Lakeway and the Four Points corridor — along the shores of Lake Travis — are home to some of Central Texas’s most view-oriented homes. Many of them were built in the 1990s and 2000s with traditional window packages that fundamentally underserved the lots they sit on: small, multi-pane, thick-framed aluminum windows that obstruct the view instead of framing it. This case study follows one Lakeway family who decided their home’s steel windows in Lakeway needed to match the scale of the view outside, and how a combination of fixed steel windows and a purpose-built curtain wall system delivered on that ambition.
The Starting Point
The family had lived in their Lakeway home for several years and had grown increasingly aware that the view was carrying them — but the windows weren’t. Multi-pane grids with thick aluminum frames chopped the view into quadrants. Frames absorbed sightlines that should have been glass. And the thermal performance was typical 1990s — single-pane in some openings, first-generation dual-pane in others, air leakage everywhere.
“Our home in Lakeway has amazing views, but the old windows didn’t do them justice. We searched for steel windows Austin TX and found OMG Steel Doors.”
Why Fixed Windows + Curtain Wall
For view-prioritized homes, fixed windows and curtain wall systems win over operable windows for three reasons:
- Minimum frame, maximum glass. Without operating hardware, hinges, or sashes, fixed and curtain-wall systems use the thinnest possible profiles. The view dominates; the frame recedes.
- Airtight by default. No moving seals means no air-leakage path. Essential for west-facing Texas exposures.
- Structural scale. Curtain wall systems can span multiple stories, tie into roof structure, and frame views that would be physically impossible with conventional window assemblies.
The design team specified:
- Fixed steel windows on the east- and south-facing elevations — standard rectangular openings, one pane per window, slim black mullions
- A curtain wall system on the west-facing elevation (the view elevation) — a two-story glass wall with structural steel verticals and horizontal transoms, essentially turning that side of the house into one continuous window
See our steel fixed windows product page and steel curtain wall options for configuration details.
Glass Package — Critical for Lakeway Sun
West-facing view elevations in Lakeway get direct afternoon sun four hours a day in summer. Without the right glass, the living room becomes an oven and the furniture fades. The design team specified:
- Triple-pane IGUs on the curtain wall for superior thermal performance
- Solar-control Low-E coating with SHGC of 0.22 — cuts solar heat gain roughly in half compared to clear double-pane glass
- Low-iron glass on the view panes to minimize the green tint common in standard float glass
- Laminated outer lite throughout, for hail resistance and UV blocking
For the broader performance discussion, see our post on custom energy-efficient steel doors and windows.
Structural Considerations
Curtain wall systems aren’t a drop-in replacement for conventional windows. Installing a two-story curtain wall required:
- Structural engineering review to verify the roof and foundation could carry the new load path
- A new steel header beam running the full width of the curtain wall
- Vertical mullions sized to wind load — Lakeway is in a wind-exposure zone that requires specific certifications
- Flashing and drainage detailing — curtain walls are rain screens, and the detailing around sills and heads is as critical as the glass itself
The Install
“Barry helped plan everything, and Frayner handled installation flawlessly.”
For this project:
- Existing windows demolished — 1 week
- Structural work (header install, foundation reinforcement) — 2 weeks
- Steel frame install — fixed windows first, then curtain wall — 2 weeks
- Glazing — 1 week (glass panels arrived in sequence to match install order)
- Sealant, flashing, trim, and commissioning — 1 week
Total project on-site time: 7 weeks. Full timeline from first measurement through commissioning: 16 weeks.
The Outcome
“The difference is dramatic — more light, better views, and a modern feel. If you’re in Four Points or Lakeway, steel windows are worth it.”
The view from the family’s living room is now essentially unobstructed. What used to be a quartered-up grid of small panes is now a two-story wall of glass with slim black mullions framing the Lake Travis horizon. The energy bill dropped on the west elevation despite the massive increase in glass area — the Low-E solar-control coating and triple-pane IGU outperform the old, leaky multi-pane system even after accounting for the larger glass surface.
Cost Range for Projects Like This
For a Lakeway-scale window overhaul combining fixed steel windows on multiple elevations with a two-story curtain wall on the view elevation:
- Fixed steel windows, 8–12 units across elevations: $45,000–$110,000 installed
- Two-story curtain wall system (500–1,200 sq ft): $140,000–$380,000 installed
- Structural engineering and header work: $15,000–$45,000
- Permits and inspections: $2,500–$8,000
Total project investment: $200,000–$550,000. Not a small number — but for a view-home in Lakeway where the view itself is the majority of the property’s value, it’s frequently the highest-ROI renovation possible.
Planning Your Lakeway Window Project
Whether you’re looking at a single view-elevation upgrade or a full window overhaul, Lakeway homes generally benefit from steel fenestration more than almost any other style of window. Visit our Lakeway service area page for more project examples, or request a consultation. We’ll survey the home, walk the exposures, and propose a glass package and frame system that matches the view your home was built for.
