Windows

Steve and I spent the last two weekends preparing to receive new windows. Why did it take two weekends to prepare to have someone install windows for us? Exhibit A:

That (3 inch deep) rut is legacy termite damage. Someone obviously attempted a repair at some point (that yellow-ish stuff in the right side) but obviously didn't use the right patch or probe for the full extent of the damage. Luckily a quick remote consultation with our home repairs advisor (my dad) set us on our way.

I painted on a hardener to firm up the existing material after Steve chiseled out all the loose wood. Steve applies Bondo (yes, the stuff used to repair cars) to fill the damage:

Steve finishes up sanding the repaired sills:

We then primed and painted the window sills and trim.

We saved up the money to not only buy some really nice windows but also to have someone else install them. The two-man crew that showed up today to do the installation were very nice, happy to answer our questions and did thorough, clean work.

Old windows removed:

 I garden to stay out of the installers' way:

An interesting thing we found as the installers dismantled our old windows was that when our house was originally built, it likely had fixed, picture windows. The window frames had no openings for weights or ropes, so the movable windows removed today used spring pins that would pop into holes drilled into the frames to hold the window open in a few different positions.

And, now for the before-and-after pictures. Please note that I have no idea why the exteriors of the windows look so dark green in the photos. In real life, they're a soft sage green that matches our front door.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

The interior of the new windows are an unfinished vertical-grain fur. We will be possibly staining and definitely sealing them in the coming weeks.

Before, then after:

As usual, the pictures don't do things justice. I love these windows. They look amazing. Worth every penny.