"In his defense he did ask to do a full cap but because i wanted to maintain a certain look and keep my window trim matched with my wood siding, i chose not to full cap." You were right...you knew the answer :)

Shims are required only where necessary to insure the insert unit is plumb, level and square (for proper operation and weather tightness). For years shims were only available in wood (wood shingles normally). In recent years plastic and or composites have been used and either is fine.

Grande - I'm not promoting Pella at all I'm just offering my opinion as someone who has used them and from contractors I've spoken to. To say they are garbage is contrary to what I have experienced and heard, of course there are better windows and there are also personal preferences involved. However I would bet that you are a window salesman and your comments should have that disclosure so people can understand what your motive is. Comparing JW to Pella is laughable...just look at the comments on this thread. I also steer clear of anyone stating something as fact...with no eveidence to support their "facts". "Anyone in windows knows this, it's a fact" is a very adolescent type comment. If you don't like Pella fine, you're entitled to your opinion, but try to state reasons other than obscure comments packed with innuendos. I am not saying Pella are the best windows, I'm saying they are decent and in my opinion I would use them over JW just from a support perspective. I don't know the other windows you suggested but I did say there are many local manufacturers that offer good alternatives...perhaps those are but I personally don't know.

Hi Shannon, To get the desired look, for the look you are trying to achieve, I would recommend the following based on our twelve years as a Windsor distributor/installer: 1) Windsor Legend double-hung windows with exterior moulding factory applied. This will give you the set-back look you are desiring and still allows the Hardie planks to "dive in" to the side of the window trim. We completed numerous homes, that were a farmhouse architectural typology, in the South Carolina Low Country as well as Savannah, GA area with the Windsor Legend series . 2) Windsor Next Dimension classic series with nail fin and no brickmould attached. You will still need to have the window recessed so it is set back, then have PVC exterior trim applied so the Hardie plank "dives in" to the window trim. If you are using 2 x 4 exterior walls, the builder will have to fur-out the inside of the window wall so the drywall and interior window trim can be applied appropriately. Hope this helps! Patrick