Want these same windows for your project? You can work with the same (extremely knowledgeable & patient) representative we did! Enter your contact info in the Google form link and Shawn will be in touch! forms.gle/uzC9cRF5Cck2uxWL8
We live in a condo with tilt and turn windows. They're great! We're in Manitoba, Canada where it's often -40 in January and February and they're super efficient.
Wow, and we thought our Pennsylvania winters can get cold. Hopefully with our somewhat mild winters these will perform great. We will do an update video eventually once moved in
Hey Alex. I'm planning a self-build in Colorado at 10kft elevation and am planning on Alpen windows as well. My drivers were their ability to build argon filled triple panes that will put up with the high elevation, the amazing u-factor, and the tilt-turn style as i'm targeting a very very low blower door score well below passive house standards. Glad to hear you've had such a great experience with them.
Awesome to hear, building below passive house specs is quite the endeavor! Just make sure to keep an eye on ventilation and humidity as always. Can't complain about anything yet! Make sure when you receive the windows, inspect all the balloons. One of mine was torn and I was pretty scared, I called my sales rep right away and it does happen from time to time, I just crimped that one right away. I probably won't ever notice if it did lose some Argon, but just something to keep an eye out for. Good luck!
@@MasonDixonAcres Did you keep track of where you installed the cut bladder? Any issues with it or your other windows? I've been planning on using Alpen but most of the reviews are negative. I suspect their doors have more troubles than their windows.
@@JW-gc5ve yeah it's the center kitchen window and haven't noticed any difference. There's very little pressure difference so I don't think it really did anything. No complaints about our tilt-turns, everything is tight and operates well
@@JW-gc5ve Be careful when looking at reviews, as there are two companies with similar names. 'Alpen' windows, which are featured here are from Colorado, while "Alpine" - a completely different window manufacturer, are from Washington State.
Yep, same in Croatia. We're putting these in our new house on the Adriatic coast. (Interestingly, many people here "dream" of having the double-hung, "American"-style windows, with the lifting sash.)
@@skillsonian Really? I don`t know anyone here in Germany who would want double-hung ones. The sash I agree though. :) It's not common to have an integrated sash for insects and I would love one.
I think you cannot even buy anything else in any European country including West and East Europe. The only country where 99% of windows are the old style is UK.
I'm looking at using the same ones also. Firs seen them on the Build show with Matt Risinger. I live in MN and I think the up front coast will be worth it in the long run.
So glad you did this video because I absolutely fell in love with tilt and turn Windows the first time I saw them, decades ago in Germany and many times since in other European countries. Many years later I checked in the US and I believe the only place that had these windows was Colorado (probably the place you got yours from). They are indeed pricey but I'm absolutely convinced they're an excellent choice.
You can buy normal windows in Europe, straight from factory and ship them to the US (actually by ship). Knowledge of local language would be helpful, but those are far better than absolutely anything in here. America is wonderful, but widows market is a total joke.
@@MasonDixonAcres Please note, I didn't say through importers. You can order windows by yourself (It's a hassle, I know) and order ship container. That's why speaking local language helps. Also with the newest techniques of installation.
You can get tilt-turn windows with German hardware from a company called Doorwin Group (manufactured in China). I’m working with them now on a quote. Found good reviews on Reddit & RUclips. 4-6 week production and 6-8 week shipping.
Very nice windows and install video! I'll have to consider these. I'm building in a very cold climate, #6, and the added comfort they provide would be great.
Before installing, you take out the windows first and install the frame only. Way lighter and you can check the correct place and perpendicularity.😉 Than drive your mounting screws through the frame into the wall studs, bring the windows back in and adjust them.
Interesting thought, I feel like the sashes aren't that easy to disconnect/reconnect and keep them in alignment with the tilt-turn mechanism. Never done it though so I could certainly be wrong
@@MasonDixonAcres I don't know haow Alpen-Windows are made, but they have to assemble it too. Usually the top corner hinge has a bolt wich can be released downwards (dont't worry it doesnt't get lost) and then you can lift up the windowframe from the bottom corner hinge. It might be a good idea to aks Alpen about that.
Alpen is one of the few manufacturers left that make what they call "Heat Mirror". Basically, polymer for the third inside pane saving you all that weight in those large windows at like an R20 level insulation.
I believe the heat mirror is their reflective film for high sun areas, the "thin-glass triple" is what you might be referring to. The center pane is similar to phone screen glass.
Wow! Those are some seriously low U-values! Once I found out about series and parallel heat flow I learned that it’s more beneficial to spend your money on window performance than extra insulation to improve whole wall R-values. Assuming one has financial limitations!
No way I would have trusted a $10 Harbor Freight suction cup when lifting a 300 lb window on the second story. Not the place to save a couple bucks. Glad it worked out for you.
Believe it or not, these windows are standard in most European countries. Italians used the for decades, wood or aluminum they are standard construction.
Which line of Alpen Tyrol series and what level or R value are they? That info would be very helpful for those of us who want to order from Alpen. Cost comparison would help us choose a product also. thanks!
Sure! The U-values (inverse of R-value) are listed at 00:23 and 6:50. This corresponds to the TR-6 series. Costs vary greatly depending on all the details such as size, grids, color, fixed/operable, etc. so you really need to get a quote. Our rep Shawn was awesome to work with. Here's a contact form if you'd like to reach out to him: forms.gle/uzC9cRF5Cck2uxWL8
I am a few days from ordering about 10 of these windows. But then, I saw a (fairly old) youtube video detailing quality control issues. What say you? Are you happy with quality of these windows? How are the corner joints? Can I presume you are not being sponsored by Alpen for this video?
Just saw this now, but we have had no issues. No leaks, everything is tight. And we had them in the rough opening for like 18 months with only the shims, so any leaks would be obvious. One of them needed a little hinge adjustment for the sash to close more easily in the tilt function. We paid full price for the windows.
If you haven't ordered yet, I'd recommend contacting Shawn, the rep we worked with. He's a high performance builder in NC that uses them on every build and knows them inside and out. Very helpful to talk with as a first time installer
Hi, could you provide links to the windows in the dsctiption? Also how did you get them into the US? I recently did a trip in the EU and was shocked at how much better quality windows even poor countries.
These windows are made in Colorado so no need to import. Our rep Shawn was awesome to work with, he was super patient with us window newbies asking a million questions. Here's a Google contact form if you'd like him to reach out to you: forms.gle/uzC9cRF5Cck2uxWL8
Not sure if you meant a European brand, but the import costs and order minimums are very high for that. Alpen is a U.S. brand that makes European style tilt-turns to the same high quality standards, obviously with much less expensive freight costs
@@nolanbillings8426 There is a form in the description of this video that you can fill out if you want to work with the same Alpen rep that we did! Shawn was super helpful throughout the whole process.
For your Tyrol windows, are the grids bonded to the surface of the outside and inside panels? It appears so in your video. And are they made of the same material (RAU-FIPRO uPVC) as the frame? Thanks for you time.
@@MasonDixonAcres Thank you for the detailed response. Long story as to why I asked. Simple version is I was discouraged from ordering grids with the Tyrol windows. The claim is they negatively impact the low thermal transfer value of the glass package. However, I see your window submittal sheet and window stickers have the standard Tyrol U-Factor and SHGC (0.15/0.24) values. So... I feel more confident going forward with the grids. Thanks again.
Thanks for the informative video. I am planning to purchase Alpen with an energy retrofit project in Minnesota. Did you price Zenith series fiberglass? If so, how much more? With the inward swing of the Tyrol series, can standard louvered blinds fit inside the jamb extension area without interfering? Please message me your Alpen contact. Mike
We did, and they were maybe 5-10% more expensive. The biggest thing was that we didn't like the look of the interior hardware on the Zenith casements, and we liked the 'cool factor' of the tilt turns. As for blinds, it will really depend on your window height as to how far the blinds hang down when fully retracted. I will guess they would intefere with the top of the window sash. I would opt for a different solution if you want window covering, such as curtains hung on the interior casing etc.
What was the price difference between Alpen and Marvin for your package? Just curious because we are planning to use Marvin but have walls of glass and probably can’t afford a more expensive windows than Marvin.
We never ended up getting Marvin windows quoted because of the wood frame style and energy performance difference! We can pass along our contact for Alpen windows if you'd like to get them quoted. Just send us an email at masondixonacres@gmail.com and I can send you that info 🙂
I'm doing a cabin build in northern Minnesota right now, and have ordered Alpen. While they may be expensive, they were still less than "comparable" Marvin windows. Like he said in the video, Marven, Pella, etc. don't make any windows that get even close to the performance of the Alpen.
You will likely need to stay there for 3 decades before the triple pane windows pay for themselves in energy compliance. Triple pane is getting more popular but need prices to lower significantly
@@MasonDixonAcres There are "tricks" for importing windows from Europe cheaper. You may share the cost of ship the container with someone else when ordering a full container together.
Want these same windows for your project? You can work with the same (extremely knowledgeable & patient) representative we did! Enter your contact info in the Google form link and Shawn will be in touch!
forms.gle/uzC9cRF5Cck2uxWL8
These windows are phenomenal
Agreed 😎
We live in a condo with tilt and turn windows. They're great! We're in Manitoba, Canada where it's often -40 in January and February and they're super efficient.
Wow, and we thought our Pennsylvania winters can get cold. Hopefully with our somewhat mild winters these will perform great. We will do an update video eventually once moved in
Beautiful windows, and I appreciate your focus on insulation/energy efficiency.
Hey Alex.
I'm planning a self-build in Colorado at 10kft elevation and am planning on Alpen windows as well. My drivers were their ability to build argon filled triple panes that will put up with the high elevation, the amazing u-factor, and the tilt-turn style as i'm targeting a very very low blower door score well below passive house standards. Glad to hear you've had such a great experience with them.
Awesome to hear, building below passive house specs is quite the endeavor! Just make sure to keep an eye on ventilation and humidity as always. Can't complain about anything yet! Make sure when you receive the windows, inspect all the balloons. One of mine was torn and I was pretty scared, I called my sales rep right away and it does happen from time to time, I just crimped that one right away. I probably won't ever notice if it did lose some Argon, but just something to keep an eye out for. Good luck!
@@MasonDixonAcres Did you keep track of where you installed the cut bladder? Any issues with it or your other windows? I've been planning on using Alpen but most of the reviews are negative. I suspect their doors have more troubles than their windows.
@@JW-gc5ve yeah it's the center kitchen window and haven't noticed any difference. There's very little pressure difference so I don't think it really did anything. No complaints about our tilt-turns, everything is tight and operates well
@@JW-gc5ve Be careful when looking at reviews, as there are two companies with similar names. 'Alpen' windows, which are featured here are from Colorado, while "Alpine" - a completely different window manufacturer, are from Washington State.
Guys, you're awesome. You are smart and progressive!
In Germany they have been the standard since 50+ years
Yep, same in Croatia. We're putting these in our new house on the Adriatic coast. (Interestingly, many people here "dream" of having the double-hung, "American"-style windows, with the lifting sash.)
@@skillsonian Really? I don`t know anyone here in Germany who would want double-hung ones. The sash I agree though. :) It's not common to have an integrated sash for insects and I would love one.
I think you cannot even buy anything else in any European country including West and East Europe. The only country where 99% of windows are the old style is UK.
@@franziskabertram3286 You care conflating two different things. A "sash" is not a "screen".
I'm looking at using the same ones also. Firs seen them on the Build show with Matt Risinger. I live in MN and I think the up front coast will be worth it in the long run.
In MN, definitely. We’re in PA so it’s not AS critical, but still a good investment especially for the cool factor 😄
So glad you did this video because I absolutely fell in love with tilt and turn Windows the first time I saw them, decades ago in Germany and many times since in other European countries. Many years later I checked in the US and I believe the only place that had these windows was Colorado (probably the place you got yours from). They are indeed pricey but I'm absolutely convinced they're an excellent choice.
Yep these were shipped from Louisville, CO!
You can buy normal windows in Europe, straight from factory and ship them to the US (actually by ship). Knowledge of local language would be helpful, but those are far better than absolutely anything in here. America is wonderful, but widows market is a total joke.
We quoted through importers and it was a min $35k order. Alpen uses the same Rehau profile and triple pane glass as many Euro-made windows.
@@MasonDixonAcres Please note, I didn't say through importers. You can order windows by yourself (It's a hassle, I know) and order ship container. That's why speaking local language helps. Also with the newest techniques of installation.
You can get tilt-turn windows with German hardware from a company called Doorwin Group (manufactured in China). I’m working with them now on a quote. Found good reviews on Reddit & RUclips. 4-6 week production and 6-8 week shipping.
Very nice windows and install video! I'll have to consider these. I'm building in a very cold climate, #6, and the added comfort they provide would be great.
Definitely will make a noticeable difference in your winters!
Before installing, you take out the windows first and install the frame only. Way lighter and you can check the correct place and perpendicularity.😉 Than drive your mounting screws through the frame into the wall studs, bring the windows back in and adjust them.
Interesting thought, I feel like the sashes aren't that easy to disconnect/reconnect and keep them in alignment with the tilt-turn mechanism. Never done it though so I could certainly be wrong
@@MasonDixonAcres I don't know haow Alpen-Windows are made, but they have to assemble it too. Usually the top corner hinge has a bolt wich can be released downwards (dont't worry it doesnt't get lost) and then you can lift up the windowframe from the bottom corner hinge. It might be a good idea to aks Alpen about that.
Alpen is one of the few manufacturers left that make what they call "Heat Mirror". Basically, polymer for the third inside pane saving you all that weight in those large windows at like an R20 level insulation.
I believe the heat mirror is their reflective film for high sun areas, the "thin-glass triple" is what you might be referring to. The center pane is similar to phone screen glass.
Wow! Those are some seriously low U-values! Once I found out about series and parallel heat flow I learned that it’s more beneficial to spend your money on window performance than extra insulation to improve whole wall R-values. Assuming one has financial limitations!
Right, even the best windows make really bad walls 😅 always get as good as you can afford!
No way I would have trusted a $10 Harbor Freight suction cup when lifting a 300 lb window on the second story. Not the place to save a couple bucks. Glad it worked out for you.
haha they really do work great, don't worry we tested them first at ground level 😁
@@MasonDixonAcres You are more trusting than I am! 😁👍
haha! I was thinking the same thing! Harbor Freight has stepped up the quality of their products. Popping up in more locations too.
I will definitely ask Alpen to bid our new build. But we’re maybe 1 hr 20 min from them.
That will save you a lot being local! They are awesome windows.
in Belgium we only have this type op windows
Believe it or not, these windows are standard in most European countries. Italians used the for decades, wood or aluminum they are standard construction.
Yep we have heard! Shame America hasn't caught on yet
PVC is now essentially equal to the quality of aluminum (at least in the northern Adriatic region).
Which line of Alpen Tyrol series and what level or R value are they? That info would be very helpful for those of us who want to order from Alpen. Cost comparison would help us choose a product also. thanks!
Sure! The U-values (inverse of R-value) are listed at 00:23 and 6:50. This corresponds to the TR-6 series. Costs vary greatly depending on all the details such as size, grids, color, fixed/operable, etc. so you really need to get a quote. Our rep Shawn was awesome to work with. Here's a contact form if you'd like to reach out to him: forms.gle/uzC9cRF5Cck2uxWL8
Who is your Amish contractor? Do you have any recommendations for Amish contractors who will work in Montgomery County, MD?
I am a few days from ordering about 10 of these windows. But then, I saw a (fairly old) youtube video detailing quality control issues. What say you? Are you happy with quality of these windows? How are the corner joints? Can I presume you are not being sponsored by Alpen for this video?
Just saw this now, but we have had no issues. No leaks, everything is tight. And we had them in the rough opening for like 18 months with only the shims, so any leaks would be obvious. One of them needed a little hinge adjustment for the sash to close more easily in the tilt function. We paid full price for the windows.
If you haven't ordered yet, I'd recommend contacting Shawn, the rep we worked with. He's a high performance builder in NC that uses them on every build and knows them inside and out. Very helpful to talk with as a first time installer
Thanks for the feedback - very helpful.
Windows … good choice
Hi, could you provide links to the windows in the dsctiption? Also how did you get them into the US? I recently did a trip in the EU and was shocked at how much better quality windows even poor countries.
These windows are made in Colorado so no need to import. Our rep Shawn was awesome to work with, he was super patient with us window newbies asking a million questions.
Here's a Google contact form if you'd like him to reach out to you: forms.gle/uzC9cRF5Cck2uxWL8
Europe is well known for windows quality, especially when it comes into polish windows.
i work there haha pretty sure i made those 😂
Great info! I hadn’t heard of this company and will certainly look into them! What made you choose them vs a European tilt turn window?
Not sure if you meant a European brand, but the import costs and order minimums are very high for that. Alpen is a U.S. brand that makes European style tilt-turns to the same high quality standards, obviously with much less expensive freight costs
@@MasonDixonAcres thanks for the reply, I have not gotten a quote either way yet so this is good to know.
@@nolanbillings8426 There is a form in the description of this video that you can fill out if you want to work with the same Alpen rep that we did! Shawn was super helpful throughout the whole process.
are you/did you get doors from alpen as well?
No, we did price it out but it was a bit much.
High I was curious if you know of a company in the USA that makes window treatments for these type of windows (ie blinds, roller shades etc)
Haven't looked into that yet!
For your Tyrol windows, are the grids bonded to the surface of the outside and inside panels? It appears so in your video. And are they made of the same material (RAU-FIPRO uPVC) as the frame? Thanks for you time.
Yes they are bonded on the outsides with a strong 3M double sided backer tape. They are painted aluminum, not PVC.
@@MasonDixonAcres Thank you for the detailed response. Long story as to why I asked. Simple version is I was discouraged from ordering grids with the Tyrol windows. The claim is they negatively impact the low thermal transfer value of the glass package. However, I see your window submittal sheet and window stickers have the standard Tyrol U-Factor and SHGC (0.15/0.24) values. So... I feel more confident going forward with the grids. Thanks again.
Thanks for the informative video. I am planning to purchase Alpen with an energy retrofit project in Minnesota.
Did you price Zenith series fiberglass? If so, how much more?
With the inward swing of the Tyrol series, can standard louvered blinds fit inside the jamb extension area without interfering?
Please message me your Alpen contact.
Mike
We did, and they were maybe 5-10% more expensive. The biggest thing was that we didn't like the look of the interior hardware on the Zenith casements, and we liked the 'cool factor' of the tilt turns. As for blinds, it will really depend on your window height as to how far the blinds hang down when fully retracted. I will guess they would intefere with the top of the window sash. I would opt for a different solution if you want window covering, such as curtains hung on the interior casing etc.
I don't think I can message you through YT. Send an email to masondixonacres@gmail.com and I'll copy in our rep who was awesome and extremely patient.
What was the price difference between Alpen and Marvin for your package? Just curious because we are planning to use Marvin but have walls of glass and probably can’t afford a more expensive windows than Marvin.
We never ended up getting Marvin windows quoted because of the wood frame style and energy performance difference! We can pass along our contact for Alpen windows if you'd like to get them quoted. Just send us an email at masondixonacres@gmail.com and I can send you that info 🙂
I'm doing a cabin build in northern Minnesota right now, and have ordered Alpen. While they may be expensive, they were still less than "comparable" Marvin windows. Like he said in the video, Marven, Pella, etc. don't make any windows that get even close to the performance of the Alpen.
do they have hurricane impact Tilt Turn windows?
There is an European window system with great hurricane parameters - made from aluminum.
@@Alice-debesto needed them in UPVC
@@shenoyglobal which brand and model did you choose? btw, why not aluminum?
@@Alice-debesto for coastal regions with salt in the air upvc is better than aluminum. Even though they say aluminum dosent rust , it eventually does
You will likely need to stay there for 3 decades before the triple pane windows pay for themselves in energy compliance. Triple pane is getting more popular but need prices to lower significantly
It’s a forever home, not really worried about payoff. More about comfort, quality, and longevity
I'm going to be ordering windows from Europe for my build. will cost probably 1/4 of these.
We looked into importing through EAS and it was a min buy of $35k. Might be a good deal depending on your project
@@MasonDixonAcres There are "tricks" for importing windows from Europe cheaper. You may share the cost of ship the container with someone else when ordering a full container together.
@@Alice-debestoany tips on doing this?