Remember that I thought the exterior trim would be replaced, rather than covered up by “wrapping” with aluminum. I saw no examples of this wrapping prior to contracting with Pella, so I am not quite sure how the exterior is supposed to look. But if I had realized this is Pella’s way of finishing up an insert replacement, I never would have hired them for anything.
Here are photos showing some of the in-progress and finished work.
(And I realize that the siding is a filthy mess and has chipped paint. I am very embarrassed. This window project was supposed to be the first step in fixing up the outside of my house. Not the first step in making things worse.)
Window 1: Apparently the technique is to make metal flaps and to fold the metal over the exterior trim. Then caulk. Sort of. And to caulk to flaking paint rather than making a clean area next to the window to caulk against.
Window 2: Haphazard caulking. Hit or miss.
Window 3: Weird caulk patterns and piles at a top corner and on top of window. Caulk is already dirty on the day of installation.
Window 4: This metal-flap-with-caulk technique really doesn’t seem right for a $650 per window install charge. And the sloppy caulk is not just on the edges against the house, but extends into the sill toward the window.
Windows 6, 7, and 8 (three-part set in the front room): Is the flashing on this sill really supposed to seal out water? That is a nail sticking out of the top of the metal wrap. Those are weird globs of caulk along the top. Another unsealed spot at the bottom corner (although at least this one is small).
Window 12: More fabulously water-tight flashing on the sill. Dented screen. Sloppy caulk and uncaulked flap.
Window 15: This is an upstairs window. I don’t know what is going on here.
Window 16: Maybe I wasn’t supposed to notice that most of the upstairs windows are lacking caulk on those folded metal flaps.
Window 17. Something was done here. I paid $650 for this $1425 window to be installed. Oh Good Lord.
Window 18. Is Pella surprised that I looked at what their installers did? Do most people not look?
