Ok, so let’s play a little game. In this picture we can see two windows in a basement bedroom. The question is: “What do you see and why do you see it?” Side note---wise-ass comment: And I don’t mean because of anything to do with the way optics work or the ability of the human eye to function as it does. I am talking about the “reason,” or the “interpretation” of what your eyes see----if they see “anything” that needs interpreting that is. So go ahead and feel free to ask questions. I will hopefully answer in a helpful manner---or not----depending on whim and the question asked. All questions and comments from Nutsy will be handled with the usual respect and admiration----befitting a beast of his intellect. Charles Buell
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Charles there is something seriously wrong with that wall. Maybe more than one thing. Is it the camera, or is the wall bowed? Also, something not quite right with the right hand side....
BTW - Get yourself right - the bird is ticked off, LOL
Debi
Charles...
Is the grade up to the window or is that the camera angle?
Debi, the wall is straight----the camera lens does the rest:) Also I keep giving the bird the bird but he pays not attention.
Richard the grade at the exterior comes up to the bottom of the windows.
By looking at the photo, the window on the right seems to be a different size lower pane! Is the wall deformed from the run off from the hill in the back?
Thank God It's Friday,
Paul
Paul, you are on to the windows being different sizes-----why?
Besides the bad framing work for the walls and ceilling, the windows don't match. The one on the right has a much larger bottom pane. Either the window was modified some how, or the rest of the window is burried in the wall!
Hey I see new windows, fresh paint and a white slip cover. Looks like an HGTV makeover.
But then again, everything I think is blue, my husband calls green.
Well the wall looks like it caves in at the center. I hate when you make me wait for the right answer Charles.
...oh yes and a low ceiling from being a daylight basement.
Mr Charles,
This is so way over my head. What is the point of this pointless posting? More posts like this and I will no longer be able to cut the mustard.
Nutsy
Charles,
This is just a wild guess, but does one window need to be larger than the other to meet fire and safety codes? Is it a basement apartment?
Paul, trust me----the framing is perfect---it is the windows that are the issue----and nope, nothing buried in the wall:)
Kate, people often confuse blue and green---so what color is the parrot?
Tammy, "hate" is such a strong word :) And----the wall framing is perfect---it is the camera lense that is "modifying" the wall.
Kate---ceiling is a little over 8 feet.
Nutsy, and won't we all be greatful for that!
Pam, yes that is it----now, which one meets egress requirements?
I would say the one on the right - it looks like the larger of the two.
Pam, I would be willing to bet that your guess would be most people's first guess. But if you look at the one on the right and imagine raising it as high as it would go, the opening remaining at the bottom would be less than that of the window on the left where the sash are the same size. So the one on the left meets egress requirements where the one on the right does not.
Aargh...you are absolutely right and I should have figured that into it...
Lesson learned and better for it.
Thanks, Charles.
Pam, I really want to thank you for working through this little game with me.
The interesting thing about this house---new construction by the way----is that three of the other bedrooms all had two windows and they were all like the one on the right. In other words no proper egress by current standards. I still think it is a bit odd to have two different windows in the same room---but that is just me, and a cosmetic or design consideration----not a code consideration.
Good little lesson and optical delusion. I egress to your gaming skills :)
Jim, I have been told I was a bit "gamey" before :)
pale apricot
Windows, schmindows -- the tree outside is waaaaaayyyyyy too close to the house. What say you, Charles, master of all things abodish?? -- Tanya in Montreal
Kate I love apricots :)
Tanya, we have LOTS of trees close to houses out here----this one is much further away from the house than it looks through the window----I would say at least 16 feet.
Louie asked me to post his guess: I see fields of green, red roses too.
I will have what she is having
It does look as though the framing is not correct, and one window is higher than the other.
Aren't they just completely different windows??
Sharon, the framing is OK----and yes one window is higher than the others.
Hey its Liam----one of my sons:) Yup---completely different windows.
Well, I must admit I had the wrong idea. I was going to say there were no windows. After all you said it was a basement. I was going to say they were faux paintings on the wall.
Barbara, nope---no faux windows:)
Looks like the windows aren't centered on the wall ... and it looks like the window panels aren't the same size. (am I calling these the right things). Or is one of the windows opened somehow?
Gabrielle, see my comments 16 & 18 for the answer to this riddle:)
What a great post & conversation! I'm cracking up looking around my own house for details now.
At first I thought that it was a fig newton of my imagination, or too little coffee. One window has a larger opening. My guess is that the one with the larger opening can be used as a primary means of egress in the event of an emergency...
Helping you help others live their American dream...
Unless this is new construction, I see two windows stolen from different places.
Why do I see that? Because I inspect properties every day full of a mish mash of stuff that was not intended to go together, but put together in a house:
Kitchens with different brand everything.
Windows of 5 or 6 brands or sizes.
Wall to wall carpeting seamed together that is almost the same color, but not quite.
Hardwood floors that stop and start and obviously different manufacturers.
And then I see all that stuff installed improperly!
But that is my world around here. And it ain't gettin' better!
Oh, and I see asymmetry in plant placement. Mr. Jefferson would not approve...
I think I am worried a bit about when there is a torrential rain...how close are the window bases to grade? If there is a true emergency...most of us will find a way to get out a window, albeit making our own opening..lol
Charles, Louie Armstrong except he meant trees of green. He was hanging out too often with Sidney in the lily fields. But I told him he could not double post.
Nellie, is it a bit "eclectic?"
Michael, of course you are right.
Jay, yes----new construction
Bill, grading at the exterior was OK----really, looks worse in the picture than it is.
Kate, you are confusing me----haven't had my coffee yet
If you watch Sidney Poitier movies and listen to Louis Armstrong, you will not need coffee. Well, maybe you will still need coffee but you won't be confused.
Okay Charles... I strongly dislike waiting (is that better?).
Kate, I may have to Armstrong you into what the heck you mean:)
Tammy----I hope you know I am just being a wise ass:)
Mr Charles,
Mrs Kate makes no sense to me at all.
Nutsy
Nutsy, so did Steve tell you she isn't making sense? We all know that you would not know on your own.
Hi Charles, What I see are two different windows. The sash on the right lower window ( facing) is much larger and the fixed portion is smaller. In the left window, the two are of equal size. I also see what could be a stain and also see a ceiling line that seems bowed. The slope in the floor may be an optical aberration of the captured view but whatever is going on, things seem out of square, Please don't tell me it was intentional, LOL.
Hello Charles - Looks like this mystery has been solved. I look forward to the next one.
New construction? Yuck!
William----all the distortion is due to the camera.
Andy, no shortage of mysteries in the inspection world :)
Jay, tis a bit odd :)
The window on the right was designed for egress, however would not be able to fully open
That's pretty funny! How in the world did the builder not catch this?
Kevin, possibly. For sure the "effective" opening height of the left window is much more than the one on the right.
Donna, better yet why didn't the jurisdictional inspector:)
It is hard to see in the picture. I thought the left window was a fixed (2) pane window to sort of match the adjacent SH window. Is it possible the window on the right is installed backwards and upside down ?
Kevin, no----the window on the left is a single hung like the one on the right and both worked up and down just fine and are installed correctly---just "weirdly":)