When the spring ice melt started running down the inside of my kitchen walls, I actually laughed. I always hated the faux wood paneling in the dinette area of the kitchen and could not afford to replace it. Now it would have to be torn out, and the homeowner’s insurance would cover the cost!
But first, we would need to replace the front and back downstairs windows. The house was built in 1942, and these were the original windows – both windows had begun to leak, sometimes severely enough to damage the walls underneath them.
THE 1942 BACK WINDOW (interior view)
However, money was a problem. Obviously, I could not use the insurance money for the windows because they were not part of the claim. I had X amount of dollars available from savings, and these were large windows. Economy windows were not an option inasmuch as we may want to sell the house within the next few years, and that front picture window is the first thing you see as you approach the house.
I pretty much failed Economics 101 in my life, so when the salesman suggested financing, I chuckled. Banks haven’t been very happy with me since my 2011 bankruptcy. But, financing would allow me to purchase both windows, as well as a new bathroom window, and they would all be good quality. So, I filled out an application – and it went through!
To make a long story shorter, the windows were installed a couple of weeks ago. Both hubby and I needed to take time off from work, because once the windows were removed, and the front door was wide open, someone needed to keep Cody under control. Heaven forbid a rabbit or squirrel should run past the house during a time when she could actually get to them!
The salesman had told us the entire job would take 1 day. I scheduled 1-1/2 days of vacation so that I could have the bathroom remodeling guy come the next morning to do his measurements (that will be another post down the blogging road – I know you’all can hardly wait).
Workers arrived on the scheduled morning, and I took Cody upstairs to watch videos with me in my room. Hubby puttered around, keeping an eye on the installation work.
FRONT WINDOW – BEFORE
The existing windows were removed – lots of banging, breaking glass, etc. Cody was good – she just looked over at me and so long as I wasn’t reacting, she lay back down on her little doggie bed.
At one point, I heard one of the men ask the other, “Can’t we just put extra insulation around it?” Then a few minutes later, my husband came up and said he overheard the head installer on the phone with his office: “We have a 53” window here, for a 59” opening.”
Yup, they had delivered the wrong window. Wouldn’t you think they would check the size of the new windows before knocking out the old ones? But maybe that’s just me.
Fortunately, the window had not been ordered wrong – they simply had brought someone else’s. Our window was still at the shop and would be brought to us. Meanwhile, they worked on the other ones.
Sometime later, my husband came upstairs and asked me to come downstairs, since I was the one who would be paying for the work. Uh-oh. I arrived downstairs to discover both window installers standing in my driveway, along with the sales manager and the company’s business manager. Double uh-oh.
BACK WINDOW – BEFORE
Upon removing the existing windows, it had been discovered that the frames were rotted and unusable. We had not contracted for new frames.
Fortunately, when applying for the bathroom financing (part of future story), I had at the last minute opted to increase the loan just slightly in case any of my contractors ran over for any reason. It was easy to write a check for the additional work required in creating new window frames, and I really didn’t want to deal with those frames on my own later.
The window installer was an artist – the frames he constructed are better than any I’ve seen elsewhere. He didn’t just slap sills on – he used top quality hardwood and then rounded them and sanded them so well that we’ve decided we’ll just use polyurethane to seal them, leaving the beauty of the natural wood.
Throughout the day, the work continued. Since the bathroom window was also being replaced, visits to the Important Room became somewhat problematic – not only were workers in there, but there were no blinds or curtains on that window. Late in the afternoon, I realized that window was in and that the workers were outside. Woo-hoo! I ran into the Important Room. And there – just outside – was a worker sitting on the roof of the first-floor extension, affixing the outside aluminum to the bathroom window. How embarrassing! At least I hadn’t started to unrobe on my way in!
Of course, the work ran into a full second day due to the frames. My boss wasn’t thrilled with me.
But now the windows are done – and they are gorgeous. Next step is repairing the kitchen and living room walls, and redoing the bathroom (required because of the holes in the ceiling and the fact that the tub was so worn it couldn’t even be cleaned any more).
Our window installer was so proud of his work that he lightly affixed the frames to that our drywall guy can remove them, and we can then polyurethane them. The window installer insists that he be called back (at no additional charge) when it’s time to put the frames back up because he wants it “done right.” It is, after all, his work, and he doesn’t want anyone else messing it up. He wouldn’t even accept a tip – in fact, I think we may have inadvertently insulted him by offering one.
FRONT WINDOW – AFTER. We are in the process of repainting the house – that’s why it’s a little darker close to the door and splotchy on the other side.
BACK WINDOW – AFTER (Are those Teddy Rosalie’s ears in the lower left corner? Not – it’s just the top of the desk chair. Made you look!)
So, Step 1 is completed. Aren’t they beautiful? After the drywall/paintingl guy is finished, I’ll take interior pictures. Right now, there are still holes around the windows, and the frames have not been finished.
Hopefully, all construction work will be completed around the 4th of July – I intend to bore with you with the progress of each phase – surely something to look forward to!
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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com or notcordeliasmom@aol.com
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Images by Cordelia’s Mom
Cordelia's Mom, Still 
Oh! Oh! Oh!
I love it! More?
The back window. I see bricks? Is it a chimney?
Was the house all brick before?
Looking forward to more!
Thank you for sharing.
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No, only the chimney was brick, and we don’t use it any more since the furnace is now vented out the side of the house. That’s why I’ve let the ivy grow – I like the looks of it, and I no longer have to worry about the ivy affecting the flow of air from the furnace.
The bathtub installation and the painting start at the end of the month. Stay tuned!
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If I have a fireplace, I know for sure I would not use it but would leave it there for the prettiness of it.
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Very nice job, these look great. I love stories about contractors who step up and do the right thing when things go wrong. That’s a guy whose number you want to keep on your fridge.
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For sure. We got this contractor on a referral from a friend who used them TWICE, for two different houses. Figured I couldn’t go wrong with a referral like that.
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Good work! Home repairs are such a nightmare — but it sounds like yours, at least so far, have all worked out well. Looking forward to seeing the progress.
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Just received a call this morning that the tub is here, and scheduled the installation for right after repair of the bathroom ceiling. I’m feeling quite excited about the whole thing.
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That’s great. I may hire you to subcontract the work we need doing on our house!
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One thing I’ve learned – try to use contractors that have previously been used by people you know. My drywall/painting guy is the one who did my daughter’s house, and she was very pleased – I can hardly wait to see what he does with my house!
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Having done a great deal of remodeling (with us doing the work) I really understand the fun of living through a work in progress. But it’s done – and these windows look great ( It always takes longer than planned, something always gets delivered wrong, and there’s always rotten wood that has to be replaced- the good thing is that it was discovered and fixed!) Do let that guy come back and “finish” the job right. How terrific he insisted. Nothing makes things better than new windows! (Good dog Cody for tolerating it all) YEA!!!!
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Actually, the remodeling work is just starting. The windows were only the first step. The part I’m really looking forward to is when the toilet in our only bathroom has to be removed for an entire day, maybe two. I envision lots of emergency runs to the nearest local grocery store or McDonald’s.
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Wow. What a difference. BIG improvement and probably will also lower your heating and cooling bills. Sometimes, I dream of new windows. But is isn’t happening. We’ll just have to live with the old ones.
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It’s already made a difference with the AC. Knock on wood, that after 20 years I’m finally managing to make the house liveable – although there will still be things that we simply can’t manage, like replacing carpeting and flooring. Maybe in another year or two …
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It looks awesome and I’m so glad that everything with the windows ended up working out!
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Thanks! Just as well that there were a few glitches – it gave me another post I could write. Would’ve been too boring otherwise.
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Said by a true blogger. Ha!
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Amusing, isn’t it? Every time something happens, whether good or bad, I think, “Hmm, I think I can do a post on that!”
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I know. I was a bad blogger yesterday. My dog has a blog/website. We took said dog to the vet yesterday and I totally forgot to take pics or video of the experience. In my defense our dog is terrified of the vet so I was very busy working with him. Ha!
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Well, that’s a little freaky. I just came back from the vet with Cody and for the first time ever, I took a photo of her in the waiting room. I had considered taking Teddy Rosalie along, but thought a stuffed teddy bear might be a wee bit too tempting for Cody and all the other dogs.
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Aha well then you’re a better blogger than I! 😉
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Not sure how missed this CM, Great post and the new windows make a heck of a difference in how your house looks. Veyr nice.
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Just wait until the inside work is done – it’s going to be like a brand new house! I’m very excited about it.
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Reblogged this on Cordelia's Mom, Still and commented:
The post I planned to republish this week, before I got distracted by Puppy Cody. Only time will tell if I ever again have to live through household renovaions …
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Good to be reminded that not all construction is a disaster. Sometimes, the magic works.
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Oh, we’ve had our share of disasters, too. Thank heavens, the windows weren’t one of them.
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