With great success, we have used Eagle, Kolbe and Marvin windows. These are three manufacturers that build high quality and very durable products that are also very similarly constructed. We generally seek three bids from each division of our building scope, so we find comfort in these three as the highest quality. The decision between the three is then made based on the manufacturer's ability to meet the project's required specification and of course, the price estimates. Most all higher-end wood window products today contain standard options like stainless steel hardware, hidden multi-lock casement lock systems, folding cranks and pivoting sashes for ease of cleaning without the requirement for ladders or scaffold. Many offer an array of standard clad color choices and interior wood species. If you'd like to make an educated decision on your window choice, compare items such as U-value, air infiltration rating, design pressure ratings and warranties. After you have narrowed your selection down based on this criteria, take a look at the individual corner/cut sections of the windows. This is likely the most practical method of foreseeing the durability of a windows construction, if the veiwer has some common sense in how different materials should be joined or applied to each other. In regards to a previous post, it is true that there is great strength in wood sash or frame construction, just like there has been for hundreds of years. Some companies provide a cosmetic wrap known as roll-formed aluminum cladding over the exterior of the wood, which also helps protect the exterior wood from the elements. Other companies use a heavy gauge extruded aluminum cladding that allows for structural corner jointery within the extrusion and combines with the wood sash to enhance the overall structural integrity of the sash and frame. The latter construction method will likely be found to provide greater DP ratings and potentially a more durable product. To further comment on the above post, it is true that reputable companies using roll-formed aluminum sash construction do not experience color differentiation between the sash and extruded frame in short time periods. This differs from less reputable companies using the same construction methods in that the correct way to protect the light gauge metal is to utilize a special "kynar" blended paint to assist in color retention. This is critical due to the paint application differences in roll-formed and extruded aluminum. Roll-formed aluminum requires a light flexible paint to allow the metal to be bent or shaped after the paint has cured. Extruded aluminum is already formed, and thus recieves a hard durable paint finish somewhat similar to how a car body is painted. I personally have nothing against the Pella product noted in the above post. On the contrary, I have a lot of respect for Pella, as a maker of fine products in the Heartland of our country. However, I think that all consumers should receive unbiased information on such critical home fixtures. If you find the price levels of a good quality and highly durable window product out of your home's budget, be sure to closely view the corner sections of each product line within the window manufacturer's different products that fit your budget. My recollection of Proline Series windows from Pella shows that there are more than just options that differentiate that product line from the Designer and Architecture Series, although it might be true that this is what separates the latter two Series. One will only know for sure if they look at the corner/cut sections of the different product lines. Keep in mind, just because a company excels in one product line, doesn't mean that their other product lines hold the same value. I personally don't agree with manufacturers saturating the market with different product lines and relying on their previous reputation to further sales, but it appears that all companies are doing just that these days. I feel that one should do what one does best and concentrate on doing the best in their immediate field of expertise, so be careful in your window decision. Also, I feel strongly that at all costs, one should push the limits of their home construction budget on the permanent fixtures of the home. This includes, but is not limited to, excavation/soil compaction, foundations, framing components, insulation, interior or hidden plumbing, windows and wiring. Having to re-engineer or replace any of these components in the future can generally cause a major disruption to the whole building envelope.

I think the fabric is really nice. To offer an alternative, I would hate to block the views with sheers. You might consider instead installing a valance box over the doors where you can hide shades or honey comb shades or whatever you choose underneath. This way, during the day, you can get your views and get your privacy at night. The valance can be fabric Or wooden painted to match your trim. You don't have to match the style of window treatment on the 2 windows...you can, but you don't have to...so long as the treatments coordinate. But a valance box would help hide the fact that the doors and windows are not of the same height.

Commission check sounds nice! Yes, we looked at the glass garage doors. As with probably 95% of the people building out there, we cant get everything so we have to choose what we really want and what we can do without. I think its different for everyone. I did like the glass doors but because we don't really have any street presence, it was one of the first things to go when we needed to cut some to meet the budget. We also had two bump outs, which were to be clad in some kind of special plywood. Those were pulled in and the house shrunk 6 feet in width which reduced square footage by 10% and eliminated two flat roof sections. I was sad about it but you can only do so much. It got us closer to budget, supposedly. We are in WA. The glass garage door company here is Northwest Door.

While one over another might be cheaper, you will be in the home and staring at it for years and years to come. Get what you are going to be happy with.