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Zeluck/Fenestra Windows and Doors.

Framer | Posted in Construction Techniques on January 3, 2003 08:06am

Has anyone heard of or used Zeluck/Fenestra Windows and Doors?

Fenestra is the subsidiary of Zeluck.

Their all in the same office.

Zeluck makes all their windows and doors in Brooklyn.

Fenestra makes all their windows and doors in Italy.

From what they say Zeluck is top of the line they do 2-3 million dollar window and door orders.

Fenestra is 30-50% cheaper but also a top quality window and door.

If a client has a window/door order and a specific budget and Zeluck comes in to high they will turn it over to Fenestra and Fenestra builds them according to Zelucks specifications at a cheaper cost.

I’m installing the windows and doors made by Fenestra right now on an addition that I did.

The installation process is one that I’ve never seen or done befor.

The jambs are 2-3/8″ thick with built in screens that slide up and down like an old shade and it just disappears. Some of the casements swing out and some swing in. You can’t nail through the brickmold or the jamb.

What we have to do for both windows and doors is screw a metal strap 16 gauge 1-1/4″ wide every 16″ apart on the sides of the jambs and one in the middle on the top jamb for anything bigger than 3′ and then wrap them around the liners (Trimmers) and screw them into those.

All walls are 2×6 and for the doors we have to cut out the subfloor in between the rough openings and fill it in solid with the I-joists running parallel to the rimboard and also perpendicular to the rimboard and then put a copper pan on top of the I-joists and then set the door on top.

I should mention the reason why we didn’t fill everything in solid first was that Zeluck/Fenestra was choosen after we were done framing that’s why we had to go back and do it now.

The doors aren’t there yet just the windows but I asked the engineer how thick the saddles are. He told me in the kitchen the saddles are 1-7/8″ and the doors swing out. The saddles in the family room are 1-1/2″ thick and they swing in.

I said how could that be?

The engineer said that for the family room on top of the saddle is a gold siill that the oak floor is supposed to slide right under it 3/4 for the subfloor and 3/4 for the oak.

For the kitchen, 3/4 subfloor and 3/4 Dead Oak and that leaves 3/8 left. Anything bigger is a trip step. I asked him what about room for a door mat? He said it will work.

As I continue to shake my head until I actually see these doors.

Has anyone ever used this company or installed these windows and doors befor?

 

Joe Carola


Edited 1/3/2003 12:32:09 PM ET by Framer

Reply

Replies

  1. Frankie | Jan 03, 2003 08:50pm | #1

    We have used Zeluck. Top of the line - and you pay for the privilage! Had a problem with one twisted door but it was because someone unbundled it on Fri pm and it wasn't installed until Tues. Lots of rain and heat. Lesson: keep everything bundle until ready for installation or cha-ching!

    These guys have figured everything out. Trust them. At first I had similar ?'s and realized everything they said was true. Don't take this the wrong way, but it is a super-high-end component. We do mostly high-end work but this was unfamiliar territory. I learned alot. Same was true for the hardware. What manufacturer are you using?

    Even the Fenestra requires a healthy budget. Congrats.

    I'll tell you more about the installation later. Phone just rang. Gotta run. But one last thing, we did not nail - material too beefy. We screwed and plugged the holes. Came out beautiful.

    Later - F

  2. JerraldHayes | Jan 03, 2003 09:08pm | #2

    We've installed Zeluck windows and doors on a couple of projects although

    not Fenestra. They are in my estimation the best engineered and manufactured

    windows and doors I've seen. I seen some others that I think are right up there

    with Zeluck but nothing really better. We've never actually specified or purchased

    them ourselves (we were just the finishing/installing contractors) so I can't

    really speak about them with regard to specific pricing but in every case where

    we either installed them or seen them price was never any object for the owner.

    It sounds like the screens you are talking about on the Fenestra line are

    the same as the ones on Zelucks which I think are awesome.

    The installation method I think you are describing is something we did on

    a house with a stone clad exterior but I've seen the windows with brick mold

    (albeit a custom designed one) so I think it all a matter of how the particular

    project is designed and specified.

    I can't speak for your engineer on your particular project Joe but it's been

    my experience that if Zeluck doors and windows are part of the project there

    is probably a top high class design team that probably knows exactly what they

    are doing. On a stair project we were doing last summer I noticed that the

    door mats for the house were partially recessed/inlaid into the floors in

    several locations and in one case the limestone tile (2'x2') had been routed

    to accommodate the mats and the mats were monogrammed and looked more like

    tapestry than floor mats. I wouldn't be worrying about it.

    Another window line that I once saw on a project we were on for the stairs

    was called Tradewinds out of Canada I think. Ya ever see or hear of them? I've

    tried to find out more about them but I've never been able to get beyond one

    or two other contractors saying "yeah, I heard of them".


    View Image

    By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get

    to be a boss and work 12 hours a day. - Robert Frost

    1. Framer | Jan 03, 2003 09:58pm | #4

      Jerrald,

      "Another window line that I once saw on a project we were on for the stairs was called Tradewinds out of Canada I think. Ya ever see or hear of them? I've tried to find out more about them but I've never been able to get beyond one or two other contractors saying "yeah, I heard of them".

      Tradewinds was her second choice (Homeowner) very good company but If I told you the story about what happened to her order nobody would believe it. It wasn't Tradewinds fault either. I took pictures with my digital camera I'll try to post them here once I figure out how to do so transferring to my computer. Piffin and Pro-Dek no what a MORON I am with this.

      Half the house is stone and the other half is stucco and there's a tower with 4 windows and a door and that's all stone too.

      I've never seen such a thick/heavy and well built window befor and the screen feature is nice too. Also the casements swinging in is nice.

      Since the window/door order was screwed up for Tradewinds we had to wait 6 months to get these windows/doors but the stone mason had to continue working so the engineer and saleman from Zeluck, GC, Stone Mason came out and went over all the exterior dimensions outside to outside of the brickmold, bottom of the sill to the top of the brickmold.

      We were told to make 2x4 temporary frames 3/4" bigger then the outside dimensions all the way around and nail them centered around the rough openings and the mason stoned into those 2x4 frames. Sounds crazy Ha?

      But as we're putting them in he's finishing around the windows and putting in his sills that he precut awhile back and they look beautifull.

      The thing with this Zeluck is that they make whatever you want and whatever color stain/caulk you want.

      Fenestra on the other hand only makes 8 different color stains/caulks and their limited as to how complicated a window or door is when it comes to archs/circles.

      The finish on these are just and opaque stain and I was told not to nail through them. I had to use the straps. Which I had to supply not them.

      What the Stone Mason did was he chiseled the stone so that the front of the stone is almost perfect to the brickmold and towards the back of the stone is slightly smaller and that enabled us to tilt the windows in on a slight angle to get them in.

      I'm glad to here positive things about this company so far.

      Joe Carola

      1. JerraldHayes | Jan 03, 2003 11:03pm | #6

        Joe I've never been able to find out anything regarding Tradewinds. Searching the net returns zilch so at times I was beginning to think maybe I had imagined them or possibly had the name wrong. You wouldn't have an address for them would you? I love to learn more about them so I thought I write them if I could ever find out where they were.

        I think I recall in the last day or two seeing you somewhere online here talking with Bob Kovacs regarding where you are in NJ. Do you ever do work in Westchester NY or Fairfield CT? Or Manhattan for that matter?

        View Image

        By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get

        to be a boss and work 12 hours a day. - Robert Frost

        1. Framer | Jan 04, 2003 02:25am | #7

          Jerrald,

          The company is actually called Tradewood Windows & Doors Inc. In Ontario Canada.

          I spoke to the homeowner befor and she's going to call me back with all the imformation. I'll let you no everything. I also tried for a website for them and I'm having trouble too.

          I found another link that have quite a few different window and door companies and Zeluck  and Tradewood are on the list.

          http://www.4specs.com/s/08/08210.html

          I was talking to Bob Kovacs over at JLC in Buisness Strategies.

          I haven't worked in Westchester or Manhattan but Manhattan is about 20 miles from my house.

          About 8 years ago I framed 4 additions on one house in New Canon CT.

          Joe Carola

          Edited 1/3/2003 6:26:57 PM ET by Framer

        2. Framer | Jan 06, 2003 10:33pm | #8

          Jerrald,

          Finally got the imformation for you for Tradewood Windows and Doors.

          Located in St Catharines Ontario Canada.

          1-800-410-0268  Ask for Richard Krysiak.

          Let me know how you make out.

          http://www.tradewoodwindowsanddoors.com

          Joe Carola

          1. JerraldHayes | Jan 06, 2003 11:13pm | #9

            Hey thanks Joe. I really appreciate your taking the time to run that down for me. I'll look forward to one day getting the chance to return the favor.

            View Image

            By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get

            to be a boss and work 12 hours a day. - Robert Frost

  3. Ragnar17 | Jan 03, 2003 09:43pm | #3

    Joe,

    Those windows seem pretty cool -- I've seen some old roll-up screens on a house from the 1920s before, but it was one of a kind.

    I'm interested in finding out more about this product line sometime.  Thanks for posting.

    Regards,

    Ragnar

    1. Framer | Jan 03, 2003 10:05pm | #5

      Ragner,

      These windows are cool and the screen is too. You have to see how thick it is to believe what I'm saying.

      Ill give you their websites.

      Joe Carola

      http://www.zeluck.com

      http://www.fenestra-america.com

      Edited 1/3/2003 2:10:18 PM ET by Framer

      Edited 1/3/2003 9:32:22 PM ET by Framer

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