Homz R Us: 2107 Rubens, Rehab

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2107 Rubens Oct 2002

2107 Rubens now

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Phase 1        Exterior repair        Exterior painting        Garage doors
Phase 2        Windows        Landscape        Fence
Phase 3        Strip Kitchen        Strip Master Bath        Strip Upstairs bath        Modify ceilings        Install lights        Repair Laundry Closet wall
Phase 4        Sand and paint trim        Sand and paint doors        Sand and paint cabinets        Repair kitchen wall behind dishwasher
Phase 5        Paint walls        Paint ceiling        Seal panelling        Tile floors
Phase 6        Wood floor        Install Kitchen countertops        Install Appliances        Bathroom Cabinets & countertops        Reinstall doors
Phase 7        Carpeting        A/C compressor        Hot water heater

Phase 2

The main project of this phase is to replace the eight windows. The old windows were single pane and several were broken. The new windows were double pane with Argon gas/low emissivity. The house had been empty for 5 years so the yard was overgrown, vines in the trees, trees in the garden, etc. The wood fence around the patio was falling down and needed replacing.

Windows

We ordered eight windows on Dec 1, 2004. Five were vertical sash, three were horizontal sliders. The vertical sash windows come from Van Alstyn, TX. The horizontal sliders come from Smyrna, TN. The windows would take 14 days with delivery the following Friday. The five vertical sash windows arrived on Wednesday, Dec 15th and were delivered on Thursday. Friday I went in and they said the sliders were probably there, but to go home and wait for them to call. I went back the following week to check on them. It turns out the order had a bad cost, so they cancelled that part of the order and recreated it. Receiving did not have an order number to match the windows so they sent them back to Tennessee! The following Friday was Christmas Eve, the Friday after that was New Year's eve, so they were finally delivered on Jan 7, 2005.

Replacing Windows

The salesman had spent several summers replacing windows, and was very helpful. The problem is that the old windows were attached with nailing flanges which were then bricked over. First, remove the glass. That usually means break it and take it out carefully. A spring-loaded punch is very handy for breaking glass. I broke the glass with a hammer and the neighbor came running to see who was breaking in. According to "Ask This Old House", firemen and police carry spring-loaded punches to quickly remove the back window of a vehicle in an accident. The safety glass will completely shatter giving access to the accident victims.

After removing the glass, raise the sash. Without glass, it will deform and lift out. Then cut the remaining cross piece with a hacksaw and pull both halves into the house. This will twist the frames so you can pry them with a crowbar from the outside. Pry both sides of the frame away from the wall, tearing out the nails. This will also pull the top and bottom of the frame out. As soon as you pull a corner loose, the rest comes out quickly. The new windows probably have nailing flanges which snap off if you bend them back and forth several times. Set the new windows into the frames and make sur they are are straight, and then put long screws in the corners into the frame. Fill the gap with a low-foaming product made for windows and then caulk.

Den window

01-30-05(1) Back wall, windows replaced

01-30-05(2) Back wall, windows replaced

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Breakfast Nook window

01-30-05(3) Back wall, windows replaced

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Kitchen window

The kitchen window had burglar bars, which are ugly. We got rid of the burglar bars and ordered the kitchen window with tempered glass.