ᐅ Panoramic Windows – Are the Window Prices Affordable?

Hello everyone,

We are in the early stages of planning our house and are currently visiting various model home exhibitions.

We saw a house featuring a window wall about 4 meters (13 feet) wide spanning two floors, which definitely looked very impressive visually. The windows were divided into sections measuring 2 by 2 meters (6.5 by 6.5 feet) each, with two elements stacked vertically.

My online research showed that window costs are not as high as I expected

• Fixed uPVC window – 300 x 260 cm (10 x 8.5 feet) – 750 EUR

Of course, installation costs are extra.

Is it easy to combine multiple units like this? In this case, four pieces of 2 x 2 meters (6.5 x 6.5 feet)?

What other drawbacks might I be overlooking? I’m aware of insulation values and cleaning concerns.

Has anyone worked with panoramic windows like these and can share concrete cost examples?

Maybe it will just be a passing idea and we’ll move on from it in a week.

Thanks in advance!

I have no personal experience with this issue. But what I keep hearing is that large window surfaces over 2m (6.5 feet) almost always have stability problems. Of course, everything is calculated and should work, but if you ask someone who owns them, it rarely goes smoothly. There is always some kind of issue.

On top of that, there is the cleaning effort, which is not only about how often you clean but often about how accessible the surfaces are.

Therefore, I would only have large windows designed and installed by specialists in this field—for example, companies like Huf-Haus or similar.

Are you really clear about the insulation value? I mean the overall effect? We have four floor-to-ceiling doors, each nearly 2m (6.5 feet) wide, and a window almost room height and 4m (13 feet) wide... That results in quite a bit of energy loss (despite the KFW55 standard). It doesn’t make you broke in the end, but it’s definitely not free.

To put it simply: you buy a highly insulated house and then lose the saved energy through the large window area. But okay, you probably already know that. You should check what an impact that has. A large surface area makes a significant difference.

Also consider: which direction does the front face? What’s cold in winter becomes hot in summer. Very hot. So heat protection, shutters or exterior (automatic) shading is a major issue. (Or air conditioning.) Both cost money.

And finally, from my side, something about comfort. My wife insists that the large glass surfaces cause drafts—so-called “fall winds” at the windows that then pull down to the floor into the room. Since the underfloor heating now mostly works with low water temperatures, this cold air probably reaches quite far into the room. I personally notice it when I sit with my kids on the floor near the windows and play. And again, large surface area means greater effect. If it spans two floors continuously, the effect is even stronger.

Real roller shutters can help reduce heat loss in winter. To protect against solar radiation in summer, I would focus on having sufficient roof overhang. During the summer months, the sun is higher in the sky. If properly calculated, no direct sunlight will pass through the windows. In winter, it’s the opposite: the whole house warms up when the sun is out. Additionally, having a generous roof overhang reduces maintenance effort for the exterior plaster.

Both measures together can help offset some of the disadvantages.

A big problem for some friends of ours: radiant cold! They also had a dining table in front of the large glass wall... but that simply doesn’t work. It’s just too cold... the cold air actually falls right down along the window. So if anything, it really needs to be triple glazed or have a floor heating vent directly in front of the window.

For noticeable "radiant cold," the interior pane of the window must be quite cold – and why would it be? That would mean the window is poorly installed, of low quality, or something similar.