Glass Windows or Louvers

[Lori]

Can anyone help??? We are in middle of deciding whether or not to replace our existing louver windows with glass windows and screens. I am wondering if there is a reason why I should not do this. Why do most of the homes in the Dominican owned by North Americans not have glass? Is there a reason I am not understanding? I was hoping to solve the problem of the musty smell in the clothes and linens. Maybe I am thinking "Canadian" by assuming that glass is the answer. We do not want to put in air conditioning. Can anyone help give us some answers to this . Thank you.

 

[Drake]

You probably want to consider three factors. Firstly security. Most houses here have iron bars. This is sometimes unsightly when you have clear glass. The other factor is heat. Glass tends to cause a greenhouse effect that heats up the room. Lastly the cost of glass is rather high in comparison to other options.

 

[Lori]

Drake: Thanks for your input. I had forgotten about the iron bars that we had put on the windows when we purchased. Probably because of the louvers we do not see them from the inside. Good point, thanks.

 

[Burmell]

The louvers are used because then the entire window can be opened and not just half of it. If you prefer glass to aluminum you can get glass louvered windows. These are more costly, but let in light when closed. They are usualy tinted and slightly frosted this breaks up the light when it enters and gives some privacy, eliminating the need for curtains, which also block air flow. The house we lived in in the dR had glass in the living room and aluminum in the rest of the house

 

[Bob]

Lori,if you instal louvers,you will be able to control ventillation very easily. Your screens should be inside the louvers, which can then be washed clean of dust periodically. I strongly recommend that you instal iron bars outside the louvers, being sure there are enough anchor pins drilled in solid concrete so they are difficult to remove with a simple pry bar. I also suggest the glass louvers be glued in the metal slots with clear bathtub caulk so they cannot be easily removed. It is an unfortunate fact that RD is no different from all other countries as far as robberies are concerned. While it is impossible to keep out a determined burglar, he will usually go someplace easier to get in if you take my suggestions based on 15 years on this truly beautiful island. Bob

 

[Tom]

Instead of Iron bars, why not a well trained large dog?

 

[Norman]

Re: Large dog. I had a medium sized dog who barked at everyone coming close to my house. The thieves poisoned him and three others nearby to steal one motorcycle. I found him dead the next morning trying to guard my door.

 

[Tom]

Training, training, training

If you wish to sucessfully have a dog guard your property, he/she is taught to eat from one dish only, to ignore (through technique) food thrown over a fence etc.

 

[Tom]

Re: Glass Windows or Louvers/Guard Dogs

Norman

Before you get my response wrong: I am sorry for the loss of your pet, but I was referring to properly trained Guard Dogs, a option I have discussed with several people Re: is there a market in the DR for trained Dobermanns?

Beside my on Dobes, I have experienced the Dobes and Shepards aboard ship utilized by the Marine contingent responsible for security of "special weapons" (ones that didn't exist). These dogs wouldn't touch a T-Bone proferred to them. They are convincingly conditioned that any food not in their dish in thier kennel is not savory and will not eat it.

We watched a trainer offer us any method to enter an unlocked building, shotgun, poison etc., take money on the table left wide open. the only deterrent was two highly trained Dobermanns that "owned" that particual building. About the only way anyone could figure access, let me rephrase, egress, was with the use of gas.

Tom

 

[KEITHNY]

Somebody I know while away from his house came home to find both his pittbulls shot dead,and the house robbed.

 

[Tom]

Well I guess if somebody went to the trouble and noise to shoot two dogs (Pit Bulls are not the brightest for personal or property protection) Iron bars, gates or a moat wouldn't have helped much either.

Maybe we should forget this issue, there is no perfect way to protect a house against a determined thief, it just may give you cause to wonder why the US Military uses dogs to walk tarmacs and reventments where restricted access is concerned, high security buildings prefer Dogs to iron bars etc. It would lead a resonable person to suspect there is validity in the use of TRAINED dogs for protection of property and life

Tom