When working on wood windows, there are number of issues that can can occur.  Because our desire is to be upfront with the process, here are some things you should be aware of when having your wood windows worked on by Restor Wood Windows.  

 

unresponsive project Delays

As you know, we are typically booked out for several months in advance.  When the time arrives for your project to be in the active queue, we will attempt to contact you to setup a time to begin the work.  If you do not respond within 30 days, your project will go into a holding queue and we will proceed with our next scheduled project.  Once you contact us, we will then review our current schedule to determine when you can be rescheduled.  More than likely, your project will go into the first available spot which is typically 3 -4 months out.

 

Existing Paint

To remove your sashes from their prison of caulk and paint, we often have to use an oscillating power tool, razor blades and prybars.  While we do our best to only cut through the paint and caulk, some scratches and damage can occur to the sash, interior casing, exterior casing and usually to the interior stop.  The damage to the sash can be addressed with wood filler and will be patched by our team.  However, all paint related issues will need to be repaired by the home owner.

 

Trim

On the same subject, sometimes when removing the wood trim it can split and tear.  This is often caused by screws used to install interior blinds as the holes were not predrilled but it can also happen due to the age of the trim.  In the event the trim is damaged, new trim we will be needed to replace it so the sash can move freely once reinstalled.  Unless the contract specifically states we are replacing the trim, any additional trim needed and installed will be an additional charge.  We will discuss the issues and cost before proceeding.

 

Frame

Occasionally when we remove your sashes we realize there is either damage to the frame or it is bowed.  Unless the contract specifically states our team is repairing or replacing the frame, any work needed will be an additional charge.  We will discuss the issues and the cost before proceeding.

When replacing existing frames with new frames, this only includes the sill, left, right and top of the frame as well as sash pulleys.  We do not typically provide interior / exterior casing or interior stop as these are technically part of the window that is usually done by trim carpenters.  When you order a new custom frame, the cost also includes the labor fee for removing the existing frame and installing the new one in your home.

Additionally, if you would prefer a more durable sash pulley beyond the standard push type, there is an additional charge so please ask us for details.

 

sill

Just like the frame, decades of wear and your home settling can cause them to bow and warp.  Unless the contract specifies we are repairing the sill, any work needing done is outside the normal scope of work.  We will discuss the issues and the cost before proceeding.

 

interior casing / stool / apron

If you need some help understanding these terms, please feel free to check out our Wood Window Terminology page.  As with all of our projects, we take every precaution to protect and preserve every aspect of your wood windows.  There are times we have to work on these parts so there is a possibility damage can occur when removing or reinstalling them.  Any damage done is outside the normal scope of work.  We will discuss the issues and cost before proceeding.

 

Sash Pulleys

These poor things get painted, dinged and sometimes don’t want to work.  “Working” condition is a bit fluid because as long as the weight can travel up and down in the pocket, then the sash pulley technically “works”.  If there is an obstruction or something else that inhibits the new sash rope from being run down into the pocket and attached to the sash weight, we will discuss the options and pricing before proceeding.

 

Weight Pockets

Inside the pockets where the weights travel up and down, there are a multitude of possible things that can cause issues.  Lathe and plaster, nails, bowed support beams, missing weights, insulation and many more.  Repair work needed to remove obstructions in the weight pockets are considered outside the normal scope of work.  We will discuss the issues and cost before proceeding.

 

missing Weights

Occasionally we open up weight pockets only to find…well…the weights are missing!  We offer replacement weights starting at $25 for 10lbs and less.  Anything over 10lbs will require a specialty order with a minimum charge of $75.

 

Glass

When working on wood windows, our teams take every precaution to protect the glass from breaking.  However, the historic glass is frailer and thinner than even today’s single strength glass and can break quite easily.  In the event your glass does break, we will replace it at no extra charge with new single strength glass.  Wavy glass is not available unless you would like to pay for the upgrade and we have some available in our shop.

Annealed Glass: On all of our ReSash Wood Windows and Reveal Wood Storms we utilize clear 1/8″ annealed glass.  As the glass is only 1/8″ thick, there is no noticeable tint with a transparency of 100% distortion free optical vision. 

 

Glass Cleaning

Working on windows is a messy business.  While we do try to remove as much of the oils from the glazing as possible, we do not actually clean the windows.  The new paint or glaze needs time to cure and applying cleaners can harm the paint/glaze and cause premature failure.  You will need to wait at least 30 days before cleaning your restored sashes or brand new ReSash Wood Windows.

 

Painting

After installing our ReSash Wood Windows or Reveal Wood Storms, you will need to paint them within 60 days as they are only primed.  The wood can still rot and weather without proper protection from a quality paint.  We reserve the right to refuse service or repair any damage done to our windows or storms that have not been properly painted within the recommended time frame without an additional fee.  Receipts for paint or painting services must be provided.

If we offer painting on your project, the price quoted is for one color only.  If you would like a different interior or exterior color then there will be an additional charge.

There is no guarantee or warranty on the painting for any of our window projects due to the variety of paint products that are requested by our clients.  We will warrant our paint jobs for no more than one year after the date of installation.

 

glazing

Unless noted in the contract, we typically provide what is called “spot glazing”.   This means we will be removing loose glaze and then placing new glaze in the open areas.  Removing all glaze from your window and reglazing is an upgraded service and will be noted in your contract.  However, even if we do remove all of the existing glaze, some paint, caulk and glaze may still be on the window.  We are simply trying to get rid of as much of the old glaze so that new glaze can be installed.  Cleaning the remaining residue of paint, caulk and glaze will need to be done by the homeowner or another contractor as this is not included in the scope of work.

Our preferred glaze choice is Sarco Type M for all of our projects.  However, we may substitute another brand due to supply or inflationary issues.

 

restoration

If you make the decision to have your windows restored then this only includes the actual wood sashes.  All other parts of the window are not included in the scope of work.  We are more than happy to provide a quote for restoring your entire window but this is not included in our standard restoration process.

We also don’t typically spend any time restoring the sides, top of the upper sash or anything 1/2″ or less from the side of the sashes.  These are usually hidden behind trim so we spend the bulk of our time working on restoring the parts of the sash that are visible.

We also want to set expectations for your restored sashes.  We are unable to make them “like new” as these are in some cases almost 100 year old windows!  We can no more make them “new” than a 100 year old man getting a face life expecting to look like he’s in his 20’s.  If you want them to look new, then you should ask us about our ReSash Wood Window sashes.

Think of your sashes as being severely wounded in the battle of life.  They are sick, exhausted and in need of some serious R&R.  We are going to mend and do everything in our power to help breathe life and healing back into them.  But just like the 100 year old man, they are still going to have some “character” and scars that reminds you they are indeed old!  

So while your sashes aren’t going to look new, they are going to look like they got a great night of sleep, had a long weekend at the spa and will look and work better than they did before they left to go to our shop!

One last item we need to discuss.  According to the national guidelines as set by the  Window Preservation Alliance, restored sashes must be viewed at a minimum of 6 feet in the interior and 20 feet in the exterior.  This goes back to the “character” issue and walking right up on a restored wood window means you will see all of those minute issues.  Most people view windows normally from those distances so the goal is to make the window look amazing from a normal viewing distance.

Historic Glass Issues
Now let’s talk about historic glass for a minute.  We are going to be working with glass that in some cases is more than a 100 years old.  Just like the scenario with the 100 year old man getting a face lift, the glass isn’t going to look brand new.  Sometimes it’s going to have some discolorations and damage that we will not be able to get clean.

The most common issue we run into is that it tends to break VERY EASILY.  This is because it was only 3/32 of an inch thick and over the last 100 years tiny microfractures can occur that are unseen to the eye.  Once we start applying steam or heat, the glass can begin to expand and POP goes the glass.  We do everything in our power to protect it but it can and often still breaks.

How much glass could you lose?  In most cases we have an average loss of between 25 – 35% but in a few instances we have lost as much as 90%.  This was an extreme situation where the building had not been maintained for almost 60 years and whomever tried to fix the glaze in the past used a commercial adhesive instead.  The glass would not release from the muntins so we ended up having to tear out all of the muntins and the majority of the glass.

When To Replace
If we have to replace more than 50% of a sash, it is recommended that the entire sash be replicated.

 

Existing ropes

If we are using your existing ropes, please know that there is a possibility that they can break while we are removing or reinstalling your sashes.  If these break, we can rerope the weights for the lower sash for $145 and $155 for the upper sash or $175 for both the upper and lower.

 

reproductions – resash wood windows

Unless specified in the contract, when ordering new ReSash Wood Windows this only includes the wood sashes.  All other parts of the window are not included in the scope of work.  If you would like to have your entire window including the exterior casing, window sill, frame, hardware and sash rollers then we would be happy to provide a quote for the additional materials and labor.  We do not provide painting.

One issue that can arise when making an exact duplicate of an existing sash is the reproduction may not fit.  This can happen because your current sash doesn’t actually fit either due to the house settling over the last 70 – 100 years.  We only make exact duplicates in the even you would like to try and salvage your existing glass.  Otherwise, we take a measurement of the existing frame and then make the new reproductions to fit them exactly.

 

storm windows

Here are a few things you need to know about our Reveal Wood Storm Windows.  First, they will come as bare wood and unfinished only as we do not offer priming or painting.  You will need to hire a painter who can sand, prime and apply the top coat of paint.  It is critical that your wood storms be painted within 45 – 60 days of installation or the wood and glaze can deteriorate quickly and cause the storms to fail or the wood can swell.

Second, our wood storms are custom made to fit into your exterior casing but there will be slight gaping issues due to the movement of your home over the last 80 – 100 years.  Occasionally, there are significant gaps that will need a trim carpenter to fix for the storm to fit properly.  We will do our best to identify these windows before installation so that you can hire someone to fix the issue before we begin work.  Additionally, the depth of the exterior casing may be slightly bigger than the depth of our storms.  This may cause the wood storm to rattle slightly in the wind.  We can add in some weather-stripping around the edges to help prevent as much movement for an additional fee.

Installation of the storms can vary depending the style and depth of your existing exterior casing.  We typically have three options:

1. Hangers and Buttons – Two hangers are installed above the storm to hang from once installed.  Two button latches are installed toward the lower section of the storm to help hold it in place.

2.  Fixed Installation – We use trim screws to secure the storms in place.  This is our standard procedure for storm window installation.

Extra Wide Storms – If a storm window is wider than 4ft, we will need to build an upper and lower storm window for safety and stability.  This will mean the meeting rail will be wider than our normal storm windows, around 2.5 inches.

Lumber

We strive to provide the highest grade of lumber for our ReSash Wood Windows and Reveal Wood Storm Windows.  However, we may substitute wood species due to supply or inflationary issues.

 

Gap issues

Installing new ReSash Wood Windows means putting sashes back into an existing frame that is sometimes 50 – 100+ years old.  Many times the frames have bowed or warped and when placing the new perfectly straight sashes there may be gaps exceeding the standard 1/8″.   The same situation applies when reinstalling existing sashes back into their frames as many times these significant gaps were hidden by years of caulk and paint.  Any additional work needed to reduce the size of these gaps is not included in the scope of work unless noted in the contract.  We will discuss the issues and cost before proceeding.

 

t-track policy

When working on wood windows, occasionally we find T-Tracks.  These are not original to the wood windows as they are metal moldings installed in the 50’s on the sides, top and bottom of the wood windows.  The concept was to provide some weatherization and help improve the operation of the window.  However, in our experience the harm caused by them clearly outweighs the minute amount of good so we remove them from every window.  If you do not want them removed, please let us know beforehand as there will be an additional labor charge for the extra time.

 

Sashes

Depending on the age and prior care given to your windows, they can sometimes be in bad to severe condition in terms of durability.  The wood may be brittle or decayed and layers of paint might be the only thing holding parts of the sash together.  We take every precaution to preserve your sashes and not cause further harm.  However, when removing your sashes some damage can occur especially if the wood is not in good condition.  Any repairs to the sashes due to brittle or decayed wood is not within the scope of work unless specified in the contract.  We will discuss the issues and cost before proceeding.

 

Hardware

The final step in installing your windows involves installing either the existing hardware or new hardware.  If installing on your existing windows, there is a possibility that the wood may splinter, crack or in some severe cases chip completely off.  We can move the hardware to the left or the right and reinstall but any repairs to the damaged sash are not within the scope of work.  We will discuss the issues and cost before proceeding.

 

Mechanics

Wood windows consist of a few moving parts.  Traditionally there are the sashes, ropes, weights, sash pulleys, frames and the sill.   The mechanics involve the parts that help the windows open and close.  With the traditional setup, it consists of the sash pulleys, ropes and weights.  However, there are a few other mechanics on the market like spring, tape and hidden balances.  If your windows utilize any of these mechanics, we are not responsible for any damages done as these are outside the scope of work.  We will discuss the issues and cost before proceeding.

 

CLEANUP

At the end of every project, we try to make sure and clean up all of the dust and debris that we created during our project.  We utilize a HEPA rated shopvac to ensure we don’t spread the dust all over your home and do our best to leave our work area as clean as we found it.  With that being said, your home will be open for several hours and dust, leaves, bugs and other foreign particles can enter and spread throughout your house.  Some light to moderate cleaning will be necessary once we leave as we do not offer cleaning services for the entirety of your home.

 

Weatherization

Our goal when installing any of our different weatherization packages is to help create a less drafty window for your home.  Depending on the level of comfort you wish to achieve, each package can provide a deeper level of draft reduction for your windows and therefore more energy efficiency.  However, even our Premier Weatherization package may still allow some air to pass in and around your windows.  This is due to many factors like warped frames, damaged sashes (allows air to pass around the weatherization we install) and other mechanical issues common with historic wood windows.

 

Weather

Living in Oklahoma is always an adventure when it comes to the weather!  Opening the windows in your house is something we take very seriously as we want to make sure we are protecting your home from the elements.  We would hate to remove your windows and have rain, hail, sleet or snow come pouring in so we always keep an eye on the weather during every project.  Therefore, if there is at least a 50% change of precipitation we will likely reschedule the work to be done either the next day or another day of your choosing that we can work into our schedule.

In the Summer the temperatures can reach dangerously high levels.  If the real or feels like temperature goes 100° or over, we will likely cease work and return as early as you are comfortable with opening your home the next day.

Even though we typically have fairly mild Winters, it can occasionally get too cold to safely work outside.  If the real or feels like temperature is 30° or below, we will either postpone the work to begin later in the day or wait until the following day for warmer temperatures.

These temperature ranges will increase the project times and more than likely cause some projects to take longer.  However, we are committed to protecting our employees from heat exhaustion, heat strokes and/or frostbite so we appreciate your understanding.

The last thing we have to contend with in Oklahoma is of course…the wind.  If there are gusts above 20 miles an hour and the work to be performed involves any ladder work, we will need to reschedule.  Safety is our first priority to our crew and working in high winds can be extremely dangerous.

 

Project Delays

Our projects are typically scheduled out weeks and sometimes months in advance.  As mentioned above, weather can cause delays that will change your project start and end date.  

However, there are times when we get to your home and we may not be able to begin the project.  Some of these issues may include blinds and drapes not being removed, furniture in the way of the windows, other contractors working in our way or an emergency that arises and prevents you from giving us access to the inside of your home to work.  If any of these arise, we will have to reschedule your project for a later date that will work with our currently scheduled projects and your schedule.  Delays may be days to weeks before we will have time to return so please make sure to do all you can to ensure we are able to begin work on your windows when they are scheduled.

If the need arises that you request to have us stop the project to come back later, the balance on the project becomes due in full with an additional $250 rescheduling fee that will be applied.  Work will not proceed until the balance is paid then the $250 can be paid upon completion of the project.

 

Project Approval – Historic Preservation Commission

If any portion of your upcoming project requires either Administrative Bypass or Commission approval, we cannot schedule the project until full approval has been given and signed off.  The submission process can take weeks or even months depending on the amount of evidence required by HPC (Historic Preservation Commission) so we have no way of knowing when to schedule the work to be done.  However, once approval is received, we will do everything we can to get your project into the queue as soon as possible.

We are happy to provide any details on the work to be done as requested by HPC.  Detailed drawings, specifications and technical information is provided for a small fee.  Please allow us two to three weeks to gather and create the requested information as we are typically booked out for several months.

We are not responsible for any approval needed to perform work in your home.  It is the responsibility of the homeowner to attain any approvals before work is to begin.  All work done in your home is done on the basis that we are working in good faith that you have done your part to secure permission from HPC.

 

starting project timelines

When signing your contract, an initial “starting project timeline” is given as a general guide for when we will begin the project.  Because we are booking literally 2 – 4 months out due to our current work queue, those timelines can and will often change due to unforeseen delays on other projects or currently with the supply chain issues our nation is facing.  We will try to give you as much warning if your project will be delayed and appreciate your patience as we will get to your project as soon as possible.

 

completion of project

It is our desire that every client love the work we do on their wood windows.  We strive for excellence and the highest quality materials and craftsmanship on every project. To ensure the best communication, the best case scenario is the client should approve the work the same day before submitting final payment.  However, we know that schedules do not always allow people to be at home at the same time we are completing their wood window project.

Therefore, once our team has completed work on your wood window project, you have up to 72 hours to report any issues with the materials or craftsmanship and we will schedule a time to come out and address the problems.  Any issues reported after 72 hours will require a trip charge of at least $100 depending on your location.

 

Pricing Discount

On every project that we bid there is a standard 25% discount applied.  We typically don’t advertise or mark it on our estimates and invoices but rest assured you are getting the best possible prices for our services and products.

 

contract pending

Once the contract is signed, you have up to 10 days to make the initial down payment.  If the payment is not received in the first 10 days, the contract will be null and void and require a new contract.  Pricing may also increase as we cannot guarantee or hold pricing for more than 30 days.

 

contract milestones

Upon completion of the production of sashes or storm windows, a milestone will be due on the balance.  This is typically the remaining cost of the sashes or storms and is due before installation can proceed.  

 

Proper Maintenance

We take every precaution to use the best available materials to build your wood windows and storms.  However, they are still made from wood and therefore need at the least yearly maintenance.  Proper inspections of the paint, stain or other protective coating is mandatory to ensure your new wood windows and storms last.  However, due to the necessity of maintenance by the owner, we are unable to provide any guarantee on our wood windows or storms because a lack of this maintenance can cause the windows or storms to fail prematurely.

 

RRP information

We take every precaution while in your home to make sure that proper lead safety is exercised to protect you and your family.  Simply click the link to a PDF with some helpful information about lead safety: RRP Safety PDF

 

Landscaping

One of the things we love the most about working on older homes is that many of them have beautiful flowers, trees and shrubs.  To the best of our abilities, our teams try to protect the landscaping on every project.  However, in some cases, to effectively work on your wood windows means there will be the possibility that your landscaping will be damaged.  Unfortunately, we cannot save every plant on our quest to save your wood windows!

 

Masks

Please be advised our employees are not required to wear masks.  If you have any concerns regarding masking protocols, please contact us before signing your contract so we can discuss options for our team being in your home.

 

signing your contract

Before signing your contract, if you are unclear about which services we are providing, what those services include or not include even after reading this page or if you are unsure of the meaning of any of the terminology used then please make sure to clarify these issues with us first.  We are more than happy to go over the contract details to ensure you know exactly what we will or will not be doing in regards to your wood windows.  

 

Yard Sign

One way we get the word out to the home owners in the historic districts is through simple yard signs.  If we are doing work on your home, we only ask that a small sign be placed in your yard after signing your contract and remain there until the work has been completed.  We will pick up the sign two weeks after the project is completed.