Window Selection
I’m trying to narrow down my choices between windows. We’re looking at triple pane windows for an ICF build in CZ6B in Canada. I’m down to Innotech and Westeck, plus some fixed windows from Litezone.
Innotech seems to have a good reputation, but I’m not certain the tilt and turn is best for us. Westeck seems to be the same type of product as Innotech, with similar performance, but I haven’t found too many people using and reviewing it. However, the thing I like about Westeck is that they have casement windows (the crank kind) that have triple point locking mechanisms and swing out, instead of in. I’ve never really liked casement, but I think I like it better than the idea of tilt and turn windows since you’ll never use the turn part b/c your interior window sill will be occupied, or you don’t want to smack into a window that’s sticking into your house by 2-3ft…
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Replies
what did you end up doing here for windows and how did it turn out so far?
I have been looking at Innotech as well. So the steel reinforced PVC: does these windows have the same flaw as regular PVC, where the shrink/swell will cause the seals to break? Are there additional failures due to rust internal to the windows?
I'm an American living in Europe. Many homes, most new ones, have tilt turn windows. Most people use them on a daily basis as a tilt window. But the turn function, acting as an inward opening casement, is very convenient for when they need to be washed.
By the way most European homes I've encountered don't have insect screens on their windows.
Apologies for the long delay. It was a terrible home build experience.
Anyway, we used Innotech. I can't say I'm terribly impressed. No, there's no draft from the glass, even in -30C weather. But, they ice up a ton at the base (inside humidity in the low 30% range).
And, our local rep was a piece of work. I had specifically stated, via documented email, that we wanted black exterior, white interior. We had several back and forths with the draft order which was fine tuning the size of one of the windows. All along, the colours were correct. But then, without me noticing, the colour changed to black black on my patio door and I was never informed and didn't realize this until after it was installed.
I inquired with the Innotech sales rep and she told me to pound sand.
She also told me to pound sand with the large scratches found in our big picture windows that are the focal point in our house. She said it was something that we would just have to live with and ignore.
Further, the SDL's (window grilles) were sloppily cut. There are gaps all over the place and the look like crap. There are also tons of pencil marks all over the frames from when they installed the SDL's at the factory and those were a serious pain to get off the frame.
The sliding patio door is way too heavy for anyone other than a capable adult, and it's got this tiny little pocket for your fingers on the outside that just doesn't work well. My mother cannot open it and our kids can't yet either. Also, the framing for the patio door relative to the floor is just poorly thought through. It apparently comes with a 2" aluminum angle that screws into the face of the patio door and then down to the floor. Really??? So, I will have to figure out a reasonable way to hide this ugly "feature".
Last, and this is the best part, the warranty they offer is BS. At the last minute, after you pay for your order, they send you all the warranty info. At this point in time, not before, you get to learn that for any non-white coloured exterior window, their standard warranty duration does not apply. Our black cladded windows only have a 5 year warranty. I think if they were white it's like 30 years or something around there. Bait and switch if you ask me.
Oh, and I forgot: one of the windows came with cracked glass. It took 5 months to replace that piece and that was only because I kept prodding them and following up with them.
So, stay away is my recommendation.
Thanks for the details, sorry you had to deal with that.
Recent frosting on the window that likes to later melt and destroy your window sills:
Specifically addressing the ice and water on your windows:
Do you have triple pane or dual pane glass in your windows?
Do you know if you have a surface 4 (dual) or surface 6 (triple) coating on the glass?
Do you keep the blinds closed during the night (or day)?
I went with Westeck and while I think the quality is very good, though there paint could have been better applied, tiny pin holes in some places. at least they provide touch up, and I don't think this is unique. I will say that the customer service was less then ideal in timing but not bad in end result. I would probably order again from them for future products as I think the actual product is very good and hiccups in ordering are things that can happen with all window manufactures, and can be worked out. I mostly ordered triple pane but can't report on icing as my climate is not as intense as yours and the structure is not yet occupied but I do think they are a very good quality.
I went with triple glazed Alpens. Thrilled with the quality and customer service. No icing.