We looked at many of these brands as well. Our price for Pella Architect Series double hung vs. Windsor Pinnacle Clad were virtually identical. Windsor was able to show me their extruded aluminum which looked solid. When I mentioned this difference to the Pella guy, he told me Pella is far superior and that extruded aluminum is really just a fancy marketing phrase used by the competition. However, he couldn't demonstrate the superiority of the product, so in the end we are planning to go with the Windsor. We priced Anderson - it was a bit less than the Windsor / Pella quote. I was not sure about the Anderson product as it doesn't seem to be aluminum at all (but maybe I just misread). Some things that had a big effect on the price (which I didn't previously think about): 1.) Number of lites --- the more you have, the more expensive the price 2.) Hardware -- ORB can drive up the price a bunch. 3.) Anything tempered costs more, so windows close to doors cost more to pass code. 4.) Colored cladding --- I wanted ivory vs. white white --- this is a 2-3% upcharge for Pella --- standard pricing for Windsor. 5.) Screens --- obviously, if you have them, they cost more I played with my quote quite a bit, and fine tuned it --- I was able to save a lot of money by taking screens out of places like the garage, or hidden windows. I used ORB hardware everywhere except attic windows and garage -- this saved me some money. I fixed (made non-operable) some of the windows where appropriate and finally, I am using Emtek hardware made for Windsor vs. Windsor hardware (this will be seamless to me as Windsor handles it), but it saves me several thousand dollars. I am sure I have been a pain to the Windsor guy, changing and changing to try to save some money, but the savings have been worth it to me as I am getting lots more included for much less now. He has been very helpful in working with me (in Charlotte). Anyway, my point is, whichever window line you choose, you can probably find some efficiencies if you spend the time going through the quote. Thanks for all of the great info above! Rachel

I have sold and installed windows for 33 years. 99% of problems are caused by builders who let the framers install windows. They don't let framers install cabinets do they? I replaced Marvin, Pella, Weathershield, Lincoln, Kolbe and Kolbe, (insert name here)...and they all leak if they are installed improperly. I have been told 100's of times by builders who build average 10,000 sqft homes "that as long as they last for 1 year", because that is most builders warranty. Horizontal sliders are the least efficient window produced by any manufacture (not counting the cheap vinyl windows made). All label and tested windows have an air and water infiltration rating posted on their website and put on a sticker on the glass of every window delivered. Your builder can also use a product called SillDry which is the best product to install in the opening before and window is installed. When a windows starts to leak (and they will all leak because most homeowners do not properly maintain them) the silldry product will keep the water from getting into the house. So stop complaining and get the person who installed them involved because they are the ones who are probably responsible for leaking windows. Also in the early 2000's many companies purchased cardinal float glass but very few major window manufactures purchased Cardinal I.G. units. That came from a Cardinal glass plant tour I took in 2004 with Eagle Windows which were purchased by Andersen windows.

Mark, I am not sure why this is, but I have been more impressed by Canadian window manufacturers than their American cousins. I am bulding a house on the coast and considering Benor Windows (from Quebec) and we are just sold a house that we built that had Fibertec casement windows. I was very impressed with the whole process: the quality of the workmanship, the wood veneer interior, the feel of the mechanism, the energy performance (our windows had a "U" of 0.10!), and the cost (lowest price for best performance). If Fibertec had a Miami/Dade-rated window, I would have bought it in a heartbeat. Yes, I am a very satisfied Fibertec customer! I cannot recommend them too highly. Vince

Ramses, I so appreciate your response. I never would have thought of a pashmina shawl as a table covering. What a great idea! Right now we're using eight wooden placemats side by side on top of a sheet of plastic--it looks barely OK to me, yet guests are intrigued by the look, go figure. We're in the market for an oriental rug for the sunroom, and the colors of that rug will drive the "palette" for the rest of the furniture and window coverings still to be purchased. Your idea about the shawl could be perfect to carry out the theme of the oriental rug. Thanks! Missopinion47: I don't think your question is off topic because, after all, you're asking about the decoration of our new kitchen! Most of the items in our collection of Middle Eastern metalwork (what's in the kitchen is just a fraction) are Persian in origin. We're uncertain of the ages of the pieces, so some might be old enough to actually be "Persian", and others are probably just new enough to be Iranian. On many of them there is calligraphy in Farsi or Arabic that we have yet to have translated. We also have pieces from Syria, Tunisia, and Morocco, and maybe some other countries we're not even aware of. Very few of them were purchased overseas. We bought most of them at antiques stores all over the United States. Also in our collection are lots more metal trays like the ones hanging on the walls in the kitchen, as well as inlaid wooden boxes, and Persian miniature paintings. We started collecting these items because we felt more comfortable with them than with more mainstream paintings or sculpture.