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Contractor admits installing windows before permit; board approves most replacements, conditions bay window fix
Summary
At the Jan. 2 meeting a contractor representing the Barlos said replacement windows were installed before a permit was issued; the Summerville board approved the work except for a constructed bay window and required an exterior simulated-divided-light or similarly detailed exterior grid, to be confirmed by staff.
Brett of Southern Industries told the Summerville Board of Architects for Review on Jan. 2 that his crew replaced windows at the Barlos' house on Salisbury Street before a building permit had been finalized.
"We mistakenly installed the windows prior to the permit being issued," Brett said, asking the board to accept the work. He and the homeowner told the board the replacements were aimed at improving energy efficiency; the homeowner said the property's high energy costs had driven the change.
Board members examined photos and the workmanship. They accepted the majority of the replacement windows as compatible with the house and neighborhood, but members raised aesthetic concerns about a newly constructed bow/bay window that differs from the original configuration. One board member urged an exterior grid rather than an interior lattice to better match historic appearance.
The board approved all other installed windows and granted conditional approval on the bay window, requiring an exterior simulated-divided-light or another exterior grid treatment with appropriate profile and detailing. Staff member Jim was assigned to confirm the chosen solution meets the board’s expectations; the board recorded that the owner may coordinate the fix directly with staff rather than returning for a full board hearing.
The board did not impose penalties on the record during the meeting; instead it focused on achieving a visible exterior treatment that preserves the block’s historic character and avoids setting an inconsistent precedent for future alterations.
The board’s condition requires the applicant or contractor to return evidence of the exterior grid (or for staff to confirm a manufactured simulated-divided-light detail) before final administrative sign-off. If staff cannot confirm compliance, the matter may return to the board for further action.
