Rotten wood windows often inspire folks to consider the Vinyl option, as is the case on the front of this Lake Oswego Home.

An early morning start to get a jump on what will no doubt be a relatively long day. The bathroom windows to the left were replaced the day before.

These master bedroom windows were also pulled the day before and the opening temporarily boarded-up.

It was a heavy window that required considerable man-power to hoist it into the opening.

But problem-solving is our stock-in-trade.

No more sleepless nights worrying about the condition of the wood windows.

A modest ranch in S.W. Portland with Aluminum Siding.

Time to upgrade from the old, cold single-pane aluminum windows…

…to some Atrium Vinyl Windows with insulated 366- Low-E Glass.
See www.atrium.com

The back utility room windows were originally direct-glaze single pane picture windows.

A utility room without any venting windows is obviously not the best idea.

Thus the client requesting a couple venting single-hung Atrium Windows

Upgrade was to include a rickety old aluminum sliding patio door as well.

Behold, it’s a thing of beauty, is it not… Well…you might think so if you ever wrestled with a 40 year old aluminum patio door.

This is a client with a patient plan. We’d already replaced a number of his windows on the main floor several years before these shots were taken during a subsequent upgrade of 6 more top floor windows in 2009, plus a skylight upgrade.

Our client also had us come back out in 2012, three years after these shots were taken. He & his wife are among that rare breed of folks who have learned the benefits of a careful budget, plan and execute strategy.

I apologize for the lack of really informative close-up shots. See what happens when you don’t plan enough?

Although it’s difficult to discern the difference between the vinyl & the original aluminum windows from these distances, you might notice that we took off & then reinstalled the T-111 siding.

This accommodated the fact that the window upgrades would take a series of years. The point being to maintain the original architectural detail of not having any exterior trim around the windows.

Mostly, this allowed the years-long transition to progress with little, if any aesthetic liabilities between the look of the original and the new windows.

Northeast Portland.

Time to upgrade from the old leaky, inefficient, single-pane windows,…

…to among the latest and greatest Vinyl windows on the market.

Milgard Tuscany Series windows with the simulated divided-lite surface-applied…

…muntins, which we’ve been waiting to see someone manufacture for close to 30 years.

Why have we been waiting for something like this to come along?

Because it fills a huge market niche. For example, many of the historical neighborhood associations in Portland today have wrestled control away from the homeowners to install just any old type of window they want…

…due to concern over the diminishment of a neighborhoods historical fidelity, and the consequential devaluation and marketability of the neighborhood as a whole. Vinyl windows are frequently frowned upon because of a skewed perception that they are a substandard product. In climates like the Willamette Valley, Vinyl will actually outlast most modern wood…

…windows, depending upon the architecture & the maintenance provided upon the wood windows. This of course highlights one of the strengths Vinyl provides; Low to no maintenance with almost any architecture and exposure to the elements. Concern for this particular project was aesthetic fidelity, rather than a bias erroneously & primarily promoted by the competitors of the Vinyl Window Industry.

As you can see, the aesthetic fidelity was achieved. Not only is today’s Vinyl winning the affordability race, it has now begun (or SHOULD begin) to meet the need to maintain certain architectural criteria in certain historical neighborhoods. To learn more about Milgard’s Tuscany series products, go to;
http://www.milgard.com/catalog/windows/series/tuscany/

A modest bungalow by Lake Oswego standards…

…even with a second story showing on the back side.

It would seem our client felt that his rental property, with such a pedigree location…

…as that which skirts this lake would be better marketed with newer windows…

…that better commensurate the expectations such properties tend to engender.

Translation: This neighborhood carries with it certain expectations. And old, cold, drafty single-pane aluminum windows generally wouldn’t qualify.

And while there are many who would maybe turn their noses up at the use of Vinyl windows…we might suggest it’s more a perception thing, than a reality type of thing.

After over 30 years repairing every kind of window that has been made for well over a century, we can’t honestly say we share the biases sometimes proffered to sell more expensive windows.

Nor would we disparage wood or fiberglass products. People who have the love for and the means to buy top-shelf windows should do so. In our experience, most all of these products have legitimate markets to cater to. Just take a quick look at our wood window installation category herein. They are a major part of our business model.

They all have their pros and cons of course, and we have found that we tend to serve our clients best when we take the time to listen to that which is most important to them, and then use our expertise to provide it. To learn more about Cascade Windows, go to; http://www.cascadewindows.com/

Not far from the Counsel Crest area overlooking downtown Portland.

EIFS Stucco Siding. Also known as “pseudo-stucco,” stands for Exterior Insulation & Finish Systems.

North American builders began using EIFS in the 1980’s, first in commercial buildings…

…then applying it as an exterior finish to residences–mostly wood frame houses.

EIFS layers bond to form a covering that doesn’t breathe. That’s fine when no moisture is present behind the…

…covering, but if moisture seeps in it can become trapped behind the layers.

Thus it is that EIFS has garnered a horrific reputation in the Willamette Valley with numerous lawsuits.

The verdict however, seems to be that the problem is related to the installation, or more specifically, the…

…flashing techniques employed. Once again highlighting the importance of employing the expertise…

…of genuine, experienced, professionals. Especially as it relates to structural exterior envelopes.

Northwest Portland address in Washington County near Deerfield Woods Natural Area.

Four of the back facing openings with the least amount of overhang which also take the brunt of the prevailing wind-driven weather-patterns are the objects of our client’s desire for an upgrade project.

Step one is removal of the original products.

Step two is preparing the rough-openings with proper flashing products and flashing techniques.

Brandon working from the exterior to remove the bathroom window.

And then assisting Bruce to install the new Milgard single-hung window.

And then preparing the Milgard Sliding Patio Door opening just prior to installing the new door assembly.

Bruce cutting the new interior wood surrounds and trim materials.

Another late day. Not uncommon when you work on the exterior envelopes of buildings in the Willamette Valley.

To read more about Milgard Style Line and Tuscany Products, go here; http://www.milgard.com/catalog/windows/style/casement/series/tuscany/casement.asp
and here; http://www.milgard.com/catalog/windows/series/style-line/