Windows Four, Five & Six

We are window ninjas.  Okay, well maybe we aren't - but at a minimum John is a circular saw ninja - but we ARE getting really good at this whole window installation gig!

Here's the review of our day today.

I've gotten very comfortable with the vertical plunge cuts for the sides of the window openings, but the horizontal ones are still challenging for me.  I can do the bottom one, but it's really awkward - partly saw weight, and partly well - it's just a awkward cut.  I did it on the earlier windows, but now that we are timing ourselves on window installation, John has generously taken over the bottom horizontal cut.  Here he is cutting the bottom of the opening for window #4. 

When the opening was done, we dry fitted the window and found we needed to open it up a bit more on the bottom.  John is doing that here - an even trickier cut, since only half of the saw shoe has a place to rest:

 

To challenge ourselves, we timed all each window installations today.  

Window #4: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Looking so awesome!!

After this window we had to do a Home Depot dash - we didn't have enough screws for the next window, and we could tell we would need more flashing and caulk.  We laughed after we got in the truck and looked at each other - we had matching bibs on.  We got a LOT of looks in Home Depot!  John wished for a goat on a rope to walk with us, and we joked about going to lawn & garden for wheelbarrow races.  I mean - people were STARING.  I guess bibs aren't as common as I thought they were... lol  As per normal I laughed my way through Home Depot - I love that place....  And in the truck on the way back to the house, I reflected on how HAPPY I am spending my day building.  If I could do this all day every day...  I would be giddy.

On the way back we drove past a house with this Halloween decor in the yard:

I LOVE Halloween.  I used to go all out with decorations in my yard at my Patricia house.  But for some reason, these girls are soooo creepy!  I don't know what it is.  We think it must be based on a movie, but we can't figure out what movie.  I keep saying Children of the Corn, but I don't have a good reason for that.  The photo doesn't really do them justice... but just trust me: creepy.

And then we took our lunch break.  John introduced me to a new addictive food - saltines that are coated in Ranch dressing mix and red pepper flakes.  OMG!  You mix Canola oil, the dressing powder and pepper flakes up, and pour it over saltine crackers in a Ziploc and shake.  I am definitely making them for the Halloween camping trip!  I'm not sure how I've never heard of them... but I ate far too many of them... that I know.  (And then he sent the leftovers home with me!  Dangerous.)

On to window number 5!  One technique improvement we did for today is buy an 8" long drill bit so that when we drill a hole in each corner we can get all the way into the corner without the body of the drill getting in the way and forcing an angled hole.  It's making our cut lines more accurate.  We also learned that it's helpful to cut away some of the bulky flashing in the corners - the saw blade binds up in it - and we are re-flashing anyway.  It's fun to see what messages we reveal as we cut it away - it's like opening fortune cookies.  It reminds me how every surface of my house got covered with love and good intentions at MAGIC Camp:

Again we dry fitted and needed to do a little clean up.  The saw ninja returned:

Here's a technique John came up with for getting nice square corners with the flashing.  He uses a wood block to crease it into the corners:

When it's time for screwing the window into place, I'm doing the screwing and John hands me the screws - there are about 35-40 screws per window.  Uff da!  Here's his technique for that - I've been making up names that are take offs of Edward Scissorhands...

And - completion!

Window #5:  1 hour, 44 minutes

We can't figure out how we only shaved 6 minutes off our time - a disappointment. (We may be taking too much time to admire our work.. lol)  Onward!

Window #6 - fewer photos are being taken now, because it's all repetitive work, window to window.  Plus, we're timing ourselves - no time for photos!

Window #6: 1 hour, 12 minutes

Our best time yet!

We really wanted to get one more in today, but our trip to Home Depot cut us short on time.  : (

Here's the house now - end of day:

I can't even stand it - so cute!

And the interior view:

It's looking really fantastic inside!  It really was just the perfect day.  I had a smile plastered across my face all day long.

I'm thinking I might have to sleep in the house tomorrow night... I'll see how my day goes... it's tempting... My dog, a sleeping bag, some wine... sounds pretty spectacular to me...

Tonight I MUST get on my yoga mat to stretch out the kinks - and try to ignore those saltines in the Ziploc that are taunting me from the kitchen... I can't believe he sent those home with me...

Third Window is In!

We got the third window installed today, and our installation time dropped from 4 hours to 2.5.  We think we can make it faster than that - we plan to get 3-4 windows installed on Friday.  I say three, John says four.  : )  I committed to being there at 8:30, but I think I will move it to 8....

Flashing the fourth side

Third window done!

Interior view with three windows now : )

The windows are REALLY changing the space - it's so fun to see!

And then I got up into my loft for the first time!!  I'm sitting on the joists - the loft flooring isn't in yet.

View looking down

View looking across

It was a HAPPY day. 

Second Window is In!

We took a chance  on getting a window installed today despite forecasts for 60% chance of rain.  We were sprinkled with rain once in a while, but nothing terrible.

Here is a list of what you'll need to install a Marvin window:
Saw (circular and jig)
Flashing
Caulk gun & Clear caulk for windows
Rag for wiping off extra caulk
Wood screws
Drill driver
Razor knife
Shims (in theory; we haven't used any yet)
Measuring tape
Level
Hand brush or broom

In my case, the windows were framed, but then the openings were covered up by 3/4" cedar plywood (my final exterior) for travel.  My first step was to cut out the window opening.  We had thought we would use a reciprocating saw, but Joel & Rudy from Omniview used a circular/Skil saw.  I ended up using a circular saw and a jigsaw.

The first thing we had to do was to mark our cutting lines on the outside wall.  We drilled a hole in each corner of the window framing from the inside of the house out.  A longer drill bit would have been helpful - I had to drill a little diagonally to get into the corner of the framing because the body of the drill didn't fit into the corner close enough.

Once I had a hole drilled in each corner, I drew lines connecting the drill holes using a straight edge.  Those would be my cut lines.

My next order of business was to learn how to do a plunge cut with a circular saw.  We set up a practice piece of plywood between two saw horses.  The challenge is to sink the blade in straight (not tilted) and to know where to stop for corners so you don't cut past the corner. John is a very patient teacher... and I need to do wrist strengthening exercises or something, because I had trouble sinking the blade in straight.

There is a YouTube video on how to make a plunge cut here.

I know - why didn't I go up another step on the ladder?  Because I was almost at the top and I didn't want to stop.

I thought the  vertical cuts would be the most difficult, but as it turned out the horizontal cuts were more difficult because it was harder to see the blade.

I did the bottom horizontal cut with the circular saw - challenging - I needed a third hand!  The top horizontal cut I used a jigsaw, because the circular saw wouldn't fit under the rafters.

I did a little clean up on the corners with the jigsaw, and one half of the window was open!  My mentor was on the other side...

Next we tried the window in the opening to see if it would fit.  The big awning window was tight on the top and bottom.  Would we have the same issue with this one?

Nope - it fit right in!  We took it back out and set it aside. Next we needed to add some flashing.  When we framed the windows at MAGIC Camp, the house wrap was on, but the exterior sheathing was not.  The flashing need to cover all of the layers - inside the framing, to outside the exterior sheathing.  When my house was moved from LA to Dallas there were supplies and lumber stacked inside.  We didn't want the windows cut out for the trip.  Anyway, here's what the window opening looked like after we cut out the window today:

See how the flashing doesn't go over the exterior sheathing?  And, when I cut the horizontal cut for the window opening, I cut the line, and ripped the flashing.  We looked at it, and saw that even the house wrap had been penetrated.  We started to cut out all the flashing...

But then decided that was just extra, unnecessary work, since the window fit with a bit of room to spare.  We decided to add an extra layer of flashing - we had room.

We did that on all four sides.

Next we set the window in place.  We leveled it (with the trailer, which is not sitting level) and squared it.  We screwed in one screw through the fin in the top left corner and the bottom right corner.  We checked again that it was still plumb.

Next was caulking.  We held back the fin along the top edge of the window and laid a heavy bead of caulk.  Then we laid the fin back down and pressed it against the siding, squishing the caulk around, and wiped of the excess.  Then we put in screws all along the fin.  I don't know why we didn't take photos of that, but I didn't.  If you scroll up to the photo earlier in the post when I was holding the window in place you can see the fins.  We did that process on all four sides of the window.

Then I brushed the sawdust and debris off of the sheathing to help the flashing adhere, and we put flashing over the fins (first the bottom, then the sides then the top - you want to overlap the layers like shingles) and it's ready for exterior trim! 

Looking out

And looking in

The rest of the windows "should" go faster, now that I know how to do plunge cuts, and we have done one.  Just one more like this though sure changes the look of the house.  Can you imagine EIGHT MORE??  

Here's the end of day photo today.  Nina taught me to always take an end of day photo.  Today is her birthday:  Happy Birthday Nina!

Dark Bronze

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a color for the roof and window trim!  The winning color is dark bronze.  I really struggled with the copper option, but after looking at a LOT of copper roofs and awnings that were 1-5 years into patina, I realized that the finish was too dull for me.  I've opted for standing seam metal instead.   Roofing materials and windows are being ordered today!

 Here is a photo of Jay's Gifford with the roof photoshopped brown:

But the front door and window trim is still the colonial red, so for me it's still a bit difficult to visualize.

Here is a color photo of the Gifford with my window trim color chip over the front door, and my roofing color sample set on top of the gable.  It's primitive, but I can sort of see what the color will look like:

 

I plan to stain my front door to match, and "age" it like I did the big Tuscan style cedar dining table I had built in my backyard of my Patricia house.  I beat it up with a heavy chain and a hammer, and then stained it.  It turned out just beautifully.  (You can see a photo of it here.)

I've got to attend to a few remaining related loose details and I can turn my focus to the interior design of the house.  SO EXCITED for the next stage!

I need to speak with my roofer about skylights and order those.

I need to figure out if I have any other roof penetrations that need to get in place.  Mostly what comes to mind is my bathroom exhaust fan...

Another huge step forward - yippee!!

Minnesota Summers

Windows, Windows - What a PANE!

I know - clever, right?  HA

I'll tell you - I had no idea that windows would require so many decisions.  And so much research.  Holy smokes. 

But now?  Want to talk windows?  Let's talk windows.  I'm ready.

Jay Shafer used Marvin windows on his Gifford and when I toured his house I loved the look and feel of them.  I did my own research on windows - Andersen, Pella, Marvin - and for a variety of reasons (style, sizing, color) I decided to go with Marvin as well.  And some of my conversations were pretty hilarious - as in, "is the house going to be in a high elevation?" (discussing Argon gas or capillary tubes.)  "Maybe.  I hope so."  [long pause, computer clicks selecting capillary tubes.]  "Is the house going to be near salt water, on a coast line?"  "Oh I really hope so - maybe."  [Another long pause... more computer clicks for coastal coating.]  And finally... "This is quite an unusual project, isn't it?"  "Yes, my friend, yes it is..."  LOL

I met with a handful of window retailers, asked a billion questions, made a ton of notes, but when I got my window quote I still didn't understand a whole slew of the terminology on it! 

Now that I have (successfully, I believe!) navigated this path, I'm sharing with you what I've learned.  With quote in hand, going line by line, let's decipher the quote.  (I have casement and awning windows, but for this exercise I've just listed the casement.  Other than the style of the window, everything else is the same for both.)

Marvin's website is fantastic - so I've provided links so that you can read more if you want to.  (I predict you quickly reach your saturation limit for window data...)  They also have a ton of photographs for your viewing pleasure.

Get several quotes.  I got 6 quotes - three in California and three in Dallas, and I had a price swing of over $7,000.  Yes, you read that right - seven THOUSAND dollars.  One rep told me that Marvin (company) is stringent about territories - that they want you to buy from the retailer that is closest to your project.  Because my house is on wheels, I had some wiggle room there. 

Lead time for completion of the order is 3-5 weeks, depending on who you ask.  Bids generally do not include installation, so if you don't want to install them yourself, be sure and tell them that, so they can add that hefty fee onto the bottom line.  (I am installing mine myself. Unless you want to come and help me - in which case I'm installing mine with a friend.  I'll provide the hummus and wine.)

[Wineberry] Clad Exterior

The color of your exterior finish

[Bare Pine] Interior

The color of your interior finish

[Clad Ultimate Casement - Right Hand]     

Window type, and what side the crank is on

Note that the diagram of the window on your estimate is the view standing outside your house, looking at the window.

More info here:

http://www.marvin.com/windows/wood-casement-windows/features-and-benefits/

(Doesn't she look so pleased??)

CN 20 x R.O. 41.5”        

CN is Call Number, which is for a standard window size.

R.O. is Rough Opening, which refers to the opening left in a frame wall to receive a window or a door unit. The jack studs on each side, which supports the header across the top, form it. Cripples support the rough sill at the bottom. The rough opening generally allows 1/2" or more in each dimension in excess of the window or door unit dimension. 

Rough Opening 21 x 41.5     

Rough Opening is the size of the window cut out in your wall

Frame Size 20 x 41

The size of the actual window frame     

IG - 3/4 in - 1 lite

IG is Insulated Glass

¾ inch is how thick the glass is

1 lite is - well honestly I've forgotten what that is... hey I can't remember everything!

Tempered LoE 366   

Glass type; Tempered – I went with tempered glass in hopes of reducing window cracking from rocks on road while traveling

LoĒ³-366 glass provides increased performance for high sun exposure locations.  This top-performance glass is formulated to reject solar heat while letting light in.  With LoĒ³-366, light and visibility are maximized, while up to 95% of the sun's damaging UV rays are blocked. 

Capillary Tube          

A majority of window manufacturers are located at elevations of 1,000 feet or less and use an inert gas, mostly argon, to improve energy efficiency (lower U-Values). Argon, in dual pane glass units, requires the units be sealed to preserve the gas.  This seal is accomplished by deleting the capillary tube found in air-filled glass units. Seal units are not able to equalize pressure so as the windows are shipped, the gas expands with the altitude gain and without the breather tube, bow outwards at the center. The higher the altitude gain, the greater the pressure – to the point that the seal between the panes can weaken and/or fail, or the glass can break. (I got this option in case I go through areas of high elevation when I travel.)

  

7/8" SDL - with spacer bar   

SDL:  Simulated Divided Lite: an energy efficient way to create the look of divided lites. 

SDLS bars are permanently adhered to both sides of the glass.  A spacer bar is installed between the glass, creating the essence of authentic divided lights.

[Cottage] - Special Cut 3W1H         

Cottage is the style of the small row of panes at the top. 

3W1H is 3 wide and 1 high, referring to the panes

[4] rectangular lites

This is the total number of panes in the window.

10" DLO Height       

DLO is daylight opening

More information here:

http://www.marvin.com/windows/wood-casement-windows/design-patterns-and-grilles/

[Ogee] Glazing Profile          

Three interior glazing bead profiles are available to match your desired aesthetics – ogee, ovolo or square.

More info here:

http://www.marvin.com/windows/push-out-replacement-windows/interior/

 Standard Bottom rail    

 

[Black]  Weather Strip

Beige or black

           

[Bronze] Folding Handle

A variety of colors available

           

[Bronze] Multi-Point Lock

More info here:

http://www.marvin.com/windows/wood-casement-windows/hardware-accessories/

[Aluminum] Screen

The screen frame.  (Wood or aluminum.)          

[Bronze] Surround

The color of the screen frame.

           

 [Charcoal Fiberglass] Mesh

Screen color    

More info here:

http://www.marvin.com/windows/wood-casement-windows/glass-energy-efficiency-and-screens/

4 9/16” Jambs

One of a pair of vertical posts or pieces that together form the sides of a window frame

Nailing Fin

One of the methods of attaching the window.

The Scramble

 It's a scramble here.  But thankfully I do my best work under a deadline...

 I've starting packing for my trip to LA for MAGIC Camp.  I fly Saturday.  Monday night I got my tool belt out and assessed all my hand tools. Blissfully everything was right where I thought it would be. Added my gloves and work boots to the pile.  Safety glasses, bandannas, ear plugs... bibs...  So I have the really critical things ready and heaped into a bag.  I found my airline reservation - yes, for a few panicked hours I couldn't find it  - and I've lined up transportation to and from the airport so that I don't have to pay a fortune to park there for 8 days.  Score!

I still have a few errands to run, some spices to pack for cooking "my" type of foods, some laundry to do and the rest of my packing.

And then I have to get dog things ready.  She's going to split her time between my place and my neighbor's - I can't tell you how pleased I am to not have to board her.  So. Pleased.  So I need to bathe her, and write out feeding instructions, and medication instructions... I will owe Amy & Bobby for a long time for this favor...

I'm working on my small gifts for folks at the Camp... why do those things always take longer than you estimate??  I should not be surprised at this point... but like I say... deadlines... best work...

And then of course, being off work for a week means the week prior is busier than normal... And so naturally what did I do?  I scheduled a hair appointment and an eye doctor appointment for this week!  Brilliant!  Just, brilliant!  lol  Ahhhh sometimes I wonder about me...

Meanwhile, Daniel figured out the materials list and called me with the invoice number at the local (Camarillo) Home Depot, so I called there and paid for that - my second chunk of cash towards the house.  It took me thirty minutes and 3 phone calls to pay an invoice.... Yeah, I do love phone trees, don't you?  And that great music?  But, when I finally got to the guy I needed, he was fabulous.  Thank you, Orlando!  It didn't hurt that the folks at the Pro Desk knew Daniel...  : )  Apparently he is a fixture there...So the construction materials for the Camp have been purchased (check!) and Daniel is figuring out a special Monday morning delivery.  I took the time to celebrate the milestone with a couple of girlfriends... 

And I'm still working on the windows.  Windows, windows, everywhere.  And my learning curve is vertical.  I've just about got it nailed, though.  I've gotten one estimate from the local Marvin windows retailer, and I got another one from a Pella windows retailer, for comparison.  I thought I had answered all the window questions, but noooooooo. For example...

Did you know that if you are in high altitude then you do not want Argon gas between the panes?  Apparently they'll crack.  So then add in the exciting feature that my house is on wheels, and that I just may pass through an high altitude area... yeah, the window rep was scratching his pate.  It was amusing.  I could have an entire chapter in my book about how I have stumped home suppliers with the fact that my house is going to be mobile.  Ohh all the long pauses in conversation...

How about, did you know there is a different exterior coating for the windows if you are in a coastal area where the air is salty and humid?  Do I have plans to park on the coast for an extended period of time?  Would I like to?  Well hell, yes, I'd love to!  And so the questions went...

I think I've figured out my skylights, too.  Size, anyway.  And that it/they will open... I just have to decide if I'm getting one or two.  I can argue it both ways.  We aren't installing windows and skylights at Camp, but we want to frame for them.  That's why the decisions must be made now... 

Through all of this I've been fighting the crud for over two weeks now.  You name a symptom, and I've had it.  I've missed a few days of work, I've slept through an entire weekend, I've missed 8-9 days at the gym, I've been to the doctor twice, I'm slathering on all sorts of essential oils and drinking gallons of water. I hate taking drugs, but I'm trying to have better living through pharmaceuticals.

 I can. not. be. sick. next. week.  Can.  Not.   But hey, I feel skinny.  (I'm a chick, what do you want from me??  I'll find the silver lining...)

My fellow tiny houser T-Homie who is taking the entire week off from work and driving down from Chico to build with me is similarly scrambling to get out of town.  Actually, I think she is scrambling even more than I am, bless her heart.  She's putting her house on the market while she's gone (in anticipation of building HER tiny house!!) and boy is she in the thick of it this week, preparing.  I so feel for her, because I did that in November/December.  It's a killer, but when you pull away from the curb to leave town - man.  You are just beat, but you are so proud of yourself!  Her head is spinning but she's totally getting things done. 

Several people have asked me if it all feels real now - with the purchasing, and the traveling, and planning the little details.  It does and it doesn't.  I think part of the issue is that all of this is happening in another part of the country.  It seems a little abstract. I'm not at all freaked out.  But I think once I get there?  No holds barred.  I fully expect to burst into tears the first time I see my little trailer.  And I am certain that if I try to address the folks at Camp the morning that we start, I'll totally choke up.  Heck, I am tearing up right now, just thinking about that morning!  I may have to be the mute one hanging in the background, and hey, I'll catch ya' when we start swinging hammers - we'll chat.  

Today is Wednesday.... marching towards Saturday...

Another Window Dilemma

The answer to this is really form follows function, but ... I still must put it out there for conversation.

My loft window.  The lovely little window that will be a custom stained glass work of art just inches from my pillow.  Will it have the "eyebrow" arch design?  Or will it open?

The arch isn't hugely pronounced, but --

I really can't imagine not being able to open that window... even if my skylights do open...



There's a matching one on the opposite end - it may end up disguising my air conditioner though...

(Sorry, neither of those angles are great...)

So, the window shape is probably going to have to change to a rectangle from the arched.  Will that be so terrible?  It just hadn't occurred to me that that shape would prohibit it from opening.  Ahh the learning curve.