All photos courtesy of Kolbe Gallery Twin Cities
Frank and Jill Roffers purchased their 1930s home in an Edina, Minnesota, historic district, where you couldn’t tear down a house—you could only make improvements. The original windows were failing on several accounts: The glazing was deteriorating; the rope-and-pulley systems were faulty; the hardware was tarnished and outdated. Many of them wouldn’t open, and they were very difficult to clean. The cream-colored exteriors were unattractive, so the couple decided to replace them to enhance the appearance, efficiency, and enjoyment of their home.
A Perfect Fit
The couple were impressed with Kolbe’s Forgent® Series—a durable line of windows that fit their budget as well as the style of their home. Designed for strength, performance, and energy efficiency, Forgent Series products were an ideal choice for the Roffers’ replacement project. The Midnight exterior color would also provide the clean, updated look they desired.
“We chose Kolbe’s Forgent Series because it was affordable—we had to do this entire house,” says Frank. “We had other experiences with Kolbe® windows so we understood the quality and trusted the brand. We are completely happy.”
Preparation
The 3,100-square-foot classic style brick home originally had single-pane double hungs with true divided lites and storm windows on the outside. In replacing the windows, the original frames were left intact, and gaps, holes, and recesses from previous hardware were filled in for an airtight seal before the new windows were installed. Most of the windows were replaced with double hungs with dual pane glass and performance divided lites on the upper sash.
Bigger, Brighter, Better
In the kitchen, French inswing patio doors replaced a single swinging door for a larger opening, additional light, and easier access to the outdoor living space. A bay window adds dimension and architectural detail.
Jill offered, “What I like best about these new windows is how beautiful they are. We have a new door in the kitchen, and it makes the kitchen seem so much bigger. It’s my favorite thing.”
Jill added, “Having windows that work, that open… they’re clean, they’re bright; it has changed it dramatically for me. It’s like having a new house.”
The Kolbe Experience
The Roffers were very pleased with the process and their experience with Kolbe Gallery Twin Cities. “The experience with working with Kolbe has been a good one,” says Frank. “There’s a gallery here in our community. They came out and measured our windows, gave us estimates… gave us options for different styles, and made some really good suggestions about what we could use and what we needed. And we enjoyed the experience working with that team,” Frank continues.
