not something a reorder might fix imo. Good luck and now I too am on the lookout for a similar black/black narrow line without wood window. Plus I'm in CA so need to be close to the title 29 regs. This is for a major remodel not a new build but I used new construction windows as I changed the sizes.

here's the pic as it didn't upload for some reason

Thank you foothillviews for sharing this experience. I'm really sorry to hear about your disappointing experience. :( I wonder if there would be value (for you AND me) in using a smaller local dealer/distributor? Are the product, warranties, and quality control better when you aren't dealing with a big box store like Home Depot? Just asking...this is all new to me! I wish you the best of luck in resolving this. If you have a moment, let me know what you choose instead. Thanks!