Windows Arrive at Last

On Sunday the architect came by to inspect the house he and I designed over a period of more than three years.  Bob has seen many of his buildings take shape in concrete and wood and glass, but this is my first such experience.  He was pleased to see me enthusiastic about the project, and identified a few issues for me to discuss with Kyle and Dave.  Details, details!

Bob looks over the guest bedroom upstairs...

...and the ground floor bedroom.

Bob drove over from Traverse City, where he had a meeting.  The sun was setting when he arrived and much of his inspection was conducted by flashlight.  At this point the only power inside the house is provided by extension cords from the pole.  Hence, we have no lights.  But that will change soon, I'm sure.  Things are starting to move more quickly.

Rycenga's truck arrived about 9:00 yesterday morning, bringing windows for the south and west sides of the house.  As you may recall, these require special glass to support passive solar heating.  Anderson's standard glass, which we've used on the east and north sides, admits only about 25% of the available sunlight, whereas these windows will admit about 70%.  The special order took nearly three weeks longer than we expected — and although this glass is highly energy efficient, it does not qualify for the current energy tax rebate.  Go figure.

As the windows came off the truck I realized how much of the house's glazing is in these windows!  The door-wall for the first floor bedroom is a monster!  The large windows for the living room and the master bedroom directly above are only a bit smaller.  Carrying the packaged windows upstairs was a challenge for Kyle and the guy from Rycenga.  So, where's Harry Potter when you really need him?

Dave guides the Rycenga truck into place.

The door wall is off-loaded.

Kyle and the driver muscle a window
up the stairwell.

I had to drive over to Petoskey yesterday.  When I left, the windows for the first floor bedroom and bath were unboxed and ready for installation.  By the time I got back they were in their openings!

The ground floor bed and bath windows wait installation.

By late afternoon, they are snug in their openings.

With Harry Potter raking in millions this week as Deathly Hallows Part One opens, the guys had to muscle the windows into their openings without the help of wands and spells.  How did they work this miracle?  First, they removed the casement windows, which reduced the weight and allowed them to use the frame as a kind of handle.  Then they slid the window through the opening on the bias, and pulled it back into position.  At this point Dave could hold the window in place while Kyle, working from the outside, made sure the window was level and lined up with the others.  Finally, the window was nailed in, the casements were replaced, and the whole unit was taped and caulked.

Dave and Kyle slip a casement frame through the opening...

...then pull it back into position...

...Kyle checks it for level while Dave holds it in place...

...and finally the windows are put back into the frame.

The process looks simple, but it isn't.  For the big door wall in the ground flood bedroom, Kyle enlisted the help of Hap and Doug.  That made maneuvering that behemoth much easier!  Otherwise, Hap and Doug spent the day siding the north side gable end.  Siding is all detail work, with lots of little pieces to be measured, cut, and installed.

The north gable is sided.

Yesterday brought a strategic decision.  We have decided to insulate with open-cell foam rather than wet cellulose.  After the cellulose is sprayed in, we would have to allow 7-10 days, and perhaps longer, for the moisture to come out of the insulation.  By using foam, the drywall crew can start the very next day.  Having lost three weeks for the special order windows, being able to move ahead quickly will be very helpful. •••