Tour a high-performance condo with the Modern Craftsman

The Modern Craftsman podcasters, Tyler Grace and Nick Schiffer, take us on a tour showcasing the window and door products used in a condo project in the ski town of Conway, New Hampshire. See how the products chosen support the goals of this project by Mullen Building.

The takeaway: The windows and doors chosen for this project all feature expansive glass, very thin profiles, and dark colors to support a contemporary aesthetic. At the same time, these products help the building meet the stretch energy code in Conway, proving the right windows and doors can unite form and function.

Keep reading for more details on product selection, installation, and finishing.

400 Series Casement Windows with contemporary profiles

What’s significant about the installation? A window buck was needed here for proper installation with the ZIP System® Insulated R-Sheathing — combining OSB and insulation into one structural panel. The bucks were built into the walls when they were manufactured at Cape Cod Panel. Panelization helped standardize this non-standard step so the onsite crew could proceed with routine window installations.

What to notice about the finishing? On the interior, there’s no extension jamb, and the trim work around the windows was painted white. This minimalist approach really makes the thin black profiles stand out and, ultimately, helps frame the landscape outside.

Why this product? The contemporary profiles of these windows allow for very thin rails and stiles along with expansive glass — some of the windows are nearly 6 feet tall! To improve the efficiency of the windows, full divided light grilles with energy spacer bars were chosen — this means the center bar — the one in between the two panes of glass— doesn’t actually touch the glass. This negates the energy loss that can occur when the bar touches the glass. The windows also include an argon gas blend in between panes and our Low-E4® glass coating, which helps keep conditioned air inside the home.

See the panelization process Explore 400 Series products

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Pivot Doors

What’s significant about the installation? “Preparation is everything,” as Grace said. Properly preparing the pivot box led to successful install and operation here since this, rather than hinges, is what allows the door to operate. Our Pivot Doors are designed with details that make the installer’s job easier, such as built-in jacking screws and more.

What to notice about the finishing? Although the high-performance water management flush sill used for this project has a Performance Grade rating of 60, its low profile helps support the minimalist aesthetic of the door.

Why this product? Our Pivot Door was chosen for its impact — its size, expansive glass, premium hardware, and smooth operation all help create an impressive entrance. “It’s a huge hit,” as builder Doug Mullen put it.

*Performance Grade (PG) rating will depend on the exact size and configuration chosen.

Get a look at the install Explore our Pivot Doors

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A-Series Gliding Patio Doors with contemporary profiles

What’s significant about the installation? Because the walls for this project were panelized, all the rough openings were already prepared, easing the way toward an efficient and high-quality installation by the onsite crew. There’s a common misconception that customization isn’t possible with panelization, but this project proves otherwise.

What to notice about the finish? On the interior, these doors are finished identically to the windows for a cohesive look that furthers the contemporary mountain chic style of the space. On the exterior, the doors present as windows with a matching 2-over-2 grille pattern and black color.

Why this product? The contemporary profile on this A-Series Gliding Patio Door has even sight lines all the way around. Its scale also matches the oversized 400 Series Casement Windows. The doors used here are nearly 8 feet tall but can be ordered as large as 10 feet tall.

See the panelization process Explore A-Series patio doors

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About the Modern Craftsman

Grace and Schiffer are the voices behind the Modern Craftsman, which is a podcast and community network dedicated to promoting excellence, education, knowledge, and respect in the building industry. With their audience of trade professionals, they discuss all aspects of life within the industry and life itself — from mental health to leadership and everything in between. They pride themselves on working with brands and people who strive to make the industry better and advocate for a better life in the trades.

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chris galvin doing a podcast with modern craftsmen

chris galvin doing a podcast with modern craftsmen

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Modern Craftsman

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More about this project

Part I

Inside a panelization project
How to install a window in a panelized wall with exterior insulation? The Modern Craftsman podcasters are taking us for a behind-the-scenes peek at the process of building panelized walls for a new high-performance condo project by Mullen Building.

Learn more

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Pivot Door

Builder

Installation

Energy efficiency

Pro Project

400 Series

A-Series

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