How big are the individual windows? Do you have a contractor at this point?

If your local installers aren't able to give you an estimate who do you plan on using for the actual install? If there isn't anyone local will it actually be practical?

Spiritflower, I am actually very confused on this. I work with concrete for a living so I can build the house fairly cheap, so the actual size of the home depends on the cost of the windows. I have been loosely working with an architect but we have not agreed on anything as of yet, and because of that, I don't want to get into too far into the details. Regardless, I do plan on moving forward with him by the end of the month. Seems like no local installers really want to help, which makes me look elsewhere. I know the windows will be far from cheap and I accept that, but will they be $100,000, $300,000, $500,000, etc.? There is a big difference. Just looking for a ballpark figure, kind of how Marvin quoted roughly $5,000 per linear foot for their sliding doors.

Do you include sliding doors as large windows? We have a sixteen foot slider in our new build that was around 8k. What may be a better bet for getting the answers you seek is to find people who have built homes similar to yours and ask what they spent on windows. Even better if you can go through the architect who designed the home for them. The thing with anything large or oversized is the cost of the item isn't the only additional cost. In our build we were hit with additional charges from the structural engineer because we wanted bigger openings and more open concept. So I think it is hard to just pull windows out alone because they also contribute to possible need for extra engineering attention. In our case we had to add a decent amount of steel beams. But it was our build specific what was done.

That’s a 300K-400K wall by the time the engineering, steel, and glass is done.

No 6’ human needs a 34’H anything in a residential building. There is such a thing as scale, and that violates all of the rules unless you’re building a Kneel Before The Greater Power public building designed to dwarf the human and make him feel small and puny.

This is commercial level materials and costs. And techniques. You’re not finding the typical home builder for that. He’d have a stunned look of incomprehension.

My house has similar features. One curved window wall / quarter circle with a 13ft radius, 22ft high and one curved window wall, 1/3rd circle, 8 ft radius, 22ft high.

Walls are 12” thick concrete, steel beam roof structure.

I couldn’t find a residential builder that will do this and commercial builders aren’t interested (I guess maybe if you have Sophie’s budget).

I got this engineered by a firm and go the DIY installation route (glass spider fittings on laminated glass columns, aluminum frame commection to concrete) after having the glass fabricated by a glass fabricator who I worked with in the past. That’s the only feasible method for me. Cost is approx. $20k material for the larger wall.

Plus crane rental, lots of work and I assume all risk. Probably $40k ish for both window walls plus crane.

galore2112- That sounds phenomenal. Unfortunately, I won't be doing this myself. I have a glass company who I use commercially but I don't think that they would be suitable for this. Sounds like a commercial firm is needed.

On a side note, how do you like your 12" concrete walls? Are they too thick (If that's even possible!)? Did you do ICF, Cast-In-Place or use another method?

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Chris,

I did cast in place with exterior EPS (4”) for my existing house ( basement and 2 floors), metal deck over 12K1 steel joists and 4” concrete slabs (two floors and roof).

I’m currently installing the walls for my addition. It’s mostly one sided ICF (Nudura) with EPS inserts for 4.5” exterior insulation and two sided ICF for the garage walls.

The engineer spec’d 12” concrete because I plan on having a 5ft deep pool on the roof.

Current construction pics showing the ICF:

I love me some ICF. I want to build our home out of that, but I can't find a good enough reason to leave where I am now.

Just adding a comment that with a wall of glass that high, you might have a lot of injured and dead wild birds. Maybe you can get some window stickers added?

Hi Chris— curious if you followed through with your (amazing sounding) windows, and, if so, you’d be willing to share what it ended up costing?

Cheers,
Sarah

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