I don't know whether a woot-woot or a wheeeeee is appropriate, but we're awfully excited about the new Jeld-Wen windows going in at our place. Basically, when we had the energy assessment done, the suggestion for getting new high efficiency windows was a total no-brainer - Our mix of mangy vinyl sliders (circa 1985) and original 60's aluminum windows (sometimes both in the same window, don't ask...) were just not cutting it; not in the looks department and definitely not on the saving money on the energy bill side of things.

Our great contractors, Cera-Stone, measured everything up and then we started the process of deciding on the look and finish (lawdy, I do love customization). With help from James, our rep from Jeld-Wen, we decided on a line of theirs called Donat Flamand, made just outside of Quebec City, and picked aluminum clad AuraLast wood frames with Low E glass and Argon gas between the panes (in simple terms both the glass and the gas-fill improve insulation, keep the heat down in the summer and allow for passive heating in the winter, read more here). We went dark and neutral on the cladding and picked their ALUM Brown, though they have about 30 colours to choose from, and then designed the smaller windows to split into 2 (casement and fixed), and the larger to split into 3 (casement and 2 fixed). Since we wanted everything nice and clean and simple the 3 exterior doors were ordered to match too - full glass, plus a sidelight for the dining room and front door. Phew!

Take a peek below at the progress (that's the before snap of the back of the house from the end of July, followed by where we're at today). Click here to see the story so far on the reno and, if you're in the market for new windows; here's some good info from Natural Resources Canada on what to look for.