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Atlanta home remodel - Window Materials? Brand/Supplier?

23 days ago

Replacement window recommendations/upgrade?? Anything will be an upgrade over our single pane, high quality wood windows from 70s, but only plan to do this once so want quality, durability, good insulation, but not the most expensive.

See so many nice style windows in homes in the area, but can’t tell material - all wood, all clad, or interior wood & outside all clad? Or perhaps the windows or steel or something else.
What do you have in your home that you would recommend?

So many new builds & remodels in the Atl area so we’d I’d like to hear from home owners what type of window they decided upon that they are happy with. We are already working with a builder, but can choose window type and will compare brands.

I notice a lot are casement even for regular style windows, but all over casement is out of our budget and not interested in this style for front of house. Will use casement for some larger style windows, but double hung for the rest. Likely in a 6 or 4 pane window style.

Leaning away from black windows look but perhaps a cream, beige or bronze color.

Want solid quality - no leaks, good insulation.

As far as brands…have seen some other forums discussing Lincoln & Sierra pacific but they didn’t seem to get the best feedback on quality. Other brand/supplier that isn’t the most expensive? (Not looking for an installer or window company but the true brand/window supplier.) We already understand warranty aspects of prefossional/certified installer and the importance of a good install please share about materials, model, insulation choices/film, &actual window brand.

Want to especially here from personal home owners.

Comments (19)

  • PRO
    23 days ago

    What material are you wanting to go with?

  • 23 days ago

    That’s what I’m trying to learn about, listed some options in original post - wood, all clad exterior+wood interior, or all all-clad

  • PRO
    22 days ago

    So...let's start with what you want. You want a wood interior...correct?


    If that is the case, I would probably look at the Marvin fiberglass product line (Elevate) for the hybrid fiberglass/wood interior.

  • 22 days ago

    I agree with WoW on product line to start with. Casement vs Dbl Hung will be a component of the house style typically.

  • 22 days ago

    Is fiberglass a better insulator than wood or just less costly and lower maintenance? What grade wood is cost wffective but still good quality, etc?

  • 22 days ago

    Is all clad, aluminium less attractive and not as good as fiberglass?

  • PRO
    21 days ago

    Neither are great insulators. Is that the driving motivation because there are different products to choose from them.


    The fiberglass, iin theory, should have fewer maintenance paint points as it's a moisture insensitive subjstrate.


  • 21 days ago

    " What grade wood is cost wffective but still good quality, etc? "


    Industry standard is typically pine. There are a few Canadian mfrs. that use Doug Fir but pine is sufficient for the interiors.

  • 21 days ago

    Insulation yes, no moisture, next aesthetics, low maintenance a plus

  • 21 days ago

    Like these windows, but what are they likely?

  • 21 days ago

    And we also will be doing casement ones too for sunroom area - smart to do all wood? Or another material.

  • 21 days ago

    What does good maintenance look like for all wood windows if painted? If stained?

  • 20 days ago

    " And we also will be doing casement ones too for sunroom area - smart to do all wood? "


    No, the fiberglass clad Marvin's or the all Fiberglass Essential line. I would use the all fiberglass.


    " What does good maintenance look like for all wood windows if painted? If stained? "


    Exterior if painted, repainting in 10-15 years approx. I would not stain exterior of wood windows, only paint.

  • 20 days ago

    Thank you! So what type of material do you think some of the windows in the images I shared are?

    For the regular windows, what do you recommend? Priorities being insulation, no moisture, aesthetics, low maintenance a plus.

    I.e. Double pain, double hung all wood? Or another combination of materials?

    Any brand or grade recommendations? I hear wood wibdows comes in varying grades.

  • 20 days ago

    What about a single hung, double pane - is that a thing?

  • 20 days ago

    Have you talked to any contractors about what you are trying to accomplish? Are you doing "insert" or "full frame" replacements? I assume that you are not buying the windows and replacing them yourself.

    You keep bringing up wood windows - why do you want wood windows if that is what you have today? Why not consider vinyl, fiberglass, etc. - particularly if you want "low maintenance"?

    We cannot tell from you photo's what those windows are - maybe post photo's of your house and photo's of existing windows, inside and out.

    And yes, single hung is a "thing".

  • 20 days ago

    You could put storm windows on. That would give you an extra layer of glass and keep your existing windows. I'd price out storm windows. We have them on our 100 year old original windows. The one replacement window will probably need to be replaced soon and I have seen no evidence it is tighter than the original windows with storms on them. We have Roman shades we lower every night and raise every morning, so on cold, windy days, you can tell if a window is leaky. (Some of our old storm windows are very tight, others are leaky, the replacement is worse than the best, better than the worst).

  • 18 days ago
    last modified: 18 days ago

    Storm windows would be another option - @Sigrid, not sure what kind you have - if they are original to your 100 year old windows I assume they are wood and also need maintenance - and need to be removed in the summer to let in air. But we don't know anything about the OP's house - if it is one story and they are willing to handle taking them on and off and maintain them it might be a good option. They did say that their wood windows were "high quality" so they may not need replacement?

    • What do you have in your home that you would recommend?


    So I'll return to one of the OP's original questions. I had c.1910 double-hung wood windows with added triple-track aluminum storm windows - both were in very bad shape. I wanted wood interior interior to match the natural wood trim - and low maintenance on the exterior. I originally decided on Marvin wood with aluminum cladding - but the price was very high. I ended up going with Andersen 400 windows - not as nice as the Marvin but much better price. All were double-hung for easy cleaning and to match to original style - though I did add a couple Andersen awning windows in the bathroom and pantry. I have been been very happy with them over the years. I don't miss those triple-track storms!

    But there are a lot of options in windows out there - without more from the OP it's hard to make recommendations. I do notice now that they said that they had already chosen a contractor - I'd ask them what brands they are used to using and recommend. You don't want to pick some cheap junk and then have them blame you after you're not happy with them! Have you told them where you want double-hung (or single0hung) and where you want casements? The "insert" or "full frame" question will have a lot to do with what they are doing with the interior and exterior window trim.

  • 17 days ago

    Two-story, but more likely to hire someone to clean exterior of windows or lightly pressure wash vs. Clean from inside which aleays feels like a pain.

    Wouldn’t do storm. Going to replace. Going for insulation 1st as shared and a high-end look and quality, but preferrably not at premium level based upon our budget hence pictures of lookes we like. Just tryingbto research and determine the best materials and want to be more informed when making decisions vs. Being stuck with something sucggested by gc to fit a lower budget.