We had a similar decision to make except that the casements were to open into a screened porch and we were concerned that while on the porch, people might run into them. We have double hung windows with grills on the top half all throughtout our home but I didn't want my sink centered on a middle piece of wood between two casements. Was just something I didn't personally like for our kitchen. We then saw a similar window to what is in my most recent post which has sliders where the side casements usually are and a large picture window in the middle. WE LOVE IT because it gives us unobstructed view, still has the venting options, screens are on the outside and we felt that having the option of the grills on the side windows, helped it to look more traditional like the rest of the windows in our home....our window is one of the best choices we made - we just love it! I copied my link to my pictures below....you'll see it in the 4th pic down over the sink. Here is a link that might be useful: imlebby's kitchen

Probably a combination of problems. The lack of overhang above these specific windows might have sped things up a bit, but then again maybe not. I would also blame lack of maintenance by previous owners and misaligned sprinkler heads for some of it too. Most of the neighborhood has the "contemporary/ tudor" look, and many in the neighborhood have had some problems with deteriorating windows. It is a large suburban neighborhood, many large trees, that went up in a few years by a handful of local builders, maintaining similar features for all the houses. The "anti-wood" comments by the Marvin person really surprised me partly because it didn't make much sense, the fact that no one else (other sales people) had ever expressed such a thought, and that it felt like a great start to his sales pitch for the Infinity line of windows instead. But if there is actually something to it, I'd appreciate the feedback. I'll try to describe the windows in question. The windows that sit either under the porch or under an overhang directly above that story are fine, just worn. Will need replacing in the next 5-10 years. The ones in question are: a dormer type window protruding out past the normal roofline, with just a decorative "sloping roof trim" above it (it has a mate that is fine). Another one is on the first floor with the roofline being above the second story (kind of a two story bay-type bump out). One is right below where the roof comes to a peak. The worst one was unfortunately placed directly in the line of fire of a sprinkler head (we've remedied that). All the rotted wood is in the bottom leg of the window and part of the sill. I'd appreciate input on replacing these wood window with a clad one of good quality. I like the Eagles, but love the Marvin clads, but is $1000 more for the Marvins (4 of them) worth while? Or is Infinity the "new wave" or windows? Thanks in advance for the help!

Sounds expensive. I'm in the middle of pricing for a San Francisco Victorian and looking at Marvin wood double hung (or wood with exterior Al cladding) and for 36x77, low-E 366, they are retailing at $730 a window (and qualify in the set-in, but not the sash-pack). Even with San Francisco's obscene labor rates of $400-500 a window, you're still only looking at $1250 a window or so. I don't know how pricing on casements compare to double hung, but sounds like Pella is far too expensive. They are about the only window that doesn't look completely out of place in a Victorian that I know of and the only one I've seen that doesn't shout "fake" from 100' away (I'd love to hear of others). I can also get custom sashes made here and installed for less than the cost of "factory" windows, even with the 30% tax rebate on the windows themselves. Something to consider if your climate isn't energy-intensive.

My husband and I paid the Marvin distributor ourselves for the windows. Our GC knows he made a mistake and is sick about it. I did not take pictures of all the windows open that day. But all windows swing on the appropriate side of the opening for the house style except these. The one set of three is a dining room wall the other set of two is our daughters bedroom. The GC thought he would have to buy new windows when we first told him and said it was his six thousand dollar mistake. Then GC called back saying he felt better because the distributor told him he could switch things around easily. But the windows have not been discussed in the 3 weeks since this was discovered and no work on the windows has happened and I became curious why. So, I decided to follow up with the distributor myself to see what they told the GC. The distributor said everything the contractor said but the distributor then decided to call Marvin to verify. Marvin stated the best way around the situation is to buy new windows. To rework the windows would be very involved and could ruin the integrity of the window. (haha...pun not intended) The distributor called the GC several weeks ago and told him. I wanted to get opinions on how others would suggest handling this. Of course I want things right but we are now in a time crunch to get this house finished. My husband is upset but thinks we should let it go. I think we are paying a fee for the contractor and this was a rookie mistake. Our GC is a carpenter by trade and does good work but has become very busy with other work and worry that our project, that has taken too long already (8month to date), will now lose out. Thanks