Urgent window question
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 3:13 pm
I'm sorry to post an urgent question just at Christmastime..... if anyone is around, I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts!
A windows question - I described my windows once before - they're single hung, the top sash was nailed in place, and the bottom sash slides freely and is held open in place with either either a spring action bolt or else an old-fashioned stick. My grandma used a stick.
My builder (who has been treating my renovation like a hobby), has built window jambs for my historic salvaged sashes. That is, the sashes came from my grandma's house and are being built into my new addition. I was able to extract one window jamb from my grandma's, and from there the builder built the jambs for all the windows.
I have not done anything to address weatherproofing generally. My approach has been mostly backward, I agree. I'll order storm windows after this builder has left my property and I can take control of the situation. But in addition to storm windows, I would want felt or other weather stripping, whatever will work for northern climate.
I have primed/painted the outsides of the sashes, and shellacked the insides, and now he is asking me to do the same for the sills/jambs. All this weekend, at Christmas. Because now there's an urgent rush to get the windows in. He wants to do it next week.
He screwed the upper sashes into the jam and has used silicone to seal them in place. The silicone is smeared onto the painted sash.
So, my question is, should I beat the builder with a 2x4 or can I work with that? Is it ok to have the upper sash, which is not supposed to move, siliconed in place?
What does that do for 'breathing' and proper installation of old windows?
Should I ask him to remove the screws now and replace with nails, as they were done originally, so that I can get the uppers out without having to remove the entire jamb? Or is there any need going forward to have an ability to remove those upper sashes? Does future maintenance require me to be able to remove those uppers? (some of them are 2nd story high), or is all future maintenance done in-situ?
I can always leave it be for now (aside from the screws), and pull the sashes out next summer to remove the silicone then. I will probably have to re-do some putty lines anyway, plus there's the weather stripping to add. But, it's easier to take out the silicone now while the sashes and jambs are on the shop floor. But if the screws should come out, they should come out now before.
Plus, who puts silicone over paint??
Any thoughts?
Much appreciated!
Andrea
A windows question - I described my windows once before - they're single hung, the top sash was nailed in place, and the bottom sash slides freely and is held open in place with either either a spring action bolt or else an old-fashioned stick. My grandma used a stick.
My builder (who has been treating my renovation like a hobby), has built window jambs for my historic salvaged sashes. That is, the sashes came from my grandma's house and are being built into my new addition. I was able to extract one window jamb from my grandma's, and from there the builder built the jambs for all the windows.
I have not done anything to address weatherproofing generally. My approach has been mostly backward, I agree. I'll order storm windows after this builder has left my property and I can take control of the situation. But in addition to storm windows, I would want felt or other weather stripping, whatever will work for northern climate.
I have primed/painted the outsides of the sashes, and shellacked the insides, and now he is asking me to do the same for the sills/jambs. All this weekend, at Christmas. Because now there's an urgent rush to get the windows in. He wants to do it next week.
He screwed the upper sashes into the jam and has used silicone to seal them in place. The silicone is smeared onto the painted sash.
So, my question is, should I beat the builder with a 2x4 or can I work with that? Is it ok to have the upper sash, which is not supposed to move, siliconed in place?
What does that do for 'breathing' and proper installation of old windows?
Should I ask him to remove the screws now and replace with nails, as they were done originally, so that I can get the uppers out without having to remove the entire jamb? Or is there any need going forward to have an ability to remove those upper sashes? Does future maintenance require me to be able to remove those uppers? (some of them are 2nd story high), or is all future maintenance done in-situ?
I can always leave it be for now (aside from the screws), and pull the sashes out next summer to remove the silicone then. I will probably have to re-do some putty lines anyway, plus there's the weather stripping to add. But, it's easier to take out the silicone now while the sashes and jambs are on the shop floor. But if the screws should come out, they should come out now before.
Plus, who puts silicone over paint??
Any thoughts?
Much appreciated!
Andrea