ᐅ Advance payment for the window installment (or window payment)

WilderSueden schrieb:

On one hand, you run the risk that the general contractor goes bankrupt in the meantime. Then you would have to dispute the money with the insolvency administrator. As already mentioned, normally the general contractor would advance the costs in that case and keep the discount for themselves.
On the other hand, ordering windows according to the plan is risky. Masons are not exactly tradespeople known for millimeter precision. Although it is the general contractor’s responsibility, in the worst case two windows might not fit.

Good point, that would unsettle me as well.
In our case, the window manufacturer came only after the shell was completed and measured everything precisely. A 1cm (0.4 inch) difference doesn’t matter on a construction site.
I wouldn’t order windows based on the plan. I hope it was only about placing a binding order and that the windows were not actually scheduled for production before they were measured?

kati1337 schrieb:

If the general contractor (GC) has cash flow problems to the point where they can’t manage a payment for windows for a single-family home, you probably already have an issue anyway.

I didn’t mean to imply that the GC already has cash flow problems. But I would say it’s good practice not to invest too much money upfront, as this could lead to cash flow issues later on.
I’ve noticed that she always avoids paying money in advance, which seems like a good approach.

There can definitely be many reasons why she doesn’t use the offer herself.

kati1337 schrieb:

Ask the GC carefully again if they can provide you with a copy of the offer, so you know that it is legitimate.

Yes, she sent me the offer, and I verified it on the manufacturer Drutex’s website.

WilderSueden schrieb:

On one hand, you risk the GC going bankrupt in the meantime. Then you could end up disputing the money with the insolvency administrator.

If the money has already been paid to the manufacturer, would it still be an issue if the GC goes bankrupt?

WilderSueden schrieb:

On the other hand, you order windows based on the plans. Bricklayers are not exactly known for millimeter-precision work. While it is ultimately the GC’s responsibility, in the worst case two windows might not fit properly.

That’s an important point as well. I will also make sure to confirm that this is just about placing a binding order and not about actually producing the windows yet.

Currently, the situation with window manufacturers looks very bad. There is an extreme drop in orders. I just spoke with an acquaintance who works for a window and door manufacturer. The entire company is on short-time work; there are no more orders.

Advance payment can certainly be made to secure a discount. However, this should only be done with a surety bond from a bank. If the manufacturer or the general contractor goes bankrupt, which can sometimes happen very quickly, the bank is liable. If a bank guarantee is refused, something is suspicious.

This also applies to all other transactions involving prepayments or deposits, for example, with kitchens or construction companies.

That probably belongs in the realm of legend. I just measured my windows because we're installing pleated blinds everywhere. The windows with the same rough opening are identical down to the millimeter.
There is no way someone came, measured each one, and then had every window custom-made. If it doesn't fit, they either plaster over it or chip away some material.

The same applies to doors. No one orders a custom-sized door just because the mason made the rough opening 870mm (34.3 inches) instead of 880mm (34.6 inches).
They use a cordless drill and create the 880mm (34.6 inches) opening.
And if it’s 900mm (35.4 inches), they just add more foam around the frame.

Otherwise, the mason shows up and creates the rough opening as specified in the plans.
What kind of world would that be where windows are adapted based on whatever measurements the mason decides to make?

xMisterDx schrieb:

What kind of world is it where windows have to be adjusted based on what the bricklayer decides to build?

In our crazy world, that’s how it was. Here’s an example demonstrated with two “same-sized” windows:

No use of a Hilti here. Just a tape measure.
By the way, also Drutex, like in the original post. So far, I have nothing bad to say about them; they look good once installed. However, long-term experience is still missing.

Ytong2023 schrieb:

Currently, the situation with window manufacturers looks very bad. There is an extreme drop in orders. I just spoke with an acquaintance who works for a window and door manufacturer. The whole company is on short-time work, and there are no more orders.

That explains why there is this discount.

Ytong2023 schrieb:

A prepayment can certainly be made to secure a discount. But only and truly only with an unconditional bank guarantee. If the manufacturer or the general contractor goes bankrupt, which can sometimes happen very quickly, then the bank is liable. If a bank guarantee is refused, something is wrong.

That is new to me. Should I ask the general contractor/window manufacturer to have their bank issue such an unconditional bank guarantee? Or how does that work?

xMisterDx schrieb:

The same goes for doors. No door will be ordered with a custom size just because the builder made a rough opening 870mm instead of 880mm (34 inches instead of 35 inches).
Take a Hilti tool and make it 880mm (35 inches).
And if it’s 900mm (35.5 inches), just put in more foam around the frame.

I think it is common for doors to come in standard sizes. There is usually no adjustment of the door width here.

kati1337 schrieb:

In our crazy world, it was like this. Here’s an example demonstrated on two "equal-sized" windows:

I also think this is common since windows are usually made individually.

kati1337 schrieb:

By the way, also Drutex, like the original poster. So far, I haven’t had anything negative to say about it; they look good installed.
Long-term experience is still lacking, though.

Thanks very much for the feedback. I hope it will also perform well in the long run.