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We ordered them in July.
Installation started in October.
And a mere 4 months later they’re finished.
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Installed and trimmed.
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And the trim was a royal pain in the *ss because all the sills are joined.
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But they’re done!
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At least from the inside. There’s still a ladder outside because all the siding has to be reworked due to the different size rough openings.
But it’s progress… and that’s been a long time coming.
🥴
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When last I left the bedroom picture window saga, the old had been removed and the new was on its way.
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Carefully, across the ice covered snow.
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This baby was heavy, and awkward to lift as there’s really no place to grab.
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You knew it wouldn’t be easy, right?
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Did I mention it was about 12 degrees that day?
Good times.
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Hallelujah, it was in.
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Secured, insulated and awaiting new trim and sills.
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And speaking of insulation..
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Sometimes the spray foam has a mind of its own.
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A rather disturbing mind as it turns out.
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Or maybe that’s just me.
😉
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The ice was here to stay… so work on the bedroom windows was fraught with slippery hazards.
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After the two small windows were installed our contractor needed another set of hands to help him with the big picture window…. so out went my husband.
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The jerry rigged planking platform was less than ideal.
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And the supports were definitely not OSHA approved.
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Mind you, that’s all ice covered snow.
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*Gulp*
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They did it, so naturally I had to document the event.
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That thing was heavy, and awkward to maneuver.
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I was cringing the whole time… expecting a slip and a crash.
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But it exited without mishap.
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And a giant air conditioned hole was left.
The crazy part of the removal? When they took it out we found this on the sill.
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A handful of screws.
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The old window was sitting right on them. How crazy is that!
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Winter a/c.
You gotta love it.
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Work moved on to the three remaining windows that needed replacing in our bedroom and as with every single other project we attempt in this house, it was a monumental f*ck up.
These are the old windows, stripped of trim and ready to be removed.
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Yes, that’s snow you see outside.
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Ideal conditions for exterior work.
Not.
The trouble began when the first small window was removed and its replacement was fitted.
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The problem? It didn’t fit.
Because it was too big.
Incorrect measurements by our contractor? He says no and has the paperwork to prove it.
Incorrect measurements by the retailer? They say no and have the paperwork to prove it.
Incorrect measurements by the manufacturer? They say they built what they were told and refuse to refund and replace.
Solution… (other than pulling my hair out, stripping naked, dousing myself in tequila and running down the road cursing the home renovation Gods?) … cut bigger holes in the wall.
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It wasn’t that much bigger. Maybe and inch and a quarter on each side but it meant (what has now become my mantra) more time, more work, more money. Not to mention a tighter fit when it comes to trim.
And after that first window rough opening was enlarged and the slightly larger window fitted and secured?
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An ice storm.
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Which coated everything that stood still.
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Good times.
😩
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Both of our new doors have been installed. Rotted wood and sub floor sections have been replaced and our contractor made double and triple sure they’re sealed up tight against the weather and rain proof.
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Hallelujah.
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Bedroom and living room door, respectively.
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It took an awfully long time, but I’m pleased.
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But as the title says, while it’s done…
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It’s not exactly finished.
Since the new flooring is next on the renovation list, there didn’t seem to be any reason to put the interior trim back on only to take it off again…. so for now I get to live with a rough insulation filled border.
There are worse things.
I can deal.
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And I’m loving the built in blind.
Progress is a beautiful thing.
👍
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New year? New ridiculous news…
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This takes the phrase “piss on it” to a whole new level.
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*Note to self – cross Baltimore off vacation destination list. *
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I never actually wanted to live to 150, but damn it… knowing I could have really ticks me off.
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Not many T Rexes walking around today so I guess we showed them.
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This explains so much!
All our renovation disasters. I don’t need a contractor.. I need an exorcist!
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The long awaited and apparently hard to find doors finally arrived.
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On a rainy day of course, so they were placed in the garage…
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Which is already filled to capacity with the yet to be installed windows and has become increasingly hard to maneuver with my car.
Not wanting to hit anything, we moved them to the bedroom the next day because that room is torn apart already.
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It’s not ideal, but I can stand it for a week until the contractor gets back to work.
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And in case you’re thinking, yay… glad that went smoothly, it actually didn’t.
I unequivocally told the contractor I wanted white painted doors.
He says he unequivocally told the supplier I wanted white painted doors.
These are not white painted doors.
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They’re primed with an off white, pale creamy color called ‘mill finish’ and are clearly ready for stain or paint with special trim tape in place around the glass.
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The contractor doesn’t like painting doors but I don’t care, he’s going to do it because we’re already over two months behind schedule on this simple stupid project and I’m ready to move on.
😡
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Remember the long searched for door we bought the other day?
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The one the salesman assured us was rated for exterior use?
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Turns out it wasn’t.
And according to our contractor, it’s not even close.
Of course it wasn’t what we needed. This is a renovation project at our house where all attempts to improve things are doomed.
Destined to fail.
And more than likely cursed by an angry pickle God.
As I said previously, I’m done. We will take this useless door back to the store and send our contractor out to buy the next one. Maybe he’ll have better luck.
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River's world..... 