I am remodeling a craftsman style lake house. I want to do smooth 6
inch Hardiplank around my windows/doors for low maintenance.

My builder suggests Pella windows/doors because of the molding and the
3 molding lines in the transom look I want to go for. I have read
negative comments about Pella.

What do you all suggest are good low maintenance and energy efficient
windows and doors which would be good for a lake house? I know I don't
want wood for sure.

If the lake house in in a High heat zone Pellas condense easily.CDF
factor. Consumer Reports has a good old article you can buy from them it
rated 22 makes, it is worth reading. I would recomend a composite or
fiberglass frame. Dual or tripple pane. What is your location, because
there are 3 types of Low E coatings depending on what SHG- solar heat
gain you want. There is alot to glass and frames. Energy Star also has
good info. Marvin and Anderson are well made. Hurd has glass options on
their site, some are to gain solar energy in winter, some are to keep
out solar energy, for high AC areas. Casements seal against wind the
best.

I am in Georgia.

So you recommend fiberglass or composite over steel, vinyl and aluminum?

If you want the best shop by ratings. There are important performance
ratings which measure each area of performance. Each climate has a
different need. Im North and on a windy lake and have little sun hitting
in my shade, so I picked a window that has little air infiltration in
wind, this is a rated test of Air Infiltration. I don`t want wood
because of rot and aluminum transfers heat so composite is best for me.
For your area where summer heat gain from sun is high you want a Low
Solar Heat Gain glass- Shg, there are 2 or3 types of LowE for different
climates, I would get the lowest SHG glass. Frames can account for
10-50% of a windows heat transmittance, Aluminum is the worst, Aluminum
with a thermal break is better and wood, fiberglass and composites the
best. For my area the lowest U value has a verified payback in winter
heating.

Shop by U values. U is the inverse of R, so a lower U value means
higher overall insulation value.

Your area might not warrant a better frame, I recomended composite for
rot and thinking a high heat zone. A Consumer Reports old article, a
test of 22 windows, you must pay for, or if your Email is good I can
send to you, it is a good read to understanding ratings you need to know
before you buy.

Unitl you know Shg. Vlt, U or R value, Cdf, air infiltration, and
other ratings you have no way to know or compare one from the other.

"Energy Star" is a good site to learn about windows and what is best.
For you area Id pick low Shg as a start, it will keep air conditioning
bills down. If windy on a lake, air infiltration is important. If wood
rots from the lakes humidity dont go wood. If you pay alot in AC the
highest insulating value or a low U value is most important.

Glass and frames are an ever changing improving area since they are
the weakest link in a buildings efficiency, None are equal, and any
salesman that says "glass is glass" is a liar, throw him out. Hurd
offers 2 or 3 glass types, one for south, one for the north, many top
companies offer only one type, it is related to the LowE coating used.
Go to Hurds site to see their location specific glass. Cardinal might be
the company that makes most of the glass for of brands, see what their
site offers in new technology. You probably want the lowest Shg. Pellas
are poor , [ a rating I didnt know about and regret} on Cdf- condensing
factor, but this may not be an issue for you since my house is tight and
CDF relates to winters heating and condensation on glass.

Then you have to be sure they are installed Plumb Level and Square,
within the manufacturers limits. BEFORE you pay. Or you have Zero
warranty from day one. So you thought buying a house was hard!