Where Do We Stand on Windows?

Well, so far all the specs are pretty much decided except the interior finish. I vacillate between a light natural finish, either what's called out in the Norco catalog as "clear lacquer" or "wheat" and some prefinished white. Unfortunately, I may have to make yet another trip to the showroom to decide which white [there are 4; I'm leaning toward "Extra White" or "Pure White"]-which thing I am NOT looking forward to doing principally b/c the rep there is a little too enthusiastic about the product; he gets carried away and then doesn't do well about pausing and staying focused on answering only the question that I'm asking.

And then sometimes he doesn't remember to answer the question that we're asking. For example, so far, I've asked him twice what the uplift would be per window for low2 w/ Ar [an performance option he never even mentioned and didn't until I started asking about it] We met over the phone last Thurs. @ 3:3o and I asked him specifically to include this itemization in his quote and he did not. The software that these guys use [from the quotes, I'm 99% sure they all use the same company provided Jeld-wen software ] doesn't make for including these things as line items very easily. They have to hand write it in. But then our local rep sens us the printouts but he covers up the itemized pricing info. When A. asked him about this, he said he'd be happy to share the itemized pricing w/us when we signed the contract. Unbelieveable.

This past weekend I met Chuck-the regional guy who's our reps boss. He clarified what our rep didn't which is that, contrary to what the Norco catalog advertises, there are no longer 8 standard cladding colors for Norco-there are only 6-and black is no longer an option. LAME! We now have to be satisfied with what the catalog says is "ARCHITECTURAL BRONZE" but what the rep and the quoting system says is "Chestnut Bronze." If you want Black, now you have to upgrade to the Pozzi window line. The other helpful clarification that I got from Chuck that I never got from Dave is that if you do opt for pre-finishing, Jeld-Wen farms this out to an outside contractor-they make the windows up in Bend, OR but then ship them to a company in MN somewhere for the finishing...and NO WAY per Chuck can you get windows in 3 wks. if you order a prefinish on them. The question then for Dave is, is this also true if we order the interiors primed?

So, so far we have:
Premium clad double hung windows
Either primed or prefinished [natural or white] interiors but prefinished may not even be an option now b/c of timing
w/ nailing fin
4 9/16" jamb
low e w/ option for low e w/ Ar
all one lite
Jambliner white
tempered low e where requisite by code
aftermarket hardware
chestnut bronze exterior cladding
chestnut bronze screen [matches whatever chosen cladding color]

The Velux Skylight specs were sent to Sam months ago-I will need to check my email for those specs....here's what it is supposed to do:
· On timer so that they can be programmed to open automatically at a specific time and close again at a specific time
· On a thermostat so they will automatically open once they sense an interior temp of –X degrees.
· Isolative, non-visible glass


Per my construction doc of months ago, the windows were to perform to the following: Solarscreen TM Low e glass, VE 1-85
· VLT 76%
· UV 25%
· R. out 12%
· Winter U = .31
· Summer U = .31
· SC .62
· SHGC .53
· K value 1.7
· One egress compliant window per sleeping room.
· Existing window conflicting w/ stair placement shall be replaced with a new window. Note that all new windows are to have full flashing, no “replacement” windows are to be sued on this project.
· 2nd story windows to tilt in for cleaning.

Still to do:

1. understand why our local rep still has not given us price for lowe Ar
2. insure that quote includes the right model, size, and options for the Velux skylight
3. understand who is bidding mulling [edge joining] certain windows and who is not
4. finalize the schedule going over it w/ Luca-same if necessary