Last week we installed all the windows in a new house we are building. They are Andersen 400 series tilt wash. Same as we always use and exactly what is listed in our spec sheet.
The homeowners were furious when they saw the windows. The wife was absolutely bawling. Seems they somehow assumed they were getting the 200 series with those cute little clips to make tilting them in so easy. She said she can’t even tilt these in because they are so hard. I agree with her on that, they can be difficult for a women to operate.
They have cooled down now that they realize they have the better window.
But does anyone know of a type of tool or something that makes it easier for someone to operate the tiltwash sash? Seems like something that needs to be made soon. Because those little slider clips they use don’t even help with tilting the top sash and only slightly with the botom sash.
Anyone else ever run into this problem?
Replies
The 400 Series is a 400 Series and you have to sell them that way. They do not operate like a 200 Series or vinyl replacement window. They operate like a 400 Series. It the window is installed correctly, they're really not that hard to operate, just different. Before I sell them I always show the HO a fullsize sample window and how they operate, warning that after they're installed they are going to be a little more difficult.
The 400 Series DH is a smokin' window!
A 'painter's tool' works just fine. I'm not sure of the technical name some folks call it a 5 in 1. Looks like a wide putty knife with a point on one eend of the blade and a curved notch at the other.
Slip the point in and the window will pop right out.
Tell them to take a chill pill. They got better windows, and they are not hard to work with. I could take them off your hand for 50 dollars apiece.
How often do they plan on tilting those windows?
Getting furious and bawling is a bit dramatic over an excellent window.
The way she was crying you would think she cleaned her windows every day.
Thanks for the $50 offer but after they cooled down he said to me, "Since you've been so good to us this far. I'm not going to make you take them all out and put something different in." I don't know if he was talking to someone behind me or not but I just smiled. Because I knew he wasn't getting any different windows from me.
This thread is making me laugh. We once retrieved a voice message one morning that had been left that same day at 2:30 am. The woman was a client who was crying hysterically because the paint color in a room was not what she expected. There are times that I just want to give someone five across the eyes like they do in the movies, then put my hands on their shoulders and shake them screaming "get ahold of yourself goddammit" "I'm your huckleberry"
Edited 1/31/2006 11:29 am ET by xosder11
EXACTLY!!! Thank you xosder11
Till 2 years ago, I too would be somewhat dismissive about the difficulty in tilting in a 400 series window. However I spent over a year responsible for millwork at a Home Depot - and I discovered a number of folks - all ages - really do have problems with small opening devices.
A bigger problem are the self-storing storm doors from Anderson-Emco - they have the usual small slide lock found on this type of door. Yet I was absolutely amazed at the number of people who struggled with the slide lock in the store - and I kept our displays lubricated because of the use.
And I made a number of "house calls" to find elderly folks beside themselves with storm doors and windows they could open due to arthritis or other dexterity problems.
A crafty entrepreuner could make a simple plastic clip handle to help open/close these type of locks. Yes, painter's 5 in 1, screwdrivers, etc. also work but slip with the tool and you risk damaging the sash/frame or yourself. Remember, you may be dealiing with folks with mobility and/or dexterity problems as a helath issue.
I know this post is a bit old, but I just came across it while trying to decide what windows to retrofit into my house. I agree that they can be hard to open, I struggled a bit on the display models. I was wondering if a spreader clamp would be the answer. Positioned above the sash it could push both sides out simultaneously. I have one made by vice grip that is a bar clamp, but the head can be reversed and become a spreader. It is not the type with a screw clamp, just a handle that you squeeze repeatedly. It spent a stint in my van door holding up the window for awhile, but that's another story.
Tell them HandyWorx sent ya!http://www.windowtools.com/View Image
I think that would work. We would have to paint them pink and make them frilly so woman would want to buy them and use them all the time.
Men!
Look Guys. Women buy and use these windows. The whole point of buying new tilt windows is that you just spent $60,000 plus so you don't have to bug your man to climb the ladder after work to clean the window and pay the hospital bill when he falls off the ladder. I would be pissed if my fancy new Pella , Marvin, or Andersen windows needed a hammer or Hercules to get them open. What an advertising rip off these windows are! A simple engineering redesign of the release would make it much more user friendly. I use the butt end of a hammer to push the the lever down on my windows but it takes 2 of us to pull down the windows over 3 feet. My husband bench press 200 lbs and I am no shrinking violet. Hire a female engineer!!! or grow a vagina..