I have had Enerlux windows in my house since August 1, 2018. Originally I ordered only four windows, just so I could see how I liked them. I was so happy with how quiet the rooms were with the triple pane glass, that I ordered all new windows for my entire house, I believe I installed a total of 23 windows. I also replaced both of my patio doors with Enerlux sliding patio doors. They are incredibly well built, they slide open and closed very easily. I'm a HUGE fan of their products!
Tim , you really love these windows. I can see you have been commenting all over the internet for the last three years about it. One of the most obvious drawbacks of fibreglass window frames is the colour fading, especially for darker colours. How have your windows held up in that respect over the years ?
Regarding sound; it is a lot better to use two different glas thickness. That will have different natural frequency that avoid a lot of sound go trough. Typical good and cheap solution is to use 4 and 6 mm glazing into a dobble glazing, with a pastic spacer(that transfer a lot less heat than traditional alu).
@@joakimdorum Dissimilar window pane (thickness), Sometimes also known as offset glass. It’s a about the STC’s (as compared to the STDs of the 1980s 🤦♂️👀😂).
Yep. As i understand, triple pane with all the same thickness, say 3mm, isn't significantly quieter than double pane (3mm + 3mm). Like you said, the sound deadening comes from differential thickness. Thicker glass overall will do it too for frequencies that matter, but that increases cost and weight.
Just a heads up; fiberglass boats DO absorb water, get heavier and sit lower in the water because of this. Older boats sometimes need to be dried out (I seem to recall they like to do this if the gel coat needs refreshing/replacing). If you research wood vs fiberglass boats arguments you'll get an ear full. Now it's an extreme edge case as they are in the water full time and should not be a problem for window frames.
Fiberglass boats made with polyester resins absorb water when constantly immersed. The pressure on the under water hull causes moisture to migrate into the hull. Boats with epoxy resin construction do not have this problem. Fiberglass window are really the result of manufacturers not being able to secure good wood stocks or unwilling to pay the price for high grade lumber. I have 1930's Anderson windows and they simply do not rot. I had 1980's Anderson windows with finger jointed lumber that rotted even when coated with vinyl cladding.
FYI, fiberglass is mostly resin. The fiberglass is just used to hold the resin together structurally. So when he talks about "differential movement" he needs to realize its not glass-on-glass. It's resin on glass.
@@cocodog85most of Matt's videos are... Sponsored by them, first time using them, parroting the marketing material! Good for awareness but definitely a sales pitch
@@daviddickmeyer5231 On tools that are (partially) made of fiberglass (reinforced), you'd normally find the type of material casted somewhere so you'd know the percentage of fiberglass.
There very little about Enerlux, but I had them quote my remodel with over 33 windows, 95% are Casment, and triple pain.. the quote was amazing and I decided to go with them.
Please come back and tell us how everything turned out. Looking at a new build next year and would love to hear more about Enerlux.. What was your quote for the 33 windows if I may ask?
Matt, you really shouldn't make that conduction analogy between fiberglass ladders and windows. I know you were trying to make a conductivity analogy but there are better ones to use. Could say how a plastic cup doesn't get cold as fast as a metal one. I'm sure you know this but for anyone who was confused, Heat ≠ Electricity and it's not an accurate way to represent the benefits of fiberglass for its low thermal conductivity. Diamond is a great conductor of heat but very poor at conducting electricity.
While not everything that conducts heat well is electrically conductive, pretty much everything that is electrically conductive is also thermally conductive because one of the mechanisms of thermal conductivity leverages free electron flow
It's actually a very apt comparison. While it's true that thermal conductivity does not imply electrical conductivity, electrical conductivity actually does imply thermal conductivity. This is because phonons (lattice thermal vibrations) can excite electrons into the conduction band, and those electrons can then carry that energy through the material. This is a huge issue for thermoelectric materials and why they have very low efficiency... The ideal thermoelectric material would have high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity, but such materials basically don't really exist, keeping efficiencies very low.
Stay away from Marvin fiberglass. I just finished a house. They have severe production issues and don't seal the corners. I waited over two years for a warranty fix on 3 of 25 windows. There is also no insulation in their frames or air sealing so they get quite hot and cold because of the infiltration passing that into the house. I wish I had seen EnerLux first.
you're not lying. Saw them at the showroom and was not impressed with the build quality. Soft plastic bits and very lightweight feel. Elevate slightly better but still meh. And it has wood inside.
Been installing windows 22 years now... never saw a fiberglass window that impressed me.. Alot of them are not serviceable..ie if the gass seal goes bad or a pane gets broken...your stuck changing the whole thing... They are excessively heavy and prone to hardware breaks.. which again if the hardware breaks from it's anchor point in the fiberglass frame.. you're changing the whole window again...they cost almost 3 time's what a quality vinyl window costs and you'd have to live about 3 lifetimes to see the energy benefits of a fiberglass window over vinyl
I completely agree with your comment. I have had all of our windows replaced with Vinyl framed windows. They are great. A window can be replaced without replacing the frame too. In order to have windows with a higher R value what we actually need is something clear, like glass, but with an inherent R rating higher than glass. Lexan works but it can yellow with age so it's not suitable for windows. It also expands and contracts a lot compared to glass. It's hard to maintain a seal verses glass. I had lexan installed as storm windows on one of my houses and they worked exceptionally well. I was able to actually see a difference in what it cost to keep my house warm during winter. Something like that would be nice.
@sparksmcgee6641 name one company that sells fiberglass and is willing to service it.. around here they're sold by Marvin metropolitan and pella and all I see are people who wish they hadn't spent the money for them
Ive installed padio doors for years, in several different states. And as an installer, these doors are a pleasure to install. The easier these installs are, the more quality you get out of them. Half the time you have guys jamming to get a days worth of work done, but with the quality materials Enerlux uses with their clear instructions, installs go in textbook with beautiful results.
Unless I'm mistaken the sample shown had a wood grain clearly evident in the corner material. It did not look like foam and was too cleanly cut for it to be injected into the corner during assembly.
@@garyjarvis2730 Foam does expand, but I don't think that could make a clean line like that. I am going to assume the polyurethane is liquidy. They rotate the entire frame being held together by an assembly and pour polyurethane into each corner one at a time when each corner is facing down. That would make the smooth top surface you see in the cutaway and would allow the rest of the polyurethane to have maximum surface contact.
I've had these windows for 4 years and they are definitely the best I have ever dealt with. One thing not mentioned on the show today was the color is molded into the fiberglass so you don't have to worry about painting and you don't have to worry about mismatch.
Our reason for using fiberglass windows, here in zone 6, was for condensation when it's cold and the the house humidity is too high. Most wood windows around here need new window sashes after 10 or so years from being wet for weeks at a time, unless wiped dry.
Install a whole-house dehumidifier (from AprilAire or Santa Fe.) You're at high risk of serious health issues as a result of dangerous mold developing if it hasn't already.
@@rojohe You don't understand how very cold windows will condensate from interior humidity at 30%. Our home uses a whole home humidifier to keep the humidity up or it would be as dry as Arizona deserts.
I'm glad someone is improving on fiberglass: I ordered QTY: 6 fiberglass windows from Marvin. When they arrived, 4 of them were cracked. When those 4 replacements showed up, 2 of them were cracked. It's a brittle material and needs to be over-built to survive. Also: All of my windows leaked at the mitered corners on day 1. I'm skeptical of this "uerthane" filled corner, but it may be better than nothing. I think instead of urethane it should be epoxy / fiberglass for a truly monolithic assembly. With vinyl you get a true monolithic assembly because it is plastic-welded. That said, if I ever do fiberglass again, I'd consider these.
Our Washington DC condominium building installed ~99 Enerlux windows in 2016 and they have held up well. Windows are double-pane with Low-E 270 glass packages (insulated glass units or IGUs). I compared Enerlux with Inline and Marvin (Essential and Elevate) and thought they were better made, much better made than Marvin. The Enerlux picture windows (highlighted in the video) have much thinner frames than the casement and awning windows (operable and non-operable) so I would use those wherever possible (I didn't; my mistake). Prices were very competitive, even against Provia Endure vinyl windows. Enerlux didn't have resellers like Marvin and other manufacturers so we had do find our own installer. One of my windows arrived with a crack which I noticed after it was installed. Enerlux sent a replacement IGU and the installer was able to push out the defective one and replace it with a new one without disturbing the frame. I haven't heard any complaints from my eight fellow homeowners. I don't see any deterioration of south-facing windows.
I actually sell EnLux windows, and they are by far superior to other windows. I've been to their plant in Crete NE and meet the team and they are truly amazing group of people.
I wonder how well they hold up. I mean you leave a fiberglass ladder outside or say even a canoe and the UV rays from the sun deteriorate the fiberglass and it becomes brittle and begins falling apart. Now im sure ladder and canoe manufacturers are well aware that their products are heavily exposed to the elements and do their best to treat them in the factories to get the longest lasting protection, but they just dont hold up. I have no experience with fiberglass windows and did some pella triple pane to replace rotted wooden single pane and the difference to the existing anderson double pane makes me want to change all the other windows to triple pane and i liked pella insulated the frames as well similar with a polyurethane foam least that i remember looking at them before purchase. You sold me on the zip sheathing and im glad i went with that for a project, just not sure im sold on enerlux fiberglass though i guess time will tell.
Frames aren't going to be that different from vinyl to fiberglass if you already have one of them. The type of operation can make some difference, like casement vs hung or sliding. If you want to switch to triple pane, you can just replace the glass unit. Custom glass units are significantly cheaper and easier to install than replacing the frame, if the frame itself is in good condition and the install was good.
7:05 Except for the gel-coating and blisters on the fiberglass of the coat. That is why you use the barrier coating on the hull. Sure would be nice to see a single piece carbon fiber window frame then without any seams. 🤠👍
Air inflation is a consideration if you want to have a house that isnt a fishbowl, with all pictures windows. also glazing difference considered if more solar heat gain is desired for winter passive heating. Triple glaze just adds more complexity and therefore more problems . Having laminted glass on one pane reduces sound transmission very well.
Higher solar heat gain would only benefit southern or maybe East/West windows if you want to target a certain portion of the day, they discussed heat loss being a high priority and triple glazed windows achieved that. You can also see that specific window had 0.23 SHGC so they're shooting for the low end of the spectrum in this location.
Marvin has been making fiberglass windows and doors for 30 years. Just put in a french door on Saturday. Have 5 more windows on order. They are my go to window for all my projects.
I'll never order from Marvin again. I ordered 6 of their most expensive windows, and needed to order 6 more from cracks in the fiberglass frames. All of the mitered corners leaked on day 1 and required a healthy dose of silicon, which I now need to keep an eye on.
How does the fiberglass do after 10 or 20 years of UV light? Typically fiberglass gets chalky. Do you need to wax it or otherwise apply protective coatings to keep it in good shape? And what if it does get chalky, can you refurb it?
@felixaguirre9367 With fiberglass laminations its all about the type of RESINS that are used and the final Gel Coat. Today we have newer, excellent UV-resistant Epoxy Resins that are much more stable than traditional Polyester Resins, though the Polyester Resins are also better now. And most fiberglass boats pretty much live in the sun. 😉 Again, it is the exposed final Top Coat or "Gel Coat" of the fiberglass that protects the underlying laminations from UV and degradation.
No, not really. Yes, fiberglass is made with glass but it also has a large volume of epoxy that holds the fibers together in the desired shape. While it is true raw fiberglass and glass have nearly identical thermal expansion the addition of epoxy changes that equation.
@@RaoulHira I know that it’s hard to compare markets but I really wish these videos would at least help us out a bit on figuring out whether us mere mortals can purchase such things
@@RaoulHira an example would be a 30x55 casement 3 pane $1000. $825 for the same size fixed. We have a large 96x80 fixed picture window that was $4800. The double pane windows were slightly cheaper than Marvin double pane fiberglass. But the quality felt way better. They sent me a free sample casement in the mail (an entire window). It really sold me. They said they don’t up charge for triple pane they just pass on the cost. I think it was like 15% more.
How does the price compare to vinyl and aluminum? Is it between them or is it more than aluminum on average? How long do they last compared to them? I've had old fiberglass ladders break down and fibers come out and it's not pleasant.
You can't compare them to vinyl, completely different beast.. I can tell you enerluxs price was 50% of Marvin. I just paid the 50% down and should be ready to ship in 1.5 months
@@BadKid-bv9pd50% less than essential or which type of Marvin window ultimate, or signature? There is a big jump in price going from essential to the others.
Why do so few people think that internal grills without profiled mullions or muntins on the exterior are ok? Having the grills only between the panes looks so cheap. If this is a good product, they need to offer it with exterior grills so they look like quality windows. I realize it makes sense to have the grills also on the inside to allow fewer leak sites and to keep the gas inside, but there's no reason they cannot be added to the exterior as well. Otherwise, why don't the manufacturers just leave them out. It is especially noticeable when the glass is tinted. Matt - you are such a quality home builder and so are your guests on the show. Hope you will address this in the future. Big fan of your show!
EnerLux does offer both grilles between the glass and SDL’s on the exterior of the insulated glass unit. The best benefit to grilles between the glass is that you don’t have the maintenance and cleaning aspects as with SDL’s
All manufacturers offer all the option. The customers wallet dictates what's installed. Having a true sdl with grids in and out and in-between the glass is a lot more money.
Which is why I think you should dispense with grilles altogether if you don’t have the budget to do in, out, and between. Looks cheap and fake to me otherwise (though I’m probably in the minority on that). Grilles look dated anyway unless you’re in a historical setting (again, just my opinion).
@@MichaelJ674 again no one is putting a gun to a client's head and making them choose those options. They're looking at samples and they're deciding how far they want to stretch their dollar. The options exist because people are willing to pay for them.
The Houston Window Experts TH-cam channel likes Infinity by Marvin fiberglass windows, even better than the Marvin Essential fiberglass. They both use the same material, but the design of the windows is a little different. Since this video is sponsored by EnerLux, I am not sure you are going to get an objective response.
My only concern with them is the non-continuous flange. The flange on the Enerlux is well done and continuous. I also like the small upcharge to goto 3 panes
Read through the other comments here and you'll find some builders/installers who don't have great things to say about the Marvin Fiberglass window products quality...and pricing vs the Enerlux.
I visited a Marvin dealer to look at its Essential windows. Even the salesman wasn't impressed and he sells them! Enerlux sent a corner sample to see how the window was constructed and it was definitely superior. Our DC condo building installed ~99 Enerlux windows after my extensive analysis.
Great long lasting attractive windows, however one issue with fibreglass is once ignited the resin burns like gasoline. With R values for VIG double glazed standard windows at R-20 and high performance VIG up to R-26 why are you not showing any homes using this type of product its available now in the US? Soon to be released triple glazing VIG expensive but with expected R values reaching beyond R-35 it will make windows for most homes more energy efficient than the walls and yield an attractive ROI. Window sizes are from 12X12" to 60X118".allowing a homeowner to install a complete wall of glass at R-20. The screen system EnerLux has introduced is next level, Outstanding. Ray
VIG does not state any garanties about how long the vacuum lasts. only say it's much longer than other of their products. Given they're likely far more expensive... i would want some guarantees about the seals holding up. Likely the will degrade over time.
I installed fibreglass windows here in Canada 25 years ago for Thermotech Windows. This is old technology. Some vinyl manufacturers have succeeded in reducing the footprint of the frame, but fibreglass is better performing and looks better.
Heat loss; when you use a 0,14 BTU/ft/hr/F as u-factor og 0,8 w/sqm/K as u-value(europe) you avoid a lot of cold air falling to the floor. That make you use the heating more than what the heat loss make happening, because you are cold over your feets.
Glass is a great conductor of heat, so, I am not sure I would be touting the wonderful analogy of fiberglass with "glass". You are basically saying it is a poor insulator, which is not what you want in a window at all. The good news is that, what you should really be talking about are R value for the "package"... and it looks like the EnerLux brand runs from 3.45 to 7+ on the R value per their web site. However, I am NOT a fan of how they place their R value information. R value and SHGC should be upfront and available, proudly displayed, not hidden away.
Perfect windows are already invented! Go to Europe and bring that "German windows" here, that's it! Salamander, Roto..... tons of systems and producers to choose from, but the same principles. Thick-ass 3-glass pack in air/water tight and energy efficient frame gives perfect thermal values and noise isolation.
I would say, in my experience, make sure the house is highly efficient. Have had lots of moisture build up on certain windows that are replacement windows. I’m told because I have a bathroom in the house I will always have this issue. 😮
What does that change? The only difference is that new work windows have a flange on the exterior. If you flash your opening and seal your windows properly that shouldn't make a difference.
@@vapeurdepisse I’m talking about it being a newer more “efficient” house. I have an older house and I have pictures to prove that the windows I purchased freeze over. I was told this is because i have a dog in the house and a bathroom and all that moisture will allow these windows to freeze over. So without making my entire house more efficient I will always deal with it.
@@chrisbeasley8561 Respectfully, that has nothing to do with new vs. replacement windows. Consider installing a bathroom fan with a timer switch and a properly vented range hood (to the outside). And train your dog not to breathe 😂. Seriously, dog or no dog should have very little effect on interior condensation compared to cooking and bathing.
😂 no I understand just wanted to give the advice I was given. I have all of the suggestions (short of suffocating the dog😅). Just disappointed love the windows but the small issue of a couple of windows looking like a freezer in desperate need of thawing out.
The Enerlux warranty is not great. Does not cover replacement labor which can far exceed the cost of the windows, does not cover appearance of the window (fading, surface cracks, etc). Only 20 years. :(
I didn’t read a limitation on cosmetic defects. Normal wear and tear, but not appearance. The warranty is unlimited on the frame, 10-years on hardware, 20-years on leaks. How many products will give you labor on a warranty? Automobiles and what else?
@@user-tv5dt3nm9y If it's not expressly covered you can't assume it is. I'm going through this on another window company's vinyl windows that were made without proper UV protection and are discoloring. Pella and Anderson cover labor in their warranties.
Approaching the window thing from a first principles angle, you might ask yourself "why do I want a window?" An honest evaluation of that question will result in some surprising insights.
Yeah. We put to many windows in houses in the 90s. We all go the glass we dreamed of before that. Good designers pulled back in the aughts. Moat people still put in to many. More importan is 100% of pwople put in to many functioning windows. The cost for that is 2 or 3 times a fixed. New homes have better HVAC and air control so people think they'll still be opening like the past when they won't. Non functioning windows have better sight lines are much better. A breakfast nook, living and dining rooms don't need opening windows.
@@sparksmcgee6641 Agreed. When you boil it down, only three reasons exist for windows. Light, air, and view. With modern tech, we can eliminate two of these immediately, not to mention the downsides of water, dirt, HVAC, and security concerns.
SIPs. Not sure why they didn’t put up drywall or something between the SIPs and the timber frame though. 🤷♂️ Maybe that comes later? Timber frame with stucco exterior is a strange choice too. Just some very odd style choices all around in that house.
Thx and If: Compare the Window frame thickness to a phone/computer/tablet frame that are getting thinner, not so they look like metal and that you can add width on the outside for aesthetics your going for. Also, I have a fiberglass boat manufacturing company, custom go fast boats, and can give you some custom comparison videos that would be fun for your subs.
Definitely an infomercial, but some great information with the commercial. Piqued my interest enough that I’m going to look further into EnerLux windows. Maybe the best thing is the robust discussion in the comments. I’m eliminating Marvin fiberglass windows from consideration thanks to all the bad experiences people have had! I long ago eliminated vinyl windows from consideration and wood is too expensive, so that leaves fiberglass or thermally-broken aluminum windows and there seem to be pros and cons to each. Others will have reached a different conclusion no doubt, but that’s where I am at this point for my upcoming new build. Now go ahead and tell me how wrong I am everyone! 😂😂😂
who would have thought!! I wonder if fiberglass does good against aggressive uv light? I wish I knew about this before I ordered my aluminium framed windows
@@buildshow with the detail of leaving the bottom unsealed so that if water condenses it has a path out.....I love the details of your educational videos....raising the bar of home construction science.
See previous video in this series on liquid flashing at windows (sponsored by Prosoco!). Exclamation point added for sarcasm 😊. That said, it’s a pretty good overview of the pros and cons of liquid flashing with all the cons provided by commentators (we weren’t sponsored 😁).
People don't like fiberglass windows? I seeked them out specifically for my house. Vinyl sucks, aluminum is kinda sucky, wood is expensive. That being said I couldn't actually find fiberglass windows at a price point I liked so I ended up going with Andersen 100s which are wood composite. More brands need to make fiberglass!
Sorry guys but you went with sales BS instead of quality. Anderson, especially the replacement products, and Koble are the all sizzle sales. I spent 10 years working on windows in top tier homes and on houses I built. Put Anderson in the first house I did. Never again after the wood product started falling apart within a year. My helper would laugh at the Koble rep in Denver when he would pull up on builds. He said, " I know xxxx." is the exhausted phrase he would say when the owner/architech/builder would approach him. Then he'd come find me and I'd walk the sight with the list of problem windows. Top of their line products had over a 50 failure rate. Without a doubt the worst glass in the industry. The "lights" were always a mess on any radius window or door.
Vinyl shrinks and grows with temperature changes more than the glass, whereas fiberglass moves at the same rate so the seals are less likely to go bad. Vinyl is the weakest of the different window frame materials and degrades in the sun more than other materials (uPVC used in many European countries is less susceptible to UV degradation than the standard PVC typically used in American vinyl windows, but still worse than wood, aluminum or fiberglass). Other than price, the only thing vinyl has going for it is its insulation value, which, depending on the exact chemistry used, can be the same or slightly better than fiberglass, both of which are better than wood, and all of which are far better than aluminum.
You cant get make vinyl with dark colors built into the raw vinyl. So they laminate (glue) a separate cap on for the color, those warp, peal, fail. You cant paint them very well either.
Triple glazed are not cost effective anywhere but the coldest climates in terms of energy efficiency. However, they can be great for a higher STC rating (sound blocking), especially if at least one pane of glass is a different thickness than the other two (e.g. 3 mm and 6 mm).
NOT to be confused with Fibrex by Anderson. The “particle-board” process for windows. Great promise, lacking on longevity…& usually high priced comparatively so so that only the manufactures are the ones making the money by over promising & under delivering - Exactly opposite of what should be done.
Anderson has been junk for 10 years at least. They're all about sales and keeping top tier pricing for 3rd tier products. Loved them for the first few years in the business and made a point to put them in my first house, 2004. The wood product was failing right away and I haven't touch them since. The left Colorado for a few years also and left customers without warrantees.
How is that sketchy? It's a rustic finish piece. Might hold something up but doesn't look like it does. Maybe a detail between a dinning room and living room.
@merlingrim2843 what looks sketch about a 6x6 or 8x8 post? Seriously I'm asking to understand what you were seeing there. I'm a builder an I could read in plan when I was a teen a decade before I got in the trades. I like to learn what others see. Thanks
I LOve P***a windows so much fun metal clad wood. Nothing like watching them rot from the inside out. Back in the 90s had a Pella rep tell me 2 windows were leaking because the painter hadn't caulked the glass to the wooden window frame correctly. I told him to tell it to the customers lawyer. 2 new windows showed up 2 days later. Who'd have thunk it. Getting ready to buy a rehab. I will be using either vinyl or fiberglass. Depending on the quality and the price. I'm not going to subject myself or a future buyer to anything else.
This video is a straight up advertisement. Provide all the comparative information including costs. Basic double pane vinyl windows have a whole U of 0.26. In south central US, U value is simply not that important as the delta T is never that large. SHGC is more important if the window sees direct sun.
I'm confused... why are they the future again? But as a German, PVC frames are the norm. They are on piece too, since they get welded together. And they are actual frames you can replace the window pane if its broken.
Don’t worry; next month there will be another video sponsored by Pixel Oknoplast or some other European manufacturer and THEY will be deemed the Windows of the Future!
Yeah we have them also. Best new thing in the US is the polish company that's spread through Europe has jumped to the US and you can order directly from them. European products in the US get marked up to the point no one uses them by the local dealers. Internet is helping there.
Thermal conductivity is definitely not the same as electrical conductivity… most thermal heat transfer for a window is conduction (assuming it was installed air tight)… FIberglass is a solid material that will transfer heat without specific breaks.. your reports on UPVC windows at EAD specifically address this thermal break…. And as far as the differential CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion).. fiberglass and glass need to be calculated.. just having glass in the name isn’t relevant … none of this says the windows are bad but need a more accurate discussion if you are going to address technical aspects.
Hmmh, fiberglass windows have been around in Europe for a long time. There are American importers of German made windows that can get you these windows at a discount.
Agree on the fiberglass. Nothing new here. Regarding MR: became a big ad channel. I do like the tilt and turn feature on European windows though. What I even like better is the price tag if imported.
I’m not buying the super duty triple glaze window comfort thing. All U values of windows are lousy. Doubling lousy is still lousy. A wall of glass will be breezy in frigid temps. Enerlux warranty is impressive. 20-years on leaks, 10-years on hardware.
You literally don't know what you're talking about. Yes the U value does affect the comfort. Do you claim wall insulation doesn't. After either? R- 10 or R 13 wall is horrible when it's a glass wall and just fine when it's a R10 or R 13 sheet rock stud wall?
grate video, but why the heck the guy on left even, have a tool belt on him, clearly that belt never seen a job, same goes to the tools! why even pretend? i know the kind tough, unfortunately...
Glass install is pretty clean. I'm a contractor and I finally got a roof hammer when redoing my dad's house last year. I was tipping the labor at the end of the job and gave a guy my new hammer for his old one. They all looked at me funny until I said "No one's saying, damn white guy contractor that doesnt know how to roof, when Im on the job" 😅😅😅😅 They all laughed hard then.
So, if a cat tried to climb that screen, it would easily fall out. That would be undesirable. I want my windows opening inwards, with fixed screens on the outside. Like you get from European Architectural Supply.
There is a considerable amount of spring tension on these screens. These screens are also found in Vector vinyl windows. On both windows the screen is spring loaded into a recessed track. A cat would would probably not be an issue other than it's claws if it has them.
Don’t worry; European Architectural Supply will sponsor a future video and Pixel Oknoplast (or some other European window) will be declared the Window of the Future.
The problem with your show, Matt, has always been your lack of transparency regarding the prices of the products you push. The vast majority of us DYI builders have to think about costs. Pretty much why I don't watch you anymore.
Well the fact is you don't qualify for our prices and the retail is going to vary all over. Pros have a good idea of what they cost and you can email the company and find out an accurate price. Just ask for one 4' X 2' functioning window or some other standard size including a price for an 8' slider.
alot of disinformation about fiberglass as a material. the expansion coef. for that pultruded framing is probably 5 - 10x of the glass itself due to the resin in the frames which is about 50% of volume. next fiberglass boats are not impervious to water . they are subject to osmotic blistering if sitting in the water full time. it's osmosis causes water to penetrate the gelcoat and resin and cause blisters in the skin.
Maybe. But the far future is no windows (but access doors to meet fire code). Just a small camera on one side, and a monitor on the other. Same with cars. Short glass! You heard it here first.
High embodied energy 'solutions' for a lower energy availability future? Any fool can make something more complicated; brilliance is to be found in making something simpler. "Sorry kids, the power is down so no devices... just look out the window... Oh."
I have had Enerlux windows in my house since August 1, 2018. Originally I ordered only four windows, just so I could see how I liked them. I was so happy with how quiet the rooms were with the triple pane glass, that I ordered all new windows for my entire house, I believe I installed a total of 23 windows. I also replaced both of my patio doors with Enerlux sliding patio doors. They are incredibly well built, they slide open and closed very easily. I'm a HUGE fan of their products!
Tim , you really love these windows. I can see you have been commenting all over the internet for the last three years about it.
One of the most obvious drawbacks of fibreglass window frames is the colour fading, especially for darker colours. How have your windows held up in that respect over the years ?
@@coldmorningcoffee101 mine are all white frames, they still look like new.
@@superjeepdadAh yeah, good precaution. Thanks for reply
Regarding sound; it is a lot better to use two different glas thickness. That will have different natural frequency that avoid a lot of sound go trough. Typical good and cheap solution is to use 4 and 6 mm glazing into a dobble glazing, with a pastic spacer(that transfer a lot less heat than traditional alu).
@@joakimdorum Dissimilar window pane (thickness), Sometimes also known as offset glass. It’s a about the STC’s (as compared to the STDs of the 1980s 🤦♂️👀😂).
Yep. As i understand, triple pane with all the same thickness, say 3mm, isn't significantly quieter than double pane (3mm + 3mm).
Like you said, the sound deadening comes from differential thickness. Thicker glass overall will do it too for frequencies that matter, but that increases cost and weight.
I’ve installed a couple down of these in the past few years and they are the best windows you can get. Worth every penny.
Just a heads up; fiberglass boats DO absorb water, get heavier and sit lower in the water because of this. Older boats sometimes need to be dried out (I seem to recall they like to do this if the gel coat needs refreshing/replacing). If you research wood vs fiberglass boats arguments you'll get an ear full. Now it's an extreme edge case as they are in the water full time and should not be a problem for window frames.
windows and boats are different things…
Fiberglass boats made with polyester resins absorb water when constantly immersed. The pressure on the under water hull causes moisture to migrate into the hull. Boats with epoxy resin construction do not have this problem. Fiberglass window are really the result of manufacturers not being able to secure good wood stocks or unwilling to pay the price for high grade lumber. I have 1930's Anderson windows and they simply do not rot. I had 1980's Anderson windows with finger jointed lumber that rotted even when coated with vinyl cladding.
FYI, fiberglass is mostly resin. The fiberglass is just used to hold the resin together structurally. So when he talks about "differential movement" he needs to realize its not glass-on-glass. It's resin on glass.
as soon as i heard them say fiberglass is glass, i though infomercial.
If fiberglass is done correctly, there should be actually more glass than resin!
@@cocodog85most of Matt's videos are... Sponsored by them, first time using them, parroting the marketing material! Good for awareness but definitely a sales pitch
@@kentaltobelli1840 ...i don't trust matt anymore. when someone is schlepping something they're willing to sell out the consumer for a sale.
@@daviddickmeyer5231 On tools that are (partially) made of fiberglass (reinforced), you'd normally find the type of material casted somewhere so you'd know the percentage of fiberglass.
There very little about Enerlux, but I had them quote my remodel with over 33 windows, 95% are Casment, and triple pain.. the quote was amazing and I decided to go with them.
Please come back and tell us how everything turned out. Looking at a new build next year and would love to hear more about Enerlux.. What was your quote for the 33 windows if I may ask?
Matt, you really shouldn't make that conduction analogy between fiberglass ladders and windows. I know you were trying to make a conductivity analogy but there are better ones to use. Could say how a plastic cup doesn't get cold as fast as a metal one. I'm sure you know this but for anyone who was confused, Heat ≠ Electricity and it's not an accurate way to represent the benefits of fiberglass for its low thermal conductivity. Diamond is a great conductor of heat but very poor at conducting electricity.
While not everything that conducts heat well is electrically conductive, pretty much everything that is electrically conductive is also thermally conductive because one of the mechanisms of thermal conductivity leverages free electron flow
@@keco185 never tought of it this way :D Damn I feel dumb now.
It's actually a very apt comparison. While it's true that thermal conductivity does not imply electrical conductivity, electrical conductivity actually does imply thermal conductivity. This is because phonons (lattice thermal vibrations) can excite electrons into the conduction band, and those electrons can then carry that energy through the material. This is a huge issue for thermoelectric materials and why they have very low efficiency... The ideal thermoelectric material would have high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity, but such materials basically don't really exist, keeping efficiencies very low.
@@keco185 Not always true, cuz clean water are not a good conductor, but dirty water is, as example.
@@joakimdorum neither clean nor dirty water has a particularly high conductivity
Actual glass sqft was the reason we went with a Marvin fiberglass. Love fiberglass windows!
Stay away from Marvin fiberglass. I just finished a house. They have severe production issues and don't seal the corners. I waited over two years for a warranty fix on 3 of 25 windows. There is also no insulation in their frames or air sealing so they get quite hot and cold because of the infiltration passing that into the house. I wish I had seen EnerLux first.
you're not lying. Saw them at the showroom and was not impressed with the build quality. Soft plastic bits and very lightweight feel. Elevate slightly better but still meh. And it has wood inside.
Been installing windows 22 years now... never saw a fiberglass window that impressed me.. Alot of them are not serviceable..ie if the gass seal goes bad or a pane gets broken...your stuck changing the whole thing... They are excessively heavy and prone to hardware breaks.. which again if the hardware breaks from it's anchor point in the fiberglass frame.. you're changing the whole window again...they cost almost 3 time's what a quality vinyl window costs and you'd have to live about 3 lifetimes to see the energy benefits of a fiberglass window over vinyl
I completely agree with your comment. I have had all of our windows replaced with Vinyl framed windows. They are great. A window can be replaced without replacing the frame too. In order to have windows with a higher R value what we actually need is something clear, like glass, but with an inherent R rating higher than glass. Lexan works but it can yellow with age so it's not suitable for windows. It also expands and contracts a lot compared to glass. It's hard to maintain a seal verses glass. I had lexan installed as storm windows on one of my houses and they worked exceptionally well. I was able to actually see a difference in what it cost to keep my house warm during winter. Something like that would be nice.
What vinyl windows do you recommend? Any thoughts on black vinyl windows?
Except I priced these against 2 vinyl companies and they were basically the same price and are a better product
Fiberglass can be welded like most plastics can. So all of the issues you listed can be repaired.
Up you game and get educated.
@sparksmcgee6641 name one company that sells fiberglass and is willing to service it.. around here they're sold by Marvin metropolitan and pella and all I see are people who wish they hadn't spent the money for them
Just because they're both called 'conduction' doesn't mean they're the same thing
This slayed me
im glad im not the only one that was thinking that as well, thermal and electrical conductivity aren't the same
Ive installed padio doors for years, in several different states. And as an installer, these doors are a pleasure to install. The easier these installs are, the more quality you get out of them. Half the time you have guys jamming to get a days worth of work done, but with the quality materials Enerlux uses with their clear instructions, installs go in textbook with beautiful results.
Reminds me of me oul friend, Paddy O' Doorhety.
The problem with most fiberglass windows is the corners. Enerlux has solved that problem, wish we would have known about them sooner.
Unless I'm mistaken the sample shown had a wood grain clearly evident in the corner material. It did not look like foam and was too cleanly cut for it to be injected into the corner during assembly.
I've spoken with Enerlux, it's injected during assembly, it's not foam. If I remember correctly it's kind of like an expanding epoxy.
@@garyjarvis2730 Foam does expand, but I don't think that could make a clean line like that. I am going to assume the polyurethane is liquidy. They rotate the entire frame being held together by an assembly and pour polyurethane into each corner one at a time when each corner is facing down. That would make the smooth top surface you see in the cutaway and would allow the rest of the polyurethane to have maximum surface contact.
Great video. I love that you bring builders together and share the wealth. This raises the standard of construction for all of us.
Conducting of electricity is different than conducting heat or cold.
heat conductivity ≠ electrical conductivity
I've had these windows for 4 years and they are definitely the best I have ever dealt with. One thing not mentioned on the show today was the color is molded into the fiberglass so you don't have to worry about painting and you don't have to worry about mismatch.
They paint them.... It's on thier youtube videos.
Also, Enerlux will send you a small Casment window sample to look at, they take ur CC and give you like 15 days with it.
Our reason for using fiberglass windows, here in zone 6, was for condensation when it's cold and the the house humidity is too high. Most wood windows around here need new window sashes after 10 or so years from being wet for weeks at a time, unless wiped dry.
Install a whole-house dehumidifier (from AprilAire or Santa Fe.) You're at high risk of serious health issues as a result of dangerous mold developing if it hasn't already.
@@rojohe You don't understand how very cold windows will condensate from interior humidity at 30%. Our home uses a whole home humidifier to keep the humidity up or it would be as dry as Arizona deserts.
I'm glad someone is improving on fiberglass:
I ordered QTY: 6 fiberglass windows from Marvin.
When they arrived, 4 of them were cracked.
When those 4 replacements showed up, 2 of them were cracked.
It's a brittle material and needs to be over-built to survive.
Also: All of my windows leaked at the mitered corners on day 1. I'm skeptical of this "uerthane" filled corner, but it may be better than nothing. I think instead of urethane it should be epoxy / fiberglass for a truly monolithic assembly. With vinyl you get a true monolithic assembly because it is plastic-welded.
That said, if I ever do fiberglass again, I'd consider these.
The corners have the look of a high density 2-part expanding foam.
@@firecloud77
It's a very high density urethane "rubber" similar to the Zectron that the small bouncy "Superball" toy balls are made from.
Urethane is a better sealant and it moves in addition to being an adhesive.
Depends on mixes.
Our Washington DC condominium building installed ~99 Enerlux windows in 2016 and they have held up well. Windows are double-pane with Low-E 270 glass packages (insulated glass units or IGUs). I compared Enerlux with Inline and Marvin (Essential and Elevate) and thought they were better made, much better made than Marvin. The Enerlux picture windows (highlighted in the video) have much thinner frames than the casement and awning windows (operable and non-operable) so I would use those wherever possible (I didn't; my mistake). Prices were very competitive, even against Provia Endure vinyl windows. Enerlux didn't have resellers like Marvin and other manufacturers so we had do find our own installer.
One of my windows arrived with a crack which I noticed after it was installed. Enerlux sent a replacement IGU and the installer was able to push out the defective one and replace it with a new one without disturbing the frame.
I haven't heard any complaints from my eight fellow homeowners. I don't see any deterioration of south-facing windows.
I actually sell EnLux windows, and they are by far superior to other windows. I've been to their plant in Crete NE and meet the team and they are truly amazing group of people.
Do they not offer single/double hung windows or Euro tilt-turn? I'm only seeing casement and picture frame.
@@MadLadsAnonymous their site lists awning, casement and picture
I wonder how well they hold up. I mean you leave a fiberglass ladder outside or say even a canoe and the UV rays from the sun deteriorate the fiberglass and it becomes brittle and begins falling apart. Now im sure ladder and canoe manufacturers are well aware that their products are heavily exposed to the elements and do their best to treat them in the factories to get the longest lasting protection, but they just dont hold up. I have no experience with fiberglass windows and did some pella triple pane to replace rotted wooden single pane and the difference to the existing anderson double pane makes me want to change all the other windows to triple pane and i liked pella insulated the frames as well similar with a polyurethane foam least that i remember looking at them before purchase. You sold me on the zip sheathing and im glad i went with that for a project, just not sure im sold on enerlux fiberglass though i guess time will tell.
Frames aren't going to be that different from vinyl to fiberglass if you already have one of them. The type of operation can make some difference, like casement vs hung or sliding.
If you want to switch to triple pane, you can just replace the glass unit. Custom glass units are significantly cheaper and easier to install than replacing the frame, if the frame itself is in good condition and the install was good.
I worked on heated windows in Germany, very interesting stuff. Maybe you could do a video on those
7:05 Except for the gel-coating and blisters on the fiberglass of the coat. That is why you use the barrier coating on the hull. Sure would be nice to see a single piece carbon fiber window frame then without any seams. 🤠👍
Well, real carbon-fiber IS actually highly Electrically Conductive, so there's that. ;)
Fiberglass windows are cool but FlexScreen is the bomb.
Air inflation is a consideration if you want to have a house that isnt a fishbowl, with all pictures windows. also glazing difference considered if more solar heat gain is desired for winter passive heating. Triple glaze just adds more complexity and therefore more problems . Having laminted glass on one pane reduces sound transmission very well.
Higher solar heat gain would only benefit southern or maybe East/West windows if you want to target a certain portion of the day, they discussed heat loss being a high priority and triple glazed windows achieved that. You can also see that specific window had 0.23 SHGC so they're shooting for the low end of the spectrum in this location.
Very outdated perspective I’m afraid. No offense intended; just not particularly relevant for a properly designed high performance house.
Marvin has been making fiberglass windows and doors for 30 years. Just put in a french door on Saturday. Have 5 more windows on order. They are my go to window for all my projects.
I'm sorry, Enerlux is 50% less and better then Marvin Modern Casment
I'll never order from Marvin again. I ordered 6 of their most expensive windows, and needed to order 6 more from cracks in the fiberglass frames. All of the mitered corners leaked on day 1 and required a healthy dose of silicon, which I now need to keep an eye on.
R-8 is not the future of window technology, when European windows are R-15.
are they tho?
Please provide a link to an R15 window
There are no commercially available R15 windows (prove me wrong 😊).
@@MichaelJ674 Yawal.
@@swatchorn3911
Alpen High Performance Products ThinGlass IG Elite 1.5-inch Commercial IGUs achieve a U-factor* of 0.066 = 15.1 R-value.
10-Series Fiberglass Ribbon Window *(U-factor: 0.06)
Tyrol Series TR-9 with Balanced-9 Glass *(U-factor: 0.07)
Tyrol Series TR-11 *(U-factor: 0.07)
Zenith Series ZR-10 *(U-factor: 0.06)
Center-of-Glass (COG) Performance*
How does the fiberglass do after 10 or 20 years of UV light? Typically fiberglass gets chalky. Do you need to wax it or otherwise apply protective coatings to keep it in good shape? And what if it does get chalky, can you refurb it?
Newer UV-resistant Epoxy Resins are much more stable compared to traditional Polyester Resins.
What about how brittle fiberglass gets with sun damage.
@felixaguirre9367
With fiberglass laminations its all about the type of RESINS that are used and the final Gel Coat. Today we have newer, excellent UV-resistant Epoxy Resins that are much more stable than traditional Polyester Resins, though the Polyester Resins are also better now.
And most fiberglass boats pretty much live in the sun. 😉 Again, it is the exposed final Top Coat or "Gel Coat" of the fiberglass that protects the underlying laminations from UV and degradation.
"Glass and fiberglass basically the same material so they expand the same" ?!? 😂
No, not really. Yes, fiberglass is made with glass but it also has a large volume of epoxy that holds the fibers together in the desired shape. While it is true raw fiberglass and glass have nearly identical thermal expansion the addition of epoxy changes that equation.
@@garyjarvis2730 exactly... thanks for clarifying
Getting my triple pane Enerlux windows installed in a couple of weeks!
@@austinfritz7388 let me know how you like them, mine haven't begun build... Did you get the sample window? I did, built like a damn tank.
What did the pricing come out to be?
@@RaoulHira I know that it’s hard to compare markets but I really wish these videos would at least help us out a bit on figuring out whether us mere mortals can purchase such things
@@RaoulHira an example would be a 30x55 casement 3 pane $1000. $825 for the same size fixed. We have a large 96x80 fixed picture window that was $4800. The double pane windows were slightly cheaper than Marvin double pane fiberglass. But the quality felt way better. They sent me a free sample casement in the mail (an entire window). It really sold me. They said they don’t up charge for triple pane they just pass on the cost. I think it was like 15% more.
How does the price compare to vinyl and aluminum? Is it between them or is it more than aluminum on average? How long do they last compared to them? I've had old fiberglass ladders break down and fibers come out and it's not pleasant.
Come on you can’t expect them to be transparent. This is a paid commercial.
You can't compare them to vinyl, completely different beast.. I can tell you enerluxs price was 50% of Marvin. I just paid the 50% down and should be ready to ship in 1.5 months
aluminium is great because it's thinner but it lets the heat out even with thermal breaks
@@BadKid-bv9pd50% less than essential or which type of Marvin window ultimate, or signature? There is a big jump in price going from essential to the others.
@@chptech 50 less then Marvin Modern.
Why do so few people think that internal grills without profiled mullions or muntins on the exterior are ok? Having the grills only between the panes looks so cheap. If this is a good product, they need to offer it with exterior grills so they look like quality windows. I realize it makes sense to have the grills also on the inside to allow fewer leak sites and to keep the gas inside, but there's no reason they cannot be added to the exterior as well. Otherwise, why don't the manufacturers just leave them out. It is especially noticeable when the glass is tinted. Matt - you are such a quality home builder and so are your guests on the show. Hope you will address this in the future. Big fan of your show!
EnerLux does offer both grilles between the glass and SDL’s on the exterior of the insulated glass unit. The best benefit to grilles between the glass is that you don’t have the maintenance and cleaning aspects as with SDL’s
All manufacturers offer all the option. The customers wallet dictates what's installed. Having a true sdl with grids in and out and in-between the glass is a lot more money.
Which is why I think you should dispense with grilles altogether if you don’t have the budget to do in, out, and between. Looks cheap and fake to me otherwise (though I’m probably in the minority on that). Grilles look dated anyway unless you’re in a historical setting (again, just my opinion).
@@MichaelJ674 again no one is putting a gun to a client's head and making them choose those options. They're looking at samples and they're deciding how far they want to stretch their dollar. The options exist because people are willing to pay for them.
Love the build show.
In your experience, how do Enerlux fiberglass windows compare with Marvin Essential fiberglass windows for quality?
The Houston Window Experts TH-cam channel likes Infinity by Marvin fiberglass windows, even better than the Marvin Essential fiberglass. They both use the same material, but the design of the windows is a little different. Since this video is sponsored by EnerLux, I am not sure you are going to get an objective response.
My only concern with them is the non-continuous flange. The flange on the Enerlux is well done and continuous. I also like the small upcharge to goto 3 panes
@@buildshow I went to the Enerlux website and couldn't find double or single hung windows.
Read through the other comments here and you'll find some builders/installers who don't have great things to say about the Marvin Fiberglass window products quality...and pricing vs the Enerlux.
I visited a Marvin dealer to look at its Essential windows. Even the salesman wasn't impressed and he sells them! Enerlux sent a corner sample to see how the window was constructed and it was definitely superior. Our DC condo building installed ~99 Enerlux windows after my extensive analysis.
Noob question, why is this house using (OSB or plywood, I can't tell) interior walls instead of drywall? Never seen that before.
They just haven't put the drywall up yet.
Great long lasting attractive windows, however one issue with fibreglass is once ignited the resin burns like gasoline. With R values for VIG double glazed standard windows at R-20 and high performance VIG up to R-26 why are you not showing any homes using this type of product its available now in the US? Soon to be released triple glazing VIG expensive but with expected R values reaching beyond R-35 it will make windows for most homes more energy efficient than the walls and yield an attractive ROI. Window sizes are from 12X12" to 60X118".allowing a homeowner to install a complete wall of glass at R-20. The screen system EnerLux has introduced is next level, Outstanding. Ray
What manufactures use VIG glass??
Kolbe using Luxwall glass
Vitro Architectural Glass Trade neme VacuMax are US distributors. Ray
@@ledebuhr1 Vitro Architectural Glass Trade neme VacuMax are US distributors. Ray
VIG does not state any garanties about how long the vacuum lasts. only say it's much longer than other of their products. Given they're likely far more expensive... i would want some guarantees about the seals holding up. Likely the will degrade over time.
I installed fibreglass windows here in Canada 25 years ago for Thermotech Windows. This is old technology. Some vinyl manufacturers have succeeded in reducing the footprint of the frame, but fibreglass is better performing and looks better.
How does this fiberglass hold up vs UV damage and extreme cold environments up in northern latitudes?
Heat loss; when you use a 0,14 BTU/ft/hr/F as u-factor og 0,8 w/sqm/K as u-value(europe) you avoid a lot of cold air falling to the floor. That make you use the heating more than what the heat loss make happening, because you are cold over your feets.
Glass is a great conductor of heat, so, I am not sure I would be touting the wonderful analogy of fiberglass with "glass". You are basically saying it is a poor insulator, which is not what you want in a window at all.
The good news is that, what you should really be talking about are R value for the "package"... and it looks like the EnerLux brand runs from 3.45 to 7+ on the R value per their web site.
However, I am NOT a fan of how they place their R value information. R value and SHGC should be upfront and available, proudly displayed, not hidden away.
Perfect windows are already invented!
Go to Europe and bring that "German windows" here, that's it!
Salamander, Roto..... tons of systems and producers to choose from, but the same principles.
Thick-ass 3-glass pack in air/water tight and energy efficient frame gives perfect thermal values and noise isolation.
Build shows need to make their own windows to compete. We can't be spending extra on imports
Only negative I could see about fiberglass is its not recyclable unlike wood, steel, vinyl, or aluminum. Besides that its fantastic.
OK, nice, but what is up with all that OSB in the interior? Any concerns about outgassing?
Good quality SIPs are formaldehyde free and low VOC. This home will almost certainly have a dedicated ventilation system as well for superior IAQ.
structural insulated panel. two sheets of OSB sandwiching solid foam of 4-12inches thick. No studs whatsoever. look it up
@@Pertzbro1 Yep that's a SIP build.
I would say, in my experience, make sure the house is highly efficient. Have had lots of moisture build up on certain windows that are replacement windows. I’m told because I have a bathroom in the house I will always have this issue. 😮
What does that change? The only difference is that new work windows have a flange on the exterior. If you flash your opening and seal your windows properly that shouldn't make a difference.
@@vapeurdepisse I’m talking about it being a newer more “efficient” house. I have an older house and I have pictures to prove that the windows I purchased freeze over. I was told this is because i have a dog in the house and a bathroom and all that moisture will allow these windows to freeze over. So without making my entire house more efficient I will always deal with it.
@@chrisbeasley8561 Respectfully, that has nothing to do with new vs. replacement windows. Consider installing a bathroom fan with a timer switch and a properly vented range hood (to the outside). And train your dog not to breathe 😂. Seriously, dog or no dog should have very little effect on interior condensation compared to cooking and bathing.
😂 no I understand just wanted to give the advice I was given. I have all of the suggestions (short of suffocating the dog😅). Just disappointed love the windows but the small issue of a couple of windows looking like a freezer in desperate need of thawing out.
Wait…you have a bathroom *inside* your house?!?!?!?! 🤣
As opposed to what? 🤦♂️
The Enerlux warranty is not great. Does not cover replacement labor which can far exceed the cost of the windows, does not cover appearance of the window (fading, surface cracks, etc). Only 20 years. :(
Had a friend with the same issues and pella windows. Impervia had a severe production flaw on all windows for a few years around 2020
I didn’t read a limitation on cosmetic defects. Normal wear and tear, but not appearance. The warranty is unlimited on the frame, 10-years on hardware, 20-years on leaks. How many products will give you labor on a warranty? Automobiles and what else?
@@user-tv5dt3nm9y If it's not expressly covered you can't assume it is. I'm going through this on another window company's vinyl windows that were made without proper UV protection and are discoloring. Pella and Anderson cover labor in their warranties.
Are @enerlux windows available in Canada? If not, Is there an equivalent available?
What part of Canada are you living in?
@@markhoulton6943 Ottawa
In Winnipeg look into Inkster Park Millwork they are private the EnerLux window in Canada also Inline Fiberglass in Toronto builds there own system.
Approaching the window thing from a first principles angle, you might ask yourself "why do I want a window?" An honest evaluation of that question will result in some surprising insights.
Yeah. We put to many windows in houses in the 90s. We all go the glass we dreamed of before that.
Good designers pulled back in the aughts. Moat people still put in to many.
More importan is 100% of pwople put in to many functioning windows. The cost for that is 2 or 3 times a fixed.
New homes have better HVAC and air control so people think they'll still be opening like the past when they won't.
Non functioning windows have better sight lines are much better. A breakfast nook, living and dining rooms don't need opening windows.
@@sparksmcgee6641 Agreed. When you boil it down, only three reasons exist for windows. Light, air, and view. With modern tech, we can eliminate two of these immediately, not to mention the downsides of water, dirt, HVAC, and security concerns.
Pls explain OSB on the inside walls
SIPs. Not sure why they didn’t put up drywall or something between the SIPs and the timber frame though. 🤷♂️ Maybe that comes later? Timber frame with stucco exterior is a strange choice too. Just some very odd style choices all around in that house.
Who makes a good Northern Climate sliding door with integrated blinds? Must you go 3 pane to get good performance?
Do they offer hurricane rated assemblies?
Yes they do
Thx and If: Compare the Window frame thickness to a phone/computer/tablet frame that are getting thinner, not so they look like metal and that you can add width on the outside for aesthetics your going for.
Also, I have a fiberglass boat manufacturing company, custom go fast boats, and can give you some custom comparison videos that would be fun for your subs.
Definitely an infomercial, but some great information with the commercial. Piqued my interest enough that I’m going to look further into EnerLux windows. Maybe the best thing is the robust discussion in the comments. I’m eliminating Marvin fiberglass windows from consideration thanks to all the bad experiences people have had! I long ago eliminated vinyl windows from consideration and wood is too expensive, so that leaves fiberglass or thermally-broken aluminum windows and there seem to be pros and cons to each. Others will have reached a different conclusion no doubt, but that’s where I am at this point for my upcoming new build. Now go ahead and tell me how wrong I am everyone! 😂😂😂
who would have thought!! I wonder if fiberglass does good against aggressive uv light? I wish I knew about this before I ordered my aluminium framed windows
Looks like you added red guard waterproof barrier around the windows after being installed.
That’s Prosoco Fast Flash fluid applied WRB
@@buildshow with the detail of leaving the bottom unsealed so that if water condenses it has a path out.....I love the details of your educational videos....raising the bar of home construction science.
See previous video in this series on liquid flashing at windows (sponsored by Prosoco!). Exclamation point added for sarcasm 😊. That said, it’s a pretty good overview of the pros and cons of liquid flashing with all the cons provided by commentators (we weren’t sponsored 😁).
Why is there OSB on the interior walls? SIP?
just heard at 10:20, it's a SIP, cool. Leaving comment if others are interested.
FYI, quality SIPs are formaldehyde free and low VOC.
Hey I 'm an electrician too !
People don't like fiberglass windows? I seeked them out specifically for my house. Vinyl sucks, aluminum is kinda sucky, wood is expensive. That being said I couldn't actually find fiberglass windows at a price point I liked so I ended up going with Andersen 100s which are wood composite. More brands need to make fiberglass!
Kolbe makes the Forgent series of fiberglass windows, fyi
Sorry guys but you went with sales BS instead of quality. Anderson, especially the replacement products, and Koble are the all sizzle sales.
I spent 10 years working on windows in top tier homes and on houses I built.
Put Anderson in the first house I did. Never again after the wood product started falling apart within a year.
My helper would laugh at the Koble rep in Denver when he would pull up on builds. He said, " I know xxxx." is the exhausted phrase he would say when the owner/architech/builder would approach him. Then he'd come find me and I'd walk the sight with the list of problem windows.
Top of their line products had over a 50 failure rate. Without a doubt the worst glass in the industry. The "lights" were always a mess on any radius window or door.
What is the downside to vinyl windows?
Relatively short lifespan. Thermal expansion.
Vinyl shrinks and grows with temperature changes more than the glass, whereas fiberglass moves at the same rate so the seals are less likely to go bad. Vinyl is the weakest of the different window frame materials and degrades in the sun more than other materials (uPVC used in many European countries is less susceptible to UV degradation than the standard PVC typically used in American vinyl windows, but still worse than wood, aluminum or fiberglass). Other than price, the only thing vinyl has going for it is its insulation value, which, depending on the exact chemistry used, can be the same or slightly better than fiberglass, both of which are better than wood, and all of which are far better than aluminum.
The main downside is that vinyl window companies don't pay Matt for ads. If they did, they'll probably be the best thing ever.
You cant get make vinyl with dark colors built into the raw vinyl. So they laminate (glue) a separate cap on for the color, those warp, peal, fail. You cant paint them very well either.
Fiberglass is good. It doesn't become brittle from sunlight, like vinyl.
Triple pane windows are totally unnecessary in Texas, though.
Triple glazed are not cost effective anywhere but the coldest climates in terms of energy efficiency. However, they can be great for a higher STC rating (sound blocking), especially if at least one pane of glass is a different thickness than the other two (e.g. 3 mm and 6 mm).
Qualifies Florida's hurricane code?
Yes but not Dade county
NOT to be confused with Fibrex by Anderson.
The “particle-board” process for windows.
Great promise, lacking on longevity…& usually high priced comparatively so so that only the manufactures are the ones making the money by over promising & under delivering - Exactly opposite of what should be done.
Anderson has been junk for 10 years at least. They're all about sales and keeping top tier pricing for 3rd tier products.
Loved them for the first few years in the business and made a point to put them in my first house, 2004. The wood product was failing right away and I haven't touch them since.
The left Colorado for a few years also and left customers without warrantees.
Nice !
yes
Cold isn't a thing. There is only less heat.
Thats a pretty sketchy looking wood pillar behind Matt at 9:20
Do you mean pillar??
How is that sketchy? It's a rustic finish piece. Might hold something up but doesn't look like it does. Maybe a detail between a dinning room and living room.
it appeared load-bearing
@merlingrim2843 what looks sketch about a 6x6 or 8x8 post? Seriously I'm asking to understand what you were seeing there.
I'm a builder an I could read in plan when I was a teen a decade before I got in the trades. I like to learn what others see.
Thanks
That is why you need curtains.
I LOve P***a windows so much fun metal clad wood. Nothing like watching them rot from the inside out. Back in the 90s had a Pella rep tell me 2 windows were leaking because the painter hadn't caulked the glass to the wooden window frame correctly. I told him to tell it to the customers lawyer. 2 new windows showed up 2 days later. Who'd have thunk it. Getting ready to buy a rehab. I will be using either vinyl or fiberglass. Depending on the quality and the price. I'm not going to subject myself or a future buyer to anything else.
This video is a straight up advertisement. Provide all the comparative information including costs. Basic double pane vinyl windows have a whole U of 0.26. In south central US, U value is simply not that important as the delta T is never that large. SHGC is more important if the window sees direct sun.
I'm confused... why are they the future again?
But as a German, PVC frames are the norm.
They are on piece too, since they get welded together.
And they are actual frames you can replace the window pane if its broken.
Don’t worry; next month there will be another video sponsored by Pixel Oknoplast or some other European manufacturer and THEY will be deemed the Windows of the Future!
Yeah we have them also.
Best new thing in the US is the polish company that's spread through Europe has jumped to the US and you can order directly from them.
European products in the US get marked up to the point no one uses them by the local dealers.
Internet is helping there.
Here in central coast California the glass frames are also rated for fire resistance.
Why doesn't anyone use polycarbonate or other glass alternatives for the glazing in windows?
Primarily because it scratches far too easily.
They can't use UV treatments on them. The have worse performance. Often cost more than glass.
No reason to use them.
Came to the comment section for some expert analysis
We Americans are "cheapskates" and don't want to pay for that level of quality and performance. 😛 🤷♂
@tl9819 😂😂😂😂😂
You a funny man!
Terrible analogy electrical conductivity as similar to thermal
What makes you say that? Every good electrical conductor I can think of is also a good thermal conductor, even if the reverse isn't necessarily true.
Thermal conductivity is definitely not the same as electrical conductivity… most thermal heat transfer for a window is conduction (assuming it was installed air tight)… FIberglass is a solid material that will transfer heat without specific breaks.. your reports on UPVC windows at EAD specifically address this thermal break…. And as far as the differential CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion).. fiberglass and glass need to be calculated.. just having glass in the name isn’t relevant … none of this says the windows are bad but need a more accurate discussion if you are going to address technical aspects.
Pultruded fiberglass window frames are not “solid” - they're filled with insulating foam.
I’d pay to see you include Brent Hull on reviews/infomercials like this.
I can tell you exactly what he would say! He would hate them.
@@buildshow100 year windows those are not.😅
Enerlux does not offer a double/single hung window, just picture and casement.
Singles and doubles suck anyway. Extremely air leaky.
Hmmh, fiberglass windows have been around in Europe for a long time. There are American importers of German made windows that can get you these windows at a discount.
We've had all the windows you have just as long as you've had them.
This is a promotion for this companies product.
Agree on the fiberglass. Nothing new here. Regarding MR: became a big ad channel. I do like the tilt and turn feature on European windows though. What I even like better is the price tag if imported.
What about UV degradation. We kive in Florida?
No problem with that.
I’m not buying the super duty triple glaze window comfort thing. All U values of windows are lousy. Doubling lousy is still lousy. A wall of glass will be breezy in frigid temps.
Enerlux warranty is impressive. 20-years on leaks, 10-years on hardware.
You literally don't know what you're talking about. Yes the U value does affect the comfort.
Do you claim wall insulation doesn't. After either?
R- 10 or R 13 wall is horrible when it's a glass wall and just fine when it's a R10 or R 13 sheet rock stud wall?
Thats not true. Polyester, vinylester and epoxy resin will absorb water. It is the coating that protects it from water.
Sun also eats fiberglass quickly so the coating is really important.
grate video, but why the heck the guy on left even, have a tool belt on him, clearly that belt never seen a job, same goes to the tools! why even pretend? i know the kind tough, unfortunately...
Glass install is pretty clean.
I'm a contractor and I finally got a roof hammer when redoing my dad's house last year.
I was tipping the labor at the end of the job and gave a guy my new hammer for his old one.
They all looked at me funny until I said "No one's saying, damn white guy contractor that doesnt know how to roof, when Im on the job" 😅😅😅😅
They all laughed hard then.
So, if a cat tried to climb that screen, it would easily fall out. That would be undesirable.
I want my windows opening inwards, with fixed screens on the outside. Like you get from European Architectural Supply.
There is a considerable amount of spring tension on these screens. These screens are also found in Vector vinyl windows. On both windows the screen is spring loaded into a recessed track. A cat would would probably not be an issue other than it's claws if it has them.
Don’t worry; European Architectural Supply will sponsor a future video and Pixel Oknoplast (or some other European window) will be declared the Window of the Future.
No they won't fall out from a cat unless it weighs enough that it would tear a regular screen.🎉🎉
ICF
Gonzalez George Davis Margaret Rodriguez Donna
Fiberglass is the modern asbestos
Only if it’s friable.
That is not applicable to pultruded fiberglass (FRP) windows frames.
No it is not. Please don't spread lies. I'm trying to find out why YT commentors post lies like this. Honestly why do you do it?
The problem with your show, Matt, has always been your lack of transparency regarding the prices of the products you push. The vast majority of us DYI builders have to think about costs.
Pretty much why I don't watch you anymore.
Well the fact is you don't qualify for our prices and the retail is going to vary all over. Pros have a good idea of what they cost and you can email the company and find out an accurate price.
Just ask for one 4' X 2' functioning window or some other standard size including a price for an 8' slider.
glass is cheap.....framing is expensive...............
alot of disinformation about fiberglass as a material. the expansion coef. for that pultruded framing is probably 5 - 10x of the glass itself due to the resin in the frames which is about 50% of volume. next fiberglass boats are not impervious to water . they are subject to osmotic blistering if sitting in the water full time. it's osmosis causes water to penetrate the gelcoat and resin and cause blisters in the skin.
Fiberglass is only as good as the resin they use, even carbon fiber with weak resin is junk.
I hate fiberglass and anything made with it
As soon as he says "cold seeps into a house" he clearly doesn't understand the subject.
infomercial
Triple glaze is old in Europe.
Here also. We've had it as long as you.
@@sparksmcgee6641 Then why is he talking as if is new ?
@fcalin21 He isn't. This channel targets professionals so he doesn't have to explain things like that.
@@sparksmcgee6641 EnerLux has nothing new. It is old in Romania so it is old in Europe, you are not well informed.
Maybe. But the far future is no windows (but access doors to meet fire code). Just a small camera on one side, and a monitor on the other. Same with cars. Short glass! You heard it here first.
High embodied energy 'solutions' for a lower energy availability future?
Any fool can make something more complicated; brilliance is to be found in making something simpler.
"Sorry kids, the power is down so no devices... just look out the window... Oh."
If it works why explain it?
Why am I listening to an electrician and a seller.