{"id":864,"date":"2025-04-01T15:28:01","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T15:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.camperscorner.net\/?p=864"},"modified":"2025-04-04T18:26:20","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T18:26:20","slug":"ask-an-expert-a-guide-for-choosing-the-right-windows-and-doors-with-your-builder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.camperscorner.net\/index.php\/2025\/04\/01\/ask-an-expert-a-guide-for-choosing-the-right-windows-and-doors-with-your-builder\/","title":{"rendered":"Ask an Expert: A Guide for Choosing the Right Windows and Doors With Your Builder"},"content":{"rendered":"
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General contractor Brad Leavitt gives us insights into the biggest considerations homeowners might be overlooking.<\/p>\n

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Brad Leavitt is no stranger to a construction site. Raised in Southern California, he grew up around the trades\u2014Leavitt\u2019s grandfather started an electrical company after retiring from the Navy, and his dad and five uncles are all electricians. Continuing the family legacy, Leavitt became an electrician himself, before breaking into the world of luxury residential homebuilding\u2014leading to the founding his own company, A Finer Touch Construction<\/a>, in 2013 in Arizona.<\/p>\n

Obvious shortcomings of the construction industry\u2014notably, the lack of communication and transparency with clients\u2014led Leavitt to found AFT Construction more than 10 years ago. Between a client portal, dedicated project coordinator, and real-time site updates, client communication is a hallmark of AFT\u2019s award-winning process. Pulling from his toolbox of experience, Leavitt shares his pro tips for successful client-builder communication when tackling critical design decisions\u2014including the all-important window and door selection.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Wall-to-wall<\/a>
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Wall-to-wall glazing on multiple sides of the home helps create a fluid indoor\/outdoor experience, expanding the home\u2019s usable square footage. <\/p>\n

Photo: Marvin<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Identify solar vulnerability <\/h4>\n

When it comes to the early stages of design, it\u2019s important to consider site orientation and pinpoint areas of solar vulnerability. “One thing we have to look at is, where is that sun hitting the house?” says Leavitt. To effectively analyze exposure, Leavitt and his team use Building Information Modeling (BIM) to zero in on locations with heightened solar contact. “We render homes and lay them out because that sun from the southern hemisphere in June, July, August, September is beating on the south and west of the home,” Leavitt explains. By identifying areas of elevated solar vulnerability, Leavitt and his team can design and implement protection measures for glazed openings. <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t limit the architecture<\/h4>\n

For many clients building custom homes, indoor\/outdoor living is top of mind. In Arizona, Leavitt emphasizes, “It\u2019s essential.” Designing homes for seamless indoor\/outdoor flow often yields large expanses of glass\u2014which can create practical and budgetary challenges. “We never want to limit the architecture to have less glass,” says Leavitt. “We always make sure that it\u2019s protected, and you can do that in several ways.” Some of these ways, Leavitt suggests, include overhangs, automated pocket shades, or triple-pane windows in especially vulnerable areas where overhangs aren\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Composed<\/a>
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Handcrafted with premium wood (interior) and durable aluminum (exterior), the Marvin Ultimate Multi-Slide door can be configured in widths as large as 60 feet. <\/p>\n

Photo: Marvin<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The process is just as important as the product<\/h4>\n

When it comes to window framing\u2014especially with specialized construction methods\u2014the technical install process can be just as significant as the windows themselves. The structural design of the home may impact the cost and precision required to frame and install the windows. “We do a lot of ICF\u2014Insulated Concrete Form\u2014construction,” says Leavitt. Instead of wood-framed walls, walls are composed of styrofoam and concrete. “Because of that, you have to have a bigger opening, because there’s rebar and concrete there,” says Leavitt. “With the bigger opening, you have plywood set inside that concrete so that you can install the window.” Unlike a wood-framed house, this method of construction requires a higher level of precision, considering the smaller margin of error with concrete. Any adjustments or reframing “would be a matter of jackhammering and cutting concrete, which is a big deal,” says Leavitt.<\/p>\n

Consider mixing and matching<\/h4>\n

“One thing we love about working with Marvin is they have such a diversified portfolio of products,” Leavitt says. This expansive portfolio can support modern or traditional architectural styles\u2014and everything in between. When we\u2019re doing aluminum wood clad [windows], that would typically lean more traditional,” says Brad. “When we\u2019re doing modern or contemporary, we\u2019ll use aluminum [interior and exterior], because the profile is a lot thinner,” he adds. For transitional styles, Brad doesn\u2019t shy away from mixing and matching\u2014a creative approach enabled by the variety and versatility of the Marvin portfolio.   <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Practicality and ease of install can directly impact on-site workflow\u2014creating timing and cost implications. The Marvin Skycove\u2014a one-of-a-kind suspended window that Leavitt discovered while visiting Marvin\u2019s showroom at 7 Tide in Boston\u2014provides an install-ready window bench option. “That’s always been a challenge for us,” Leavitt says of the pop-out window. “It\u2019s always been hard to build, whereas we could buy that whole unit from Marvin.”<\/p>\n

Photo: Marvin<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

See the full story on Dwell.com: Ask an Expert: A Guide for Choosing the Right Windows and Doors With Your Builder<\/a><\/b>
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