It now feels like forever ago that we had new windows installed in our house — and for a while there, we weren’t even sure if they would ever arrive. But let me just tell you that they are already making all the difference in the world, even though they aren’t 100% finished.
About 3 weeks before we were supposed to leave for Florida, we got the go ahead from the Denkmalschutzamt (German Historical Society) that they were going to approve the replacement of the windows. You see, we still had the super old, single pane windows in our house. And as much as I loved the history of them, many of the panes were cracked, they let all of the street noise in and judging from the draft they let in to the house, they might as well have been left open all the time.
So we put in the order for the windows, and then hoped and prayed they would arrive in time for them to be installed before we left. By some miracle (and a few phone calls) the process began. I have to admit that I was pretty scared and sad at the same time when everything started. For one, I had no idea just how much mess and chaos was going to be involved with this. The last major renovation we did in our house caused a thick of layer of dust to settle over the house. And if the weather had turned out to be super cold (which it thankfully wasn’t) it would have been like throwing money out of the window as far as heating was concerned.
And I was sad because I feared we would lose some of that old house feeling by removing these old windows. And we did. But at the same time, we also gained a whole lot as well.
As it turned out, replacing windows is not all that horrible — or perhaps that’s only the case if you have a professional do it. A team of 2 guys (it was actually 3 on one day when we started really leaning on them to wrap things up) removed and replaced 12 windows throughout our house. They laid down blankets under and around where they were working to catch the mess — and in almost all cases it worked well. The only fail they had was in the living room, where they just insisted that we didn’t need to move any furniture. Note to self: Don’t listen when they say they’ll just nudge the furniture out of the way. Apparently that is a sure fire way to get your sofas covered with debris.
At any rate, they managed to get 12 windows switched out in just 3 days time…they also sprayed in some insulation foam and have the windows mostly set. They just need to come back in the next week or so and finish things off for a final look.
The difference is remarkable. Not only can you hardly here our neighbors’ dogs barking up a storm but a major portion of the street noise has also been cut back. And there is a huge difference in the heating. Since we returned from Florida, we have barely had to touch our thermostats. And we’ve had some pretty major temperature fluctuations, from in the 50’s (12°C) to below freezing (-2°C in the day, -7°C overnight). I have only turned up one heater by a degree…and the rest has just remained comfortably warm. That aspect alone is going to have these windows paying for themselves over the next couple of years.
Something that is rather nice is that the window guy ordered frosted glass for both of our bathrooms. We had a film from IKEA over two of our windows downstairs to keep our neighbors from peaking in. But it’s incredible just how much more light comes through with this glazing versus the film. I will have to ready myself for a trip to IKEA at some stage though. My office window is now without a cover, and I have to admit that I am not so keen about everyone being able to peak in here. But I do kind like being able to spy on the neighbors more often now. 😉
Although I wanted to cry the day after the first three windows were installed, I’m totally happy with them now. So if you have some great ideas about where we can get about 24 handles for less than €30/each, please feel free to fill me in. Our windows guy assumed we’d want the icky standard white ones…he was wrong.
What’s the latest renovation project you’ve been up to?
I would never replace the handles. Seriously. Most of the windows have these so integrated that other handles will never fit them. And where are your Fensterbänke? Did they forget them? And check for air leaks. Buy a couple sticks of incense from your local Drogerie, light them and go around the frames of the windows to make sure there are no draughts/drafts. The incense smoke is the best tell-tale, because it will blow in your face if there is even the tiniest draught. You have protest (Reklamieren) at once – preferably before you transfer all of the money to their account. And we use see-through shimmer drapes, plus we have Rolladen.
Hi Celeste,
Only that one window had a window sill that they removed inside. And they’ve put it back in already. But there are definitely air leaks at the moment because they have not completely sealed everything up. We’re hoping to get an appointment with them in the next week or so to finish the last bits up. There just wasn’t enough time to do the details before we went on vacation. I will definitely keep your tip in mind about the incense, though. A very good tip. I guess a candle might do the same as they tend to flicker with just the slightest draft.
Rolladen aren’t an option for us because our house is Fachwerk and an “improvement” like that would surely bring the Denkmalschutzamt to our house in a heartbeat. But we do have old wooden shutters on the windows, which we often use in the winter. Unfortunately the previous owner of our house kinda neglected the little locking heads for the shutters by my office, because they are painted in place and only one side of the shutters can be opened/closed. 😉
Thanks for your experienced input! 🙂
Candle won’t work, because it has a flame and you can’t see exactly where the air leak is. Besides candles flicker when you move them, even if there is no air leak. Since an incense stick only has a trail of smoke and no flame, you can determine exactly where the air leak is. The German “Gutachter” who investigate dangerous mildew in appartments use non-scented incense sticks.
Denkmalschutz! Hor doch auf! LOL! Our house was built in the 1570’s, and we have Rolladen on all of the windows, and we live in the State of Hessen too. We even have a solar water heater on the roof. All you have to do is contact the Ministry for Energy Conservation. Energy conservation has priority over Denkmalschutz, if the building is being lived in. The usual stipulation is that you have to install the housing boxes on the interior and not on the exterior. If it were up to the Denkmalschutz they would make you heat your house with wooden stoves can pump your water outside by hand! You aren’t living in a museum. You’re living in a house, and energy is expensive in Germany! Rolladen add an extra air cushion between the windows and the great outdoors. Since glass is the biggest heat-loss drain leak in your house, letting down your rolladen at night will not only give you absolute privacy, but serve as an extra insulation, especially during this time of year. Experience has taught us this – we live in the Rhön – the coldest place in Hessen.
Looks great ,and the experienced friend with good advice was great,too.Getting your house to seal and be “as new” is a task which may be alittle tough but with sealing and insulation done in a right way you be really so much warmer and keep an eye on your neighbors……Stay warm and hug Mackenzie….
Hi Tiffany and Stafan,
Manufactum has some great handles and replicata.de can help as well, but both have price tags higher than the EUR30 mark- just take use of the high US-Dollar rate 😉
Ciao, F