The Joys of Homeownership

[Irulan]

Oh, and for anyone who is thinking of windows, don't get Anderson. Just my opinion, but any company who will not talk to one spouse (they require both to be there at the consultation) is just plain sexist or weird. I could have cared less about which windows we got and I generally know nothing about any house stuff, so what would it have mattered? My friend who is really into design, wanted them to come and give her a quote and they wouldn't come without her DH being there. Stupid.

Oakleaf:

Because if there's an issue, a contractor gets a lien against the house, and there are potential issues if all owners of the property (including a spouse who isn't on the deed but has a dower interest) didn't consent to the work.

Uh, she said consultation (ie, sales pitch) not the signing of the contract.

[Crankin]

Yes, both spouses had to be there for even the initial sales pitch. I guess I understand the lawsuit thing, Oakleaf, but no other major company had this policy. Well, we ended up using another company, anyway.

[Zen]

I would love to have such a problem.
i have to be out of my house by the end of October and I have no idea where I'll go.

[indysteel]

I would love to have such a problem.
i have to be out of my house by the end of October and I have no idea where I'll go.

(((((())))) I'm so sorry, Zen.

[ridebikeme]

Like you many of you, I have an older house as well.(built in 1900) I also need to replace windows, which total out to 25. I have worked construction in the past, do most of my own work, but as Irulan mentioned... you never know what is under what you are looking for. I've installed lots of windows and doors, but always new construction. I had a door installed in the shop this spring, and decided that I would hire a contractor. I'm VERY glad that I did, because as you can imagine, there were underlying issues. I am definitely support DIY projects, but I also know that there are things that I will never do in the house again... and I would prefer to know that it was done correctly and the contractor has the experience to look ahead and see what potential problems could crop up. Yes, it means that I will spend more money than my DIY project, but the piece of mind knowing that it was done correctly and that I have someone who guarantees their work... well that's priceless!

And lastly, the lowest bid is NOT always your best option. I have seen way too many people take the low bid and have more problems down the road. Check out the contractors background/history and make your decision based on that and not a number. I have seen quite a few people here take the low bid, get someone who decided that in this recession that they could make some money AND all of them had problems very quickly and in the long run, they spent WAY more than the highest bid .

On another note, Zen good luck with finding another home!!

[Trek420]

(((((())))) i'm so sorry, zen.

+1.

[withm]

It's good to interview 2-3 contractors, but the best thing to do is to select your contractor based upon recommendations, and your belief that you and the contractor can work together on your project. By that I mean that you have a good working rapport with the contractor (not that you will strap on a tool belt and be working side by side) and have chosen a contractor that will work with you, who can tactfully communicate with you if your project is feasible or not, suggest alternative products/materials/methods that may either enhance your project or even save you some money. While price is certainly a consideration, I'd prefer to have a reputable, knowledgeable contractor working in my house who can deal with unexpected surprises when you start removing windows. You really can't imagine what a few years of leaks, mold, termites, or other insects, can do to the inside your walls.

As an aside, some of you have mentioned that live in older houses. The EPA has not done such a good job of communicating to homeowners the hazards of Lead Paint and the new Lead Paint rules which went into effect in April, and will be enforced starting in October. Houses built before 1978 are likely to have lead paint present, especially trims around the windows. The older the house, the more likely that it is there. Contractors are now required by law to provide the homeowner with a booklet that explains the lead paint hazards, to test for the presence of lead paint in the work areas, and if lead paint is present they are required to employ certain EPA designated lead-safe work practices designed to minimize and contain the lead dust generated in the course of the renovation in order to protect both the homeowner and the workers from the hazards of lead dust. Contractors who fail to do so are subject to EPA fines of up to $37,500 per day for non-compliance.

So, if you live in an older home and your contractor is not doing any of these things, you may have hired either an ignorant, or unscrupulous, contractor who is putting your family (and the families of his workers) at risk, and probably cutting other corners as well.

[tulip]

I have a 71-year old house with the original windows. It's a small house; there are 11 windows. I'm keeping them because they add so much to the character of the house. Replacement windows would just ruin the character that these windows provide.

When I bought the house two years ago, only a couple of the windows were operational. Last year I had a professional historic window repairman come and replace the cords and sash weights as needed. He unstuck them, because they had been painted shut over the years. There are still two windows that he needs to do some heavy duty repair to. I hope to have him do that this fall.

I am getting storm windows and full screens. Storm windows are just as efficient as replacement windows, and they don't result in a bunch of windows being thrown away. Full screens work well with double hung windows because you can open both the top and the bottom. Warm air will flow out the top, and cool air will flow in the bottom. This is particularly effective with ceiling fans. So far, I've used half window screens, but now that my house is nearly painted, I will get full screens for next spring and summer.

I have a wood stove, and it's important to have some air circulation when heating with a wood stove. You don't want a really tight house. In fact, having really tight houses can result in alot of problems with mold, particularly if your air conditioner is not sized correctly for the square footage of your home. Small houses can be a problem because there are few central A/C systems that are designed for small houses; most systems are too big. Mini split systems are good, but I couldn't go that route because it would have involved removal of alot of asbestos siding. Asbestos siding is best kept in place.

So that's all to say that there are alternatives to replacing windows, particularly in houses that have alot of character because of the windows.

Best of luck with your window work. My house has been alot of work, but I'm almost there and it's been worth the effort and expense.