Choosing Your Windows in The Pacific Northwest

Choosing windows isn’t as simple as going with a look you like. Durability and performance are key factors to be considered, and windows will perform and age differently in different areas of the country. Here’s what to look for when choosing your windows in the Pacific Northwest.

Residents in the Pacific Northwest love their view, mainly ocean and lake views. While in the design stage of a custom home, finding windows that offer plenty of glass without sacrificing energy efficiency is essential.

Best choice is a moisture-resistant window materials such as vinyl, wood-resin composite, aluminum and fibreglass will hold up well. Choosing windows with a high resistance to temperature transference is a must; look for U-values of 0.3 or lower for optimum insulating properties. On the flip side, summers are usually traditionally mild, short season here, so look for windows with a higher solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC).

In the images and video clip, this custom home in Lions Bay has Westeck Panorama Patio Openings installed. The Panorama Patio Opening is the pinnacle for patio openings. It allows for the most impressive opening with a capability for glass panels 20% wider and taller than the Lift and Slide Series. The Panorama product is renowned for its thin frame and under 1” interlock width that creates an almost frame-less panel to panel connection point. With their discreet minimalist design, this patio opening

Acoustic Insulation & Test Results:

Acoustic Insulation

Maximum glazing: 54 mm
Maximum acoustic insulation Rw = 43 dBA

Categories Achieved at Test Center

Air permeability
(EN 12207): Class 4

Water tightness
(EN 12208): Class 7A* / 9A**

Wind resistance
(EN 12210): Class A5
* Reference test balcony 4.00 x 3.00 m – 2 sashes
** Reference test balcony 4.00 x 3.00 m – 1 sash + 1 fixed light

Learn more about Westeck’s high performance Aluminum Windows and Balcony Doors

Learn more about Westeck’s high performance Vinyl Slider Windows