Original single-pane windows being shown here in this S.W. West Hills area home are Aluminum. We probably had 4 or 5 early morning pre-contract meetings here with our client discussing product specifications and options before the exact replacement product was chosen.

Most folks are replacing old original aluminum windows with Vinyl. Our client, who was a retired structural engineer and who originally had this house built could not warm up to the notion of losing so much daylight with the thicker frames & sash common to Vinyl windows.

Wood windows presented the same limitation, along with the added liability of sitting up on a hill with zero protection from the elements. Wood-windows and the lack of eves or awnings is not a good combination. Such are the potential downsides of these contemporary designed structures.

So between our client and his original architect, the decision was made to stay with Aluminum-Frames. Albeit thermally-broken aluminum frames. One of the largest hurdles was finding a window manufacturer who could build these three 15 foot tall front facing windows.

As you can see from the 1st photo, the original windows had a horizontal mull-post 2 feet up from the bottom. Due in large part to the current size-limitations of glass manufactures, it was deemed that a second horizontal mull-post would be required. No one wanted to manufacture a 13 foot tall insulated glass unit.

If you are able to look closely at photo #4, you may be able to make out that additional mull-post near the top of the new windows we are being shown installing there. This mull-post was placed to coincide with the wood-railing that went around the loft balcony above the living room, so the mull posts existence, as viewed from the interior, was aesthetically minimalized. As you can see by the photo above, we had MARLIN Windows build these three 15 foot tall windows. See www.marlinwindows.com

All the rest of the windows in the house were specified to be Milgard Aluminum Windows. Both brands sported Low-E Insulated glass and Thermally Broken Frames. To read more on Thermally Broken Frames, go to; http://wiki.Answers.com/Q/Wikipedia_what_
is_a_Thermally_Broken_Windows. The anodized bronze aluminum frames from both manufacturers were remarkably close in finish.

Logistics on the front of the house were challenging installing those 15 foot tall window assemblies, but the back of the house also posed a considerable need for implementing careful and safe practices to reach the dining room window openings. Here we are shown employing the use of our pump-jacks.

Russell Baldwin goes about removing the original dining room windows.

David Castro goes about finishing the installation of the new dining room windows.

An old farm house in what is now known as Northeast Portland. And yes, you may see this same house shown in another vinyl window project listed in this catagory. Our client had us come back in 2013 and replace some original wood casements with Vinyl Single-Hung Windows.

But back to this project. Original putty-glazed single-pane wood windows do not offer much in the way of insulation.

Especially when the house itself lacks any modern day levels of insulation in the walls, floors or ceilings.

The custom aspects of these windows come in two forms.

The first is the unusual configuration. Picture over awning over picture.

Due to the shelving structure that was to sit to the interior side, the operable windows had need to be somewhat elevated.

The second somewhat unique quality of these windows comes in the form of the MIRROR-GLASS, sometimes referred to as one-way glass. It pretty much makes it impossible to see in from the exterior during the daytime.

Although it still allows a view from the interior. For those who have need for the privacy and/or security, this can be a nice, albeit somewhat expensive option.

…continued from 26364-B. Even at early morning light, one of our client’s goals is evident from the exterior.

RibbonFlex Pro LED Accent Lighting from Armacost LIGHTING (www.armacostlighting.com). Now you can see the reason for the electrical outlet. Hat-tip & sincere thanks to Steve Novak and his invaluable service in helping us get the exact product we needed for this project.

As you can see, the interior plywood was removed to facilitate the installation of the LED lighting system. This should explain the reason for the Mylar reflective film.

Final modifications to the interior plywood-covering are made and it’s ready to be installed onto the opening for the last time.

Technician Steve Hilt is taping and mudding the plywood to the surrounding drywall.

It is subsequently textured, primed and painted to blend in with the surrounding wall surfaces.

A very custom aluminum access door manufactured for us by Schmeer Sheet Metal (www.schmeersheetmetal.com/) was one of the final touches made to the interior plywood-covering before it was installed for the last time.

The purpose of the access door, which was textured, primed and painted with the plywood…was to allow easy access to the chain and cord that manipulate the vertical blinds.

An eloquent addition to an otherwise unremarkable structure. In terms of taste and marketing, perhaps the best money spent on this house, despite the considerable price tag.

The color-light version of the RibbonFlex Pro LED Accent Lighting offers 25 preprogrammed static colors, including shades of white and 9 dynamic color-changing effects. Fun stuff!!!