Archive for the ‘Hurricane Windows’ Category

The drywall is all done –  a tip of the hat to Lockhart Drywall and Plastering – and tomorrow morning we start painting.   Meanwhile we are building the prototypes for the wine racks and display shelving.  Oyster Works’ Peter Hess designed the shelves and is working closely with cabinet maker Stephen Demetrick to refine the design and craft the prototype.

Last Thursday Jon Maldon and Jane Gross came to the shop to check the progress and have Peter and Stephen explain how the system will work.

Outside… Grandscapes is staring to plant.  Check out the native grasses and stone walls! The grasses will grown to be about 4 feet tall and will provide a lovely accent to the front of the building.

The Charlestown Package Store is located at 4625 Old Post Road in Charlestown, RI.  Scroll back through earlier postings for a complete history of the construction.  For an overview of the design and approval process see the blog entry  on the Oyster Works website.

We are siding the south and west sides of the store and think it looks great!   We are using NuCedar siding which is a product made out of recycled PVC and painted to our specifications.

Ezra, Breck, and Jimmy at the end of the day.     Oyster Works’ Jeremiah Bowman watches as Ezra and Tim install the exterior door to the loading area.

Tim Van Wormer applying silicone to the plywood backer board.

We are using Eagle HarborMaster Windows – special thanks to Chris Burgess of Eagle Windows for helping us with our order!  The construction and glazing of these windows is designed to stand up to a hurricane.   Testing  includes firing a 2×4 into the glass (the wood is shot out of a canon at 50 feet per second) and repeated pressure changes (up to 9,000 cycles) to simulate hurricane conditions. Needless to say – we want to put them in right.

First we use a laser level to establish a line that runs all around the building.   Next, we build out around the windows with 1/2 plywood to allow the siding to properly align with the trim.   Then two beads of silicone caulk are applied to the plywood and the window is set and fastened through the nailing flanges.

Window fastened through nailing flanges

After the window is nailed to the wall the entire nailing flange and backer board is covered with Vycor – a thick piece of rubber backed with adhesive.  While the window is being installed from the outside Breck Tully makes sure that everything is square and true on the inside.

Finally the window is fastened to the  framing with metal straps that are visible in the inside photograph.  The straps are to prevent the windows from blowing out of the building due to the severe low pressure that accompanies a hurricane.

Breck Tully centering the window

Vycor over the window flange