I was just about to fax order to Fleetwood Windows to order 29x47 Westwood 250 casement window. Holly Banks at Fleetwood has been very helpful, answering a question or two every day since I got the quotation PDF, and always being very nice and cheerful. I know I'm not an easy customer. Fleetwood windows are often said to be the best, and I believe it. The window is not cheap, but I appreciate the good service as well as the quality.
But just tonight I decided to change from west opening to east opening. The prevailing winds in San Antonio are almost always from the west as opposed to east (usually either northwest or southwest), and despite the fact that my house is to the west of the pool house, I think that's the way the winds will appear there. So a west opening window will channel the winds more into the building. It will, unfortunately, tend to block the view of future tree(s) in the northwest of back yard that way. But it may also block late afternoon summer sun better, and give better privacy from neighbors. Plus it will be easier to see from house if window is left open, and possibly better for verbal communication through window.
So I just emailed Holly asking to change window order to right hinged.
Yesterday I took my last look at HR Aluminum windows at Home Depot. The 300 series of single hung windows has Low E insulated glass. I could get a 36x48 window for about $100, less then 1/10 the price of the smaller Fleetwood casement window (though casement window opening would actually be larger). The U factor is about the same as the Fleetwood window (despite the fact that Fleetwood window has thermal break and insulated frame, but the frame is much larger and heavier). But, strangely, the HR window doesn't meet southern Energy Star requirements simply because the SHGC is too high, 0.32. That could have been easily fixed simply with better window coating, which is much cheaper than doing thermal break insulated frame (which Home Depot doesn't stock, you only get that in custom order). The Fleetwood Westwood casement window does meet energy star requirements because SHGC is 0.27, exactly the required number.
But I decided it would be so inconvenient to open the single hung window over a workbench it would hardly be used. And the whole point of window in unconditioned building is that it be used frequently for good ventilation. Ease of use of such window is crucial. Someone might pass out from heat stroke for failing to open the window. Also the latches are on both sides at half window height. That means it would be necessary to stand on both sides of the window to operate the latches. More inconvenience. I might feel OK using only one such latch but others might not. In contrast, the Fleetwood casement window has latch hinged a mere 13 inches from the bottom, meaning the latch handle extends downward from there. Very easy to reach
Finally, I took a look at the HR screens. The screens on single hung window are exterior on the lower half and dark fiberglass and look very ugly. They very noticeable against the (stupid) plastic dividers (so called "lites") inside the window. You can easily see that the lower half has screen and the upper half does not. Combined with the lites, the effect is way over complicated.
The screen for casement window is on the inside where it will stay cleaner and is less likely to be damaged by the elements, isn't visible from the outside unless window is open, and covers the entire window because the entire window opens.
I also took a look at HR window actually installed on a nice stucco house near where I live. It looked nice a few days ago, but recently they installed the screen, and with the screen the window looks very ugly. Single hung windows look OK with half screen only when they don't have those stupid "lites" The combination of lites and screen gives a very complicated and ugly appearance, and the darkness of the screen is exposed by the difference in the lites on top with no screen and on the bottom through dark fiberglass screen.
But just tonight I decided to change from west opening to east opening. The prevailing winds in San Antonio are almost always from the west as opposed to east (usually either northwest or southwest), and despite the fact that my house is to the west of the pool house, I think that's the way the winds will appear there. So a west opening window will channel the winds more into the building. It will, unfortunately, tend to block the view of future tree(s) in the northwest of back yard that way. But it may also block late afternoon summer sun better, and give better privacy from neighbors. Plus it will be easier to see from house if window is left open, and possibly better for verbal communication through window.
So I just emailed Holly asking to change window order to right hinged.
Yesterday I took my last look at HR Aluminum windows at Home Depot. The 300 series of single hung windows has Low E insulated glass. I could get a 36x48 window for about $100, less then 1/10 the price of the smaller Fleetwood casement window (though casement window opening would actually be larger). The U factor is about the same as the Fleetwood window (despite the fact that Fleetwood window has thermal break and insulated frame, but the frame is much larger and heavier). But, strangely, the HR window doesn't meet southern Energy Star requirements simply because the SHGC is too high, 0.32. That could have been easily fixed simply with better window coating, which is much cheaper than doing thermal break insulated frame (which Home Depot doesn't stock, you only get that in custom order). The Fleetwood Westwood casement window does meet energy star requirements because SHGC is 0.27, exactly the required number.
But I decided it would be so inconvenient to open the single hung window over a workbench it would hardly be used. And the whole point of window in unconditioned building is that it be used frequently for good ventilation. Ease of use of such window is crucial. Someone might pass out from heat stroke for failing to open the window. Also the latches are on both sides at half window height. That means it would be necessary to stand on both sides of the window to operate the latches. More inconvenience. I might feel OK using only one such latch but others might not. In contrast, the Fleetwood casement window has latch hinged a mere 13 inches from the bottom, meaning the latch handle extends downward from there. Very easy to reach
Finally, I took a look at the HR screens. The screens on single hung window are exterior on the lower half and dark fiberglass and look very ugly. They very noticeable against the (stupid) plastic dividers (so called "lites") inside the window. You can easily see that the lower half has screen and the upper half does not. Combined with the lites, the effect is way over complicated.
The screen for casement window is on the inside where it will stay cleaner and is less likely to be damaged by the elements, isn't visible from the outside unless window is open, and covers the entire window because the entire window opens.
I also took a look at HR window actually installed on a nice stucco house near where I live. It looked nice a few days ago, but recently they installed the screen, and with the screen the window looks very ugly. Single hung windows look OK with half screen only when they don't have those stupid "lites" The combination of lites and screen gives a very complicated and ugly appearance, and the darkness of the screen is exposed by the difference in the lites on top with no screen and on the bottom through dark fiberglass screen.
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