I Should Know This I Should Know This

Farm House Bed & Breakfast

TALLMAN — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:47:00 GMT

Everybody loves a good getaway vacation. Spending time away from the real world can be an energetic rejuvenation experience. With that I wanted to get away from everything.
Living here in the Seattle area getting away to the outdoors and in nature is very simple to do. Just last week, I headed out to Whidbey Island (http://www.whidbeycamanoislands.com/).
It is just a ferry ride away, but we decided to take the northern route through Deception Pass . There are no major freeways, just highways and two lane roads. In fact, there’s a major
Naval Base on the Island.

When we got to our location, it was the Farm House Bed and Breakfast (link here). It is located on a couple of acres, on the countryside with a great view of the Puget Sound. There are
plenty of things to do there even though you are out in the middle of nowhere. On the farm they had animals to play with and feed; tons of bunny rabbits, 2 goats and 2 donkeys.
All were well behaved and eager for a carrot snack to eat. In addition, the rooms are well decorated with country charm and hidden surprises that you would not find in a normal hotel are placed throughout the room.

We also went to local towns nearby such as Langley and Coupeville. Langley has a breath taking view of the mainland on a cliff. All the towns have a sense of community and old
fashioned themes on the businesses in the area.

At the Farmhouse they also have horseshoe pits to throw horseshoes in and a hot tub that overlooks the view of the sound. It is truly a magical and relaxing place.
We will definitely be back to visit and we enjoyed are time away.

NOTE: Please take a look at their website. It has more detailed information if you would like to visit.

Thrifty Stores

TALLMAN — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:11:00 GMT

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Where can you find name brand products for 10% off their retail price? That is not stolen. In fact if you think about it, if I could have the hand me downs of a billionaires clothes or even a multimillionaire, would you take it? Of COURSE!!! No brainer. Well, where can you get it all? Thrift stores, Value Village, Goodwill, America’s Thrift Store, etc. There are a bunch of them. Now, I know it takes some humbleness and frugalness to even walk into the store, but there is some real value there.

What is there at the store? You name it? Clothes, games, sports equipment, lamps, silverware, furniture, beds, electronics, toys, books, you just never know until you walk in the door. Just like any other store they have sections for each area.

Now there are some things you need to know to find that diamond in the rough. First you should know what days to go. Most places have a tag with a color code on it. At Value Village the color rotates every five weeks so that on the fifth week that color tag is just a dollar. Usually it is on a Monday is when the tag day sale is (around a dollar for each special color of the week tag). So know what days have the deals and know how it works. If you go early you will see some people that buy the dollar items and then resell them on EBAY. Yeah, stuff on EBAY is from Thrift stores?!?!? Yep and you didn’t even know it.

Where to go? Now I live in Seattle, Washington so where to go is critical as well. I recommend high class areas where multimillionaires and billionaires live. Those type of people 2nd hand items are the diamond in the rough we are looking for, so when they donate their stuff they do it close by. That is why I don’t recommend rural area thrift shops in general or small town areas less than 30,000 people.

If you want you can also take a load of donations to the store yourself. Make sure to get a receipt of the goods you donate so you can write it off on your taxes. It adds up, so take advantage of it. This is a great way to recycle as well. Think about it, if you were to just throw away stuff that someone else can use it would be going in a land fill. So besides saving money you are help save the environment. It is a true win-win scenario.

I highly recommend bringing a senior citizen. They usually get an extra discount and they will enjoy it especially if they are on a fixed budget. Almost ever senior citizen I know appreciate a good deal like the old days.

Job Growth Areas

TALLMAN — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:42:00 GMT

With being unemployed (still) I am doing search for the best fields that I feel would be good growth areas. Here are some areas that I came up with in United States

Precious metals = In this economy and the recession we are in of government printing money and no end in sight, the law of supply and demand says that if there is a high supply and low demand for the United States dollar, inflation will set in. What commodity even through high inflation is good? Precious metals. I just recommend if you get any metals keep them with you don’t buy paper precious metals and buy them in small fractions like a gram, ¼ ounce, ½ ounce. One ounce of gold as of right now is about 1,000 dollars. Hard to barter in 1,000 dollars chunks, huh.

Veterinarians – as the country gets older our lives on a whole have become less involved with real human contact. To take that place people are getting more and more pets. I have heard many times that “My pet is a family member”. Well if that pet is sick or needs medicine people become so emotionally attached to their pets that they feel like they have to keep the animal alive. I have had pets and know that emotional attachment is strong. Because of this people will spend whatever it takes to keep that pet alive.

Military - Just like the nursing business because people will need to be taken care (in terms of security) we as a country will need security from Islamic radicals. With this economic downturn in employment, enlistment numbers are up since people know that they are needed by are military.

Technology – this is what has made the USA great. Evolving with the times, technology will always improve our day to day life and with that great ideas and ingenuity will have to evolve with it. Innovators in this market are software engineers and programmers, video game designers, as well as the technicians that install and maintain the equipment that runs the software.

Nursing – baby boomers people will always need other people to take care of them. As we get older and live longer it is a necessity to have people take care of their daily needs (Like walking, eating, going to the bathroom). Hard to imagine since most of us take it for granted every day.

Seed companies –With prices of food going up at the grocery store people want to save money so they are doing it by growing their own gardens. Seeds can be bought for cents on the dollar compared to what it cost to pay for the food and vegetables at the store.

That is just a few fields that I came up with. There are many more out there for the taking. This way you can make sure whatever work you choose you get a career not a Job. Whatever job field you go into make sure you enjoy it and you will never work a day in your life. Doesn’t matter how much money you make. Enjoy your search and stay positive!

Job Search Engine Websites

TALLMAN — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:46:00 GMT

Now that I am unemployed; I am working on a job search. It can be very frustrating and unrewarding especially in this current economy. What I have put together is my take on job internet search websites areas that I have done and here is my experience with a few that I have tried.

Careerbuilder.com – Good website but a lot of the jobs are outdated and old. I would recommend craigslist or monster over this one. I don’t like how if you apply for a job you have to go to the company’s website. It makes it harder and more time consuming post your resume and sometimes opening a job account on the company’s website. Just doesn’t seem like this website updates their job posts if they get filled fast enough.

Local newspaper –YES ! I do know that print newspapers are dead. But I do recommend the Sunday edition. It has the most job selections. The reason why I recommend it is because if an employer is spending money for that job advertisement (which is REALLY expensive these days) for a one time shot (one week run) in the paper then that probably means they want to get someone ASAP. I have gotten the quickest response time for people calling me back.

Craigslist - Not the most technically advanced website but it gets the job done. I know for employers it isn’t as pricey compared to the competition and the job posts are usually up to date and accurate. The only drawback is sometimes you have to be careful of something fraudulent. Anything out of the USA I recommend staying away from, even giving out personal information I would stay away from.

Monster.com – Definitely the most up to date website of all of them. Job posts are more updated and taken down in a better time. I like when you apply for a job it doesn’t take you to the company’s website you just fill out a resume and cover letter. So it is less time consuming and easier to navigate through.

Networking and Job Fairs – This works the best and is the most fruitful. Job fairs I can tell are getting a lot more people attracted to them. One fair I went to had 100 yard line of people wanting to get in. Be aggressive and assertive at the job fairs when going up to the recruiter in line. Linkedin.com is a great way to stay in touch with past colleagues and stay in touch with your industry. So don’t burn a bridge because you may have to walk back over it to get a job. Plus, It always feels good to chat with old friends about the good old days!!

So far I have sent or applied to over 50 places on all the above listed sites and counting. I will keep you posted. Stay positive and upbeat you will be rewarded!

Filing for Back Pay and UnemploymentBack Pay

TALLMAN — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:39:00 GMT

This economic time is new. Deficit Trillion dollars spending while jobs are being cut by the hundreds of thousands monthly is scary. Right now I am unemployed. The market is tough; I can tell that businesses are getting a lot of resumes and applicants. The main thing I would stress is not to panic and not to worry (too much). America has seen ups and downs in the economy and we are not in a great depression era (25% unemployment) or early 1980’s (10-12%) with high inflation times like then. In fact, we in the United States are still below 8%. That is a huge difference. Should we be concerned, “YES;” should we panic “NO”.

What steps you can take, if you have been laid off or unemployed is look to your state unemployment website for help. Here in Washington State it is http://www.esd.wa.gov/ . Next step is to ask yourself if you have been paid all your back wages owed. Every state is different but there is an unemployment benefits website.

Now most of you are saying you know this okay but here is what is important. What if you have a dispute on your last paycheck? What if you are not getting all your vacation paid to you or sick leave? How do you dispute that without hiring a lawyer? I would recommend searching on Google for your state “disputing pay from employer.” There are many examples of how an employer can take advantage of these issues. If you don’t know where to start call up your state’s department (labor commission, labor and industries, etc.) and talk to someone personally and ask questions. They can point you in the right direction. Now that the economy is down employee disputes are rising because companies are trying to save money (that is probably why you where laid off in the first place.) This is free it doesn’t cost any money.

You can also take your former employer to small claim court usually the maximum amount you can file for is 5,000.00 dollars. There should just be a 25.00 dollar filing fee and you get to plead your case in front of a judge. Kind of like Judge Judy show. If you think that you need proper legal advice, please consult an attorney but beware that it could cost a lot.

What Types Of Loans And Which One Is Correct For You?

TALLMAN — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:18:00 GMT

I have bought a few houses in my day. Rentals, owner occupied, and step up houses. The question to ask yourself when getting a loan, for any of these types of home is how long do you want to hang onto it. Is that five years from now? Ten years? Or am I going to retire in this home? Below are the more standard types of loans out there. Hopefully, by the end of this article you will be able to figure out what type of loan fits you the best.

Interest Only vs. Paying on the Principal

Based on a lot of people’s misconception, Interest only loans are not that bad. Though, they have had a hand in creating the mess we are in with the subprime market. At that time, for some people to get in a home, interest only was their only option. The loan started with a teaser rate then shot up. When a person gets an interest only they need to ask themselves, why do you want interest only? Do you plan on getting out before the 3, 5, 7 or 10 year teaser rate expires.

This loan is perfect for someone that wants to live in the house for five or less years. In the first 10 years of any loan the majority of the monthly payment goes towards interest. If you are going to live in the house long term this wouldn’t be a good fit. If you sell the house before the teaser rate expires, you will come out ahead before your monthly payment skyrockets.

ARM's vs. Fixed Loans

The adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loan was a big cause for the melt down of subprime loans. When people got their loan they didn’t understand that it was an ARM. With an ARM loan the mortgage would adjust periodically based on the terms of the loan. For example, say your 6.5% teaser rate jumps up to 8.5% and had the potential to climb higher three to six months later, would you be able to make your payment? Having a 1500 dollar mortgage payment could jump up to a 2100 dollar payment and then later on it could possible increase more. Getting a fixed rate mortgage when you know you will be living in the house long term is a good idea. With the fixed rate, your interest rate stays the same. Most of the people that are going into foreclosure now had the 2-3 year ARM’s with a prepayment penalty.

I personally like ARM’s, especially in times of low interest rates and you know you aren’t going to pay off the house or be in it for 30 years. Even getting an interest only 7 year ARM makes sense to me if you are only going to live in the house 5 years. But the key is to look at where you think you will be in 5 years and plan to make a move in 5 years. The average first time home buyer lives in his house 5 years then trades up for a bigger house.

In laymen’s terms, an ARM can be a bit of a gamble and is not for everyone. Fixed rate mortgages are great if you plan to live in your home long term or if you like to play it safe.

Option ARM's

It’s an adjustable rate mortgage with flexible payment options. You are able to pick your monthly payment, monthly interest rate adjustments happen about every three to six months depending on the terms, and it has a low minimum payment in the early years. This loan can carry a high risk of very large payments or owing more than you originally got the loan amount for later on. With this type of loan you will see a low 1% or 2.5% interest rate, often called a teaser rate. Then depending on the terms it bumps up and adjusts. Usually this happens before six months. This loan can be really bad if the person doesn’t know the draw backs. In 5 years the borrower will have to automatically refinance.

PrePayment Penalty

A prepayment penalty can be really bad. It’s a term within the contract that states if you pay off all or most of your loan, you will pay a penalty. Penalties charges vary, but typically it is a percentage of the outstanding loan balance at the time of the prepayment.

This penalty has caused nightmares for many people. A typically loan that has a prepayment penalty in it, is a 3 year prepay on a 2 year fixed ARM. That means a borrower is locked into the ARM part of his loan for one year and can’t repay, sell, or refinance the loan without paying the costly prepayment penalty. This traps the borrower into paying for one year of higher monthly payments.

Banks categorizes prepayment penalties into two categories, soft and hard. A soft prepayment penalty is if you sell your house you don’t have to pay your prepayment penalty. On a hard prepayment penalty regardless if you refinance or sell the property a prepayment penalty will be charged.

I don’t recommend getting a loan with a prepayment penalty, but if you know you are financially able and can get a lower interest rate for it, you might want to consider it.

Stated Income and/or Assets vs W2 (Non Stated)

Stated Assets and Income is where the borrower discloses their assets and/or income that’s not verified by the lender. On stated income, the employer is verified but the amount you make is not. By going Stated vs. Non Stated (sometimes called liars loan). The lender does take a higher risk which the bank charges a higher interest rate for. These loans are mainly used for people that are self-employed, because it’s hard for them to provide proper documentation

Review:

You can mix and match the loan types above. You can get a 5 year Option ARM, Interest Only, Non Stated income, with a 1 year soft prepay penalty. As the borrower, you need to ask yourself, is this loan right for me by asking the right questions-

How long you going to live in the house?
Are you every going to refinance it?

Do you need the lowest monthly payment to afford the house, then refinance later once you are making more?
Do I want to pay off my loan ASAP?
Are you looking to write of your mortgage interest when you itemize your tax deductions?

I can only ask the questions. I can’t give you an answer without knowing all the facts of your specific situation. I wish you luck. Please feel free to leave comments or questions at the bottom.

Please Note:

Even though there are all types of loans. You still have to qualify for that loan. Lenders get to choose the borrowers they want for each loan. A person needs a high credit score for the best terms and the best interest rate. When picking out a loan, know what is best for you. Loan officers can steer you to their types of loans. Know what is best for you and what type of loan you are comfortable making. I love having options when choosing a loan. Don’t fret because it seems overwhelming. Read up and enjoy the process. It can make a difference on your disposable income every month.

To ask a Senior Loan officer personally about what your needs are please contact Derrin with Trusthome mortgage. I have worked extensively with him on a number of loans and he doesn't mind going through the long and tedious process of finding what is best for you. He can also be reached at (888) 856-5945. Give him a call.

Warranties For Energy Efficient Windows

TALLMAN — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:49:00 GMT

If you are reading this article it’s important to read articles Energy Savings From Windows and Installing Energy Efficient Windows. They are a must read and go hand in hand with this article. Warranties are very important. They are just as important if not more important than installation procedures of your windows. Here is an example of what to look for in vinyl windows. Apply as needed but read and understand each part of the warranty. What you don’t understand could cost you!

Most manufacturers put a lifetime guarantee on all their vinyl frame windows. Does anything last for a lifetime that’s made out of plastic? If you get a warranty make sure get two copies, one of the warranty from the dealer selling the window and the other from the manufacturer that makes the frame. Be sure to read this fine print and compare the two to make sure what is missing or is in one and not the other. Those details will tell you how good the warranty is to you. This way if the dealer goes out of business you still know what you are getting from the manufacturer.

Most companies won’t even show the manufacture one to you. Here is one from a manufacturer:

Limited Lifetime Plus
Vinyl Window & Door Guarantee

FOR AS LONG AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OWNS THE SINGLE FAMILY OWNER OCCUPIED HOME IN WHICH OUR VINYL WINDOWS AND/ OR PATIO DOORS ARE INSTALLED, WE WILL CORRECT DEFECTS IN MATERIAL AND/OR WORKMANSHIP IN ALL WINDOW AND PATIO DOOR PRODUCTS MANUFACTED BY US, PLUS WE WILL COVER THE SECOND OWNER FOR TWO YEARS.

LbL Windows will, solely at it’s discretion, repair replace, or pay our current price for any defective window or door.

We will furnish parts and labor, when we are unable to furnish this service ourselves, labor performed by others must have our prior approval and will be paid a our current rates, which are on file in our office. Glass or other parts furnished will be reimbursed at our current catalog price.

This Guarantee does not apply to windows, insulated glass, or doors not set vertically square, level, plumb, or installed improperly. Glass breakage, incidental or consequential damage to walls, floors, etc., and damage caused by misuse or acts of nature are not covered. Replacement part colors and designs may vary from the original.

THIS GUARANTEE IS EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER GUARANTEES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, THE GUARANTEES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS AND MAY NOT BE ALTERED EXCEPT IN WRITING BY THE COMPANY PRESIDENT.

Most of all the warranties are limited. Notice on this guarantee, “does not apply to windows or doors not set or installed improperly,” “damage caused by acts of nature is not covered” and “Normal weathering is not covered.” This warranty does not cover damage or loss due to improper installation either. If a person does not install the windows to the right procedure, there’s NO warranty. Remember how a vinyl window fades, cracks, brittles and warp? Ultra Violet light! Which is normal weathering isn’t it?

So how good do you think this warranty is to you? You are right. It isn’t worth anything!

This warranty does not include screens or glass breakage either. You would be on your own if those fail or wear out.

When finding the best windows and best warranty that fits your criteria make sure you know what would be the best for you. If you only were going to live in a house for less than three years, the above window guarantee would be fit. But if you plan on living in the house longer this lifetime guarantee would not work. It doesn’t last a lifetime. Reading the fine print makes the difference on whether you will be happy with your decision on your purchase.

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Steven — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:43:00 GMT

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is the second book of the seven book saga written by C.S. Lewis. The four original children from the first movie are summoned into Narnia only to discover that hundreds of years (1300) have gone by and that humans called Telmarines now occupy Narnia. Prince Caspian, the true heir to the throne, is forced out of his home by his uncle who wishes the thrown for himself. The children and Prince Caspian meet up and together attempt to save the remaining Narnians from the Telmarine’s war machine.

I enjoyed this movie, it was better then I thought it would be which, is always a welcomed surprise. The battles were as epic as a battle could be without blood. The director did, in my opinion, didn’t do the best translation from book to movie. He took a lot of creative liberty, but it’s still an enjoyable movie with a lot of great characters, from noble to devious.

This movie appeals to everyone and the people who don’t seem to enjoy it are either Atheists who don’t like the Christian theme or Christians who don’t like the mystical Pagan creatures. To both of those people I have to say is, get over it, and really, just enjoy the darn movie for what it is, an epic fantasy story.

Picking Ripe Fresh Produce At The Grocery Store

TALLMAN — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:33:00 GMT

Every time I walk into the grocery store, usually on the far right hand side (looking straight ahead from the entrance) I will see the produce section. There are plenty of green plants, lettuce, grapes, melons, tomatoes, oranges, bananas, fruits and vegetables of all kinds. Now that the summer months are coming up, before you go to the fresh produce section make sure you do your homework.

I have lived on a farm and growing melons, zucchinis, potatoes, carrots, radishes, corn and many other produce. The key to picking the most ripe and succulent tasting produce depends on when it’s picked and how it’s picked. Unfortunately, when you get to the grocery store you can’t pick it off the vine yourself, but there are some factors in correctly picking certain products to make sure they are ripe.

Watermelon: In order for it to be picked ripe you need to see the vine. When they are picked at the farm there is a vine that lets all the nutrients flow into the melon. From the watermelon there is a pig tail (closest to the melon) that when all dried up means the melon is ready. Then it can be picked, but you can’t tell this at the store. So then what you have to do is give it a pat or slap to make sure it sounds hollow. If the melon is overripe (stringy inside) it will have a dead sound and not give a sound back at all. But if it’s ripe and ready to eat it will sound more like a hollow log.

Cantaloupe: A cantaloupe is much easier to tell whether it’s ripe or not. You can see by the outside if a melon has any yellow along its ribs. If it’s dark green it means it was probably picked early. Another way is seeing if the vine is still attached to the melon or has been ripped off. If it has been ripped off or still attached it means the melon has been picked green. Stay away from it! The melon will be hard and not taste as sweet. Most people that have bought a melon from the store at a grocery store produce isle have been dissatisfied and this is the reason why, they don’t pick the melon vine ripe.

Tomatoes: Make sure that you know when you want to eat them. The more red they are the more ripe the produce is, so if you are going to eat it right away I would recommend taking it. If it is greener and firmer it means you can sit it out longer just like pears and bananas.

Don’t buy produce that is from down south (Arizona, California, etc.). Usually it won’t taste as good and they have been picked all at once so it’s not vine ripened. I recommend going to a local farmers market in your area. Farmers in the summer time pick them vine fresh off their farm. Talk to the local farmers ask them of their ways to pick produce and what their secrets are in picking them. They will be more then friendly, since they know how hard it is to grow produce that is tasty and sweet.

Iron Man

Steven — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:36:00 GMT

Iron man is about a rich guy named Tony Star who gets kidnapped by terrorists and with the help of another captured scientist he build a prototype iron man and escapes with an explosion. He returns to the United States and builds the final version of Iron Man and then goes off towards the unknown Arabic country and dishes out justice.

I thought the movie was all right. It got boring at times and there wasn’t enough action, but then again what super hero origin movie does? Robert Downey Jr. plays a good Iron man he’s pretty sarcastic through out the movie and it’s pretty funny. To a person who isn’t familiar with Iron Man and the comics probably might not like this movie or think it’s alright. To a fan, well, of course you’re going to like it. You’re a fan you love everything that is Iron Man. To you an averagely made movie is Star Wars times ten!

If you’re a fan watch it, rent it, buy it, and even, if you’re into those kinds of things, sleep with it. If you’re not a fan just save your money and rent it.

Speed Racer

Steven — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:35:00 GMT

Speed Racer, directed and written by the Wachowski brothers, hit the theaters on May 9^th of 2008.When I first saw the trailers I thought to myself “Oh great” in a none to enthusiastic tone because I figured it’d be another over hyped, quick cash, Owe Boll-esc movie that will just plain suck, but we, the masses, will go see it anyways because it uses the name of a popular game or old series. Yes I went. I joined the single filed line of people trudging towards the theater. Like cattle to the slaughter we entered all the while a silver thread of hope that this movie might not suck dangles in front of us. I got my ticket, found a seat, and waited anxiously for the movie to start. I would put my hand on a bible, swear to God, and Swear on my mother’s grave, if she had one, that this movie does not suck! My eyes were treated to visual candy and they enjoyed every bit of it!

The story focuses around Speed from childhood to becoming a man. When he’s in his prime racing career Royalton Industries makes Speed a lucrative offer which if accepted he would be turning away from his fathers business. In the end he turns it down which angers Royalton who then reveals that racing isn’t about driving, but to make money and that all the races are rigged. Speed is devastated and he vows to bring down Royalton and end his corruption.

I really thought this movie would be about just some punk kid that I would want to punch through out the whole movie and he’d race around and there would be like no plot, just crummy visuals. I am so glad I was wrong. The plot of the movie is great. I mean what can you expect from the brothers who wrote The Matrix? The best that’s what!

Installing Energy Efficient Windows

TALLMAN — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 06:20:00 GMT

Installing windows is very important, Unfortunately, when a problem arises after you have your windows done you will call the window company, they tell you to call the contractor and then when you call the contractor they tell you that they just install windows and to call the window company. Do yourself a big favor, whoever you decide to purchase your new windows from make sure it’s with a full service window dealer, someone who you can report with directly and not have to worry about subcontractors. With that in mind, improper installation will cause 51% of all problems with windows and 49% will be product failure.

In addition, whoever puts the windows in for you, make sure they’re doing it the right way and I will tell you how it’s done, there is only two ways. The first way is with the nail flange (or without, it doesn’t matter if it has one or not)). Now when these windows are installed, this is what they will have to do:

The first thing that happens is the installers have to come out to the house and cut back your beautiful wood (vinyl, aluminum, etc.) siding two to four inches around the entire frame of the outside of your window. They pull out the old windows and they slide the new windows into the home from the outside. The nail flange hits the outside of the wall, where you then nail it to the outside and cover it up with wood trim. After this step, the next part is to cut the liners two to four inches on the inside. This is done in order to keep the window fully supported.

Now, these frames vary in widths, depending on the manufacturer, they will be anywhere from three to six inches in total width. From the nail flange to the inside is about two to four inches. Now if you have aluminum frame windows (that is what you probably have) they aren’t that wide. If you were to measure them they’re about two and a quarter inches in width (that is universal). So to insure that these windows are fully supported by the frame of the house, what they have to do is cut back your window seal liners two to four inches on the inside of your home.

The bad part about this type of installation is a lot of people don’t like to see the entire window frame. When you install it this way you lose a lot of sill space and if you have mini-blinds a lot of times there’s not enough room to put them back up. Because the nail flange hits the outside wall and causes this, they nail it to the exterior surface and then they cover it up with wood trim around all four sides.

Some people don’t like that type of installation. They don’t want to have their siding cutback on the outside and they don’t want to have their liners cut back two to four inches. They also don’t want to lose their window seal space and if you he mini-blinds space, most of the time there’s not enough room left to remount the hardware so you will have to go to wall-mounted blinds, I will tell you that wall mounted blinds are not cheap. They are just as expensive as new vinyl windows.

Every window that is installed comes with a manufacturers installation. It’s very important that when installing windows you do it the right way. If you don’t it will void the warranty (read fine print).

In construction, contractors take shortcuts all the time. You can’t do that with vinyl frame windows. It causes problems, years ago manufacturers got tired of being held responsible for everything so they started putting window stickers on the front and back of their windows showing exactly how to install them. I don’t have a whole installation guide because each window manufacturers guidelines are different. Here is what to remember in a nutshell. Do not use expanding foam use caulking. Make sure to use caulking that expands and contracts with the weather temperature. Install level, plumb, and square on all four sides. Do not store or keep windows out in the sun because this will cause them to warp and sag. Do not nail headers, if you change or alter the frame or do anything listed above, it will void the manufacturer’s warranty making it so you will have problems in the future with your windows.

The second way it can be done is retro-fit, which means fitting the new window into the existing structure, which uses the existing structure of your aluminum frame windows. This window is usually Euro-Vinyl window. Euro-Vinyl lasts a minimum of 40 years and fully supports the structure of the window on two and a quarter inches (see article Energy Savings From Windows). The new window is designed to be an exact replacement for the old window. You do not lose your siding and there’s no wood trim to paint. Some people find it hard to match the wood trim to the siding of their home. Another plus is the new window feels like it was always a part of the home. Since it has four inch screws screwed in all four sides of the window frame into the stud frames of the wall. When you install the other way (above), the new windows end up having a ½ inch gape (usually), which makes it look like the window is floating outside.

No matter what way you have your windows installed make sure they are done right and correct by a knowledgeable contractor or company with experience in the industry. Thinking about all the different ways and how big the frame of windows are makes a difference on installation. It will also make the whole experience enjoyable if you don’t have go back and discover that your window seal space is taken up by the window frames (see article Energy Efficient Windows Warranties).