Recommended patio or sliding door for high-performing house
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| Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on
Midcoast Maine new construction 1400sf house. R40 walls, R60 roof. Windows triple pane. Do you have a recommendation for an 6-0x6-8 slider or patio exterior door?
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Replies
Pinnacle Windows in Maine sells Logic windows and doors. You can get a triple pane lift and slide European style door from them if that's what you're looking for. They're spendy, but I suspect very nice units.
You can probably expect to pay at least 5k for a good one. Might want to consider just a clear, traditional style door. You could add a sidelight if you want a bigger view.
Ronald, Pinnacle Window Solutions in Hallowell or Performance Building Supply in Portland supply most of the high-performance glazing in Maine. Both offer a variety of options. I agree with Trevor on costs.
Thanks for all your replies. Would an Andersen A series "begin" to compete?
I just bought a houseful (literally) of A series windows, as well as a sliding patio door. The windows are in and I'm very happy with them. The patio door is not installed yet (to minimize construction damage to it), but I suspect it will be similarly nice.
My house is 100+ years old and needed wood interiors to maintain the aesthetic. I seriously considered uPVC triple glazed tilt/turns but could not stomach the look in my home. Wood interior tilt/turns were simply out of the budget. Running the numbers on triple glazed uPVC vs double glazed "American" windows revealed that I wouldn't save enough on energy to justify the aesthetic compromise.
I'm not positive if Andersen offers a triple glazed version of their A series patio door, but it's worth checking on.
Andersen A series are very good doors and windows, and the sliders are available in triple pane. I don't know how they compete on cost but they are likely less expensive than the lift-and-slide doors you would get from PBS or from Logic. But they are also a step down in performance, as they do not have the same airtight qualities, and the frames are not insulated.