A recent survey of home builders, designers and architects reveals the top scoring 2022 home feature (98%) is natural light, edging out usable outdoor area (92%).
Interior daylight has been trending north for years. The difference now is it tops the home office, energy efficiency, smart home devices and other popular features as a home buyer favorite.
Consider the ultimate expression of forward natural light design, the monumental window wall. Is there anything more captivating than to use it to showcase a million-dollar view?
Steve Frosch knows all about that power and magic.
Frosch is vice president of construction for Minnesota-based Kootenia Homes. The family-owned and operated builder specializes in custom single-family homes starting in the $900s, closing about 20 units throughout the eastern Twin Cities metro area in 2022.
Award-Winning Design Solution
Last fall, their entry in the area’s Parade of Homes claimed top honors in the $1.25 million – $1.45 million category. The home’s showstopper feature? A 12-foot by 30-foot window wall … a 360-square-foot viewing portal to a picture postcard lake.
“We love to bring the outside in,” explains the award-winning custom builder. “It’s what people know us for. Most of our lots are premium parcels with great views.”
Breakthrough Installation Speed
The large window wall required a modern, post-free look with narrow connections. The finished assembly, which included awning windows, had to account for wind loads as well as harsh Minnesota climate extremes. “Nature throws the book at us here,” Frosch observes.
To simplify installation, the Kootenia construction team opted for a patented breakthrough in monumental window wall assembly and installation. The Easy Connect Joining System, from building products manufacturer Andersen Windows & Doors, lives up to its name with a fiberglass plug-and-play locking system that offers exceptional:
- Assembly Ease. The window wall system was delivered in “Six factory-assembled units that maneuvered well into the rough opening. We didn’t have to worry about glass breaking or the frame going out of spec in transit. The panels fit together great with enough tolerance for easy adjustments. You don’t have to be perfect,” reports Frosch. The lighter, pre-assembled units also meant a safer worksite.
- Installation Speed. “Compared to what I planned, it took us half the time with fewer guys,” Frosch says. An industry survey supports Frosch’s experience: Seven out of 10 builders/general contractors say the Easy Connect Joining System requires 50 percent fewer installers.
- Peace of Mind. The Easy Connect Joining System is tested to AAMA 450 requirements, Hallmark- certified for air, water and structural performance and impact certified for Florida’s High Velocity Hurricane Zone, enabling stately walls of glass for all demographics. The Easy Connect system enables builders to optimize for safety, quality, delivery and handling to achieve a builder’s desired look.
Frosch knows a monumental window wall isn’t right for every project. But when it fits the owner’s budget and vision, it’s good to know there’s a smarter, easier way to install joined combinations with Easy Connect.
Learn more about a better way to install high-performance monumental window wall systems.
