Paint, Windows, & Warmer Weather

 Since my last post we have gotten quite a bit done on the outside and are getting closer to moving to the interior.  But, of course, we have been working around cold weather including another ice storm.

The painters came in February and got the exterior painted so we could be ready when the windows came in. The paint made such a big difference in just freshening up the outside.  There were some things my perfectionist husband had to adjust to and that was how the paint went on smoother over the new siding versus the old boards with old paint on it.  When you are dealing with a house that was built in 1921 there are just some things that you chalk up to "it gives it character".

The windows were supposed to be in on February 15th but of course they were delayed a week and then delivery was delayed a few days because roads were icy. They finally got here and we started installing them this weekend.  

I have always been my husband's biggest fan when it comes to construction related projects because he just seems to know how to do things that most people would have to hire someone to do.  Window installation has been added to his tool belt of skills.  Originally, we got several bids that included installation but they were just so extremely high that he thought he could do it himself.  After watching a few you-tube videos, he discovered that he probably could do it.  We were able to install three of the thirteen windows this weekend.  We started with the small ones and will work up to putting the big ones in!

Throughout this project my job has been site cleaner-upper and tool go-getter.  I don't always have the skill set to be much help but I am the encourager and problem solver.....sometimes to my husband's chagrin. This weekend I learned about arm muscles that I haven't used in awhile ---my job was to hold the window in the frame while he ran to get various tools and supplies that he forgot were in the house, in the truck, or anywhere but where we needed them to be.  I was feeling it the next day.

Some of the unusual things that we found when we pulled the windows out are shown below.  We have all heard of window weights--most of our grandparents lived in a house at one time that had them so that was not a real surprise to see.  But the two pictures below of the twisted metal/wire of sorts was attached to the bottom of the window with that flat metal piece and had a spring at the top of the twisted metal/wire.  This was something we had not seen before and will have to look into to figure out what it is.  Do you know what it is?

Spring break is coming so more windows to install and maybe start to the inside!  After we get them installed I get to paint the trim around the windows.  Houses of this period from what I've seen so far were black and white so I'm thinking black trim---any other suggestions?