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Double hung double glazed windows

(17 posts) (9 voices)

Started 8 years ago by benball
Latest reply from Sunshine

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benball
Member

I've been looked at replacing existing double hung windows with double glazed units. The 4 windows are westerly facing and get full sun in summer. The windows are at least 40 years old and not of great quality.

I'd like to replace them with double glazed units, preferably double hung to keep with the period style of the cal bungalow home (double brick). I'd also like something that provides a good acoustic and of course thermal rating.

I think I've narrowed it down glass of 6.38 laminate, with a 10-12mm gap and 4mm toughened. Does anyone have any opinion on this configuration? I've done a fair bit of research, and from what some people have said, double hung wont seal as properly as casement, but because of a pull down blind on the outside of the window, casement style wont work. The other alternative might be two awning style windows on top of each other to appear as an awning (when closed), but I don't know if this would look any good.

I'd really appreciate some people's feedback as it seems most window manufacturers I've spoken to know less than more, and aren't interested in helping!

Posted Friday 30 Aug 2013 @ 6:50:55 am from IP #
TonyT
Member

See link in post at
http://www.ata.org.au/forums/topic/10884#post-46555

Posted Friday 30 Aug 2013 @ 7:38:31 am from IP #
benball
Member

Thanks, I did come across the website reading previous posts. I think the problem I have is the windows although timber are in an aluminium frame and that is buggered.

I guess what I would like to know is there any particular manufacturers that are better than others. I have got quotes from bout 5 window makers and their prices range from $3300 to $5500 for essentially the same window design. The vendors I have spoken to include Highcraft, Trend and Canterbury. Thanks.

Posted Friday 30 Aug 2013 @ 10:13:01 am from IP #
Greg
Member

There are independent window / door people around or even skilled carpenters can make great windows at reasonable prices. I have used both for specific jobs and would recommend that approach if you can get references. It's also a good way to keep the $ local.

Posted Saturday 31 Aug 2013 @ 1:07:12 am from IP #
MoreBikesPlease
Member

Stegbar double-hung western red cedar windows are good, much better than Trend and Canterbury. I didn't check out Highcraft. The Stegbar sashes can be removed totally for painting. If you get the sashes with "horns" on them, you do need to remove a block of wood at the top of one of the runs, before you can get the sash out.

They go well with magnetic internal flyscreens. You only need to add one strip of wood at the top of the window frame to make a complete surface for the flyscreen.

Posted Monday 2 Sep 2013 @ 9:31:33 am from IP #
benball
Member

Thanks for the comments. Is there a carpenter you can suggest in Melbourne?

MoreBikesPlease - thanks - I did get a quote from Stegbar - they were double the price of their competitors, but as you say, they products are perhaps a better quality? I think I will need to check out their show room.

Posted Tuesday 3 Sep 2013 @ 5:41:43 am from IP #
dlvb19
Member

Benball,

I found stegbar to be the cheapest which is why I used their products. Are you sure the quote is correct.
The quality of their windows is good but not great. Trend have some good products. If they are cheaper go with them.

Posted Tuesday 3 Sep 2013 @ 11:16:52 am from IP #
benball
Member

Thanks dlvb29, I will check it out again.

Has anyone had any experience with Highcraft Windows in Victoria?

Posted Tuesday 3 Sep 2013 @ 11:55:29 am from IP #
tom
Member

We were planning on Stegbar windows, but when we were getting quotes for our build, every single builder we spoke to said stay away from them. Their quality is not what is once was. Their timber is a veneer, not solid, and tends to separate. Trend have the same problem. Airlite windows are owned by the Jeld-Wen who own Stegbar and are the same windows.

If you want quality, then go with Paarhammer. The best windows available, but you will pay $$$ for them.

For reference. The Stegbar quote for our windows was $24K. Marvin/Precedence - $80K. Paarhammer - $70K. Patron windows - $32K. We went with Patron because that is who the builder has been using for the past 20 years. All windows are solid hardwood (Vic Ash), double glazed, low-e, argon filled. All, but the front are casements. The front ones are double hung arched windows and a work of art. Can't comment how they perform yet as we haven't moved in yet.

Posted Tuesday 3 Sep 2013 @ 9:44:55 pm from IP #
Sunshine
Member

Why would you go for timber framed? A recipe for alot of ongoing maintenance in the future.
I just replaced my 95 year old timber double hung with Trend windows aluminium powder coated double hung single glazed.
Cost was 13k installed for a two story house. I was very impressed by their solid frame and price.

Posted Wednesday 4 Sep 2013 @ 12:15:34 am from IP #
benball
Member

Tom, thanks for your post. I have spoken to Patron windows, they were very helpful and knowledgeable. I think I will avoid Stegbar. They didn't even give me a proper quote, just a two line email.

Sunshine, the house is a period style home, I don't think aluminum windows will fit in with the style of the home.

Posted Wednesday 4 Sep 2013 @ 3:44:46 am from IP #
termite
Member

Watch out for hardwood frames; it is generally considered less durable than western red cedar (wrc) which is highly resistant to rot, though infamously soft. Make sure they are well painted (and flashing is adequate) and not allowed to weather at any time.

A warning:
Some ten-plus years ago I got Stegbar to make some full (not veneer) wrc double-glazed casements (14 openings+3 fixed panes, about $12k installed). I am 1km as-the-crow-flies from the ocean. The wind-out stays were painted zinc-plated steel by "Truth" hardware and started to corrode within the year. I complained to Stegbar and they responded by quoting me $1,000 to replace the stays with stainless steel (they claimed they needed to adjust the frame profile as the stay design had changed). I did not dignify that with a response, and am still mulling over my options. The stays are continuing to corrode and I will have to replace them soon.

My point is to ensure all elements of the windows are up to scratch, and not to presume that a big name will necessarily produce a low-maintenance product.

Posted Wednesday 4 Sep 2013 @ 9:28:59 am from IP #
Sunshine
Member

Benball,
My house is also a period home, they look great. I just don't like having to paint and putty windows every 8 years.

Posted Wednesday 4 Sep 2013 @ 2:06:41 pm from IP #
tom
Member

Same deal here. We've built/building a period reproduction. Wouldn't touch aluminium as it looks cheap and performs poorly. uPVC tries to look like wood, but fails dismally in my opinion. We have also stained the interior and also our interior doors (made by the same company). As both are made of the same timber they match. PVC would clash with the rest of the detail as well. Had we built a modern plain house then we would have gone with PVC or better yet fibreglass.

As for painting every 8 years. We're preparing our current house to sell right now that has, strangely enough, 12 year old stegbar windows. One thing we don't have to do is paint the windows. I guess it depends on how good the original paint job is.

One piece of advice, paint ASAP after the windows go in. Unsealed hardwood doesn't like rain.

Posted Wednesday 4 Sep 2013 @ 9:53:53 pm from IP #
benball
Member

Tom, agree with what you say about painting ASAP, I plan on doing this.

Btw, one of the window manufacturers said that painters hate having the windows primed because it makes painting them more difficult. I think that doesn't make sense, I would have thought it made their life easier as it has a coat already put on? I understand it still needs a sand and probably another two coats of paint, but from what I can tell, the primer is a good thing to do.

Sunshine, I'm not totally convinced that aluminum is the way to go, and whats the problem with a coat of paint every 8 years, but I do see your point.

Termite, thanks for your advice. I have received a quote for hard wood, I will keep it in mind when comparing quotes.

Posted Thursday 5 Sep 2013 @ 7:35:08 am from IP #
Johnnojack
Member

All hard wood is not the same it seems. I made a window and 2 exterior door frames from Jarrah and it is pretty much impervious to weather painted or not. Western red is great too and doesn't care if it is painted or not. In fact it has a natural tendency to resist paint, Alkyd stains are good. PVC looks great when new but how long will it look like that? Aluminium is the most durable obviously but its thermal bridging qualities are at the wrong end of the scale.
Keep up the discussion please.

Posted Thursday 5 Sep 2013 @ 8:26:33 am from IP #
Sunshine
Member

Benball,

Paint and putty every 8 years high up on trestles..??
I can think of better ways to spend my spare time.
The reason I detest it, is I have battled painting windows all my life. Half of them were permanently jammed with paint etc, so not fun at all, the counterweight cords were long perished, so the white powdercoated aluminium are a breath of fresh air, and look the part too.
Everyone that has seen my reno has commented how good the windows look, not how bad they look.
I've already been here for 15 years and plan to stay at least if not more than that again, so low maintenance is the key, and looks to go with it.

Posted Thursday 5 Sep 2013 @ 2:07:24 pm from IP #

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