In article , willshak says...

on 11/10/2007 11:52 AM DerbyDad03 said the following:
On Nov 10, 10:42 am, willshak wrote:

on 11/10/2007 10:22 AM DerbyDad03 said the following:




On Nov 9, 9:54 pm, Girlygirl wrote:

Hi all,

I need some advice. I should have done this sooner but just thought
about it.

I just signed a contract to have my windows replaced. I spent all
summer researching windows and also changing my mind a billion times
about what options I wanted. So, it's now mid-November and I finally
got it all figured out and signed a contract. I live in New Jersey.
The job will start within approximately 8 weeks. (It's a fairly big
job cuz it's an old house and there will be different windows/options,
even the front door). Anyway, 8 weeks would mean this will be done
sometime around early January - middle of winter. Now I think maybe
that's a stupid thing. I've never owned a house before so I don't know
what I'm doing. Is it stupid to have this done in the winter? I mean,
aside from the house getting cold and the inconvenience, is there
something else I should know? Like, might there be installation issues
or problems that only occur when installing in the winter that don't
occur in the warmer months? Anything I should be looking out for???

Thanks.

New-to-home-ownership.

Ask yourself 2 questions:

1 - If you were doing it yourself, would you be more relaxed and
comfortable on a sunny 70 degree day or on a dreary 20 degree day?

2 - When are you apt to do a better job...on a warm, sunny day when
you're relaxed and comfortable or when you're hating life 'cuz your
fingers are stiff, a frigid wind is blowing in your face and you're
bundled up in a jacket and hat?

Attitude has as much to do with a good installation as does the
quality of the materials and the skill of the worker.

Why not see if you can reschedule for early spring when any cold
weather issues, perceived or actual, simply wouldn't exist?

She's not going to do it herself. The contractors are going to dress
warmly. I have done outside contracting work when it was snowing or
freezing rain was falling, or had fallen. I have had to broom the snow
off floor joists to be able to walk on them.
You're probably going to get a job done sooner when it is off season
work. In warm weather you'll probably get put on a list and have to wait.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
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She's not going to do it herself.

Never said she was, never implied she was. My post was about
attitude.

Anybody that's done a fair amount of construction/remodeling/repair
work has probably worked in less than favorable conditions. Did you
enjoy walking on snow covered floor joists or would you have rather it
been 70, sunny and dry?

Sure, but the Winter money was just as good as in the Spring, Summer,
and Fall.

Do you think its possible that you might not
have noticed something or done something due to the distraction of the
snow and bad weather?

No. In warm weather, there are just as many distractions, maybe more. No
one is standing around doing nothing when it is cold.
I just came in from raking the leaves on a damp and chilly November
afternoon. Had it been nicer, I would have stayed out longer and
probably done a better job. Due to the weather, I did a "good enough"
job.

I do a lot of physical work when it is very cold out. I dress in layers,
including my legs, but after a while, I start sweating and the outer
clothing layers start coming off. Maybe it is because I was born in
December, and in the NE US, and have lived in the NE all of my 70 years.
I'd rather work when it is 40ºF out rather than 99ºF.

Do I want my windows installed "good enough" or do I want a
contractor that is in a good mood, enjoying life and more apt to
notice the little things like a piece of trim out of place or a
section of caulk that could be fixed, but doesn't really have to be?


Why do you assume that people who are working in inclement weather are
in a bad mood, or careless, or inattentive? Maybe they are in a better
mood because they are getting paid, rather than being laid off for the
winter.
Skiers, snow boarders, and snowmobile riders are certainly in a good
mood, and careful, and attentive.

She already has a contract, which should give her a little priority
with the contractor, so it can't hurt to make the phone call and ask
if she can be rescheduled. It's obvious from the OP's statements that
time is not of the essence. As I said before, if the job is done in
the spring, any cold weather issues, perceived or actual, simply
wouldn't exist.

Well, you're not going to do the job, and others may not have the same
aversions to working in the cold.


I got my siding installed in the winter. I had hired a contractor I use all the
time and has always done good work for that and other work. I was flexible; I
would have happily waited until spring, but he and his crew wanted to get the
job done.

Amazed me - but they dressed warm; I did some snow shovelling around the house
but they kept it clear too, and it got done.

Windows would present a problem of cold air coming in in the process of
installation; but that can be held to a minimum unless problems are discovered.
I don't see an issue. Not with the job; not with worker attitude.

Banty