I have a customer who wants to build a big floor-to-ceiling wall cabinet to showcase his plasma screen TV. He wants like a wall of cabinets (basically a huge bookshelf, really), and it will completely cover a big arched window on the wall. I feel kinda funny about attaching a cabinet to the wall right over a big window like that, anyone else ever encounter this? Any potential problems I should be aware of? (I had posted this under a previous title, but I think the title was misleading). Thanks for any insights!
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Replies
Paint the back of the cabinetry black. Put it up, have him sign some kind of disclaimer............he's NOT jumping through that widow in case of fire.............have him sign the check and say thank you!
It might not be what you or I would do............but are you really gonna let it bother you like that??
Eric
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
[email protected]
Better yet spray the glass black from the inside. It is actually hard to notice that this has been done. I did this on one of my rentals where we had a low window over the tub and wanted a shower. It's been 7 or 8 years an it still looks great. A friend of mine did a different version of closing up a window like this and simply put shutters in the opening. It just looks like they are closed all the time.
I agree DougG.
I once sprayed the inside of my van window black, then mounted some storage shelves for my tools. It looked great from the outside, except if you looked close and noticed the drips.....
If you take your time with the spray paint, it will be fine.
Anyways, the customer is always right. I'd offer a couple of warnings, then go ahead and give him what he wants!
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
Thanks everyone for all the "food for thought" - as always, a lot of wisdom and experience to be had at this forum! I start work on some other projects for this homeowner Thurs., hopefully I'll keep him happy and get the rest of his work! Couldn't do it without the valuable insights from da BT gang!
Will the room still have the code required light / ventilation and egress if the window is blocked ?
What's it going to look like from the outside? You certainly do not want to see the back of the cabinet. You could use some sort of window treatment within the frame (i.e., horizontal blinds) and then install the cabinet (with the rear of the cabinet painted white).
the inside of the window will get really nasty...
bugs, webs, dirt... you name it... no matter what you do...
proud member of the FOR/FOS club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Edited 2/8/2005 5:03 pm ET by IMERC
I'd worry about painting the back of the cabinet black if the sun ever hits that window. It's amazing how hot a limited space will get with glass over black. Great for solar heat. Not good for cabinets or plasma TV's.
Steve
Its his money to do as he pleases. When it becomes your money you can do what you want.
Years of working in this field have made me leery of jobs that can come back and bite later, even 'tho you give the customer what he asks for. Just wanted to get a heads-up as to any potential problems. Thanks everyone for the replies.edited to add: Once did a restoration on a burned house. HO lost his daughter in an upstairs bedroom during the fire, asked me to seal off the stairs and make it a single story, and leave the upstairs alone, just renovate the downstairs. I could have just given him what he asked for, but he later thanked me for suggesting it was a better choice to restore the whole house, then sell it if he was still bothered by the memories.
Edited 2/9/2005 10:27 am ET by Huck
Huck,
I once trimmed half an window in a guest bath in a New multi million dollar place. The other half of the window was in a closet!
The architect did it on purpose for crying out loud. He cared more about how the outside of the house looked from the back yard than what guests thought.
Do it however they want, so long as they pay.
Jim