Homearama 2011 Windows & Doors

Design sophistication and technological innovation elevate the windows and doors at Homearama Norton Commons 2011 to amazing new levels that make them sparkle as stars at the event. Several Homearama builders revealed their secrets to designing homes that have windows and doors that are as integral as any other element to the home’s design.

 

We’re using full extruded aluminum clad windows manufactured by Eagle, a great high end brand. This house is unique because the living room, dining room and foyer are surrounded by eleven French doors, eight of which are 8’ with 2’ transoms. 

The interior doors are solid poplar, three panel Shaker style doors. They are all 8’ tall, which adds needed height to keep the scale correct with the 12’ ceilings.

 

We chose Jeld Wen wood windows with exterior cladding. We’re using several different styles, including double hung, casement, and awning windows. They provide the traditional look that is Norton Commons. Some of the double hung are divided light on top and one full light on the bottom. Their energy efficiency was an important consideration.

 

Daryl Hardy, Hardy Builders, Lot #905 For this Classical Greek Revival style house, Ply Gem insulated, aluminum clad tilt windows were selected. They have a 6/6 grill pattern and a Low-E rating.

The custom front entry door from Cox’s Interiors is solid mahogany with glass surrounds and a glass transom. Around that is a Greek Revival surround, making a very impressive entry way.

The house has a 30’ side porch and a 20’ side porch. The porch features patio doors from the great room, formal living room and master bedroom. They are aluminum clad wood doors with a three point locking mechanism. Upstairs there are patio doors leading from the recreational room that overlooks the garden area.

 

Sun aluminum clad windows with Climate Guard are used throughout the house. The front and sides have SDL bars on the windows. Several of the doors are Sun aluminum clad doors, and some alternate doors, such as interior doors, are mahogany.

 

I have been using Eagle Windows, Andersen’s premier series, top of the line, for all my properties. They have many options of styles and colors for both interior and exterior, and offer different species of woods for no extra charge. There is also the option to have the sash different from the frame. Of course, they are Low-E and have other top of the line bells and whistles.

I used the same doors because they are able to match the finishes of the exterior windows and have a three point locking system which is very, very secure.

 

Because the first floor of the house has 12’ ceilings, we installed oversize, double hung windows on the first floor. There is also a sunroom that has windows with a transom above.

The doors are a mix of mahogany and clad. A neat feature for space management is a quad French slider in the sunroom. It doesn’t impede furniture or egress.

 

Dan Smith, Stonelake Homes, #935
We liked the clad Ply Gem Mira Premium Series Windows for this house. We used dark brown to coordinate with the style of the house

The front door is an arch top mahogany with a wrought iron accent on the glass.

To provide a different look, we decided to use five panel interior doors instead of the more common six panel. On the first floor, where the ceilings are 10’ high, we used 8’ doors.

 

This home features Windsor’s Pinnacle clad series. I use them on the front, right and rear of the house because we do all simulated divided lights on all our windows. That is rare in the industry but it is standard for Meridian Construction. They are high performance double hung windows that qualify for the Energy Star rating. The sash is very heavy, and it naturally looks better in a recreated period home such as the one at Norton Common.

I used a sliding glass door considering Norton Commons has a very confined building footprint. Swinging doors can be a problem in tight environments. Sliders can be very effective for those applications. Also, they are more energy efficient, probably because the more moving parts there are to windows and doors, the less energy efficient they are. The aluminum sliding doors of the early ‘70s and ‘80s got a bad reputation because they didn’t perform long term. The new sliders are smooth and fluid and tight. It’s a brilliant feature that is so underutilized. The front door is mahogany. The 8’ interior doors are solid wood because they are less likely to warp.