PROJECT STORY · FAIRFAX, VA
Replacement Windows and a New Patio Door in Fairfax, VA
12 double-hung windows and a sliding patio door on a Fairfax home, with the colonial grids kept and the HOA’s approval in hand before anything was ordered.
The home and the scope
A Fairfax homeowner wanted new windows throughout the house and a new patio door without losing the colonial look their neighborhood expects. We installed 12 Sunrise double-hung window units and an Alside Promenade sliding patio door, keeping the 6-over-6 and 9-over-9 grid pattern. The step that mattered most came before anything was ordered: getting the HOA’s approval.
Why do Fairfax homeowners replace windows like these?
Most homeowners we meet are dealing with the same few problems: drafts around the sashes, fogged glass where the seal between the panes has failed, soft or rotting sills, and windows that stick or won’t stay open. When several windows in a house show these signs, replacing them together usually makes more sense than fixing them one at a time.
What we installed
Double-hung windows fit the house because they keep its traditional look: two sashes, with grids that match the original pattern. The order covered the family room, the basement bedroom and three bedrooms, including mulled units where two or three windows sit side by side in one opening.
- Windows: Sunrise V-1750 double-hung, 12 units.
- Glass: LoE 366 low-E coating with argon gas fill.
- Grids: flat grids between the glass in a 6-over-6 and 9-over-9 colonial pattern.
- Patio door: Alside Promenade sliding patio door.
How did the HOA approval work?
Many Fairfax neighborhoods have an architectural review committee, and new windows or doors usually need its OK before work starts. We work closely with the committees, have a great relationship with plenty of HOAs all over Northern Virginia and Maryland, and it has never been a problem. For this home we supplied the data sheets for the new windows and door, and the committee approved them before anything was ordered.
Committees typically want to see the product, the color and the grid pattern, and some also ask for a drawing or photo of how the house will look. How long approval takes depends on how often your committee meets, so we plan the order around their schedule.
How are replacement windows installed?
There are two ways to replace a window. An insert replacement fits the new window into the existing frame when that frame is still solid. A full-frame replacement takes everything out down to the rough opening, which is the right call when the frame is rotted or damaged. We look at the frames during the estimate and tell you which one your house needs. Either way, we clean up at the end of each day and haul the old windows away.
Why a sliding patio door?
The old door was replaced with an Alside Promenade sliding patio door. A sliding door opens without swinging into the room or out onto the deck, so it doesn’t take up floor space or bump into furniture. That’s why it’s the usual pick for a patio opening.
The finished windows and door
What warranty comes with the windows?
The windows carry a lifetime warranty, with our workmanship covered in full. Sunshine Contracting has served 30,000+ Northern Virginia homeowners over 33+ years.
Thinking about new windows in Fairfax County?
We’ll measure, talk through styles and what your HOA needs, and give you a written price at a free in-home estimate.