Hello,
The contract on our house says, "All windows casement except bay flankers".
To me, that means every window is a casement window that opens. The builder
claims that every window is a casement window, though most of them
(curiously, not all) have a fixed section of glass (pane, window, ?) and a
casement section.

+-------+-------+
| | |
| | |
| this | fixed |
| opens | |
+-------+-------+

Our current house has similar windows and both sides open in every window
large enough to be split. I find myself referring to the entire opening as a
window, but then referring to the individual sheet of glass as a window as
well, so I can see the argument from the builder's perspective while knowing
what I intended when we ordered the windows. Can anyone clarify for me?

FWIW: The windows are Andersen and when I look at their web site, they don't
even show casement windows with a fixed side!

Thanks!

Randy Hermann
rDOThermannATsbcglobalDOTnet

"Me" The contract on our house says,
"All windows casement except bay flankers".
To me, that means every window is a casement window that opens. The
builder
claims that every window is a casement window, though most of them
(curiously, not all) have a fixed section of glass (pane, window, ?) and a
casement section.
Our current house has similar windows and both sides open in every window
large enough to be split. I find myself referring to the entire opening as
a
window, but then referring to the individual sheet of glass as a window as
well, so I can see the argument from the builder's perspective while
knowing
what I intended when we ordered the windows. Can anyone clarify for me?

FWIW: The windows are Andersen and when I look at their web site, they
don't
even show casement windows with a fixed side!

I am just guessing, but in absence of a casement window definition in your
contract, he may have you by the short and curlys. I am guessing that any
window unit with a casement pane would, in some stretch, qualify as a
casement window. Normally you would be provided a model home, or a detailed
architectural plan with window spec pages, to get graphic confirmation of
what kind of window is going in. Going by words alone is always a risk, in
absence of those references.

In article ,
pamless says...

Hello,
The contract on our house says, "All windows casement except bay flankers".
To me, that means every window is a casement window that opens. The builder
claims that every window is a casement window, though most of them
(curiously, not all) have a fixed section of glass (pane, window, ?) and a
casement section.

Our current house has similar windows and both sides open in every window
large enough to be split. I find myself referring to the entire opening as a
window, but then referring to the individual sheet of glass as a window as
well, so I can see the argument from the builder's perspective while knowing
what I intended when we ordered the windows. Can anyone clarify for me?



What you have are 'single-hung' casements, which means only one sash slides,
the other is fixed. You expected 'double-hung', in which both sashes slide. Go
to Home Depot and look at the windows they have on display, they have both
single and double hung displays featuring the same quality glass. The
single-hung units are about 30% cheaper. That said, they also seal better, so
unless you really want to open both sides there are some benefits.

DT

One clarification: I realized I was describing a horizontal slider, not a
casement (which swings out), but the general idea is the same. That is more
puzzling, though, since like you, I don't recall a casement with one opening
sash.

DT

If there's a set of 3, it's pretty typical the center one is fixed. If there's
an attached pair of casements, and one opens and the other is fixed, you have a
cheap-o prick of a builder.

Well, you've hit the nail on the head. Just to let everyone know, the
builder is J. R. Homes (John Richards Homes, etc.) out of the Detroit area.
It is really amazing to me how eager some people are to screw
well-intentioned folks like us. Suppose I should have learned that lesson
better in my years. And I should have purchased a book on house building
pitfalls. Better savvy next time!

-Randy


"HA HA Budys Here" wrote in message
...
If there's a set of 3, it's pretty typical the center one is fixed. If
there's
an attached pair of casements, and one opens and the other is fixed, you
have a
cheap-o prick of a builder.

Well, you've hit the nail on the head. Just to let everyone know, the
builder is J. R. Homes (John Richards Homes, etc.) out of the Detroit area.
It is really amazing to me how eager some people are to screw
well-intentioned folks like us. Suppose I should have learned that lesson
better in my years. And I should have purchased a book on house building
pitfalls. Better savvy next time!

-Randy

You *Did* say the windows to be installed are Andersen, right?

There are much worse available....no matter what the design.

A good widow should be a good window, regardless of what the design
*features* are.

I use to repair windows,...................many years ago. The worse
problems are not how they operate usually, but how the double pane
glass loses the seal between and "fogs up". Cleaning is usually pretty
easy as long as you do it more often than most people do. Three or
four times a year is plenty unless there are odd circumstances, or a
hostile environment.It seems like that's the major selling point of
double casement windows.............cleanability. Other than that I
can't see how the single hung ones would be an issue, and does not
generally make them worth as much more as they charge for them.
As the earlier post mentioned, One piece moving, typically means the
window will seal better too.

I do believe that a house is not something to give over to others to
define the quality of. It should be satisfactory to the buyer, no
matter what the house costs. If you are not satisfied with what they
intend to install, I'd suggest, backing out of the deal if you won't
lose too much,( if they won't work with you and put in what you want).
Be prepared to share the cost of the upgrade though, if you've signed
up for this house and are to be held responsible for payment
regardless.

I know I'm not speaking from a lot of experience about the purchase
contract on the house you seem to be building, but I believe you
should shoot for the stars and get it your way, even if you have to
come up with some extra monies. It would be a shame to move into a
house that you're not satisfied with.




Remove "YOURPANTIES" to reply

MUADIB®

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/sster...IN%20PAGE.html

It's is not, it isn't ain't, and it's it's, not its, if you mean it is. If you don't, it's its.
Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's. It isn't our's either. It's ours, and likewise yours
and theirs. -- Oxford University Press, Edpress News

Last time I bought casement windows I had the choice of left opening, right
opening and fixed. Most windows that I bought were multiple casement units.
If there were two casements in a unit I opted for one to open. If there were
three or more casements in a unit I opted for the outer windows to open.

To have every window in a multiple window unit is expensive, and an
additional source of air and water leaks. You do not need more than two
windows that open in a multiple window unit, you have one left opening and
one right opening to catch the wind in each direction. The rest would be
fixed windows.

One thing with builders (and any custom work) is that EVERYTHING must be
specified in detail, whether it is the type and colour of the light
switches, model of the toilets and sinks, windows by brand, model and
openings, floor covering, tiles --- on and on. Without this, you leave it up
to the discretion of the builder who may have different ideas and taste, and
you have to take what he gives you whether it is good quality or cheap crap.

"Me" wrote in message
om...
Hello,
The contract on our house says, "All windows casement except bay
flankers".
To me, that means every window is a casement window that opens. The
builder
claims that every window is a casement window, though most of them
(curiously, not all) have a fixed section of glass (pane, window, ?) and a
casement section.

+-------+-------+
| | |
| | |
| this | fixed |
| opens | |
+-------+-------+

Our current house has similar windows and both sides open in every window
large enough to be split. I find myself referring to the entire opening as
a
window, but then referring to the individual sheet of glass as a window as
well, so I can see the argument from the builder's perspective while
knowing
what I intended when we ordered the windows. Can anyone clarify for me?

FWIW: The windows are Andersen and when I look at their web site, they
don't
even show casement windows with a fixed side!

Thanks!

Randy Hermann
rDOThermannATsbcglobalDOTnet