New House - Strange Windows

[applesoffh]

Just closed on my Lilac in Village of Charlotte on January 23rd. First thing hubby and I noticed was that none of the windows in the house open easily from the bottom. Notes were made on the Warranty checklist and shown to our builder upon review. He said windows were installed to specs. We questioned howe anyone under 6' tall coule open these windows...there is no lip at the bottom to allow the fingers to grasp and push the window up. The window must be pushes from the lip just above the locks. Once the window is open, you have to be tall enough to reach the top of the TOP window to pull it down again. The builder sent our complaint along to the Project Manager. We complained to HIM about the windows, and he said they were perfectly fine, that 50% of all newer homes have these windows installed and no one has complained. I don't get it. If you are short, or have arthritic hands or whatever...how the heck are you supposed top open and shut your windows? I really, really find it hard to believe that absolutely no one in TV has complained about this issue. I don't know about anyone else, but I have NEVER had to open a window in this manner. Comments, please. Also, if you've run into this problem and complained about it, did you achieve any results?

[applesoffh]

I've tried to correct the typos in my post, but haven't been able to do so. Please excuse...

[KittyKat]

Yes, the windows are extememly hard to open. That's just the way they are. I hate them. Probably cheap like everything else TV puts in their houses.:duck:

[KEVIN & JOSIE]

Yes, the windows are extememly hard to open. That's just the way they are. I hate them. Probably cheap like everything else TV puts in their houses.:duck:

It's a shame they don't spend an extra couple of dollars for better windows. A top of the line double glazed, argon gas , energy star window at cost is only about $100.00. After all, they definately aren't losing any money on any of these homes....they're all overpriced for the Florida real estate market.

[Sadie1313]

Just closed on my Lilac in Village of Charlotte on January 23rd. First thing hubby and I noticed was that none of the windows in the house open easily from the bottom. Notes were made on the Warranty checklist and shown to our builder upon review. He said windows were installed to specs. We questioned howe anyone under 6' tall coule open these windows...there is no lip at the bottom to allow the fingers to grasp and push the window up. The window must be pushes from the lip just above the locks. Once the window is open, you have to be tall enough to reach the top of the TOP window to pull it down again. The builder sent our complaint along to the Project Manager. We complained to HIM about the windows, and he said they were perfectly fine, that 50% of all newer homes have these windows installed and no one has complained. I don't get it. If you are short, or have arthritic hands or whatever...how the heck are you supposed top open and shut your windows? I really, really find it hard to believe that absolutely no one in TV has complained about this issue. I don't know about anyone else, but I have NEVER had to open a window in this manner. Comments, please. Also, if you've run into this problem and complained about it, did you achieve any results?
Whoever told you that nobody complained about those strange windows, is lying. We have a Gardenia and closed on our home on Sept. 1st. I'm short and couldn't open any of the windows, due to there being no grip at the bottom. Also, the windows were sooo tight, even if I had a grip on the bottom, I couldn't push them up. I called Warranty and they sent two men. They loosened all the windows so that they slide easier. However, they said that these were the windows that the builder is using, and we had no recourse. I love my home, but am not happy about the windows. Trish :boxing2:

[Uptown Girl]

Don't have a problem with mine... I am well under 6 foot tall, and my house is new.
We didn't spend a bazillion dollars buying our home, so we did not anticipate that what the builder provides would be (from tip to stern) the best of the highest end products available. If we wanted a truly custom built home (like we have built in the past) I would have built one exactly to my specs, right down to the screws for the drywall.

I do know that everything chosen here must meet standards and evidently does.
Judging from our electric bills (since purchasing early last spring) we are doing quite well, energy-wise.
For what it is, I am quite satisfied with our home, and very happy we live in The Villages..
P.S. Mine tilt in for ease of cleaning, as well.

[shcisamax]

I wonder if I ask in my "deisgn meeting" to get the 50% of the windows with a lip that aren't a pain to open if they will abide and provide. I have heard before the quality has gone down and they don't "build 'em like they used to".
I hope TV hasn't decided that the quality they have given in the past is not necessary because their reputation has gotten so good so they started cutting corners.

[graciegirl]

I am confused about a lip on bottom of windows, we have something to grab onto at the bottom. Some windows may need for them to look at and fix as they do open hard but not awful hard and they did come and fix the track on our slider that opened hard. They took the whole thing down and put new wheels on it.

I am really sorry you are disappointed in your windows and I know you must have different ones than I have and I am so sad that you can't open them.

We closed at the end of September on our second new house here and also our three and a half year old Camellia in Hadley had "lips" on the windows. It appears that the windows are different on your house than mine.

I feel that the developers and builders and decision makers read this forum. Other don't think so, but I do. This forum is the pulse of The Villages. This forum is powerful. It is a good idea to post things here that needattention.

The warranty department has been very helpful and quickly responsive to us in both new homes.

[shcisamax]

Is it related to the style of the house? Lantana or Gardenia? or the series? Courtyard, Designer, Premium?

[Debfrommaine]

Agree with comments posted that windows are hard to open, poor design. But, they have loosened up a bit over time. You are correct too that there is no lip to grab on to - poor design but we're getting used to them. We have a CYV.

[memason]

I have to agree with Gracie.... all of our windows have lips on the bottom and at the top. We've not had any problems with our windows.

We are in a Designer home, if that matters ???

[BostonCelt]

Just closed on my Lilac in Village of Charlotte on January 23rd. First thing hubby and I noticed was that none of the windows in the house open easily from the bottom. Notes were made on the Warranty checklist and shown to our builder upon review. He said windows were installed to specs. We questioned howe anyone under 6' tall coule open these windows...there is no lip at the bottom to allow the fingers to grasp and push the window up. The window must be pushes from the lip just above the locks. Once the window is open, you have to be tall enough to reach the top of the TOP window to pull it down again. The builder sent our complaint along to the Project Manager. We complained to HIM about the windows, and he said they were perfectly fine, that 50% of all newer homes have these windows installed and no one has complained. I don't get it. If you are short, or have arthritic hands or whatever...how the heck are you supposed top open and shut your windows? I really, really find it hard to believe that absolutely no one in TV has complained about this issue. I don't know about anyone else, but I have NEVER had to open a window in this manner. Comments, please. Also, if you've run into this problem and complained about it, did you achieve any results?

Hi, Neighbor!

I'm also on Yarborough, way in from Charlotte Way near Callahan (528) and closed on 1/27, a Designer (Iris). They must have been hammering our respective nails at the same time.

Which is strange, 'cause we apparently have entirely different windows. For mine, the lower half (below the lock) has a half inch lip at the very bottom and the same at the top. All are very snug and all...ALL...large and small...can be easily opened with one hand, most with one finger! In fact, until I read some of the previous posts, I thought they were the best windows I've ever had (though I do wish they'd tilt in from the top). Guess I've been living in real dumps....

For what it's worth on my P&S they're listed as "LOW-E WINDOWS" and described as "LoE, INSULATED, WHITE FRAME, CLEAR GLASS WINDOWS (NON-TILT). The obscured bathroom windows have the same design and operate just as smoothly.

I assume they didn't install yours inside out........right? Right?

Hope this helps.

[natickdan]

I also had some difficulty opening our windows and the person I hired to do our home inspection before the one year warranty expired proved to one of the smartest things I've recently done.

The home inspector said he was very familiar with is issue and it was caused by the window manufacturer installing the incorrect tension mechanism; and it was a known issue. He included the window issue in the inspection findings that he sent to The Villages warranty department. Shortly after, I received a call from the company that installed the windows acknowledging the wrong tension mechanism was installed my the manufacturer. After ordering the correct tension mechanism from the manufacturer, the installation company sent a couple of guys out to replace the tension mechanism in my windows. What a difference!

If this had not been reported as an issue prior to the home warranty expiration, I'm not sure the TV warranty department or the manufacturer would have fixed the windows. We are in a designer Allamanda home.

[applesoffh]

Dear Neighbor...

I, too, have a Designer, but your windows sound better than mine! I must have made an error in my description, though...my windows slide easily enough, it's the lack of lip that's totally frustrating and leaving me really annoyed with the answers I've been getting from the builder and project manager. Other than that, they appear to be decent windows. Walk on over! The name is on the lamppost!

[applesoffh]

I really don't understand this "no recourse" nonsense. Had we been aware that there were two different double-hung windows being used by the builders, we certainly would NOT have chosen the ones we have. I've never, ever, lived in a place where the double-hungs opened differently than from the very bottom, so it never occured to me to check. My mistake, obviously.

[KittyKat]

NatickDan, I'll bet this is our problem in our Amarillo(2007) ranch home. I still have trouble "breaking" the seal when I want to open the window. I think the warranty dept would be happy to send someone out to correct the tension.....NOT!!!!!

[chuckinca]

Silicon spray will loosen up the windows from the window frames. Can't help with missing lips tho (maybe as previously mentioned they are installed backwards - are the lock mechanisms inside?)


.

[moose]

I agree with the windows. I have an iris and it is on the large window off the nook that gives me trouble. Yes, a lip would have been a great help. It is a large window and heavy.

The builder and the window people came out several times. Of course, at first they said it was because I was weak. I took them over to my neighbors ....same house...same window...and opened hers for them. They put new tension things in and sprayed silicon...maybe. They told us not to use one spray...and I can't remember what it is...maybe it was the silicon.

I finally got a window suction cup....the one they use to lift glass or help you get out of the shower. It has two suction cups on it and a handle. I don't open the window much...but if I put that on the bottom...I now have enough leverage to life the window up.

[shcisamax]

There appear to be a lot of people with defective or substandard windows. When we go for the design meeting, I need to be sure to say we want the windows that work without the crowbar. :)

[shcisamax]

Actually one person mentioned that the windows that work perfectly were listed on his P&S...I have no idea what that is....as Low-E. So everyone might look at their P&S and see what they got.

[natickdan]

NatickDan, I'll bet this is our problem in our Amarillo(2007) ranch home. I still have trouble "breaking" the seal when I want to open the window. I think the warranty dept would be happy to send someone out to correct the tension.....NOT!!!!!

You have nothing to loose by calling the warranty department and, given this is a known issue, I would expect they wold advocate for you ( assmuming your windows were known to be part of those known to have the wrong tension mechanism ). My position is nothing ventured, nothing gained.

On another thought, I'm not sure how long the manufacture's warranty is ( it could or should be longer than one year ).

[applesoffh]

Wow - it seems that there are more people than I've been led to believe that have these "no lips/ledges on the bottom" windows and dislike them as much as I do. No, I don't have a "custom" house, but had I known from the design phase that there were two types of windows used, I would never have chosen the ones I'm now stuck with. There is no sticking issue - the windows move smoothly; it's the inability to get any grip at the bottom of the windows that is, INHO, wrong and a design flaw. I will continue my argument with the Warranty department and see where this leads. Thanks to everyone for their input.

[graciegirl]

Wow - it seems that there are more people than I've been led to believe that have these "no lips/ledges on the bottom" windows and dislike them as much as I do. No, I don't have a "custom" house, but had I known from the design phase that there were two types of windows used, I would never have chosen the ones I'm now stuck with. There is no sticking issue - the windows move smoothly; it's the inability to get any grip at the bottom of the windows that is, INHO, wrong and a design flaw. I will continue my argument with the Warranty department and see where this leads. Thanks to everyone for their input.

It is good to post on here when you have a problem, but you will get the quickest and best results from contacting the appropriate people with the power to change it.

If you are NOT getting the results you want, ask to speak to that persons superior.

As I told Penquin when he had a problem, if you take it to the right people here, someone will find a solution. I am very sure that something is wrong with your windows.

Please keep us posted when you find the solution.



Our designer in Hadley was NOT a custom house. Some of you new people may not know that just three years ago for quite a period of time they were not building for people AT ALL. Any new house was built and then sold. No choice of lots, just buy what was built.

[VillageSitter]

To those of you who have the windows with no lip at the bottom ... who was your builder?
The reason I am asking that question is, my friend who settled at the exact time as we did in St. James has those windows and she always complains about them. I have the ones which are easy to put up (with a bottom lip) so it leads me to believe it is a specific builder who is installing the cheap windows. Post who your builder was and you may find that is the culprit.:ohdear:

[Russ_Boston]

I have the lips on the bottom and my home was built in the end of 2010. But I agree that better windows (open in to clean for example) would be better.

[anlashokna]

I'm glad this was brought up. We're planning on moving down to TV and rent for a year then buy toward the end of the year. Will definately add this to the checklist of things to look at when purchasing. Something I haven't really seen said. Are the windows themselves under any sort of warrranty? Can you go back on the company. I know in our current home we had an issue with one of the windows. Took a bit of time but they did replace it under window warranty. The sale rep talked about the home warranty down there and my father laughed. Lets just say we don't have a lot of faith in those.

[Markam]

A couple of our windows were very hard to operate and this was pointed out the builder during our 'walk-thru'. He agreed and had the window company come out to fix them. Turns out that they wound up having to replace all of the springs in all of our windows - which they did without any objection, along with adding some missing weatherstripping.

[chuckinca]

Dual pane windows generally have a warranty longer than one year. We replaced all the windows in our Norcal home in 2006 with dual panes. Last year the largest window looked a bit unusual and we called the supplier and they got the manufacturer to replace it at no cost to us. The windows have a ten year warranty.


.

[Happinow]

We were told there are 6 builders. I'll bet this accounts for the differences from how many changes you can make to which windows they use. Luck of the draw.

[Tickled_pink]

To those of you who have the windows with no lip at the bottom ... who was your builder?
The reason I am asking that question is, my friend who settled at the exact time as we did in St. James has those windows and she always complains about them. I have the ones which are easy to put up (with a bottom lip) so it leads me to believe it is a specific builder who is installing the cheap windows. Post who your builder was and you may find that is the culprit.:ohdear:

What a great question. Can't wait to read some of the replies. Does a person have a choice of what builder they can have?

[shcisamax]

THAT is the great question. CAN YOU PICK YOUR BUILDER?

[Happinow]

I don't believe you can pick your builder.

[shcisamax]

Oh I am sure they will put the ixnay on that.

[applesoffh]

I hesitate to name my builder publicly - I still need stuff done and I don't want any problems. Send me a private message. What I DID learn is that the builder uses the products supplied by his project manager. The project manager on my house told me that I have the right windows, that they were expensive, and that there's nothing wrong with them. I am now going to conact his supervisor. I have his name also.

[Happinow]

Oh I am sure they will put the ixnay on that.

I speak fluent pig latin....the truth.

[graciegirl]

I hesitate to name my builder publicly - I still need stuff done and I don't want any problems. Send me a private message. What I DID learn is that the builder uses the products supplied by his project manager. The project manager on my house told me that I have the right windows, that they were expensive, and that there's nothing wrong with them. I am now going to conact his supervisor. I have his name also.

Do you suppose you could take a picture of your windows? Here is a picture of mine.

[lawatha]

We bought our Wisteria last summer, and our windows have top and bottom lips- very easy to open. Do your windows have the grids in them? Ours do- I was wondering if the different style windows (gridded vs no grids) match up with the lips/no lips. Interesting- I hope you get your windows adjusted so they're easier to open.

[applesoffh]

Here is the answer I FINALLY recerived regarding my windows...and I got it from the distributor and manufacturer. Supposedly, the windows were chosen because they can withstand winds of up to 120 miles per hour (in case of hurricanes), which is helped because there is no lip at the bottom. Let's hope I never have to see if it's true. Why the project manager couldn't tell me this, since he chose this type of window in the first place, remains a mystery.

[Pturner]

Here is the answer I FINALLY recerived regarding my windows...and I got it from the distributor and manufacturer. Supposedly, the windows were chosen because they can withstand winds of up to 120 miles per hour (in case of hurricanes), which is helped because there is no lip at the bottom. Let's hope I never have to see if it's true. Why the project manager couldn't tell me this, since he chose this type of window in the first place, remains a mystery.

Would an engineer please come in and tell me how an interior lip would affect the window's ability to withstanding high winds? (Where's Tony when you need him?) Was the manufacturer blowing gale-force smoke or does that explanation for the window being designed without a bottom interior lip make sense? :undecided:

[jblum315]

I can get the windows up and down (I'm 5'4") but the locks are very hard to open and close, so for fresh air I just open the lanai door and the front screen door. I never touch the windows.

[applesoffh]

Would an engineer please come in and tell me how an interior lip would affect the window's ability to withstanding high winds? (Where's Tony when you need him?) Was the manufacturer blowing gale-force smoke or does that explanation for the window being designed without a bottom interior lip make sense? :undecided:

Oh, Pturner, if I only knew who to believe about this. All I know is that these are the windows I have, that was the explanation I received, and if I want them replaced (all 11) then it's my dime.

[jimbo2012]

what does the wind outside have to do with a lip to open/inside have to do with it?

you add small handles that match color wise.

But I would continue to demand a fix or or take them to small claims court, I guarantee that when they get a notice to appear in court your windows will be fixed.

Hi judge here's a picture how can I open them???

[Pturner]

Oh, Pturner, if I only knew who to believe about this. All I know is that these are the windows I have, that was the explanation I received, and if I want them replaced (all 11) then it's my dime.

Since it appears arguing isn't going to work, here's a thought. It might not work either, but you have nothing to lose by trying. What if you were to call Janet Tutt-- if that's not the right person, somebody please suggest another name.

Tell her that you've purchased here and love everything except one really big disappointment. Explain what you've told us about your windows and about the bad luck in having this type window installed when windows with bottom ledges are also commonly used by TV builders. Ask her if there is any way TV would be willing to ask the builder to change out your windows for the other type. If she says no, ask her if for advice on whether someone else might be able to assist you.

It might be a long shot, but why not ask. If it doesn't work, you might want to seriously consider biting the bullet and buying windows you like and having them installed. It might be worth the cost rather than letting the windows dampen your enthusiasm for your new home.

[l2ridehd]

Oh no. All these windows in the 60,000 previous homes will blow out if the wind gets to gale force. Such a crock. The bottom lip that is "normally" used to lift the window to open it has nothing to do with the strength of the glass to protect you from wind. If anything that lip which adds a 90 degree bend in the bottom support would slightly improve the strength of the frame. It may be a stronger window just with a different design, but the ability to open and close them can be built in to any window. Someone is blowing smoke up you know where.

Go after it as a safety issue. I can't get out of my bedroom window if the home is on fire because of the difficulty in opening the window. The only chair I have to throw though it is an over stuffed one I can't lift. If they suspect a liability issue, those windows will be gone.