Pre-Replacement Info for Residents:
If you're worried about window replacements in your home, don't be. Life is too short to lose sleep over getting new windows, and with everyone’s cooperation, there’s always a way to work around any problem.

We’ve specialized in window replacement for apartments & condominiums since 1993, and tend to surprise even the most skeptical tenants with how smooth the job actually goes. Our work is usually performed in an assembly-line fashion, and most apartments might take us only an hour or two. The more you cooperate with us, moving your belongings out of our way beforehand, and containing your pets, the smoother our job can go.

You’ll probably get plenty of notice of when we plan to do the work at your building. We usually start on the top floor, working our way downward (or from one end of a building, working toward the other). In knowing this, you might be able to predict our progress as we approach your apartment. At least a day before changing the windows in your home, we’ll post a reminder notice on your door, stating specifically when the work will probably happen. You’ll be instructed on things to move, and what to expect.

We have two to three trucks that will probably be taking up space somewhere in the area, and any cooperation or understanding regarding parking frustrations is appreciated.  Also, you'll need to move any vehicles beneath windows that still need replacing.  If you are on-site, and leave a phone number on your windshield, we can call when we need your car moved.

Again, don't lose any sleep over your new windows. Everything should go just fine, and you'll soon be enjoying your super-energy-efficient windows with new screens. Your new windows will probably make your home much quieter as well. Thanks for your cooperation! It's much appreciated.





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 Q&A   Pre Window-Replacement Questions & Answers   Q&A





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If you don't see your question answered here, please send us a message in the box below, and we'll see if we can't answer it for you soon. If not, go ahead and call up your building management and let them know we're not currently available to promptly answer your question. Ask them give us a call and 'twist our arm'. We prefer to limit our communication with building residents to on-site conversations, and get phone calls from the management only. Otherwise we can easily get overwhelmed with floods of daily calls, and we're often quite busy keeping everything moving along as smoothly as we can for everyone. Thanks!

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© 2010   Cutting Edge Windows, LLC   (window replacement for multi-family buildings) (206) 633-0202




































Questions & Answers:

How long does the work actually take?

 This depends on the application: what kind of building & old windows you have and what type of windows we’re going to install. Some situations require 8 hours to change one window, and others allow us to easily replace 40 in a day. The most common day for us includes about 20 to 30 window replacements. Usually that means a couple hours per apt. or condo.

By the way, we often do patio doors on a different day from the windows. The work in replacing the doors goes slower, and we typically install ten to 15 before quitting time.

If you see us on one end of the building, working our way toward your home, you might be able to see how things are moving along and have a good guess how long it’ll take to do your windows or patio doors. Feel free to come and ask any of us if you want. We won’t bite.


Please replace my windows first, (or last).

First of all, we almost always start at the top floor, proceeding downward. This is so that debris from the old windows being removed don’t dirty or damage new windows that would otherwise be below them. Secondly, as a crew, we need the freedom to install the windows in an organized fashion in order to make the best use of our time, so we can’t promise anything here. But, if you have any scheduling concerns or issues, please call the building management or come find us while we are working. We'll see what we can do. Put a note on your door also, because while working in so many apartments in a day, we might forget the details, or which apartment is yours. The sooner we know about your situation, the easier it might be for us to work around it.

In July of 2000, I was in Seattle’s Rainier District posting reminder notices on apartment doors for some window replacements we were doing the next day. For a variety of reasons, each and every tenant wanted to be done first, and they all came outside, creating a big commotion. “I have to go to work early in the day tomorrow!”, “I sleep days!”, “I have a doctor’s appointment!”, “I’ve lived at this building longer than anyone else!”, “I pay the highest rent!”, and so on. I’m not a trained mediator, so I just told everyone to work the schedule out among themselves and then to put their “resulting number” on a piece of paper stuck to their door the next morning, and that we might try to follow the order which they all collectively decide on. Big mistake. The next morning, every door had the number “1” on it. Again, there was a big commotion outside, and I not being a trained psychologist, told everyone, “You’re all bad people! Bad!” Everyone laughed and went back inside. We did our best to work the day out, compromising our understanding of everyone’s specific needs with our need for an orderly workflow. In the end, the job went very smooth, and everyone was happy, realizing that they had very little to worry about in the first place, –and that they were being very bad people (just kidding).


Must you replace my windows right now?

As we advance through an apartment or condominium building, replacing all of the windows, sometimes our knock on a door is followed by a voice asking, “Can you come back later?” Maybe folks are just getting out of bed, or out of the shower, or what-not, and we can always wait five or ten minutes before needing to start that home.

In some cases, we can do the next apartment first, and then return back before later going forward again. We don’t really like to do this, because our steady flow gets bounced around, inviting inefficiency or mistakes to happen. But again, once in a while we go the extra mile to work around a resident’s situation (sometimes even without complaining). Either way, please understand that we can’t always promise a whole lot here.

We’re glad to not have many stories related to this subject. Like if someone’s windows got removed, and not reinstalled before we left for the day. I can picture our crewman in the front of our assembly-line going backward to remove windows in such an apartment, only to leap-frog forward again, while the entire crew following behind fails to understand exactly what's happening. They may skip the apartment because it's not ready yet, and fail to return to it to get the new windows in. It’s hard to believe that such a thing could happen, but we're only human, and crazier things have happened (-with the other window companies I mean, not our window company, what were you thinking?).


When are you going to replace my windows?

Not knowing what stage your building is at, I'm going to start from the beginning of the entire process here from Proposal to Installation (your answer will come eventually).

1) Send a Proposal: The first thing we do is to walk around your building, counting windows and taking rough measurements. This allows us to produce a bid for your building’s owner. At this point, we don’t know if we’ll be doing the job yet, or if your building will actually get new windows. It depends on what we're offering and what our price is.

2) Take Critical Measurements: When your building owner calls us and says, “The bid looks great! Let’s do it.”, we then schedule for a Critical Measurement. The building management will notify everyone, and we’ll come take close measurements of every window from the inside of every apartment (or condo). Someone usually asks, “do you have to measure my windows? Aren’t they the same as the others?” We always have the same answer: “Yes, and yes.” Yes, we measure every window, and yes, they’re probably the same. We just don’t want any surprises when we come do the work.

3) Get a down payment and order the windows: This next step is up to the building owner. We get the down payment when they decide to send it, and then we order the windows from the manufacturer. From this point, we usually start the job in about two to three weeks.

4) Legal Access Notice: About a week or two before job-start, we send a “Legal Access Notice” for each apt./condo to the building management, who then posts them on each door. It will give you a generalized idea as to when we will be working on the entire building.

5) Reminder Notice: At least the day before we do your own apartment, we'll personally post a “Reminder Notice” on your door, letting you know when we specifically plan on doing your windows. Until then, you might be able to predict our timing simply by watching our progress as we approach your home. We usually need to start on the top floor, and procede downward. Also, please feel free to come ask us while we’re there working, and let us know if you have any scheduling concerns.


I work nights and sleep days.
How do you work around my schedule?

First of all, we want to be careful not to make any promises here, but usually to some degree, we can work around a tenant’s scheduling issues. Come find us to let us know who you are and which apartment you are in as soon as you can, because often times we can offer someone a vague time-of-day schedule for a particular apartment’s window replacements. This might be a designation such as “First Apartment For The Day” (so you can get to right to sleep as soon as we are done with your home), “Middle Of The Day” (so you can get a few hours of sleep in the morning), or “Late In The Day” (after you’ve slept all day).

Again, we can’t make any promises because we do need to do our work in an orderly manner, making the best use of our time, but we usually try to be as flexible as we reasonably can. Be sure to be very clear about when you would like the installation to happen. Also, put a note on your door, reminding us of what your wishes are.

In January of 2008, we were doing an apartment building on Queen Anne Hill, where a tenant thought he had told the building manager that he wished to be done first in the day so that he can get right to sleep afterward, but word was gotten to us that he wanted to happen late in the day. Unfortunately, he waited for us the whole while, and ultimately got no sleep at all before going to work afterward. He could have opened the door and let us know earlier on, and we might have been able to get him fixed up much sooner. Sometimes folks are a bit timid when it comes to communicating with construction workers, but everyone should understand that we won’t bite anyone’s head off.


Why are you replacing my patio doors on a separate day?

Answer: “Hats.” Usually, we wear our window hats on window days, and our patio door hats on patio door days. Just about everything is done differently between windows and patio doors, and fewer gears get stripped if we don’t have to keep going back & forth between the two. We’re more efficient and make fewer mistakes when concentrating on the same procedures and using the same tools all day long.

This typically works out well for most everyone, because when residents move stuff from in front of the windows for us, the area in front of the patio doors can be quite handy. However, we’ve made exceptions from time to time for particular situations by installing a patio door for someone on window day (even without complaining –very much). The decision process here usually depends on the circumstances. Sometimes it's easier for us to do 'em all at once too.





Can you be less noisy?

Yes, being construction workers, sometimes our tools and our work being performed can be loud. If you work nights & sleeps days or have small children trying to nap, you can come find us and let us know (don’t worry, we won’t bite your head off). While we might not be able to do much about it, it’s good for us to at least being aware of your situation. Maybe we’ll be able to make some kind of difference. The good news is that we move quickly, and for most multifamily buildings, folks only need to put up with us for a couple (or a few) days.


What if I’m sick or otherwise not feeling well?

Call the building management, or come find us as soon as you can to let us know (or send us a message using the form at the bottom of this web page). Also put a note on your door to remind us of who you are and what’s going on. Without making any promises here, sometimes we can try to work around someone’s situation by offering them another day for the installations. This isn’t always possible, because we need to be able to replace all your building's windows in a somewhat reasonable order.

If we’re unable to give you a choice of specific days for your windows, we might at least be able to offer you a choice in the general time of day, such as an early, middle, or late-day installation (but again, no promises).

When we replace your windows, you can “barricade” yourself in your bedroom until we are mostly complete with the rest of your home, and then you can switch to your living room couch as we do that last window. The entire process usually goes very smooth and quick, so we probably don’t need to make you uncomfortable for too long.

One time, when we were replacing windows at an apartment complex in SeaTac (August, 1997), we got done with one building, and proceeded to the next one. The first door we knocked on had a voice behind it, saying, “I’m too sick. Come back tomorrow.” We completed all the window replacements on the top floor that day. The next day we knocked again, getting the same reply. We completed the middle floor, and got the same reply once again on the next day. We did the bottom floor and then returned to that first apartment on the top floor that afternoon. Being told that we cannot come in, the building manager then came over and informed the tenant that we must be able to come in, or the management will back-charge for lost set-up time, explaining that the building was otherwise completely done. The tenants and their large rottweiler dog immediately proceeded to leave the apartment. The manager reminded them that no pets were allowed, and followed them outside. They got in their car and hollered out some profanities just before their Trans Am Corvette “burned rubber” across the parking lot. They didn’t seem all that sick. It might be needless to say this, but looking back on it, it’s kind of a funny story.


Do you have to replace my windows?

We have the same answer any time this question is asked: “Yes.”

The owner of your apartment building (or the condominium association as a whole) has made the decision to get all new windows, and we were hired to replace them. While your windows may function fine, many others in the building might not, and in replacing them, most owners want their building to look uniform and nice for their residents & neighbors. That’s why they chose to have all of them replaced, including yours. For every year that we’ve been in business, we’ve met a skeptic tenant or two who strongly felt that they did not want their new, clean, beautiful, smooth-operating, energy-efficient, quiet windows with new screens.

We’ve been replacing windows in Seattle’s apartment buildings since 1993, and since then, each and every skeptic that we’ve come across changed their mind after getting their new, clean, beautiful, smooth-operating, energy-efficient, quiet windows with new screens (so far).


What if I get cold while you replace all my windows?

You might decide to go hang out at the local coffee shop for the duration, or visit a neighbor for a couple hours. Sometimes on real cold days, folks wait in a bedroom while we do all their other windows first.

In West Seattle (February, 2008), an old-timer happily barricaded himself in his kitchen with the stove burners red-hot and oven door wide open. We told him that the bedroom might be a better choice, but he was happy to do it his way, which worked fine for everyone. See, we don’t know everything now, do we?


I’m sensitive to chemical odors such as cleaners and caulks!

Ok, This one almost stumps me. The old windows need replacing, and the new windows need caulked. I wish we could leave our answer at that. If your condition is serious enough, you might make arrangements to stay elsewhere until the caulk cures. Please explain your circumstances to the building management, and come let us know while we're working there on-site (or you can shoot a message to us in the form at the bottom of this page).

You also might want to leave a note on your door instructing us to leave all or some of your windows partially opened when we’re done, so caulk vapors can air out (for security reasons, we only do that when instructed). Typically, our interior caulk is a simple silicone with a low-smell neutral base, or a strong-smelling vinegar base (what? vinegar smells strong?). Both types dry quickly.

If you have a window in your shower, and are vapor-sensitive, leave another note right below it, reminding us to use our interior silicone. Otherwise, we normally use an exterior caulk (which takes longer to cure) inside bathtub windows due to the showering water -so we'll need the reminder.

There’s some good news though. By changing your windows, we’re helping to eliminate any mold or mildew issues, which might be causing you problems now. Old drafty windows cause mold & mildew problems because they can get very cold! When you take a shower, wash your hands or cook with water, the warm air in your home easily absorbs the moisture. As that warm air circulates along the ceiling and drops in front of the cold windows, it cools quickly, releasing the moisture right there. This feeds all kinds of mold and mildew spores around the windows. We provide the most energy-efficient dual-pane windows that we’ve seen anywhere. These new windows will stay much warmer, eliminating or greatly decreasing any mold problems. See, we’re not bad guys after all.





What about my pets?

Open the door, and kick them outside (Just kidding).

Ok, so about the pets: the cold, hard truth is that we need to keep your door propped open for the entire duration of our work being done. We’ve got a four-man crew that replaces apartment & condominium windows in an assembly-line fashion. From the moment the first crewman comes in the door (Ken) to the moment the last crewman leaves (Perry), the old windows are going out the door, the new windows are coming in, and people, tarps, tools, caulk, and long trim pieces are transported & installed throughout your entire home almost like a storm (a good, calm, organized storm).

Here’s what to do: Find a spot in your home where you can contain your pet like a window-less room such as a closet, den, or bathroom, and put them in there for the time being. Be sure to put a note on the door so that we don’t accidentally let him out. Sometimes, folks put another note on the front door asking us to let the pet out when we're done & ready to lock up.

There are some other options too: pet cage (“transportation box” if that sounds nicer), a neighbor’s apartment for the day (be sure to ask your neighbor first -haha), or the local dog kennel (I know… it’s now called a “pet-sitting facility”).

I remember one job in Fremont (January, 2000), where a tenant had put her cat in a “transportation box” before leaving for the day. When Alex, the apartment building owner (president of the Rental Housing Association at the time), opened the apartment door, we learned very quickly that that smart little bugger had escaped and was running around the home. We took turns trying to corral and catch the cat, but he was just too fast for the both of us. At one point, as the fur-ball was shooting right past my feet, I caught him. It went wild, biting, clawing, scratching, and scraping. Startled by this, Alex said, “Hey. Be careful of the cat!” I responded, “What about me??” After the cat calmed down, I put him back in the box (and duct taped my arms back on). So remember! “Be careful of the cat” and make sure he’s not smarter than the container you put him in.


Can I be home when you replace my windows?

In short, if you don't mind, then we don't either, but there could be problems if you make arrangements with your employer to take that day off. On rare occasions, we might fail to predict exactly when window replacements will happen, so it could be 'hit and miss' as far as trying to synchronize our schedule with your boss'. We need to do our work in an orderly manner, meaning we must have freedom of access to install your windows when we get to your apartment (regardless of how accurate our schedule is). But yes, in general, folks are fine at home when we're replacing their windows.

I remember one day however...

While working in White Center (June, 2005), there was a gal who had three cute little children ranging from 18 months to three years old. But, those kids made our job almost impossible for a few hours that day. When any of us would turn our back, they were grabbing our tools and running off with them. It was worse than I can probably express, and the mother didn't seem to care. One girl would run off with a tool laughing while we were retrieving one from her sister. We asked the mother for some assistance, but didn't get any. The building manager was trying to help, but was he about as successful as we were. In that case, we were wishing the residents weren't home.


What if something's too heavy for me to move out of the way?

Simple: If you can’t move something, leave us a note, and we’ll try to move it, but you’ll definitely want to leave us that note. This is because our crew works in an assembly line fashion, where the first man in your home (Ken) will move any such big items out of the way (probably getting help from man #2) before removing the old windows in your home. After the second & third men (Shawn and John) come through to install the new windows, the fourth man (Perry) comes in to caulk, clean up, and leave, locking the door behind him. Without your note, Perry might not know the things that you’ve moved from the things moved by Ken (who may have forgotten to tell anyone). In other words, your note helps to insure that Perry knows to move the item back.

Here’s what’s most important: You must move what you can away from the windows, such as everything on and in that big thing that you can’t move. It’s really a matter of placing yourself in our shoes, understanding that if we must move something, we don’t want a tower of unstable breakables falling off of it in the process. The idea here is that we can’t come through and miraculously replace windows that have an enormous contraption in front of them, and we just can’t move that big thing if it’s full of stuff.

For example: with those assembled, sectional corner desks that take up all that wall space in front of a window, we need you to move all of the envelopes, encyclopedias, expirements, extension cords, candy trays, ash trays, pencil trays, incense trays, itineraries, glue, games, golf balls, lamps, labels, laptops, loose change, USB’s, DVD’s, CD’s, TV’s, disk drives, thumb drives, tape drives, tape-players, tape-measures, tape-dispensers, tablets, trays, telephones, headphones, highlighters, radios, routers, rulers, rubber bands, staplers, stamps, speakers, stereos, scanners, schedules, scissors, wires, watches, memory cards, birthday cards, Christmas cards, playing cards, flash cards, photographs, phonographs, flowers, figurines, folders, fax machines, answering machines, copy machines, magazines, manuals, modems, markers, mouse pads, felt pads, plants, paper, paste, pencils, pens, printers, pictures, protractors, post-it notes, power supplies, paper clips, paperback books, price books, black-books, phone books, map books, address books, check books, beer bottles, binders, brochures, baskets, boxes, bobble-heads, chargers, Chia pets, cords, cables, computers, clocks, calculators, compasses, crayons, catalogs, Coke cans, coffee cups, cup holders, cutting boards, clip boards, chess boards, keyboards, and key chains away before we come in the next day.


I have a huge, permanent, immovable piece of furniture in the way!

We have a rule here. That rule is a mathematical equation that may apply only if the following question is answered by a “yes”. Is it possible for us to replace your window without moving that gigantic thing of yours? Hmmmm… If we have 24” of clearance, then probably so! If we have 18” or more, then maybe. If we have 12”, then it might not be. If that big object isn’t much taller than the windowsill, and we can climb on top of it, then it might be fine right where it is. Either way, please come find a crewmember as soon as you can to show us the situation. With our first-hand look at the room, we can quickly answer the “is it possible” question.

Here’s the mathematical equation: Is it easier for us to work around the object, or is it easier to move it. Realize that if we must work around or on top of it, it might get damaged at your risk. We’re just regular folks trying our best to work for a living, and when trying to be careful, things could still happen. Also, we have elbows and knees, and while we're passing big windows in and out of the large hole in your wall, things could get knocked over. In other words, if we have to work around something, please remove everything on it and around it. (Alright, I guess you can leave that big bucket of beer & ice, and the tray of fried chicken, but we’ll want you to move everything else.)


My apartment is severely full of stuff!
How do you work around it all?

First of all, I doubt that your home is the fullest one we’ve ever worked in. Don’t worry or lose any sleep, because life's too short. There's always a way to get things done, and we'll work with you. We could lecture you about all that stuff, asking if it really brings you happiness, or takes it away, but that’s between you and yourself.

However, because we’re coming to install your nice new windows, you might be encouraged with a fresh drive to go through and organize much of what you have. Maybe you’ll toss or recycle some of it, or give some things to a charity that can get it into the hands of someone who could use it. No matter what anyone (including yourself) may have ever said; your condition is no different than anyone else’s personal struggles in life, and if you really knew the accomplishments that you’re capable of, you would be amazed. Ok, so there was some lecturing after all.

Here's what we'll do: First of all, please come find us and let us know about the situation as soon as you can (or send us a message in the form at the bottom of this page). Usually, in the most extreme cases, we can come through and do the few windows (or window) that are the easiest for you to get us access to. Then, later that day, or maybe the next, we can do the others, having allowed you time to regroup, reorganize, and make new pathways.

The idea here is a two-way understanding of a problem that we mutually share: you need to get new windows, and we need to put them in. We’ve never seen a situation or person that we couldn’t work with, so be encouraged, and we’ll look forward to working with you.




© 2010   Cutting Edge Windows, LLC   (window replacement for multi-family buildings) (206) 633-0202

































How long does the work actually take?

This depends on the application: what kind of building & old windows you have and what type of windows we’re going to install. Some situations require 8 hours to change one window, and others allow us to easily replace 40 in a day. The most common day for us includes about 20 to 30 window replacements. Usually that means a couple hours per apt. or condo.

By the way, we often do patio doors on a different day from the windows. The work in replacing the doors goes slower, and we typically install ten to 15 before quitting time.

If you see us on one end of the building, working our way toward your home, you might be able to see how things are moving along and have a good guess how long it’ll take to do your windows or patio doors. Feel free to come and ask any of us if you want. We won’t bite.


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Please replace my windows first, (or last).

First of all, we almost always start at the top floor, proceeding downward. This is so that debris from the old windows being removed don’t dirty or damage new windows that would otherwise be below them. Secondly, as a crew, we need the freedom to install the windows in an organized fashion in order to make the best use of our time, so we can’t promise anything here. But, if you have any scheduling concerns or issues, please call the building management or come find us while we are working. We'll see what we can do. Put a note on your door also, because while working in so many apartments in a day, we might forget the details, or which apartment is yours. The sooner we know about your situation, the easier it might be for us to work around it.

In July of 2000, I was in Seattle’s Rainier District posting reminder notices on apartment doors for some window replacements we were doing the next day. For a variety of reasons, each and every tenant wanted to be done first, and they all came outside, creating a big commotion. “I have to go to work early in the day tomorrow!”, “I sleep days!”, “I have a doctor’s appointment!”, “I’ve lived at this building longer than anyone else!”, “I pay the highest rent!”, and so on. I’m not a trained mediator, so I just told everyone to work the schedule out among themselves and then to put their “resulting number” on a piece of paper stuck to their door the next morning, and that we might try to follow the order which they all collectively decide on. Big mistake. The next morning, every door had the number “1” on it. Again, there was a big commotion outside, and I not being a trained psychologist, told everyone, “You’re all bad people! Bad!” Everyone laughed and went back inside. We did our best to work the day out, compromising our understanding of everyone’s specific needs with our need for an orderly workflow. In the end, the job went very smooth, and everyone was happy, realizing that they had very little to worry about in the first place, –and that they were being very bad people (just kidding).

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Must you replace my windows right now?

As we advance through an apartment or condominium building, replacing all of the windows, sometimes our knock on a door is followed by a voice asking, “Can you come back later?” Maybe folks are just getting out of bed, or out of the shower, or what-not, and we can always wait five or ten minutes before needing to start that home.

In some cases, we can do the next apartment first, and then return back before later going forward again. We don’t really like to do this, because our steady flow gets bounced around, inviting inefficiency or mistakes to happen. But again, once in a while we go the extra mile to work around a resident’s situation (sometimes even without complaining). Either way, please understand that we can’t always promise a whole lot here.

We’re glad to not have many stories related to this subject. Like if someone’s windows got removed, and not reinstalled before we left for the day. I can picture our crewman in the front of our assembly-line going backward to remove windows in such an apartment, only to leap-frog forward again, while the entire crew following behind fails to understand exactly what's happening. They may skip the apartment because it's not ready yet, and fail to return to it to get the new windows in. It’s hard to believe that such a thing could happen, but we're only human, and crazier things have happened (-with the other window companies I mean, not our window company, what were you thinking?).

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When are you going to replace my windows?

Not knowing what stage your building is at, I'm going to start from the beginning of the entire process here from Proposal to Installation (your answer will come eventually).

1) Send a Proposal: The first thing we do is to walk around your building, counting windows and taking rough measurements. This allows us to produce a bid for your building’s owner. At this point, we don’t know if we’ll be doing the job yet, or if your building will actually get new windows. It depends on what we're offering and what our price is.

2) Take Critical Measurements: When your building owner calls us and says, “The bid looks great! Let’s do it.”, we then schedule for a Critical Measurement. The building management will notify everyone, and we’ll come take close measurements of every window from the inside of every apartment (or condo). Someone usually asks, “do you have to measure my windows? Aren’t they the same as the others?” We always have the same answer: “Yes, and yes.” Yes, we measure every window, and yes, they’re probably the same. We just don’t want any surprises when we come do the work.

3) Get a down payment and order the windows: This next step is up to the building owner. We get the down payment when they decide to send it, and then we order the windows from the manufacturer. From this point, we usually start the job in about two to three weeks.

4) Legal Access Notice: About a week or two before job-start, we send a “Legal Access Notice” for each apt./condo to the building management, who then posts them on each door. It will give you a generalized idea as to when we will be working on the entire building.

5) Reminder Notice: At least the day before we do your own apartment, we'll personally post a “Reminder Notice” on your door, letting you know when we specifically plan on doing your windows. Until then, you might be able to predict our timing simply by watching our progress as we approach your home. We usually need to start on the top floor, and procede downward. Also, please feel free to come ask us while we’re there working, and let us know if you have any scheduling concerns.

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I work nights and sleep days.
How do you work around my schedule?

First of all, we want to be careful not to make any promises here, but usually to some degree, we can work around a tenant’s scheduling issues. Come find us to let us know who you are and which apartment you are in as soon as you can, because often times we can offer someone a vague time-of-day schedule for a particular apartment’s window replacements. This might be a designation such as “First Apartment For The Day” (so you can get to right to sleep as soon as we are done with your home), “Middle Of The Day” (so you can get a few hours of sleep in the morning), or “Late In The Day” (after you’ve slept all day).

Again, we can’t make any promises because we do need to do our work in an orderly manner, making the best use of our time, but we usually try to be as flexible as we reasonably can. Be sure to be very clear about when you would like the installation to happen. Also, put a note on your door, reminding us of what your wishes are.

In January of 2008, we were doing an apartment building on Queen Anne Hill, where a tenant thought he had told the building manager that he wished to be done first in the day so that he can get right to sleep afterward, but word was gotten to us that he wanted to happen late in the day. Unfortunately, he waited for us the whole while, and ultimately got no sleep at all before going to work afterward. He could have opened the door and let us know earlier on, and we might have been able to get him fixed up much sooner. Sometimes folks are a bit timid when it comes to communicating with construction workers, but everyone should understand that we won’t bite anyone’s head off.

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Why are you replacing my patio doors on a separate day?

Answer: “Hats.” Usually, we wear our window hats on window days, and our patio door hats on patio door days. Just about everything is done differently between windows and patio doors, and fewer gears get stripped if we don’t have to keep going back & forth between the two. We’re more efficient and make fewer mistakes when concentrating on the same procedures and using the same tools all day long.

This typically works out well for most everyone, because when residents move stuff from in front of the windows for us, the area in front of the patio doors can be quite handy. However, we’ve made exceptions from time to time for particular situations by installing a patio door for someone on window day (even without complaining –very much). The decision process here usually depends on the circumstances. Sometimes it's easier for us to do 'em all at once too.


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Can you be less noisy?

Yes, being construction workers, sometimes our tools and our work being performed can be loud. If you work nights & sleeps days or have small children trying to nap, you can come find us and let us know (don’t worry, we won’t bite your head off). While we might not be able to do much about it, it’s good for us to at least being aware of your situation. Maybe we’ll be able to make some kind of difference. The good news is that we move quickly, and for most multifamily buildings, folks only need to put up with us for a couple (or a few) days.

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What if I’m sick or otherwise not feeling well?

Call the building management, or come find us as soon as you can to let us know (or send us a message using the form at the bottom of this web page). Also put a note on your door to remind us of who you are and what’s going on. Without making any promises here, sometimes we can try to work around someone’s situation by offering them another day for the installations. This isn’t always possible, because we need to be able to replace all your building's windows in a somewhat reasonable order.

If we’re unable to give you a choice of specific days for your windows, we might at least be able to offer you a choice in the general time of day, such as an early, middle, or late-day installation (but again, no promises).

When we replace your windows, you can “barricade” yourself in your bedroom until we are mostly complete with the rest of your home, and then you can switch to your living room couch as we do that last window. The entire process usually goes very smooth and quick, so we probably don’t need to make you uncomfortable for too long.

One time, when we were replacing windows at an apartment complex in SeaTac (August, 1997), we got done with one building, and proceeded to the next one. The first door we knocked on had a voice behind it, saying, “I’m too sick. Come back tomorrow.” We completed all the window replacements on the top floor that day. The next day we knocked again, getting the same reply. We completed the middle floor, and got the same reply once again on the next day. We did the bottom floor and then returned to that first apartment on the top floor that afternoon. Being told that we cannot come in, the building manager then came over and informed the tenant that we must be able to come in, or the management will back-charge for lost set-up time, explaining that the building was otherwise completely done. The tenants and their large rottweiler dog immediately proceeded to leave the apartment. The manager reminded them that no pets were allowed, and followed them outside. They got in their car and hollered out some profanities just before their Trans Am Corvette “burned rubber” across the parking lot. They didn’t seem all that sick. It might be needless to say this, but looking back on it, it’s kind of a funny story.

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Do you have to replace my windows?

We have the same answer any time this question is asked: “Yes.”

The owner of your apartment building (or the condominium association as a whole) has made the decision to get all new windows, and we were hired to replace them. While your windows may function fine, many others in the building might not, and in replacing them, most owners want their building to look uniform and nice for their residents & neighbors. That’s why they chose to have all of them replaced, including yours. For every year that we’ve been in business, we’ve met a skeptic tenant or two who strongly felt that they did not want their new, clean, beautiful, smooth-operating, energy-efficient, quiet windows with new screens.

We’ve been replacing windows in Seattle’s apartment buildings since 1993, and since then, each and every skeptic that we’ve come across changed their mind after getting their new, clean, beautiful, smooth-operating, energy-efficient, quiet windows with new screens (so far).

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What if I get cold while you replace all my windows?

You might decide to go hang out at the local coffee shop for the duration, or visit a neighbor for a couple hours. Sometimes on real cold days, folks wait in a bedroom while we do all their other windows first.

In West Seattle (February, 2008), an old-timer happily barricaded himself in his kitchen with the stove burners red-hot and oven door wide open. We told him that the bedroom might be a better choice, but he was happy to do it his way, which worked fine for everyone. See, we don’t know everything now, do we?

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I’m sensitive to chemical odors such as cleaners and caulks!

Ok, This one almost stumps me. The old windows need replacing, and the new windows need caulked. I wish we could leave our answer at that. If your condition is serious enough, you might make arrangements to stay elsewhere until the caulk cures. Please explain your circumstances to the building management, and come let us know while we're working there on-site (or you can shoot a message to us in the form at the bottom of this page).

You also might want to leave a note on your door instructing us to leave all or some of your windows partially opened when we’re done, so caulk vapors can air out (for security reasons, we only do that when instructed). Typically, our interior caulk is a simple silicone with a low-smell neutral base, or a strong-smelling vinegar base (what? vinegar smells strong?). Both types dry quickly.

If you have a window in your shower, and are vapor-sensitive, leave another note right below it, reminding us to use our interior silicone. Otherwise, we normally use an exterior caulk (which takes longer to cure) inside bathtub windows due to the showering water -so we'll need the reminder.

There’s some good news though. By changing your windows, we’re helping to eliminate any mold or mildew issues, which might be causing you problems now. Old drafty windows cause mold & mildew problems because they can get very cold! When you take a shower, wash your hands or cook with water, the warm air in your home easily absorbs the moisture. As that warm air circulates along the ceiling and drops in front of the cold windows, it cools quickly, releasing the moisture right there. This feeds all kinds of mold and mildew spores around the windows. We provide the most energy-efficient dual-pane windows that we’ve seen anywhere. These new windows will stay much warmer, eliminating or greatly decreasing any mold problems. See, we’re not bad guys after all.


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What about my pets?

Open the door, and kick them outside (Just kidding).

Ok, so about the pets: the cold, hard truth is that we need to keep your door propped open for the entire duration of our work being done. We’ve got a four-man crew that replaces apartment & condominium windows in an assembly-line fashion. From the moment the first crewman comes in the door (Ken) to the moment the last crewman leaves (Perry), the old windows are going out the door, the new windows are coming in, and people, tarps, tools, caulk, and long trim pieces are transported & installed throughout your entire home almost like a storm (a good, calm, organized storm).

Here’s what to do: Find a spot in your home where you can contain your pet like a window-less room such as a closet, den, or bathroom, and put them in there for the time being. Be sure to put a note on the door so that we don’t accidentally let him out. Sometimes, folks put another note on the front door asking us to let the pet out when we're done & ready to lock up.

There are some other options too: pet cage (“transportation box” if that sounds nicer), a neighbor’s apartment for the day (be sure to ask your neighbor first -haha), or the local dog kennel (I know… it’s now called a “pet-sitting facility”).

I remember one job in Fremont (January, 2000), where a tenant had put her cat in a “transportation box” before leaving for the day. When Alex, the apartment building owner (president of the Rental Housing Association at the time), opened the apartment door, we learned very quickly that that smart little bugger had escaped and was running around the home. We took turns trying to corral and catch the cat, but he was just too fast for the both of us. At one point, as the fur-ball was shooting right past my feet, I caught him. It went wild, biting, clawing, scratching, and scraping. Startled by this, Alex said, “Hey. Be careful of the cat!” I responded, “What about me??” After the cat calmed down, I put him back in the box (and duct taped my arms back on). So remember! “Be careful of the cat” and make sure he’s not smarter than the container you put him in.

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Can I be home when you replace my windows?

In short, if you don't mind, then we don't either, but there could be problems if you make arrangements with your employer to take that day off. On rare occasions, we might fail to predict exactly when window replacements will happen, so it could be 'hit and miss' as far as trying to synchronize our schedule with your boss'. We need to do our work in an orderly manner, meaning we must have freedom of access to install your windows when we get to your apartment (regardless of how accurate our schedule is). But yes, in general, folks are fine at home when we're replacing their windows.

I remember one day however...

While working in White Center (June, 2005), there was a gal who had three cute little children ranging from 18 months to three years old. But, those kids made our job almost impossible for a few hours that day. When any of us would turn our back, they were grabbing our tools and running off with them. It was worse than I can probably express, and the mother didn't seem to care. One girl would run off with a tool laughing while we were retrieving one from her sister. We asked the mother for some assistance, but didn't get any. The building manager was trying to help, but was he about as successful as we were. In that case, we were wishing the residents weren't home.


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What if something's too heavy for me to move out of the way?

Simple: If you can’t move something, leave us a note, and we’ll try to move it, but you’ll definitely want to leave us that note. This is because our crew works in an assembly line fashion, where the first man in your home (Ken) will move any such big items out of the way (probably getting help from man #2) before removing the old windows in your home. After the second & third men (Shawn and John) come through to install the new windows, the fourth man (Perry) comes in to caulk, clean up, and leave, locking the door behind him. Without your note, Perry might not know the things that you’ve moved from the things moved by Ken (who may have forgotten to tell anyone). In other words, your note helps to insure that Perry knows to move the item back.

Here’s what’s most important: You must move what you can away from the windows, such as everything on and in that big thing that you can’t move. It’s really a matter of placing yourself in our shoes, understanding that if we must move something, we don’t want a tower of unstable breakables falling off of it in the process. The idea here is that we can’t come through and miraculously replace windows that have an enormous contraption in front of them, and we just can’t move that big thing if it’s full of stuff.

For example: with those assembled, sectional corner desks that take up all that wall space in front of a window, we need you to move all of the envelopes, encyclopedias, expirements, extension cords, candy trays, ash trays, pencil trays, incense trays, itineraries, glue, games, golf balls, lamps, labels, laptops, loose change, USB’s, DVD’s, CD’s, TV’s, disk drives, thumb drives, tape drives, tape-players, tape-measures, tape-dispensers, tablets, trays, telephones, headphones, highlighters, radios, routers, rulers, rubber bands, staplers, stamps, speakers, stereos, scanners, schedules, scissors, wires, watches, memory cards, birthday cards, Christmas cards, playing cards, flash cards, photographs, phonographs, flowers, figurines, folders, fax machines, answering machines, copy machines, magazines, manuals, modems, markers, mouse pads, felt pads, plants, paper, paste, pencils, pens, printers, pictures, protractors, post-it notes, power supplies, paper clips, paperback books, price books, black-books, phone books, map books, address books, check books, beer bottles, binders, brochures, baskets, boxes, bobble-heads, chargers, Chia pets, cords, cables, computers, clocks, calculators, compasses, crayons, catalogs, Coke cans, coffee cups, cup holders, cutting boards, clip boards, chess boards, keyboards, and key chains away before we come in the next day. –No television for you tonight!

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I have a huge, permanent, immovable piece of furniture in the way!

We have a rule here. That rule is a mathematical equation that may apply only if the following question is answered by a “yes”. Is it possible for us to replace your window without moving that gigantic thing of yours? Hmmmm… If we have 24” of clearance, then probably so! If we have 18” or more, then maybe. If we have 12”, then it might not be. If that big object isn’t much taller than the windowsill, and we can climb on top of it, then it might be fine right where it is. Either way, please come find a crewmember as soon as you can to show us the situation. With our first-hand look at the room, we can quickly answer the “is it possible” question.

Here’s the mathematical equation: Is it easier for us to work around the object, or is it easier to move it. Realize that if we must work around or on top of it, it might get damaged at your risk. We’re just regular folks trying our best to work for a living, and when trying to be careful, things could still happen. Also, we have elbows and knees, and while we're passing big windows in and out of the large hole in your wall, things could get knocked over. In other words, if we have to work around something, please remove everything on it and around it. (Alright, I guess you can leave that big bucket of beer & ice, and the tray of fried chicken, but we’ll want you to move everything else.)

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My apartment is severely full of stuff!
How do you work around it all?

First of all, I doubt that your home is the fullest one we’ve ever worked in. Don’t worry or lose any sleep, because life's too short. There's always a way to get things done, and we'll work with you. We could lecture you about all that stuff, asking if it really brings you happiness, or takes it away, but that’s between you and yourself.

However, because we’re coming to install your nice new windows, you might be encouraged with a fresh drive to go through and organize much of what you have. Maybe you’ll toss or recycle some of it, or give some things to a charity that can get it into the hands of someone who could use it. No matter what anyone (including yourself) may have ever said; your condition is no different than anyone else’s personal struggles in life, and if you really knew the accomplishments that you’re capable of, you would be amazed. Ok, so there was some lecturing after all.

Here's what we'll do: First of all, please come find us and let us know about the situation as soon as you can (or send us a message in the form at the bottom of this page). Usually, in the most extreme cases, we can come through and do the few windows (or window) that are the easiest for you to get us access to. Then, later that day, or maybe the next, we can do the others, having allowed you time to regroup, reorganize, and make new pathways.

The idea here is a two-way understanding of a problem that we mutually share: you need to get new windows, and we need to put them in. We’ve never seen a situation or person that we couldn’t work with, so be encouraged, and we’ll look forward to working with you.


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