Carolina Home & Garden

The summer edition of Carolina Home & Garden will feature three homes with contemporary design.  Two of those homes we were privileged to be the window supplier.  This is one of those homes.

What is Concierge Service?

CONCIERGE SERVICE

“Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interest first”.   From The Go-Giver.

At Window Designs of the Carolinas we take this premise very seriously.  When a client entrusts us with the window and door portion of their project, we embrace the responsibility for the successful completion of that vision.  From planning to execution and service after the sale, our goal is to own this phase of the venture.  

KOLBE WINDOWS AND DOORS

We are proud to announce that we have begun representing  Kolbe Windows and Doors in our market.   https://www.kolbewindows.com/

Tomorrow we head to Wisconsin for training on the many unique and exciting products that Kolbe has to offer.  Displays are on order and should be installed in September.  Keep an eye on this site for pictures and stories of our adventures with Kolbe Windows and Doors!

In a Jam?

IN A JAM?

One of the most frequent service calls we are asked to make is to address complaints of swinging doors out of adjustment. Doors don't open and close easily, multipoint locks won't engage properly, reveal at door panels suggest they are out of square, etc.  Most of these complaints have a single culprit; lack of jamb screws.

Jamb screws are approximately 3 inches long and are designed to not only attach the hinge to the jamb, but to penetrate through the jamb and shim and then anchor into the jack.  All the doors that Window Designs of the Carolinas provide come with a package of screws including at least one jamb screw per hinge.  Yet on the final walk through 75% of all doors we have provided do not have the jamb screws installed. 75%!  

Frequently, other screws have been installed in place of the jamb screw.  

Window tech extraordinaire, Jon Burcham, was recently called to look at a door provided by a competitor 5 years ago.  

The homeowner told Jon over the phone that other service techs had been to her house on four separate occasions and that the door had never worked properly from the beginning.  She said she had to hit the door with her hip to close it.  Jon speculated that jamb screws were missing.  Upon arriving he found small screws in all screw holes, and many of the screw holes had been reamed out from frequent tightening down and there wasn't much remaining in the way of grip.  And of course, no jamb screws.  The little screws frequently used do not have enough holding power to withstand the weight of a heavy door panel for long.  You need something more than just a hinge attached to the jamb.   Below is a picture of the screws that were used and the jamb screws that were desperately needed.

Jon routinely visits our jobsites shortly after windows and doors have been installed.  He always carries jamb screws because more often than not, installers have failed to use the screws provided.

For best results install one screw in the top screw hole of each hinge.  But if you only install jamb screws in one hinge, make sure you install it in the top hinge.

Jon says that if you have lost the jamb screws provided, any coarse thread 3 inch screw will work.

Semco window and door visit

Bill, Kevin and I travelled to the Semco Window and Door plant in Merrill, Wisconsin last week.  The folks at Semco were very gracious and we got to meet many of the employees who work every day to help support us in our efforts to differentiate Window Designs of the Carolinas with exceptional products and service.   

Of particular interest was the glass plant where they insulate the glass in-house using SuperSpacer, and the test chamber where new products and product improvements are tested for performance.  We enjoyed very valuable time with Semco’s product engineer, Dan Emmerich, and learned of exciting new products being developed to meet market demands.   

A special shout out to Pat, Rich and Ginger for putting this all together.  The time they took from their very busy schedules was invaluable to us. 

Heights and other scary things

As previously described in this blog, The Window Gal does not like heights.  From time to time I find it necessary in my job to attempt to access something that is just a bit out of my reach.  Normally, I look around me to see if I might employ somebody else to ascend the lofty height to perform this task for me.  Other times I find myself all alone and left to my own devices.  I remember an incident a couple of years ago when a builder was supposed to meet me at a construction jobsite to confirm some rough openings.  He was running late and phoned me and instructed me to go up to the attic and measure a specific window opening that he had a question about.  I hung up the phone and began the search for “the elevator”.  My heart began to sink as I realized there was no such conveyance and I found a ladder that was already in place and seemed to stretch to the heavens and disappeared into the darkness of the attic.  I looked around and saw that all the workers were busy with their jobs and I felt reluctant to impose so I stood there and waited for the builder to show up.

 

To that builder, I am sure that the ladder in question looked a little like this:

To The Window Gal, the same ladder looked more like this:

When the builder arrived, I had already rehearsed my explanation which was that the fire truck that would be needed to rescue me, had I climbed the ladder, wouldn’t have been able to get past the heavy equipment already on the jobsite.

In January of this year I incorporated my business and changed the name to Window Designs of the Carolinas, Inc.  I, personally, will always be The Window Gal, but now the company grows and matures.

While the company will still offer access to many of the major brands, our focus will be on promoting four brands that have proven themselves in terms of versatility of design, value and quality:

Loewen reigns as the luxury option featuring solid Douglas Fir as the standard wood species. This substantial product lends itself to exceptionally large openings and structurally demanding designs.  http://www.loewen.com

Semco is one of the best kept secrets in the industry.  The fit and finish of the Semco window is unparalleled.  26 standard colors and a patented, extruded aluminum, hinged nail fin all offered at a surprisingly economical cost make the Semco window the best choice for achieving the biggest bang for the buck!  http://www.semcowindows.com

Windsor, while very similar to Semco, offers additional features such as painted interiors, Bettervue high transparency screen mesh as a standard, and exceptional values in their doublehung window line and their sliding doors.  22 standard colors make the Windsor window worthy of serious consideration for any window and door package. http://www.windsorwindows.com

LaCantina Doors - many window and door lines offer stacking and pocketing multi-sliding doors as well as bifolding doors to compliment their clad window lines but LaCantina brings enhanced performance and features to these type products at a compelling price point.  Douglas fir or Mahogany interior and custom color matched aluminum exteriors are capable of achieving required DP ratings and can even be built to meet the Dade County Impact Certifications. http://www.lacantinadoors.com/why-lacantina

Come by our new facility and check out some of the displays of these exciting products.  We'll help you find the windows and doors that best fit your project.

Easy on....Easy off!

Recently, I embarked upon an endeavor to find a satisfactory solution to threshold protection for swinging and sliding doors. I learned a lot, but Heather Ley of BuildSitePro was able to describe much more succinctly the summary of my learning experience:

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Effectively-Protect-Door-Thresholds-During-Construction-Projects&id=6020866

There were two other points not mentioned in her article:

1 - the hinged sliding door threshold protectors are very hard to find, are generally profiled for a specific name brand sliding door, and IF you are fortunate enough to find them, fairly expensive.

2 - the UV tape works beautifully for sliding doors as well as swinging doors. We also successfully applied the tape within the floor channel of pocketing multisliding doors. Check out the pictures below.

This is the outside view of a pocketing multislide door from Semco/Slideworks.  We covered the track with the UV tape and then sliced it in between the channels in the floor.  We folded the edges down and the panels glide right over it. 

And this picture shows how we applied the tape.

This picture is of a standard four panel, bi-parting sliding door.  We basically followed the same technique.  Lay the tape on top of the sill, slide along the track, tuck the tape to the sides of the track.  But with this door, we cut an additional piece of tape and folded it in half, and then placed in down into the track.  The sliding panel slide right over top of it. 

The tape is good for 180 days.  We've marked our calendars to replace the tape if the job is still ongoing at that time.  I'll report on the over all resilience and ease of removal of the tape at that time.  Stay tuned. 
UPDATE:  The tape worked well on the standard slider, but the adhesive was a little tricky to remove on the track of the multislide.  Ultimately it was decided that it was not worth it to use the tape on the multislides from now on.

This kind of deal doesn't come along every day.

A builder friend of mine recently shared with me a large tract of land that he has been nurturing.  It is now up for sale and it is a steal!  Check out the details.  Deals like this just don't come along very often. 
http://mountainlandreality.com/home.html

Tell him Teri sent you. 

Aw....What The Heck!

Why not......


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XrivBjlv6Mw&feature=fvwrel

Direct Set Windows versus Sash Set Windows: When Less is More.

One of the questions that I am frequently asked by homeowners and builders alike is " what is the difference between a direct set and a sash set window?"

The short answer is simple; a sash set window is a piece of glass that is placed in a frame, and then that frame is placed in another frame. This outer frame is also the "jamb" of the window. All operating windows are automatically sash set, the sash being the moveable part of the window. Some fixed windows are also sash set. A direct set window is a piece of glass that is stopped into a frame, also known as the jamb. All direct set windows are fixed. No operating window is ever direct set.

Since we have determined that all operating windows must have a sash, the remainder of this discussion will be about non- operating or "fixed" windows.

 

When considering whether to use sash set or direct set fixed windows, here are a few considerations to help make the best choice.

Cost - under most circumstances, custom sized direct set units will be more economical then sash set for the simple reason that there is less material involved because there is one less frame. However, when using a standard size fixed casement or a standard size picture window, the fact that they are standard and not custom sizes will usually equate to a lower price. This is because the material for standard sizes are usually inventoried in bulk by the manufacturers. Modifying material for a custom size results in more labor, and many times, waste of materials and this will be a cost driver, particularly when multiple custom size windows are used throughout a project. Custom size direct sets when compared to custom size sash set windows however, can be significantly less money.

 

Siteline alignment - direct set units are not always appropriate particularly if maintaining a vertical or horizontal siteline is desired. If you want all the daylight openings to align on either plane, then you will only achieve that with a sash set window. Below is a photograph of a project currently being built where the decision to spend the extra money (and in this case, it was a pretty substantial upcharge) was obviously a wise investment. Notice how the stiles (the pieces of wood that make up the vertical part of the sash) perfectly align with the stiles of the door below. Because the grill pattern is three lites wide, if they had not had a sash in that frame, the rectangles would have all been different sizes or the bars would not have aligned with the bars in the door below.

 

This next shot is of a direct sets mounted above other direct sets. Notice that the framing is more narrowline than the previous picture. However, all the rectangles are similar in size and the SDL bars are in alignment with the units below.

There are plenty of times that a direct set works fine, particularly if there are no grills in the windows, or in many cases, a 2 wide grill pattern takes "the sting" out of the different size rectangles because at least the one vertical bar will align with the vertical bar in the window below. Another good use of a direct set window is when the direct set has a grill, but the window below it does not. This is a good illustration of that scenario.

Size - there is a limit to the size that sash set windows can be made and that is because the frame that the piece of glass is glazed into is not substantial enough to handle the weight of larger windows. This is compounded by the fact that larger pieces of glass are many times thicker pieces of glass and are required to be tempered, substantially adding to the weight, so it needs the heavier frame of the "jamb" to carry the load.

A good window professional should help the client explore these options and their ramifications.

 

In the blink of an eye.

One of the "just for fun" services I provide my customers (those who are interested) is a time lapse video of their house being constructed. I need to be able to get in on the ground floor when the land is just being graded for this to happen. I have experimented with a couple of different camera's and different settings for picture taking.

The first step is to find a decent time lapse camera. I have several on a job and I used the Brinno TLC100 camera. It's great in that it is waterproof and you can set the frequency of the shots. The negative aspect of this camera is that the battery life has been less than optimal, and that moisture accumulates on the lense and remains there until the sun evaporates the moisture. Otherwise, it takes a good picture and the pictures are stored as an avi file on a flash drive, truly plug and play technology. The camera is about $125 and comes with it's own flash drive. I purchased Duracell lithium batteries hoping for longevity of the recording process.

On a recent job, I tried a new camera. A little less expensive was the Wingscapes Timelapse Cam 8.0. The negative aspect of this camera is that it stores the photographs on the camera's internal memory on an SD card. So, you'll have to download the raw photographs to your computer first. The advantages to this camera is that the battery life appears to be very long, and you have the capability of editing out unwanted photographs when preparing the overall video.

 

Next, you need to find the ideal location to put the camera. Ideally, it will be high off the ground and in a place where it will not be blocked by equipment or construction for the duration of the project.

On the Hammond job, I found the basketball hoop as the perfect location. I called the builder to make certain that the hoop would remain for the duration of the project and was assured that it definitely would not be taken down until after the house was completed.

This is the point where I need to make clear that The Window Gal does NOT (I repeat, does NOT) do heights. It's not that she is chicken, she actually comes by this quite honestly through her father, who also does NOT (I repeat, does NOT) do heights. It's a family thing, you understand. On this particular day that we placed this camera, it took about an hour and a half to select the location, approve with the builder of the location, get up the nerve to ascend the location and then actually place the camera in this location. It was over labor day of 2012.



 

 

This looks like it was a breeze, trust me when I tell you, that for The Window Gal, this was an experience of overcoming a major phobia (one involving heights).  I am proud of this accomplishment.

This camera allowed me to edit out those photos that were too foggy (due to early morning condensation) or where there were multiple days where nothing occurred. 


Judy Hammonds time lapse

The video is fairly primitive and I have learned a lot.  The basketball hoop location lasted an entire week.  The builder moved the camera to a new location (much lower than the hoop) and we still managed to get a fairly interesting video.

I have a couple of very large projects that have been recording for over a year.  I'll be anxious to see how those turn out as well. 

Window brands and brand name windows; a cautionary tale.

You've seen the commercials; sweeping vistas of snow capped mountains or green meadows. Or maybe the crashing of waves against a dramatic rugged cliffside. The camera pulls back and the narrator of a slick window commercial reveals that these stunning views are just another example of the superior performance, energy efficiency and quality and is brought to you by a brand name window that is a household name. Careful.

Many homeowners (and even builders) are not aware that some of the best known brands have multiple grades of windows and the difference in price and quality can be pretty significant. That high-end clad window that attracted you so effectively often shares it's brand name recognition with windows that are manufactured with less or lower quality materials. The only difference may be a series number or name like "1200 or Premium" when in reality it is anything but. These lower end products serve a very useful role for many homeowners who have economy as a high priority, but it is helpful to know exactly what you are getting when you make a large purchase of windows and doors.

While the practice of selling lesser quality products under the higher quality brand name is perfectly legal, it does feel a bit deceptive if you find yourself on the receiving end of a window package that just doesn't seem like the same window you thought you were getting. The biggest offenders of this practice are the very brands that invest the most money in advertising and building brand name recognition.

So how can you protect yourself from an unscrupulous sales person who commits the sin of omitting this very important detail of series name or number?

1. First ask if the product they are pricing for you is the only grade of window that this manufacturer produces?

2. If the answer is no, then have them describe the differences between the different grades and if cut sections are available request to see them so that you can compare the differences.

3. If the brand you are interested in does have multiple grades, ask for a quote for all the different grades (or if there are more than three grades, ask for a bid from the low end, a mid grade and for the top of the line).

4. When it comes time to order, make sure the list of windows all show the same series number or name (multiple grades allows for blending of lesser grade windows in strategic places in the home, not necessarily a bad thing unless it is done deceptively without your knowledge).

5. When obtaining bids from multiple competing suppliers, make sure everyone is on the same page with regard to a multiple grade brand-name window and that the bids are truly apples to apples, not only on the grade of window but features and options.

Below is a snapshot of a brand name window (brand name withheld because this is not meant to be a brand expose'). The window on the right is the brand name window that the reputation was built upon. The window on the left is the dramatically pared down version of the same window. The window on the right is a solid wood window with a heavy gauge aluminum cladding. The window on the left is actually a vinyl window with a wood veneer on the interior and an aluminum extrusion on the exterior. There are other differences as well that make this window a mere shadow of the quality window on the right.

 

Sometimes it is beneficial to have the option of a less expensive, lower grade window, but it certainly is always beneficial to know up front which grade of window is going into your project and whether or not the cost savings is substantial enough to warrant the sacrifice of the quality the higher grade window promises. 

Window planning professional versus big box window products

The question has been asked, "why use the services of a window planning professional?"  Too many times this very important question is answered after something that could have been avoided has gone horribly wrong.

Using a window professional when the initial plan is being developed can assure that code compliance is addressed sooner, rather than later when conflicts may be discovered making costly plan revisions necessary.  Knowing a particular manufacturers limitations (or flexibility with sizing or attributes) can be priceless when preparing a window schedule, particularly when changing one window can disrupt the overall plan design making it necessary to adjust all windows to reclaim the design.

Having an objective analysis of costs, features and benefits from one brand to the next can be invaluable when determining a realistic budget for a project. Too many times the plans are developed with an overall expense being estimated only to learn once the job goes out to bid that the estimate was far too conservative as the plan is drawn.  Knowing the particular cost drivers while the plan is being developed can avoid this disappointing reality. 

Once the plan is complete, and a job is open to bid, the first opportunity to value engineer a window package presents itself, but that too can lead to an uneven playing field from one builder to the next and it is fraught with peril when considering  that generally a VE quote involves some deviation from the specifics of the plan and shouldn't be attempted without the homeowners input.

Sitting down with a knowledgeable window professional, sooner rather than later, can prove to be one of the most efficient ways to spend your time.  It's also been known to save lots of headaches and a few dollars too.