Laserfiche WebLink
2/13/11 <br />Dear Ms: Hostetler, <br />I inspected Joe Pietrzak's windows in late January. I found broken ropes, <br />deteriorating muntins, widespread loss of glazing compound, sash rails that did not <br />meet, and window locks that did not work. Some sashes were stuck or barely <br />movable, due to years of paint build-up, others had been carefully stripped, sanded, <br />and refinished, but had not held a fresh application of glazing compound. (I thought <br />this due to an inadequate depth of the glazing channels.) In addition, I was shown <br />one room that was said to be habitually cold.. <br />I came away from my discussion with Mr. Pietrzak with the impression that he <br />was quite proud of the historical nature of his house and neighborhood, that he had. <br />tried faithfully to maintain his old windows over the years, and had decided to <br />replace them only after some reflection. He clearly wants improved energy <br />efficiency, lower maintenance, and historical integrity. And he seemed well -aware <br />that I could only supply the last-mentioned, and then NOT at a competitive price. <br />I did bring to his attention my chief reservation about replacement windows: <br />namely, that they are not the cure-all some would have them as they too will need <br />repair in ten to twenty years. In response, he showed me two Marvin windows that <br />he had put in a number of years ago whose slide mechanisms had broken and had to <br />be replaced! Mr. Pietrzak told me he is hoping to use a wood sash, metel-cladded <br />product made by Kolbe. This is good for they will far outlast any vinyl product, and <br />in my opinion, will look just like the old ones at twenty feet. <br />Respectfully yours, Charles Kirkpatrick <br />O/l <br />