Kenemax Insights
Industry knowledge. Project highlights. NYC updates.
The questions we get asked on every project - LPC permit timelines, what counts toward Local Law 97, what an alteration agreement package looks like, when to repair instead of replace. Written by the Kenemax team.
Field Notes from the Team
A Field Guide to Window Types
The ten window operating types common in NYC buildings - and how each one drives egress, air-sealing, cleaning, and sightlines.
Frame Materials, Compared
Wood, aluminum, fiberglass, composite, vinyl, steel - the frame decides thermal performance, maintenance, landmark eligibility, and cost.
Why the Rated Window Isn’t the Real Window
Lab ratings describe the unit; the perimeter cavity, PTAC sleeves, and window AC units describe what the room actually gets.
Single-Hung vs Double-Hung in Pre-War Buildings
Why pre-war NYC buildings often have single-hung originals, why double-hung is usually the right replacement, and when single-hung still makes sense.
What LPC Wants in a Brownstone Application
Inside the application package for window replacements in designated brownstones - what reviewers look for, common rejection reasons, realistic timelines.
Local Law 97 & Windows: What Counts
How fenestration upgrades feed a building’s LL97 emissions model, which U-values and SHGC ratings matter, and what a window project buys toward compliance.
Replacement Spec vs. Performance Spec
Two projects can list the same window and get very different results. What a true performance spec defines - and where the cost shows up when it’s missing.
Anchorage and Wind Loads
Glass gets the attention - but anchorage is what carries wind load into the building. How anchors are sized, where they fail, and what to look for on site.
Head Receptors, Movement & Sealant
In multi-story systems, slab movement is expected. Whether the sealant joint stays static or becomes a working movement joint comes down to the receptor detail.
What “2% Window Testing” Really Means
Not every window leaving a factory is tested - but performance isn’t assumed. What in-plant testing of ~2% of production actually verifies.