Experience with Sierra Pacific Triple-Pane Windows and Doors
cal_egan
| Posted in General Questions on
Anyone have experience with Sierra Pacific’s triple pane windows and doors? Happy with the opening mechanisms, air seal & water management? We are considering them for an upcoming project but it is hard to get good information on them. Our local showroom only has double pane units on display.
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I looked on their website and the best U-value I saw was for the Aluminum Clad Aspen Casement Picture window, triple pane argon filled at U-0.14 which is about R7. Have you gotten quotes to see what Zola or Alpen costs for their R10+ windows? Also these are all fixed windows so your operable windows will be even lower R values.
For doors I know ProVia makes an R10 door with no glass, which may not be what you want. I would love to know who else makes high performance doors.
I have used them on a couple of projects and just received one to install in my own house. All have been their H3 line, a mix of double-hungs, casements and awnings. All have been very high quality and perform very well. Installing them is a breeze--I've never installed windows with such straight jambs or perfectly accurate dimensions.
The only complaints I've heard are from an older person who finds it hard to lift the heavy double-hung sashes; the counterweight springs could be a little tighter. She also finds that locking the double-hung sashes is more finicky than with the ancient Andersons in the rest of her house. (I decided against reminding her how hard I tried to convince her to go with all casements and awnings, which operate flawlessly.)
My only complaint is that they have had trouble getting into the New England market where I work. There are a few retailers but they compete with Marvin, which has a stronghold. Marvin Elevate is my second choice for North American-style, mid-budget windows but SP's H3 line is superior in my opinion.
Edit to add: haha, Cal, I just saw that you're the one asking the question. If you want to swing out to China I'd be happy to show you the casements, awnings and double-hungs in my mother-in-law's house.