What did the "failures" look like? Seal failures, frame, sash, paint, etc?

Seal failures. Moisture between the panes, mold, and cloudiness too.

I’d be looking at what the window companies are using for there glass packs and would focus more on the spacer used. Stay away from tin or aluminum spacers. Cardinal glass has one of the best reputations in the industry. Quality of windows is often over looked in new constuction, what brands of windows do tou have available?

+1. No reason that should be happening if the IGU is of a quality construction. Salt should have very little to do with the space components and the sun is no stronger there than it is in Arizona.

Here's some info on the different spacers in use. https://www.royaltywindows.com/window-blog/best-window-spacer/ This should be just the beginning of your research. You'll need to find info on sealing methods, materials and if multiple seals are used. Once you are familiar with the different options you can talk to and evaluate window choices available in your area.

C.R. Laurence Link. supplies dual seal insulated glass production supplies. You may not need spacers developed to deal with sub-zero exterior temperatures.

Agree that there is no particular reason why you should be having trouble with seal failure in Hawaii versus elsewhere, except for poor quality material and/or manufacture of the IG units in your previous homes.

Although I am a huge proponent of IG and energy performance in windows, having lived in Hawaii for three years, I would seriously look at laminated glass with an embedded low or moderate solar gain LowE coating, and if necessary to meet code a surface 4 coating for the U factor computation.

All that aside, the most important consideration, as you are asking, is finding a quality window and knowing that they have done their homework on the spacer that they use. So what window companies are available in Hawaii?

Also, I would take the particulars in the link to "spacers" mentioned in a previous post with more than a grain of salt because it's more hype than useful information.

Great, any one know of a production manufacture of high quality windows with the right spacer that won’t fail in Hawaii? Or even laminated glass as mentioned? Never had this problem with single pain windows, we’ve lived and built in the islands for 40 years. Also, when we had single pane windows, we never had an issue with needing energy performance windows. If the house is designed with the sun and trades in mind, it will stay comfortable year round.

What window brands are available to you to choose from? Most of us here are not familiar enough with the product offerings available on Hawaii.

Oberon...slashing through the BS like William Wallace.

We can get anything, but most common is Pella, Milgard, Marvin, Anderson, Western, Fleetwood, Breezeway Louvers. And I can do custom wood framed windows locally, but not looking to have maintenance features on this new house, so not going that route again.

• Seal failures. Moisture between the panes, mold, and cloudiness too.

So this was with "custom wood framed windows locally"?

No, custom windows have been single pane, it was a brand name mentioned in last post that failed, on 3 houses I have built in last 8 years. Would prefer not to be specific on brand.

I am not familiar with windows in Hawaii but the companies you list are all reputable in the US so maybe talk to them . FYI I have aluminum farmed sealed double panedd windows sout facing where we often get 40Celsius summer s and -20 C. winters my windows are 30 Yrs old not one fail in the space between the panes . I knoe the aluminum os not good in salt air but vinyl ones should be great .

What windows did you use? Our design codes in our subdivision does not allow for vinyl, must be fiberglass, aluminum, or wood. Wood is a maintenance feature I am not interested in, my home and not a spec. Aluminum coatings available today are far better then the first windows we put in 35 years ago. Back then the frame failed, but no problems with the glass as it was single pane. Built the house around the Sun, trades, rain direction. Never had AC. House was comfortable year round. And withstood Hurricane Iniki. But I digress. Patricia Colwell Consulting, what windows did you use 30 years ago that were double pane?

I forgot to mention the windows that have failed all have warranty calls out on them. Over two years now. And yes there have been supply and manpower issues, I get that part. But my experience has been that of total incompetence. Incorrect measurements taken for replacement glass three times, showing up with out tools, showing up with incorrect glass, damaging a door (no longer square), all requiring a rescheduled warranty call. Over 2 years. 3 houses. All new construction.

toddinmn

Cardinal Glass. I looked them up. Are they manufactures of glass only, or do the make framed windows? Like production window companies mentioned before. I’ll be in Ca, Tx, Mo material shopping in a couple weeks. Do the have showrooms?

Yes, Cardinal makes glass - not windows.

• I’d be looking at what the window companies are using for there glass packs and would focus more on the spacer used.

We know that you don't want to tell us what windows you bought - but I think toddinmn was just asking who provided the glass and what spacer they used.

Probably, not sure that info is available at this point.

Here's one local manufacturer of insulated glass units. Link. You can make a list of others. And contact them to learn their capabilities and recommendations. Keep researching. Hopefully you can get to a point where you can make a somewhat educated evaluation. Marvin has fiberglass window in 3 different lines. They offer windows rated for coastal environments. Call their tech support guys to see what they can offer.

PattyFinlay,

I happen to agree with you that in Hawaii (in general) you really don't need high performance windows, but if if you must install them there is a lot to be said for not needing repair or replacement in the near future.

I suggested laminated with added LowE coatings not only because you can meet code with them but also for upgrades in security, storm resistance, sound blocking, fading, and energy performance over single pane and improvement over annealed dual pane in everything except energy performance, and as I mentioned previously the laminated glass with LowE coatings should meet the energy codes as well.

Cardinal is the largest residential glass manufacturer in North America and arguably in the world (outside China), but they don't make windows. They manufacture glass, LoE coatings (about 70% of all residential LoE coated glass in North America comes from Cardinal), tempered, laminated, and IG units.

Cardinal supplies glass and/or IG units to Pella, Milgard, Marvin, Andersen, Western, and Fleetwood, but I don't know about Breezeway or Louvers, I have never heard of either of them.

Cardinal uses a stainless steel spacer system in their IG units that should have zero problems in your environment, and while there are certainly other IG systems that should do fine as well, there are also some spacers and systems that I would stay away from whether in Hawaii or Alaska, or pretty much anywhere else. It would be nice to know who you had troubles with in the past, makes it a lot easier to suggest knowing that you are not interested in certain companies because of your past experience.

Also I think it's flat out dumb that the code authorities won't allow vinyl windows to be used, but again just my opinion.

SInce you don't want wood, Andersen has the 100 series using Fibrex (a composite that uses vinyl as one of it's components but is not fiberglass). Pella, Marvin, Milgard all offer fiberglass options while Western and Fleetwood both offer aluminum. Again I don't know either Breezeway or Louvers.

I am not sure who might offer the laminated glass option as a single pane rather than dual pane IG unit if that is something that you might want to consider, but that might be a realistic possibility from a local custom manufacturer.

I guess one of my questions is why do we have a “performance” requirement in Hawaii? The second house I built was in Poipu in 1987. Single pane aluminum. Withstood Hurricane Iniki. House was full of picture windows and slider doors all single pane. Only one louvered window broke. Debris hit it. House was never air conditioned and never needed it. We took advantage of the trades.

Breezeway Louvers is a company in Hawaii. https://breezway.com. Common look, but not sure I want all my windows to be Breezeway. Works best as an accent or bathroom window.

It's hard to believe that the windows in Hawaii take more abuse than those here in Florida! But, TBH, I don't know of anyone around here in Florida that has had window failures as the OP has described. I'm shocked.

We replaced all the windows and doors in my house in 2017. We installed impact glass and impact doors. By spending the extra money to avert or minimize hurricane damage, I'm hoping that will keep the hurricanes away and in forty years, I'll be able to say - dammit, why did we spend all that extra money on impact glass since no hurricane ever hit the house!

So just got off phone from customer service of window supplier. They manufacture their own glass. They are not sure who makes the sealant, or what the sealant is and they do not know where the spacers come from or what type it is. And I am saying this is one of the big companies mentioned.

If Breezeway (louvers - I missed that one. I thought it was a company name) can sell louver or jalousie windows in Hawaii, then why would you need dual pane? A fixed single pane is more efficient than a louver and if they are allowed why not single pane?

And I am saying this is one of the big companies mentioned.

No way to comment without knowing which company it is.

• That guy seems like he's running a game on you. Making glass is big deal. Maybe they make their own ig units using glass from a manufacturer. And someone knows what spacer they buy. If the use dual or a single seal system.

If you get double hungs replacing the glass is much easier, even more so if they send the glass in a new sash. I have replaced glass in many brands and never really had a problem getting the right size. Getting single pane windows nowadays is almost impossible unless it is a storm window. what are your performance requirements, i dont see much outside of solar heat gain.

So now we are talking warranty issue. Been working on the warranty call for over two years with this window manufacturer. Sending a new sash has not been an option. Over the last two years on one house there has been Three service calls to measure, 4th call was to install, but for got scaffolding, call 5 was to install, but glass wrong size, we will see what happens with 6th try.

So who has the best warranty. Maybe that is the real question.

In my experience in SE mainland US, the color and solar exposure of the window was very predictive of seal failures - in local crap builder basic windows.

If you have appropriate overhangs and avoid dark colored frames, you will probably get good longevity.

For us, it is is typically 1 of 40 window failures/year. On a west facing no overhang situation, it was more like 1/8 failures per year - more annoying for sure.

The failures are typically after about 5 years but the West facing dark windows started failing at 2 years.

Also, my impact windows at the coast have small failures on a S/SE face with no coverage. They started tiny and are moving very slowly. 10 years old. I wonder if the impact lamination slows the progression - that is what it seems like. Where the non impact windows cloud in their entirety quickly.

glass warranties are typically pretty similar, sounds like you are asking who has the best service. The best service starts with your dealer. If I installed your windows I would not even need to come out except to install. I have had good luck getting the right parts from brands I don’t sell as long as they are given the correct information.