The Window from Hell. REBORN!!!!!!!!

Recently, I did a post on this window. The window from HELL. This basement window was SO abused and SO messed up that I despaired of ever getting it right.

 

Task #1 was to relocate the three AC condensers away from the house (they had been placed in front of the window).

Task #2 was to remove all the AC lines running through the window and bury them in the ground.

These two tasks cost a shocking amount of money but what choice did I have? All visual offenses to my pretty house must be dealt with! Right?

And now, after so much ado and after so much money, I am thrilled excited delighted agog and very pleased, indeed, to reveal:

 

The after. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Me SO happy.

 

The original sash was, amazingly still in place. Its glass was long gone, and the exterior was covered with plywood. I was surprised to discover that the sash still retained its original hardware! No other basement sash has this. The lock is cast-iron with a brass knob. It was CAKED with paint and did not open/close (huge screws held the sash closed). Today however, the lock works as God intended.

 

Again, before.

 

After. SQUEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Getting this single sash restored has been profoundly satisfying. It was so awful, and so much work and expense was required even BEFORE any actual work on the sash could begin.

But…because the Cross House is so huge, does this one corner really merit all this attention?

Yes! I think every inch of the house should have love lavished on it! When the house was built, there was no “bad” side. Even the rear facade, while simpler than the other three facades, was still beautiful. Note my choice of the word was. For, by the time I purchased the house…

 

….this corner was terrifyingly abused and ugly. Note the tops of the three AC condensers, bottom of image. The window from Hell is just behind the right-most condenser.

 

The corner was restored in 2017 as part of the 2015 Heritage Grant. This is the BACK of the house. You see what I mean about even the back being pretty! However, the basement windows were not part of the grant work.

 

But now, I can admire what I think of as my trio of lovelies: the three NE corner basement windows. The Hell window is to the left.

 

 

9 Comments

  1. Leigh on September 7, 2018 at 6:24 pm

    *Standing applause*
    Bravo! Bravo!

  2. Sandra Lee on September 7, 2018 at 6:29 pm

    Bravo!!! Standing ovation for window from hell! The trio of basement windows look stupendous!!!!!

  3. Dan Goodall-Williams on September 7, 2018 at 6:35 pm

    The transformation is just mind boggling! So beautifully done. And so important to be done. Ross, you are a true inspiration! The Cross House loves you!

  4. L.harlow on September 7, 2018 at 11:16 pm

    What happened to the corner where the a/c units were. Why was the siding removed?

  5. JCF on September 8, 2018 at 1:48 am

    Looking at picture: https://i2.wp.com/restoringross.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/z13-1.jpg?w=2000&ssl=1

    and then comparing it to picture: https://i2.wp.com/restoringross.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/z4-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C444&ssl=1

    Did you tear out a structure? [It’s somewhat difficult to get my bearings. Oh, you know what would be cool? If every picture had a little floorplan embedded in the corner, ala “You Are Here”!]

    Fantastic job, Ross!

  6. Grandmere Louise on September 8, 2018 at 7:16 am

    Love that window lock. I wish you had more. Glad you have at least one.

  7. SEB on September 8, 2018 at 8:23 am

    A triumph! Thank you for opening a window into the process as well!! Bravo!!!!

  8. Nancy from Georgia on September 8, 2018 at 6:22 pm

    Really super job! Every detail adds to the fab-ness of the overall view. I’m sure the house feels the love! One night you’re going to meet up with Mrs. Cross on the stair landing and she will send you a cosmic hug and say, ‘Thank you for loving my house back to life!’

  9. Seth Hoffman on September 10, 2018 at 12:45 pm

    That’s remarkable they used such a fancy lock on the sash, but also amusing that it is too large for the sash rail and extends up beyond the top. Are there any clues to whether other windows once hat the same hardware, or if it was different?

    The basement windows on our houses (also awning windows that hinge inward at the top like yours) have all had simple ramp-style sash locks at the bottom. Granted, these are newer houses than yours (1913 and 1926, respectively).

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