@technodiabla

I have on order Essential windows and a 4-panel French Slider in the Elevate line. I don't like that the Elevate interior has to be painted but this was my only choice.

do you like the look of them mixed together?

@technodiabla

my order won't be here until the middle of July so I don't know what they look like together.

Many people mix brands or doors versus window from the same manufacturers lines. Should be no issue.

I Mixed Marvin Ultimate and Elevate windows with multi-sliders by Euro-wall.

• The wall with a 12' open span as you listed seems like a compromise for economy to me. I'm thinking it has a view. that may be the focus of your home design. It so I'd prioritize the impact of that view.. Some options include a 6' wide center panel with a 3' movable segment on one or both sides. I'd also go with 8' units or taller depending on the wall. Modern is available in panels up to 6'x12'. Meeting stiles are less than 3" wide. Link. . .Looking at the Essential line. A similar configuration at 8' high could be assembled, imo. A center Picture unit of 6'x8' with one or both 3' sliding panels on either side. The top and bottom track would be 12'. You could add fixed windows above. . .I wouldn't choose 6'8" standard height units in a room with high ceilings. The meeting stiles will be wider with Essentials. The 6' wide center panel could overcome some of that.

@dan1888 There's a forest view but also we need access to the deck. Having the operable doors on the end doesn't work too well as furniture would likely block access at least partially. I am looking at 8' tall panels with another set of 8' tall above them in the open second storey. We are definitely trying to stretch our dollars. I am not sure we can afford anything in the Modern line. We may end up doing Essential windows with Elevate sliders in all 3 slider locations. I will consider your suggestion of a 6'x8' with side panels (not doors) to maximize views. We can use the slider in the adjacent dining room for deck access too though that is not ideal for traffic flow. Lots of tradeoffs, and yes, compromises.

I have a mix of elevate and essential windows: can't really notice the minor diffence (at least in casements). We have one elevate door and one large 12x8 clad door. The doors look great.

@technodiabla

I replaced 3 windows in my present home, two of them are Essential Low E 2 with Gray tint, and one is Low E3 without tint. The windows needed to be replaced and I wanted to see the difference before I ordered windows for my new build. I am not a fan of wood trim on windows or sliders so I wanted all of them from the Essential line but the 4 Panel French Sliders only came in the Elevate line that has the wood interior trim.

We were planning a 24' window/door option for our home with a view. We priced out two 12' sliders and multi-panel options. We thought about how we really were going to use the doors and how often we would leave them open (living in bear, mountain lion and tarantula area...) and opted for two fixed 6' x 8' windows on either side of a double 12' slider, so only one 6' section opens. Think about how you intend to use the doors and where the opening makes the most sense. In our case, the slider has a bigger 12" rail on the bottom and the windows are almost flush with the floor, so we really like the openness of the windows.

@LH CO/FL did you get a screen for your slider or find it blocked the view too much? I am not a fan of bugs in the house but I definitely want to be abble to leave the doors open when he weather is nice.

@technodiabla, you can always look at some of the retractable screens available for sliders. Just make sure you look at the specs before you build, so that you can make any adjustments to framing/trim to have them look like they were part of the initial design and not like an afterthought.

https://www.phantomscreens.com/

Have you looked at the Marvin Ultimate series? Built a house last year where the owners had similar constraints and they ended up choosing ultimate in the end. They're excellent windows/doors and have similar design flexibility with slightly less visible glass (larger frames)

We haven't gotten a CO yet, so not living in the house. It comes with a screen, but I don't think that will effect the view -- I mean, it will but worth it to keep the crawlies out. We have large windows above the doors, and the distant view is the mountain peaks visible through those windows.

@Steve C yes a previous version of the design for this same house included Marvin Ultimate. They are not in budget most likely but we would also like to avoid wood if possible (this new design has 25% more windows). I know Elevate has wood interiors but at least that would match more closely to the Essentials which are not wood. So Elevate sliders and Essential windows might be the way we go. I agree the Ultimates are very beautiful though!

I like the essential, but at the time I ordered (may have changed since then), the sizes were limited, and anything custom-sized made them more expensive than elevate. Are you listening Marvin?

@technodiabla what was your conclusion and how was the outcome?