If you are an original owner in Peterkort Woods, your JELD-WEN windows have a lifetime warranty. According to a customer service representative I spoke with, this warranty transferred to secondary owners but was only good for 10 years from the original installation.
I am aware of 5 homes in our community that have dealt with failed window seals this year. One original homeowner has completed the installation of new windows from Jeld-Wen. Two original homeowners are in the process of obtaining new windows (including this author). The other two homeowners are not original owners and are not covered by the warranty.
My process started when I noticed what I thought was a haze on the outside of the window. A contractor for the HOA was doing some warranty repairs on the outside of our house and confirmed that the haze was inside the windows. In his opinion, the seal on the window had failed.
I filled out a form on JELD-WEN’s website and requested an inspection. After several emails back and forth, they located the original purchase order for my windows and set up a virtual inspection.
During the original request for service and the inspection, I also reported that most of my windows were very difficult to open and shut.
Following the inspection, I received a message that a window was going to be delivered to a technician next month and it would be installed at a later date. There was no mention fixing the opening problems.
I will give a full report when the process is completed, but there are a few things I have learned that may help.
The warranty mentions “skilled labor” which is only good for two years. According to the warranty : “Skilled labor” refers to tasks where specialized technical knowledge, experience, methods or tools are required to properly identify, diagnose and/or correct product-related issues. This is the reason they gave for only providing a virtual inspection.
When I asked about “regular” labor to install the window, I was assured this was included. My neighbor (also an original owner) was told he had to find his own installer.
Also be advised that you will be responsible to removed any shutters, blinds, or other items obstructing access to the windows.
During the virtual inspection you will have to give the inspector access to your smartphone or tablet. You will have to take several measurements and you may have to use a few tools.
Below is a photo of the window in question. It is clean on both sides. the streaks and haze is in-between the panes.
Update June 28
The failed window has been replaced at no cost to me.
The Jeld-Wen technician also worked on six other windows that were hard to open and shut. The majority of the “adjustment” was to lubricate the locks and the inside of the window frames. No parts were replaced.
The tech did remove several windows to inspect them. He does not recommend that owners do this. Other than that, he did not do anything that homeowners could not do themselves
In my opinion, the windows are now only moderately easier to open and shut. They technically function but are more difficult to operate than I think is reasonable. If you are paying for replacement windows, I can not recommend this particular model.
I will say that Jeld-Wen Customer service and the technician ‘Tim’ were very professional and easy to work with.
Jeld-Wen will not be doing any work outside of warranty at this time. For that, I would recommend Culver.
I have attached the receipt for the original windows in 2006. Note that the Color is Colonial Sand.
Peterkort Woods is a unique townhouse community. The quality of design and construction is far above other attached home developments in the metro area. This can sometimes present a challenge when trying to find replacement hardware or fixtures that fit our space.
Most of us have electric fireplaces. Until recently I have not heard of them failing. A neighbor reported that their fireplace produces heat, but no light. They are having difficulty locating a repair person.
Has anyone experienced a similar problem or has a recommendation for a repair person?
Early Sunday morning, April 19, 2020, at least three townhouses in Peterkort Woods were burglarized.
It looks like the incidents occurred between midnight and 5am. No force was used to enter homes. One may have been unlocked. In another case, a garage door opener was taken from a vehicle on the street and the suspect entered through the garage.
The homeowners were home at the time in all cases but were unaware of the crimes until later in the morning.
We live in a relatively safe neighborhood and burglaries to occupied dwellings, especially townhouses, are rare. However, I would suggest the following precautions be taken.
Lock all the doors on your vehicles and home
Don’t leave valuables in your vehicles (even in your garage)
Lock the entry door from the garage to the lower level of your home
Keep your porch light on at night
Consider installing a front entry camera
If you have been the victim of a crime, please report it to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The non-emergency phone number is 503-629-0111.
Contact Dave Kresta (612 SW Foresta) with your name, phone number, address, and description of needs: email: davekresta@gmail.com
Phone/text(preferred): 503-442-9667
Interested in being on the response team?
If you are in a healthy, non-symptomatic household, please contact Dave Kresta and you’ll be added to response team.
QUARANTINED?
A group of PKW neighbors is available to help if your household is self- isolating. Your neighbors can help with:
❑ groceries
❑ medications
❑ mail
❑ A friendly phone call
We’ll keep our distance and leave everything at your door-step.
After we receive your request you’ll be contacted by a member of the PKW neighbor response team to confirm and make arrangements.
Please note: Many of us wondered why we stopped getting announcements from the HOA. After some sleuthing, we discovered that when AMS upgraded their system, they kept only one email active per account. If someone in your household stopped getting email communications, you can log in and activate or re-activate your email
Preparing the pool furniture for the summer season
Scrubbing up the mailboxes
Picking up trash from the entrance to PKW up the road to the MAX station
Bring your own gloves and wear your Peterkort t-shirt (if you have one). We have a few extra t-shirts (come early if you want one) and we have some bright vests you can borrow so we can all be seen for safety.
Please RSVP by May 3 so we can order enough food for lunch
“We recently had our windows washed. In the process the washers indicated
that a few of our windows had lost their seal. As original owners we
contacted JeldWen for an inspection.
Today the representative of JeldWen conducted his examination of our
windows. He identified 42 windows in our end unit for replacement.
Currently, scheduling for the replacements is out beyond the middle of August.
Fortunately, as an original owner we are covered by the warranty. Others
may not be as fortunate.”
The warranty I read stated, “We warrant to the original owner for which the products and components as identified below are initially installed…” It appears that secondary owners may not be covered.
If you have questions, I would call Jeld-Wen (or other manufacturer if applicable).
Peterkort Woods 