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?)


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[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]

Originally Posted by 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!!!!!

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[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.


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[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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?