Search found 14 matches

by EltonNoway
Wed Aug 12, 2015 7:54 pm
Forum: Window Reviews
Topic: Great Lakes Ecosmart - Okna -SoftLite Should I keep looking?
Replies: 18
Views: 34696

Re: Great Lakes Ecosmart - Okna -SoftLite Should I keep looking

Also... the Soft-Lite dealer said his installer will wrap the brick mould with G8... ??? I'm confused. If all the exterior trim i.e., brick mould is replaced... is wrapping it considered normal practice when doing a full replacement? Sorry to bump my last post... but decided I should follow up with...
by EltonNoway
Mon May 11, 2015 11:41 am
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: New windows for 13 year old house
Replies: 13
Views: 10338

Re: New windows for 13 year old house

Current windows are vinyl but very cheap. We get major condensation during the winter and now with at least 5 windows with broken seals. I am just not sure what to get. I am in the pittsburgh area and had a local company thermo twin come out but they were very unprofessional and wanted almost $1000...
by EltonNoway
Fri May 01, 2015 3:46 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?
Replies: 12
Views: 9903

Re: Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?

You can, in theory, attach right to the RO as long as the width of the window is narrower than the brick to brick measurement and will fit between the bricks. You could ditch the brickmold and go with a small capping return to the brick but it would look a bit different. Great... Thank You W.O.W .....
by EltonNoway
Fri May 01, 2015 12:13 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?
Replies: 12
Views: 9903

Re: Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?

Probably could have saved you some time by just telling you that you didn't have sausage weights and pulleys. By the way, regardless of balance size, your exterior opening size will dictate your maximum size window that you can install. Sills are never secured to the framing through the sill. Basic...
by EltonNoway
Thu Apr 30, 2015 8:42 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?
Replies: 12
Views: 9903

Re: Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?

Nope, it is not you. We do up to 50% full tear outs. OK, let make this simple: lets say the existing wood DH has a sash opening of 32" x 53 3/4", you would order your insert vinyl replacement at 31 3/4 x 53 1/2" ( that would be considered measured tight). If you remove the DH frame y...
by EltonNoway
Thu Apr 30, 2015 4:06 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?
Replies: 12
Views: 9903

Re: Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?

If you have a typical wood prime DH. You will gain 1.5" in visible glass width and up to 3" in height by doing a full tear out. (snip)... My house has typical wood DH (32 years old). In regards to the "gain" in visible glass you mentioned.... are you saying I should get that? Wh...
by EltonNoway
Wed Apr 29, 2015 2:02 pm
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?
Replies: 12
Views: 9903

Re: Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?

Totally depends on the home and how the brick was done. The sill of the window does need to terminate on the sill course of the brick so you won't, in all likelihood, be dropping it on the RO stud on the bottom. They are probably right. Many insert options (when using a thin profile window) don't c...
by EltonNoway
Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:02 am
Forum: Ask Our Pro's a Question
Topic: Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?
Replies: 12
Views: 9903

Brick Home - Less glass area with Full frame replacement?

Please help! I'm ready to purchase but ran into some confusion today. My house has a brick facade exterior. I talked to both a Soft-Lite and Okna rep who said a full frame replacement will NOT yield any more glass area than a standard pocket replacement... in fact they said it will yield less. :? Tw...
by EltonNoway
Fri Apr 24, 2015 12:16 pm
Forum: Window Reviews
Topic: Great Lakes Ecosmart - Okna -SoftLite Should I keep looking?
Replies: 18
Views: 34696

Re: Great Lakes Ecosmart Windows - Should I keep looking?

I would hope that the OKNA dealer would have performed a few 800 installs as full frame flanged new construction projects with the snap in nailing fin. The fins come in like 14' lengths and we cut them to the desired length in the field. The window itself needs some weld flash to the exterior jambs...
by EltonNoway
Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:42 pm
Forum: Window Reviews
Topic: Great Lakes Ecosmart - Okna -SoftLite Should I keep looking?
Replies: 18
Views: 34696

Re: Great Lakes Ecosmart Windows - Should I keep looking?

The 800 has a clip in flange option that works well. The coil will give you the drainage plane but it won't really help stabilize the window to the opening. Hmmm... that so if the clip in flange won't help stabilize the window... what should I be expecting from the installer on installation as far ...
by EltonNoway
Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:21 am
Forum: Window Reviews
Topic: Great Lakes Ecosmart - Okna -SoftLite Should I keep looking?
Replies: 18
Views: 34696

Re: Great Lakes Ecosmart Windows - Should I keep looking?

Given the brick exterior, what you may get back in terms of glass might be limited based on how they set the brick. I also don't care for full tear outs unless they are flanged and full new construction to be honest. On inspection (minor dismantle) it appears the installer whoever I pick will have ...
by EltonNoway
Tue Apr 14, 2015 11:38 pm
Forum: Window Reviews
Topic: Great Lakes Ecosmart - Okna -SoftLite Should I keep looking?
Replies: 18
Views: 34696

Re: Great Lakes Ecosmart Windows - Should I keep looking?

Are the sills rotted through? Most sill rot is to the exterior sill nosing and does not mandate a full replacement. Full tear outs are fine but I would like to know what the exterior cladding is and what and how the company will be flashing those units back. Sorry for the delayed response...had to ...
by EltonNoway
Tue Apr 07, 2015 6:18 pm
Forum: Window Reviews
Topic: Great Lakes Ecosmart - Okna -SoftLite Should I keep looking?
Replies: 18
Views: 34696

Re: Great Lakes Ecosmart Windows - Should I keep looking?

My thanks to masterext and fridge2020 for their feedback. Unfortunately I'm still confounded. I was able to get a full replacement quote using Soft-Lite windows. I'm now down to two quotes. Both are for full replacement of 20 double hungs. One is at $14,900 and the other at $15,120... as follows: $1...
by EltonNoway
Fri Apr 03, 2015 12:13 pm
Forum: Window Reviews
Topic: Great Lakes Ecosmart - Okna -SoftLite Should I keep looking?
Replies: 18
Views: 34696

Great Lakes Ecosmart - Okna -SoftLite Should I keep looking?

Regardless of where or how I search the internet... (other than the normal sales propaganda) I can find very little "current" information from a consumer perspective on the Great Lakes ecosmart window line. I know Great Lakes windows is a brand offered by Plygem. I've learned the Ecosmart ...