black metal bars across windows

Maybe a silly question - but here goes -- who is responsible for taking the metal bars off of the front of the townhome windows? Is this something VM should do or do the homeowners need to do it?

 

Actually, for some reason, I believe some of these are actually doors. The bars are there so someone doesn't accidently step out.

VM puts them up because they would be liable until the house is sold, the homeowner can take them off, but they then had better make sure there's a deadbolt installed, with a key lock so that some toddler doesn't accidently open the door.

Looking at it from a safety standpoint, I'd leave the bars up. This way you don't have to worry about it if someone opens the door. Also, this will then provide another way to get a ladder to people in the house in case of fire.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

What'd be really cool is if we could get mini-decks built off those doors (to make them more useable)[8D] I assume that's an HOA no-no though?

 

Had to laugh at that one. Form over function must have been the motto on the design team -- why in the world put doors over the garage???? Anyway, I guess I will pull out the ol' ladder and take the bars down myself -- we don't have doors walking out to the invisible deck -- just windows.

 

for the same reason they put 4x4 windows over the bathtub in houses that are 20 feet apart.... They're not going to live there.

 

I believe you're correct .. no decks in the front of a house.

Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

I think the bars are part of the overall design (looking a the VM townhomes in SW) and removing them would be a "no no". Plus, as Neil said, very dangerous on the french doors.

 

It appears VM is just stuffing their models from other neighborhoods into Broadlands, where the HOA rules may be different.

I've seen the same model (at least it looks the same from the outside) in Lansdowne, and they actually do have mini porches above the garage. Just 3 feet deep, or so, but enough for a plant or two, maybe a small chair? I actually think that looks better than the black bars.

If enough people would like the option, maybe you could try to get the rules changed?

DcD

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Is that possible Neil, who makes the rules?

 

The HOA Board ... trouble is, we start with what the townhome builder is offering as an option, and then expand upon it.

For example, in the Miller & Smith 'magic' series of townhomes, the deck they offered was rather small. We authorized a larger deck, with some restrictions (can't wrap around those weird corners), but the deck is larger then offered.

However, in this case, if Van Metre did not offer that option here in Broadlands, we have nothing to work with.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Ugh..Van Metre strikes again []

 

Seems like most of the TH in SW do take down the black bars -- at least over the windows. We only have windows -- no doors over the garage -- and I don't see anything in the HOA text books that says we cannot remove them.

As for the bathtub picture windows [:I] -- there are a couple of good options if you want to keep the sunlight and lose the "show." At homedepot there are window coverings that basically cling to the window -- they come in a variety of designs and are pretty easy to put up (I used them in our previous home). Another option is Gorgeous Glass (I think that is the name?) from Michael's or any other craft store. Basically it comes in a bottle and you can apply it onto your windows to look like stained glass or just simply frosted glass. I did that to our TH bath window -- I ended up using almost 3 full large bottles but they are only about $5-6 each -- pretty good deal if you ask me!

 

Even if you have windows instead of the french door...hope you never have toddlers visiting (and windows open). Those screens aren't exactly fortresses...seems to me that would be a law suit waiting to happen.

 

And on the other side of this topic. The builder installed the bars on the French door on the front of our TH. But the window next to the doors has no bar. This window goes down to the floor so if the bars were say, a safety issue, perhaps they should have put on there too! We just won't open that window since there are young ones in the house

 

I was told the bars in front of doors with a drop-off was a code issue. It may not be the same for a "window."

Pam D.