Windows and opportunities

It took a little over a month, but we managed to get all of the locks changed on the house - finally, we have a single key to open all 7 locks. We went with Schlage locks and handlesets because that is what was installed already. One of the newest (and coolest) inventions in the world of locks is the ability to re-key a lock yourself in about 30 seconds. For Schlage, this technology is called SecureKey. Baldwin and KwikSet offer similar technology under different names.

We finally have solutions for replacing all of the windows. We started with Allied Siding & Windows for the replacement window project (all the windows in the house except for the one that will be going away with the addition will be replaced this summer). Allied sells and installs a lot of Simonton windows, which is the brand we have on 5206 and absolutely love. Rob, our salesguy, was a little harried with all of the myriad home show sales calls (we weren't a home show call).

I was able to work with Simonton to figure out a window type for above the sink (awning, it turns out), but we failed to be able to spec any suitable window for the 3 full-height windows across the front porch (or from the inside, the "Music Hall"). All of the rough openings are just a little too wide to do casements, and other types couldn't be configured to give us the combination of view and ventilation we wanted - I'd brainstormed idea after idea with Simonton (the actual company, not just our salesguy) and we ultimately determined that the look and operability that we desired in those openings simply could not be achieved with Simonton, which was really too bad.

We had, when walking around the neighborhood, noticed some unique windows that we thought were very cool, so we asked the owner about them. It turned out they were Magic Windows she'd had installed a decade ago. A little hunting around found the only vendor in the area selling them these days. We set up an appointment with the sales guy.

Jonathan was the epitome of why people hate sales people. He was a fast-talking, competition-bashing, lying-out-the-you-know-what, waste of our time. It turns out that Magic Windows are very pricey, and we're not even sure that they could really build the size we need!

Even if the windows had been reasonably priced, we would not have wanted to use him. He recently moved to Houston, about 4 months ago, from California. In California (unlike in Texas), contractors must be licensed and state who holds what position in the companies, so a little online research yielded some interesting (and not favorable) things. We wish that Texas would institute something similar.

A week after the disastrous meeting with Jonathan, we met with a very nice gentleman, Michael, owner of Meyerland Windows. He worked with us for several days over the phone and via e-mail to spec Jeld-Wen custom wood windows for those 3 windows. However, we wanted technical information that Michael couldn't provide, so he suggested I call Jeld-Wen.

When I asked those technical questions of Jeld-Wen's 800 number and they couldn't answer them, Jeld-Wen directed me to their manufacturing plant for that window line, where I spoke with Bridget. I explained our problems and what we were trying to achieve and asked what would she suggest. Turns out they have a push-out casement window that should work beautifully in those spaces!!

Meanwhile, our Allied rep was frustrating us, failing to answer questions about the differences between two lines of Simonton windows, and then he never got back to me with the bid with the options we desired and simply "disappeared". So we went to Michael on Friday and asked him to bid the Simonton windows. As promised, Michael was out at noon on Saturday to measure the windows and make sure he understood what we wanted where. Michael has been very attentive and is an all-around pleasant guy to deal with.

That brings the blog up-to-date on the window situation.

As to Douglas working with us on Saturday - wow. That boy is going to keep us hopping! His main reference was not joking when she said he does not like to do nothing. He was always asking "what's next?" He's a very good, hard worker. We should be churning through some of the back-log of yard projects as well as the house projects when it gets too hot to work outside.

We may hire a rising junior at Rice as well, who is primarily interested in the gardening portion of the work. There's a lot of that to be done, too, and we can teach her quite a bit about organic gardening (which is her main interest in our job) along the way.

We also had a call from one of Douglas' classmates (unbeknownst to him), though that candidate failed to leave a call-back number (and we don't have callerID). We asked Douglas to let the guy know we can't contact him. So we might hire another high school-aged boy to help us on some weekends.