Finally New Windows

Forty-five years ago, as the school year began with the grand-opening of of the Ohel Shiloh Elementary School, we moved to Shiloh. Our first home was a prefabricated cement structure in a new rather isolated neighborhood, on a mountain overlooking ancient Shiloh and a lower hill where the more veteran Shiloh residents were just about to build their first permanent homes.

We first lived in the center/western side of the neighborhood, but when the time came to choose where/what would be our permanent home, I fell in love with an empty lot on the eastern side. I dreamt of living in a custom-designed well insulated home with passive solar heating. Seeing the earliest rays of the sun would heat our home for the day. We needed large windows, and to keep the temperature comfortable we had to get double frames, wooden on the inside and aluminum on the outside. We'd have the best of available in Israel in the early-mid 1980s. Our contractor and architect did their best to accommodate. In those days there weren't double/dual panes, at least not here.

In the summer, we'd open the windows to let in the cooler air. The really hot summer sun came later in the day reaching the sides of the house with smaller windows... and also the roof. The biggest and only real problem with those windows was that the two window contractors were fully in touch. The shapes matched will enough to open, but the two frames weren't hermetically sealed, so all sorts of strange things happened in the space between them. And "good news/bad news" properly cleaning the glass was impossible. I took it as a "gift," since that meant that one chore could be ignored.

But after forty 40 years opening and closing got harder, and the screens had aged worse than me. A few years earlier we had replaced the deteriorating wooden door to our merpeset/terrace with a high quality one from HiTech Windows, and that simple door got me thinking. It added to the level of insulation... maybe the time had come... to also change the three livingroom windows. 

I bit the bullet early summer and entered their enormous factory in Shaar Binyamin to discuss it with Chaim Briskin, the owner. He sent one of the workers to my house to measure the window --to the millimeter-- and explain what window design they'd recommend. I agreed and ordered. They promised that they'd install the new ones efficiently, not leaving us with empty frames overnight. 

Late last week the news windows and the skilled crew arrived, davka, earlier than I had expected. They quickly took out the three, no six, window frames to be exact, cleaned up the mess and asked me if I wanted the new frames further in or out. I requested as far out as possible to give me a nice deep windowsill. 

They worked quickly and pleasantly. Just after noontime the job was done. I love the new windows, inside and out. Yes, it's all so bright, with clean glass and "invisible" screens. The wire is so fine that you have to look closely to see it. 

The reflection is slightly unclear because of the double glazing. Yes, instead of two totally separate frames, now the glass is double with a bit of air in-between.

To be very honest, for the longest time I wondered if we should invest in something for the house, since we're not young and have a very limited monthly "income." On one hand, I still hope that when the house has to be sold, these gorgeous windows will add to the value of the house, but I've been told that nowadays when people buy homes, they replace EVERYTHING no matter how new and useful it is.

You're probably curious about if I think I made a mistake. I didn't. I'm not looking forward to adding window-washing to my chore list, but I'm glad I finally got these new wonderful windows.

Our New High Tech Door, Worth The Money

When we renovated our kitchen last summer, we also decided to change the door going to the mirpeset, balcony/terrace.

It was wood with a glass window, and after over thirty years being exposed to the worst of the wind, rain and strong sun, the time had come to replace it. Draughts and rain snuck through, and if I tried to clean the window panes, it was clear that they were very loose.

A few years ago, when I had first been concerned that the lower section was about to separate forever, my son-in-law insisted he could fix/replace that part. That repair didn't solve all the problems, just one. But when the door became so warped that the lock mechanism was misaligned, and keys broke, I lost all patience with it.

The time had arrived to get a new door, something that would upgrade our home. My daughter highly recommended in internal blind, inside the double panes of special insulating glass. Considering how much we were spending on the kitchen, I didn't think it was wise to go "cheap" on the door.

For years I'd been drooling over a door of new, modern materials, neither wood nor aluminum. I wanted top notch insulation. It has always been important to me. I had planned and built the house according to the principles of passive solar heating, and it is as well insulated as was possible to build at that time.

Basically, we had a choice between ordering from an American company via a friend of ours, who is their agent here, or buying from a more local company headquartered in nearby Sha'ar Binyamin. And we know the owners of that company, also. The deciding point was that the American company didn't have a possibility for internal blinds. So, I called Chaim Briskin of Hi-Tech Windows in Sha'ar Binyamin, 02-656-5575, email info@pvcwindows.co.il.

I chose what I wanted when visiting their showroom factory, and then later on, they came to my house to measure and take a look at the doorway. Not only did we get a door with a large glass window that has the inner blinds, but we also ordered a simple screen door. By having a screen door, we figured that we can save money in the summer, especially in the evenings, by being able to keep the door open and the screen closed. That way we wouldn't need to use the airconditioner for cooling all that much.


Since the door didn't arrive until the weather had cooled, we can't say how much it will help in the summer. But we're overjoyed at how the door is increasing our winter quality of life. No longer are we suffering from the cold draughts that had plagued our dining area.

It's also a great savings in heating costs. The heater goes off frequently, since heat isn't being lost. During the previous winter, the heater never seemed to go off.

When we built the house, custom designed and built, we ordered double windows. The inner window frames are wood, and the outer ones are aluminum. The planning was rather primitive by today's standards, but despite the numerous imperfections cold stays out.

I firmly believe that it's worth investing in the best possible insulated doors and windows, and today you can get top notch doors and windows from Hi-Tech Windows. I recommend them for all of your window and door needs. You'll save on heating and cooling, especially if you don't skimp on screens. They work all over the country, not just around here.

Finally, The New Back Door

After a few month's wait, the new back door arrived and was installed yesterday. The back door goes to our merpeset, balcony/terrace where we have the clotheslines and set up the succah. It's also large enough for children to play or to just sit outside. Since that door faces south, which is the direction that here gets the most sun, wind and rain, we needed a door suitable to the challenge. Top notch insulation is a requirement for us, and this door is made from the best materials.

I had ordered it in the summer when we were redoing/renovating our kitchen. It's state of the art, and the insulation is top notch. I went to the factory/workshop in nearby Sha'ar Binyamin to Hi-Tech Windows and spoke to Chaim and his staff. They are multilingual, Hebrew, English, German, Russian. Phone 02-6565575.



Once I realized that the old door had to go, even though I knew that I wanted their quality, I checked other places. One thing they offered, which I didn't see anyplace else in the area, is the internal blinds, between the two thermal glass windows. I don't need an additional curtain or blinds. It's controlled by magnetic knobs.

And immediately, once it was installed the house felt more comfortable. No drafts, and we can control the sun's on a hot day. We also got a screen door from them, so we'll be able to keep the door open without allowing in the flies and stray cats.

The staff that came to install the door was very experienced, professional and polite.

old door

blinds half down and closed from inside the house

new door from the outside

Preparing for the Cold and Snow

On Tuesday, before the snow, I took a couple of walks. The winds were blowing absolutely awfully strong, so I did need reasons to get out. I went to the local super-grocers, which is larger than a grocery store מכלת makolet, and smaller than a supermarket, especially since there's no green grocer department. I did more shopping than usual there and hope that he, the owner has made lots of money from the weather.

Later in the afternoon I went down the hill again, but this time to the neighbor who hosts a weekly Tihillim, Psalms reading. On the way I spotted busy electric company workers bringing us emergency generators.

This way, by truck on safe dry roads was much better than last year when the snow had destroyed one of the electric control towers and they helicoptered in emergency generators.

At home I finally decided to add some insulation, temporary at least, to the open livingroom, dining-room kitchen set up I have. The once nice wooden door with pretty windows to the merpeset, balcony/terrace leaks heat and lets in freezing cold air and wind. So I pinned an old quilt mattress cover up on it with thumbtacks.

It may not be perfect, but it has improved things. Note the towel rolled up to keep cold air from coming in under the door. Better late than never.

Considering that colder weather is predicted for Friday and Shabbat, I'm not a happy camper, but that's winter, and it is supposed to heat up on Monday.