Technical Services

On Site Field Testing

Windows and doors tested where they are installed

We test installed windows and doors on site for air leakage and water penetration, with chamber and spray equipment, as part of our quality control, and we work with accredited independent testing laboratories.

• Before a test we agree which window, how much air and water, for how long, and what counts as a pass.
• We test a representative installation while its edges are still reachable, before finishes cover the perimeter, and protect the occupied rooms from test water.
• We record the settings and what we see. If a unit fails, we find the cause, repair it and test it again before it is accepted.

Consultation for Boards and Owners

A clear picture before a window is ordered

Every project starts with a site assessment. We review the existing conditions, the codes that apply and the performance the building needs, and we recommend the product for the building.

We attend board meetings, walk the building committee through the product options and answer technical questions directly.

Shop Drawings

The set that goes to the board, the manufacturer and the filing

Shop drawings are approved before anything is ordered, because errors caught at this stage are easy to fix and errors caught in the field are not. A set includes:

• A title sheet with the general notes.
• Dimensioned elevations of each opening, with rough opening sizes and clearances.
• The maker's product sections and the anchoring methods.
• Installation details: sill flashing and perimeter waterproofing.
• A packet for the project's engineer, when the job needs an engineer's review.

Landmark Filings

The Landmarks Commission application and the Master Plan Permit

In a landmark or historic district, window replacement needs Landmarks Commission approval before a single sash is removed. We prepare the application: the drawings, the product specifications, the material samples and the supporting documents, and we track the approval.

When a job needs a Master Plan Permit, we prepare and manage that filing too. For most standard replacement jobs it is not required, and we know after our first call and site survey.