Pay more for windows that start lower down?

Since the DOB won’t let us built a door on site (to open onto what we hope will be a deck) we are now contemplating a 9-foot swing-out door flanked by two double-hung windows. We are going Marvin and to get a door 9′ high it has to be Ultimate (more expensive, aluminum-clad on the outside) rather than Elevate (fiberglass on the outside). For the windows we could choose either. If Ultimate we can get windows tall enough that they could start 14 inches from the floor and go up to the height of the door. If Elevate they would have to start about 26 inches above the floor. The price difference is about $1,000 per window. Somehow I have got it in my head that starting very low down would be attractive; we could have potted plants on the deck by the window and they would be more visible from the inside. Or would such tall windows (about 8 feet) look weird? If we get Ultimate the colors would also match. Our architect kindly stepped in when the previous archite ct quit, but she doesn’t want to give design advice. Does anyone have experience, positive or negative, with windows that start very low down? Thanks!

Guest User | 3 years ago

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greenworks | 3 years ago

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We are considering something similar for the back of our home. We have two windows in the back that face south at standard height, and want to increase the amount of daylight we get thru them without blowing out the back or otherwise dealing with filing for making them wider or taller by going up.

So our idea is to have the window opening go to the floor or close to, similar to your idea, with clerestories up top, like the photo below-maybe not that far down, but still. We love it, it makes life easier (and I’m over making life more complicated than it is already). And we love the ultimates too btw, so if you can swing it they are so worth the extra dough. We have to do our windows in phases just to be able to pay for it, but they’re so satisfying to own and use.

Good luck.

[671328BC-63C9-48FB-B5C7-70C3C222D5BE](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s3/:brownstoner:iZ3F:671328bc63c948fbb5c770c3c222d5be.jpeg.jpg)

Guest User | 3 years ago

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Thanks – it’s an idea. But once we have our sign-off there will still be so much to do (built-in bookcases etc, in addition to math books to write – we both have professional existences in addition to working on the house ) that I think we will be better off putting in a commercial door and windows we’ll be happy with longterm.

andriywww1990 | 3 years ago

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I dont know who gave me the like for that but op, I am not joking. you can easily frame this out larger with a higher header/opening and close it in with cripple studs and another header. Narrow it down and do not over nail. Buy a real cheap unit; a door and two side lites. Do not over screw. As soon as you have the sign off, pull the crappy unit out and donate it to charity. rip out the cripple studs and temp header and studs out and slide your custom stuff in. You could be building the other unit someplace while waiting for the sign off.

andriywww1990 | 3 years ago

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Why dont you put a cheap unit in there, closing down what you have a bit and then when everything is signed off on, rip it out and put what you want in?