The masons had a gorgeous, sunny day on Wednesday and got all the brick laid. It went back remarkably quickly and looks amazing! I'm so glad we were able to reuse it. It was a labor-intensive process, but the result is so worth it. They are putting plates on the foundations today, whatever those are, and plan to start framing on Monday.
Meanwhile, we've reached a critical decision point on the windows. We got our estimates, and the Architect Series bid (the more historically accurate windows with ogees, old-fashioned hardware, etc.) came in at almost twice the cost of the ProLine windows. We have ten new windows total, so it's a huge difference.
We also learned that uneven double-hungs (the bottom sash is larger than the top sash) are not available in ProLine--a detail we were planning for two of the window groupings. It doesn't work to mix the window brands (the appearances vary too much) so we have to pick a brand and live with it.
I wish I knew how we'd feel about it when we were finished. I don't want to think, every time I look through a window, "Well, that was a bad call. We should have scrimped somewhere else so we could have gotten the Architect Series windows." Neither do I want to go way over budget on a single item, not knowing what potentially costly surprises might be lurking in this old house.
It comes down to this: How do you make the call between doing what's right for the house, and what's right for the budget? And if I do splurge on the Architect Series windows, what am I willing to cut back on? Lighting? Counters?
Your suggestions, comments and ideas are welcome...this one has to be decided sooner rather than later.
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I’ve heard it be advised before, that when making a decision….. ask yourself what kind of "story" will you want to tell in the future about your house addition? What “story” will you be comfortable and proud to tell others?
ReplyDeleteThis might help you make the correct decision for you.
After building two homes, the only thing I can say is that toward the end of the project we always had to either wait to finish something or go a less expensive route because we had gone over budget. Sometimes it was worth it...othertimes, not so much. For instance, we got the windows we wanted, but we still don't have backsplashes in the kitchen or bathrooms (nor are any of our doors or millwork painted). I figured it would be easier to do a backsplash at a later date, than to be unhappy with the windows & want to replace them later...
ReplyDeleteWell, first of all, a "plate" is a horizontally laid 2x6 or 2x4 that is usually "wet-set" into the foundation after it's poured. Here in earthquake country at least, bolts are set into the foundation and holes pre-drilled into the plates before they are set, allowing the plate (and thus the wall framing of which it is the base) to be mechanically fastened to the foundation.
ReplyDeleteAs for which windows - I would tally up the total cost differential and then ask yourself this question: if you go wtih the Architect Series, are more likely to spend the next few years saying "I can't believe we spent X extra on these windows" or "I can't believe we ever considered skimping on these windows to save a mere X"? Cold hard figures have a way of clarifying one's emotions, I find.