Windows + Doors

The replacement windows we inherited in the old house were neither air tight nor pretty. The front door was ungracious. We wanted to restore dignity to the facade, while gaining R value. We had many good options. Canadian windows are among the best in the world. We considered windows from several suppliers - but for for performance, durability, beauty and value the best combination for us came from Loewen. We opted for triple pane windows. The package for all windows came in at $45,000. We received a rebate of about $3,000. The windows contribute mightily to energy efficiency and sound proofing. (Bid from Loewen)

The windows arrived on site and started to be installed Memorial Day week 2020. This is during high Covid times. Our work crew is down to bare bones. By November 2020 we received our rebate check from BC Hydro. The windows from Loewen are beautiful and performant. Loewen’s marketing director tells me that 50% of the windows in houses in Canada are single pane. If all those were upgraded to triple pane like ours - the energy savings would be substantial. Loewen is working on a case study of the windows as contributors to a net zero home.

Our door was a remainder from Wescon (sister company to Vancouver Island window manufacturer Fenstur). Abit nicked and dinged, but tall and solid -the door was perfect for us as we were to clad the exterior with a brass alloy. The front door is one of the handsomest features of the house. We paid full price for the hinges and the handle - but saved a couple of thousand on the door itself. Shop the discount section if you have time. Someone’s reject might be your ideal door.

Triple Pane Windows and Rebate Update

Green from the Ground Up, a book written for contractors by leaders in the green building movement recommends that builders install low-e windows at a minimum. Wherever possible, install super glass in fixed-glass locations. Take advantage of solar gain and reduce exposure to western summer sun. Choose casement windows, they usually have better air sealing and can be opened to catch breezes. Use windows with a solar heat gain factor of 0.33 or lower for east and west windows, especially in hot climates.

We got bids from several manufacturers and honestly would have been pleased with any of them, We chose Loewen for the best value for money and the smallest upcharge for going from double pane to triple pane. The other suppliers we considered were Prestige Joinery and Fenstur (both right here on the island) and Milgard.

The architects save us money by making many of the windows fixed vs operational. Upstairs we have banks of window in the east gable and south and north dormers. Of 15 or so windows only 6 open. That is perfectly satisfactory - ideal in fact. we probably saved 15% on the window bill by doing this. Additionally the windows are wood inside and metal out - to minimize maintenance.

We generally followed the principles advised by Green from the Ground Up. In total we have 44 windows. All have an eligible U-factor for either the Tier 1 or Tier 2 Window and Door Replacement rebate. U-value ranges from 0.19-0.29. Solar heat gain coefficient ranges from 0.22 - 0.33. Our windows are mainly fixed or casement. The bill for the windows came to $40,000. We received a rebate of $2,700.

The Window Rebate is a Bear

For goodness sake, please review this document as you contemplate window replacement to understand how the rebates work: Window and Door Replacement Rebate. Qualifying is no simple matter. The “certifying body” of the windows will be on the sticky labels of the windows/doors once installed and will be required for the application, as well. Once installed take a photo of the windows/doors installed and peel each sticky label off each window/door, and stick it to printer paper so you can read the labels clearly. Scan this collection of the sticky labels and keep the scanned digital version in a “Final” folder for safekeeping.

Taking advantage of passive solar with windows (goal 15% vs solar 75% efficiency)

The rebate cheque has arrived …. We deposited $2700 in our account at the end of November. Some forty hours were invested in taking care of the paperwork and following up on questions. It should not be so hard.

Wescon Door - Necessity is the Mother of Invention.

The Arts & Crafts technique of using hammered copper as a decorative element really appealed to us.Originally that was the treatment we anticipated for the front door. In other words the door would be clad in metal. We headed up island to see what kind of door we could find in the seconds section of Wescon Door - a division of Fenstur. They had a big beautiful very tall door that was just the right size for us. The people at Fenstur fashioned a sidelight and trim for us at a fraction of what a custom ordered door would have run.

Under ordinary circumstances we would have had the door shipped to David and Susan’ Scott workshop to have the hammering done. When Covid 19 hit, it was clearly unwise to ship the door off -island. Necessity is the mother of invention. We got to talking about an appliqué that could be put on the door here in Victoria. One thing led to another. In one of the weekly teleconferences, the subject of the grilles for the air returns came up. None of us were wild about the standard run of the mill grilles - the heating company was supplying and they were none too cheap. Why not fashion something particular to our house and location? Like ferns for Fernwood! Here is David:

“The pattern for the floor grills and front door which we have developed utilizing ellipses arranged in a frond as a common element which is functional as opening for air flow and in repeated low relief bears similarity to the hammer markings on the door.    

We’re in the process of reviewing costs for various brass alloys for the door in 1/32” thickness and the grills in 3/16” thickness.  The material only costs are relatively good from the first received quotation (attached) with the door skin at $530.00 and the floor grills at $25 per area.  We have requested pricing also from a second supplier back east that specialized in a variety of alloys. We will begin reviewing the cost (and feasibility) of the etching with a sign shop and the grills with a waterjet cutter we use frequently to determine total costs. 

The floor grill costs will be a product of purchasing a full sheet and maximizing the number of grilles which can be made so the cost can change depending on efficiency of layout; however we are encouraged that the material costs are holding well below a commercial grille and are optimistic that they can be made  below $100 ea. and ideally bringing the thickness up to 1/4”.

The knocker is making its way across the Atlantic:) 

All the best and looking forward to seeing the progress on site.”

The door (and the grilles )are some of the best loved aspects of the house. Here’s the breakdown of the costs:

36 by 96 door - $400

sidelight - $1328

Roma handle $475

Multipoint $750

Door skin $530 Total $3,483 (excluding architect’s design fee)

Interior Doors

When Covid-19 hit, we abandoned the search for salvaged doors. Most of the original doors were long gone. David Scott (architect) had worked with a woodcrafter in Lillooet. People and places David references are invariably sources of good things. Basil, the owner of Second Growth Woodcraft made seven doors. They are Solid VG Douglas Fir. in the Shaker style. As with the few old doors that were left in our 1911 structure - the size is 2’6” 4 5/8” jamb the cost per door is $578. (The basement door was smaller). The total is $4,671.15. Vintage Chicago sourced door knobs will finish off Basil’s doors David has fashioned leather backers. See images in the after photos. Claire (our industrial designer daughter sequestered in Chicago during the pandemic) unearthed a box of pre-War knobs by the Chicago architect, DeGolyer. We paid more than we would have for salvaged doors - but - invariably those doors would have needed work and it was pretty unlikely we would find seven of a kind. All these doors needed was a proper paint job. Once old door refurbishing was taken into consideration, given the high quality of the material and the workmanship of Second Growth and the virtue of supporting a local manufacturing business at a time when business is nearly at a standstill buying new seemed like the right choice.

Second Growth Woodcraft is based in Lillooet is, a town of some 1000 households about 150 miles northeast of Vancouver. The modern town had its start as one of the main centres of the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush of 1858–59, reckoned to be "the largest town west of Chicago and north of San Francisco", at the time.

But the valley has been settled for millennia Lillooet is an important location in Aboriginal history and culture and remains one of the main population centers of the St'at'imc (Lillooet Nation), and today it is one of the southernmost communities in North America where indigenous people form the majority and assert ownership and independent nationhood. Lillooet has a long growing season, and once had prolific market gardens and orchard produce. It often vies with Lytton and Osoyoos for the title of "Canada's Hot Spot".

Devastating wildfire ripped through BC and destroyed towns south of Lillooet as the heat dome descended. British Columbia Premier John Horgan, said: “Three consecutive days of the highest recorded temperature in Canadian history all happened in Lytton (south of Lillooet) this week. To have a heat wave and a horrific fire is so troubling and so challenging for the people of this community.”  The heat in Lytton set its first national record on Sunday, reaching 115 F (45.1 C), then set another new high Monday, at 118.2 F (47.9 C). After yet another record high Tuesday, the heat eased to 102 degrees F (39 C) on Wednesday. Officials said that in the previous 24 hours there had been 62 new fires and 29,000 lightening strikes. The fire near Lytton had grown to around 22,000 acres (9,000 hectares).

French door to deck and door to green roof

Some of the biggest improvements in the lived experience will come from the installation of these doors. There were no porches or decks on the house as we found it.