Time Sensitive- Action Required!
RE: WINDOW UPGRADE OPTIONS-Mailing sent 11/9/09 to buildings 1-5.
Dear Sammamish Waterway Unit Owners,
Some Unit Owners had previously expressed a desire to upgrade their new windows either for greater energy efficiency, noise reduction or security. The time has come for owners to determine what option they wish, if any. Unfortunately, the decision needs to be made quickly.
Unit Owners in Building 6 were contacted over the weekend and must commit to any upgrade on or before Wednesday, Nov 11th. Unit Owners in Buildings 1-5 must commit on or before Thursday, Nov. 19th.
We apologize for the short notice. We would have liked to have given more time, however, the circumstances did not allow it. Signed, owner commitments not received by the due date will not be accepted. The commitment may be delivered to RCA Management (email/fax or regular mail) or to Construction Superintendent Jacob Hagemier in the on-site construction office.
Our new windows are going to be wonderful, just as they are, without any “upgrades”. They will already include the following energy features: argon gas filled and “lowE”. The difference in comfort and sound reduction going from our old aluminum to our new vinyl windows is going to be noticeable. If however, you’d like to enhance them more, then these options are available for a short time.
1. $1.50 per square foot. Added energy efficiency by adding a larger air space between the panes. Standard windows are a .33 energy factor, upgraded windows are a .30. In some windows this may have the added effect of also allowing the unit owner to take a partial federal tax deduction (applies to owner occupied units). This federal credit also applies to only the sliding windows & the non opening windows. The federal credit does not apply to the sliding doors or garden windows, although the energy improvement can be made to any window or sliding door.
2. $16.00 per square foot. The second option is a noise reducing and improved security window which is accomplished with a thicker, laminated glass. No specific guarantees or degrees of improvement have been given. Adding this option will eliminate the federal tax credit, although the reduction in energy efficiency is less than 3%. This feature may be added to any window or sliding door.
Please keep in mind the following; when measuring a window, the window is the entire unit, corner to corner, not the individual panes of glass or just glass. The technical description is the “rough opening” the entire window sits in. If it is a garden style window, it will be the overall dimensions of the vertical portion + the angled portion. The upgrade prices are per square foot. When measuring we recommend adding 2-3 inches to each dimension for accurate overall calculations. Make your measurements to estimate the total square feet of window and round up to the next whole number. Your cost calculations will need to be made on your own based upon the information provided here. The actual cost could vary somewhat depending on your measurements. Once the windows are ordered, the cost for your upgrades will be assessed to your account and you will be provided a remittance slip by Sammamish Waterway Condominium Association for the actual cost of upgrading the windows in your unit. This is completely separate from the special assessment. Failure to pay your window upgrade cost is no different than failure to pay regular monthly dues or special assessment installments. Sammamish Waterway C.A. reserves all rights to collect upgrade costs in the same manner as monthly dues. Upgrades are the owner’s responsibility in the event of future breakage.
Any or all windows may be upgraded, no minimum. You may do all as option 1 or option 2 or a mixture of both, however each window may only get one of the two options. Remember, apply one upgrade option to each window, not both.
The appearance of the window will remain effectively the same, regardless of the upgrades chosen. The window brand/details can be viewed online at:
http://www.plygemwindows.com/new_insulate.html
No other changes may be made. The window frames are white. Please review, complete and return the enclosed “Upgrade Option” form by Thursday, November 19. Confirmation of which units submitted forms will be posted on www.swcondos.blogspot.com.
For Sammamish Waterway
Erik Noyd, President SWC Board of Directors
