Open a New Window

Back in 2006 we replaced all but two of the windows in the house. We didn't do the one in the downstairs bathroom, as Shaw wanted to eventually remove it and put in a door to the patio. We also didn't touch the kitchen window, as we knew we'd redo the kitchen at some point. Since both windows were at the back of the house, it wouldn't be that noticeable in the meantime.

Two windows that we did replace were on the side of the dining room, exactly where the doorway between the kitchen and the addition would now be. Since the beginning of the planning stage for this project we knew that we wanted to re-use these relatively new windows in the back of the new dining room. As time went on I began to realize that the two windows, totaling about five and a half feet in width on an approximately thirteen feet wide wall, really wouldn't give us full advantage of the view of the woods out back. So, we decided that a third window of the exact same size would be placed alongside the other two. They were Andersons, after all, so matching them wouldn't be any problem. This was accounted for in the floor plans as well as the estimate for the materials. Everybody thought it was a great (and practical) idea.

In the week after July 4th, the floor was built over the foundation. In the space of the next two and a half days, the framing goes up, the roof is built and even shingled. It actually looks like a room, once the plywood covers the outer walls. Leaving room for where the windows will go, of course. It's anticipated that the windows should be delivered in a few days so that the addition can then be fully enclosed.

The contractor calls. It seems that in attempting to order the additional window for the back wall, he was told by Anderson that the older units can't be matched. They were Replacements by Anderson, and that division will only sell the windows if they can install them themselves - you can't just go and buy a window. The contractor tells us he'll credit us for the installation, if that's the way we decide to go. Shaw calls the company, and they agree to sell us just the one window as we had been such good customers two years ago. We tell this to the contractor, who agrees this is a good outcome.

The next day he calls back. It turns out that the replacement windows cost about three times as much as a new-construction window, which means that we'll be paying the same amount for a normal double-hung window as we would pay for a large 8-feet-wide picture window, that of course would look so much more attractive than the three double-hungs joined together. It's a bitch having a discerning eye. So, we tell him to go ahead and get the picture window. No problem, except that it's an odd size so it will take about a month. And, even though the front window is a standard size, they need to be ordered per job so the dining room won't be closed in until mid-August.

The original design also called for the kitchen to have a bay window over the sink into which the counter will flow. Once the kitchen guy gives us an exact measurement for the cabinets that will determine the size of the window, we look through the Anderson catalog and find that we can either get one that's too wide or one that's way too narrow - the one we want isn't made. The contractor consults with the architect, it's determined that we have to install extra beams in the basement to support the weight of a larger window, and between the contractor, the architect and Anderson, an acceptable design is created.

Thursday, July 9th. The doors for the master bathroom shower arrive and are ready to be installed. One problem - they made them with the wrong hardware. So, they install the frame and put the glass in temporarily until they can deliver the correct doors. Which means we now have a loaner shower door.

Monday, July 13th. I meet with the wall guy to go over the almost-finished bathrooms. I make lots of pencil marks to indicate where the spackling was missed and he begins to do the repairs.

Tuesday, July 14th. The contractor calls to tell me that Wall Guy can't come back to sand and paint as planned, because he has poison ivy all over his face and his eyes have swollen shut. That explains the original spackling job, I think.