Heating, windows and openings!

29 Jan

Big week for us at the house – we have new windows and the start of the new heating system! The structural work has also begun, and we’re set for our first plumbing inspection on Wednesday. 75% of the tile will be delivered this week as well. Lots going on – fingers crossed for the week to come.

First up, our new windows. After considering various brands and models, we ended up going with the Andersen A Series windows. About half the price of Marvins, these windows are Andersen’s top of the line double pane windows. They are beautifully crafted inside and out, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. There’s still insulation and other finishing details to complete, but the initial impact really exceeded our expectations.

We’ve opted for black on the exterior (our architect approves), unfinished pine on the interior so that the trim throughout will be uniform. Here are some photos:

Window – Andersen A series in black.

Window detail.

Window: inside view.

We’re sorry the work on the heating began on the coldest week of the year thus far, but we are glad it has finally begun! After a 2 week delay in our HVAC guy’s arrival, they have made up for it by having 3-4 guys in each day to complete the job. Our prior heating system was a forced air system, and although we could have, in theory, updated that system with new duct work, given our desire to have central air and heat, plus humidification internal to the system, replacing the entire system turned out to be the best solution.

One of the nice things we were able to do when not having to retrofit work into an old system is to split the system into three separate zones; we’ll actually have three individual furnaces in the house. This will allow us to cool or heat each level independently, which will of course save us a great deal on bills in the future. We’ve also been in houses where the heating on one floor would also heat another floor, and we more often than not just chose to stay cold or overheated to avoid acclimatizing an area not being used. Here’s to comfort without guilt!

Trane furnace in the top floor.

Heating and cooling outlet in one of the bedrooms.

Ductwork in our master bath.

It’s really kind of an amazing thing to really see absolutely everything going into our walls and all that it takes to make it happen (and happen right!).

The other big event of the week was the start of the structural openings in the back of the house. The garden level will have double doors to the garden, and the parlor level will have a wall with three ganged windows, french doors and transoms over both like this inspiration photo:

Inspiration photo for our kitchen windows and doors. Ours will not have the grill work, but the overall finished look will be very similar. This photo is of a prior project from our wonderful architect, Ben Herzog. Isn’t all that light dreamy?

so steel beams were a must have, as was a structural engineer to define the plans. The larger structural opening on the parlor will be done later this week, which will then allow for the remaining windows and exterior doors to be finalized. Here are the photos of the basement structural work completed: