I know the green that you speak of. We have a slider like that. Fortunatley it doesnt get the full sun very often because it is recessed under a deck. But what an ugly light it shines into the room. It really is mostly near the winter solstice that it gets low enough to shine in. I would think twice about doing this to any glass with sun. How do they sell so much of this when it makes things all greeninsh? I had no idea of it when I ordered the door.

How is it too late to change? Are the windows installed?

The windows were ordered and are going to be delivered next week. I'm sick about it but all I can do is try to minimize the green cast through decorating at this point. And maybe give up the idea of skylights, since those haven't been ordered yet. If I could order skylights without so much of the Low E coating, I would, but Velux only offers the Low-E 366, which is what all my windows will have. Both sets of our sliding doors open to covered porches, so maybe that will help.

Apparently this doesn't bother everyone, my builder was surprised when we brought it up since they just automatically order these for all the new construction.

Sometimes we latch onto something and make it more of an issue than what it will really be ... I think the window tint might be your "something"!

We built in 2021 and to tell you the truth I had no idea what my window rating was! I had to go and pull up the invoices. What I did know was that they were all impact/hurricane rated because that is code in my area of FL.

Windows are Marvin Low E3 w/ Argon

Multi-slide doors are Euro-wall Low E366

I selected them based on the displays at the window distributor.

Yes, they do have a slight tint. It does not affect any of the colors/finishes inside ... and I am picky about those things.

On the outside, at certain times of day if the shades are drawn and the sun is on those windows, you see some of the tint ... so what! I used Hunter Douglas Duette shades and I powered and automated them, so the shades close only when the sun is on those windows. Most of the day my window shades are open and the windows look nice from the street ... much nicer than my neighbors who don't have simulated divided lights!

My multi-slide doors are all 10 ft tall, so large expanses of this glass and it really isn't an issue.

I think you are getting caught up in feelings. If skylights will bring light into darker areas, I would not give up that natural light, just because the glass might be tinted.

Thank you for that reassurance. Home building is very stressful and I am probably fixating on this too much. I do think color choices in decorating can make a difference, so I will focus on that.

I can see why you would need the Low E 366 in Florida, but after reading a few posts from window professionals, it sounds like it might be overkill for some regions of the country, such as the Midwest. There is another option— Low E 272–that would probably have been a better balance for our climate with less of the green cast. Our current house is about 25 years old and is very energy efficient, but whatever glass they used does allow the warmth of the sun’s rays to shine in. Simply closing some blinds in the summer solves the problem. And in the winter, we really enjoy sitting next to a window and feeling the warmth of the sun streaming through.

I have another, related question.

It turns out that two of the windows in our Living Room are going to need to be reordered in a different size (we will eat the cost). They are currently horizontal, inoperable 43.5" W x 19.5" H (glass size), one on either side of the fireplace. We will probably change these to approximately 36" x 18" or 36" x 24" (not sure of exact glass size). This change is to accommodate a redesign of our fireplace wall. The wall is on the south side of the house. The west living room wall faces the backyard, and will have three 32" W by 80" H (glass size) windows that will be Low-E 366. On the east side of the room is the staircase, which will have a large, south facing Low E 366 window on the landing. There is about 3' 9" wall separating the living room from the stairs, and the stair tower bumps out into the south yard, so the landing and the top two stairs will not be visible in the living room, just the lower stairs and railing. I'm wondering if we should order Low E 272 instead of 366 for these two small windows--not sure if it will make a difference in the quality of light in our living room, but since we have to reorder anyway? There aren't any trees in that area, although we do plan to plant one.

Any window experts that can weigh in on whether it will look strange to have two different E values on adjacent walls in the same room? And might we notice any positive difference having two smallish windows that let in a little more light with less green cast? We live in the Chicago area. We do get hot summers but can always add blinds. Our current home has west facing windows in the family room and we only need to close the blinds a few afternoons each summer. Those windows are Kolbe & Kolbe from 1998, and are some type of Low-E, but don't have a green appearance. Current house isn't as bright as we'd like, but we have large overhangs which I always thought was the cause--maybe it was the Low-E glass!

Code requirements are required to be met, or you get a red tag.

You can still return the windows and buy new ones.

Up to you - more money or more green. That's your choice.

" You can still return the windows and buy new ones. "

Chartreuse Scorpion Sierra Pacific windows are made to order and are not returnable.

Millworkman, is the reason you would not use different grades of low e is because it would look strange on adjacent walls in the same room?

Minardi, I would not be violating code requirements by using low E270 in northern Illinois.

Thanks for your replies

Eh. Can they have different glass installed in them?

Otherwise, I'd probably "eat" the cost and order new ones.

" Millworkman, is the reason you would not use different grades of low e is because it would look strange on adjacent walls in the same room? "

Yes. And it could look quite strange.

" Eh. Can they have different glass installed in them?"

" Otherwise, I'd probably "eat" the cost and order new ones."

The OP probably has 30K or more of window and the glass itself is easily half that. Plus paying some to change and have zero product warranty. Chartreuse Scorpion

I mean - it's a big investment as part of an even larger investment. I wouldn't be happy with green glass (I worked in an office building with green-tinted glass and it was horrible), so I'd rather pay the $$ up front, especially if I planned to live in that house long-term.

I have that E366 glass on my 10 ft high Euro-wall sliders. It isn't green from inside the house! I have BM Chantilly Lace white cabinets next to these sliders and the cabinets still look bright white.

If you have white backed blinds, then you will notice a slight green tint from the OUTSIDE when driving by.

"Eat the cost" easy to say, but not easy to do in real world situations! On my build it was $170K of Marvin windows and Euro-wall sliders ... so there was no eating that cost if I changed my mind!

@chartreuse scorpion, it is not "green glass". It is a Low E Coating that has a slight green hue, not a tint.

And again, change the glass and you no manufacturers warranty on the product.