Hello all. Long time with no update because things have been progressing slowly around these parts. Here's the news: I replaced the big picture windows here with crazy triple pane Pella jobs. They were the only windows in the house that weren't replacements so they were the first to go. They are also by FAR the largest windows in the house. All the rest are tiny, tiny. Not even code minimum. That's fine by me because even the best window performs worse than the worst wall. Next summer the real DER will take place and all of the others will get replaced also. One window faces south so it's got a higher SHGC and in turn a higher U. It's U Value is .21. The other picture window faces West and would roast me out of the living room on summer afternoons so I got the extra low E coating. It's got a U of .15. The casements flanking it have a U of .17. Not bad for the money. Marvin wanted close to 6 grand for windows with a higher U. These came in right around $3,400. Pella has a big presence here and I have a sales rep I've been working with. Since a friend told me last fall about how much better Pella windows have gotten I've been using them exclusively.
