Windows Redux

Just when you think you have it all figured out …

If you managed to make it through the previous post about windows you will know that we had settled on some vinyl windows from a company called Westech. They were trimmed out with vg-fir (wood) on the inside, and we had received a decent price quotation of around $20,000. All was good.

Over the holidays I managed to drive all my family nuts by making them look at color chips for window sash color, and helping decide a good color. In the end we all figured black or dark grey would look best. All was still good – even better because I had actually made a decision – something that apparently I am not so quick at doing!

So before placing the order I called back a company with a similar product (who had quoted us a price almost double of Westech). I liked their window a bit better – and I just wanted to see if they had miss-quoted. The sales guy re-did his number and cam back at $35,000. I told him “… you do realize that you are pretty much double in price from the other company who is also bidding on this …”. He says “no way, it is not possible, they must be quoting something else – not the same product”.

So I give Westech a call – just to confirm … “hi Al – I just want to check that these windows on your quote are the vinyl-wood combo windows that we discussed when I was in your office”.  He pulls the quote and there is silence. I know immediately what he is gonna say … “umm, there must have been a mistake when we quoted this because this quote is for plain white vinyl windows … let me get it redone”. a couple days later I get his quote back … $33,000!!

Arghh!

So I call back the other guys and start working on their price. It takes a week or so of going back and forth, but finally we put together a package that has about half the windows in a painted vinyl, and the other half in a wood trim. We decided on a dark aluminum color … it looks pretty cool and should give us a bit more of a contemporary look. We will put the wood trim window sin the main living areas, such as living room and den, and entry.

The nice thing with this company is that they have these sleek euro-style doors that match well to the windows (for our french doors. All said and done we have a price (including 2 sets of french doors) that is around $25k. Lots of money – but it is what it is I guess.

Windows

Our Current Windows

OK, so at some point I have to talk about windows.

This is more of a design/decorating thing than a construction or reno topic – but windows have been frustrating me for the better part of a year. Well – it is not just windows that have been driving me crazy – it is a combination of windows, siding, trim, paint color.

The existing house does not have windows. It has ‘glass’. That is: single panes of sheet glass glazed directly into the posts. You can see this in the photo to the right. They don’t open and are cold and drafty. They have to go.

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