Windows have arrived on site!! This is actually the culmination of a process that started some eight weeks prior to this week. We met several times with our window rep from Schaaf Windows to get the order details done correctly. The rough carpentry window openings had to be complete to get an accurate measure for the window sizes. Once the opening were complete, our rep came up to verify every window size and create the window schedule for the order (over 43 windows in the building). We also used old photos of the building to replicate the old grids in the front windows and bring back the historical look of the property. With our future plans to restore the old stained glass windows, we order picture windows sized so that the stained glass windows can fit tightly within the window frame. This will protect the stained glass from the outside, while still allowing all of the natural light to bring out the great detail of the windows. Finally, to try to keep the building more energy efficient, we went with double pane, low-e, argon filled windows. (The low-e coating on the window greatly affects the window’s energy emissivity and will allow a significant portion of the solar energy to be reflected back away from the building. The effect of this coating is calculated into the window’s U-value. The argon fill is less heat conductive than air, therefore improving the U-value of the window.) Once we had finalized and placed that actual order, there was about a six week lead time for the windows to be manufactured and delivered to site. Over the course of the week, our carpentry crew began installing the windows throughout the building. Its amazing to see what a big difference this make to the look and feel of the building.

With the window installation going in, we also gave the go ahead to both our electrical and plumbing contractor to begin their interior work. The electrician came in first to install the can lighting in the basement and other potential conflict areas. The order of work is important, especially in our basement, because we can’t fit plumbing pipes and can lighting between the same floor joist and you would much rather have the correct lighting spacing since this ultimately impacts the final look of the finished space. With the can lighting in place, our plumber started with the PVC piping runs (we’ll want to make sure the property is very secure before copper comes on site). Our plumber started by connecting to the previously installed sump pump and ejector pump basins and ran the pipe above street level before coming back down (our over head sewer as mentioned in week 26). With the main sewer lines connected, our plumber has gone on to install the main drains in our plumbing wall running up from the basement to the second floor.

Plenty of great work done this week! Can’t wait to see what the next week will bring!