Confusion

So while we are excited that the deck is going up, this has definately been a difficult week. The windows which arrived at the house were not the low e, argon, energystar rated we requested. It seems to have been a confusion between the contractor and the supplier. The resolution for now is that they will put in the sashes and then replace the glass when the correct glass comes in. This seems to be the best was to keep us moving forward. Of course, it is nerve racking because we won't be able to really check until after the windows are in.

Initially in this process, I was inclined to be very trusting, but as we move on, I am becoming jaded and concerned. I wonder if we should have ordered everything ourselves. I mentioned last week that I felt really out of control of the rebuilding. We have no sense of a timeline or of final costs. It seems like everything we want to order- which seems available based on the internet and our local Home Depot and Lowes- is either "not made anymore" or unavailable to our contractor.

So far, we have been told: 1. The Pella and Anderson windows we looked at are custom made and would take a very long time to get, so we should go with another brand that meets the same specs. That got us generic windows without the low e or argon or energystar rating windows- due to a mix up between the supplier and the contractor.

2. At least one brand of siding we looked at is not being made anymore according to our contractor- this is one that would have matched more closely to what we currently have in terms of style and would still have the energy saving benefits of what we want.

3. The GE double oven is unavailable?

4. The doors we looked at for the basement won't fit and only open outward.

Any one of these things wouldn't be a problem really, but the overall effect is to make us feel like we are being asked to accept the easier ( for the contractor and not what we wanted) alternatives. I am might be wrong about this; in fact, I probably am, but it certainly adds to the stress level for us.