Pella windows glazing oozing out.
sunfeather
7 years ago
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Windows on Washington Ltd
7 years agosunfeather
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Pella or American Craftsman Replacement Windows?
Comments (29)Its too bad OP couldn't just stay on the remodeling forum - why did he feel compelled to come here? This forum was set up specifically for the preservationist/restorationist (vs remodeler) so we wouldn't have to be bogged down with this and the vinyl siding issue every other post. Ughhhhh enough already. It's a lot like debating politics and religion. There are beliefs you are either on board with - or you're not. Re: old house windows, the beliefs we preservationists/restorationists operate from are a) there are very little energy savings with new windows (ie most heat loss is via gaps, air leaks, lack of insulation in basemen and attic and very little through the panes of glass/windows themselves); and b) when you add up costs of manufacture and shipping, short operating life, inability to repair them, etc. the "green" alternative really is repair/restoration of old double hung wood windows and c) cost - huge expense, short operating life & inability to repair adds up to not a very wise purchase Unless original windows are missing or too hopelessly trashed - some original windows from 1940s onward weren't great quality to begin with....See More2 Pella problems need help
Comments (20)Over the past nine years I have purchased and paid for installation of 26 Pell Designer series windows and a patio door. I was replacing Rockwell windows which had rotted, warped, leaked and were clouded between the glass. The windows I purchased from Pella are aluminum clad outside and wood trim inside - all casements. I purchased the Pella rol-screens when available and mini blinds between the glass, also when available. But here are the significant problems. Yesterday I discovered the interior wood trim on the portion of the window that cranks out is peeling off. On a guest bedroom window that is used rarely I discovered the trim is completely off. That caused me to inspect the other windows and discovered 16 windows in total are peeling from 2 inch to 8 inches starting from the top and working down. Some of these windows have been in as briefly as 5 years, some up to 9 years. This is the final straw in a series of disappointments. The first disappointment was cosmetic - the realization that I could not get the mini blinds on all sizes. So the cohesive, clean, contemporary look I was striving for is unattainable. The second was quality - 22 of the windows have blinds. The blinds are poorly constructed - some of them do not drop all the way to the bottom of the window - this appears to be a matter of mismatched tolerances, a manufacturing problem. About half of them have the protective piece installed over the string mechanism falling off, a materials/adhesive problem. Some of them have warped blinds, blinds that have never been outside the glass are distorted. On these "older" blinds, the strings are a hassle - they blow between the window and its frame and they tangle, and washing the window around the hooks provided to wrap the string is cumbersome. Which is the third frustration - when Pella introduced their new design without strings, they left all the earlier customers without an opportunity to upgrade. And I repeatedly asked for an upgrade plan. Finally I reached the phase of replacement where we were installing tall narrow windows, and then I discovered Pella doesn't offer true casements. The benefit of casements is that you can wash both sides from the inside - but not with Pella. Pella provides you a casement window with a butt hinge which means you are (I am) dragging out the ladder and buckets to wash these windows from the outside - and yes, blinds are not an option for these windows either. Oh, and to lock them requires multiple mechanisms. After being surprised when the first set of windows arrived with butt hinges, I waited four more years for Pella to get with the program. Finally I replaced the remaining nine windows with Andersen windows. Should have done that in the first place - the Andersen windows have a great strong hinge, open for ease of washing, have a single mechanism to lock the tall windows (vs multiple on the Pella), have more glass for light and view than the comparable Pella windows, and were clad by Andersen to match my existing investment in Pella. No, I am not employed by Andersen - I am just tired of being ripped off by supposedly credible companies like Pella. Pella got over $50K of my money and I got a series of problems and disappointments....See MoreWindows windows - time is running out.
Comments (45)Here is the Building Science Corporation page with Dr Joe's quote, Zeroring in. Here is a Green Building Advisor thread where a poster questions using High SHGC glass based on Dr. Joe's comment. I take most of Dr Joe's writings as gospel but this paragraph deserves much more elaboration than simply dismissing all passive solar design. I think (but you would have to ask the good Dr) that he is dismissing passive solar in favor of super insulation which I agree with. Good insulation with verified airtightness is far more effective and important than passive solar design. Dr Joe writes for the masses. The masses ignore orientation and proper shading for windows. Low SHGCs everywhere are certainly the best choice when orientation and shading are ignored. Good passive solar designs in mixed or cold climates rarely overheat in the winter. It's the fall and spring when they generally experience overheating, not winter. South-facing window to floor area is the main criteria for avoiding overheating, not SHGC selection on south facing windows. In mixed to cold climates, energy modeling, including passive house, suggest that south-facing windows with proper shading, provides better energy performance with high shgc glass. Passive solar designs are less comfortable, mainly in the late fall and early spring during warm weather, when properly sized overhangs are being bypassed by the lower track of the sun. In my experience, and most other's feedback, passive solar designs are much more comfortable overall than homes that ignore passive solar principles. This GBA article that Martin points to in the above thread is a good one for those going after net-zero optimized thermal performance considering south-facing windows. Still, houses need windows and the energy performance of those windows are improved by good passive solar design, which includes choosing an appropriate amount of south-facing, high shgc glass with good shading....See MoreLeaking Pella Windows **New Construction** PLEASE HELP!
Comments (54)I thought I would respond to this old thread in case it could help someone. I don't have technical experience in this field... but I did have 3 very large leaking Pella picture windows in a 10 year old house that I purchased. They leaked during heavy windy rains. I had roofers, siding guys, and window guys come out to make flahing and siding repairs w/o any luck. After dealing with this problem for 6 months another contractor sprayed a hose and could determine that the water was coming in at the window seals. It was evident in windy conditions because the water was being blown upwards and coming through the top seals and then running down the window. The contractor applied a bead of silicone along the seal on the exterior of the windows, 30 minutes later the problem was resolved. Had I known, I would have saved thousands and dollars and a lot of headaches. Years later those windows are still fine but I have had to apply that same bead to other leaking windows to resolve the same issue....See MoreWesteck Windows and Doors
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