I ordered my windows from Norfolk Lumber in Austin, Manitoba, and boy, am I ever thrilled with the work they did! Not only did they help me to get the custom sizing of each window just right (and THIRTEEN of them, no less!), but their pricing was VERY fair! These are all-wood (fir) windows, triple-pane, with metal cladding. Most of them are casement or awning style, and even the hardware used really impressed me. These windows will last me a lifetime, and I cannot recommend Norfolk Lumber enough!
Pro tip #1: when ordering windows for walls that aren't the typical 2x6 framing, ensure you specify this important detail...! As you can guess, I failed to do this, so when my GORGEOUS windows arrived, their frames were two inches too thick for my 2x4 walls...(NOT Norfolk's fault!). But in true resourceful-farmboy-fashion, my Dad and Uncle Bert quickly figured out a fix: we pried off the inside piece of the frame, which was almost exactly two inches, then sanded them down. This may sound easy, but boy, were these windows well constructed! Not only did we have to contend with the long nails holding that frame together, but the adhesive used was IMPRESSIVE, to say the least...!
Anyway, once my windows were cut down to the correct width, we were ready to install them. Pro-tip #2: all-wood, triple-pane windows are HEAVY as HECK, so GET HELP...! I was able to enlist the help of a couple of friends to give us a hand. I wish I had taken pictures, but for the top windows, we used the bucket of my Uncle's tractor to raise us up high enough with the heavy windows! :D
For securing the windows, we used a non-silicone sealant (which is paintable and waterproof) followed by 3" pan-head screws. Thanks to my Dad, Uncle, and friends, we were able to get all thirteen windows installed in a day! Huge shoutout to Andrew C. and Rui A. for your invaluable assistance! <3
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