Restoring Historic Windows
As the weather improves, it’s time consider window restoration. Windows are one of the most important character defining elements of a structure. They should not be removed and replaced. I would not ever consider buying an old house without original windows. The wavy glass only adds to their charm. I want to encourage historic window preservation and to provide resources. If I can do it, so can you!
Wood window restoration and repair is easier that you think! They were made to be repaired and maintained. Broken parts can be remade. Whole sashes can be replicated. I learned window restoration from the 1980’s Old House Journal newsletter. I am not a window professional, but I have performed window repair and maintenance with good results. Glazing windows is a skill and comes with experience. My husband has fiberglass/epoxy experience and has had success repairing damage with two part epoxy filler.
Before thinking about replacement windows, consider the following.
Materials. Old windows were generally built of high quality old growth lumber. Replacement windows can not replicate this material quality and have a limited life span, regardless of what the salesmen state. Old windows were made of easy to assemble parts and can last 100’s of years. Maintenance generally involves keeping them painted and occasional reglazing.
Ecology. The earth has already bled for your old house windows. They should not be placed in a landfill for new wood or vinyl windows with a 10 to 20 year life expectancy. In turn, they will need to be replaced in a vicious cycle. Once thrown away, these old windows are lost forever.
Energy efficiency. Old windows can be energy efficient if kept in good repair or with the use of interior or exterior storm windows. We have many windows with interior storm windows previous owners installed to increase energy efficiency. I am removing them slowly as I work on my original windows to make them less leaky. I do not care for the look of interior storm windows, especially in the public rooms of the Forsstrom House.
Esthetics and higher property values. New replacement windows do not have the correct esthetic. Historic homes with original windows have been demonstrated to have higher property values and increased curb appeal. This preserves your investment.
My plan to restore and maintain our windows has two parts; window restoration and preservation with exterior storm windows. I inspect windows annually to determine those that are highest priority for restoration. There was much deferred maintenance on our windows in the past. Luckily, the materials are of high quality and are repairable. My husband and I work on windows in the summer. The labor is mostly paint removal, sanding, and painting. They don’t have to all be done at the same time! This is a sustainable long range plan.
Most of my 77 windows are wood casement windows. These are relatively simple to work on with few moving parts. We have four double hung windows and we restored one of them last year. For me, it was a needed review of the double hung sash window anatomy. When window repair is beyond my skill set, our carpenter steps in. Often, he has the exact tool I need to make the job easier. I use a window restoration craftsman to make replacement sash or pieces.
Annually, I select a few exterior windows for traditional wood and glass storm windows. These are the correct vintage look for the old house and protect windows. My highest priority windows were those with leaded prism glass, south and west facing windows. They get the brunt of the weather, and are the best candidates for preservation. I do the measurements and have them custom made. We fit, prime and paint them to get ready for hanging. They can be heavy and challenging to hang. Scaffolding and extra hands make installation much easier.
Information Resources:
Lower Columbia Preservation Society. www.lcpsociety.org/window-repair A local resource that provides window DIY, links to Clatsop Community College Historic Preservation classes and other online and lending library resources. It also goes into some detail about the Astoria Historic Landmark Commission’s recommendations and provides links to City of Astoria building code about windows. This is very important for owners of historic landmark homes or those in dedicated historic districts.
Scott Sidler has an informative blog with tutorials and an excellent on line class on windows for purchase. TheCraftsmanBlog.com
Stacy Grinsfelder on the True Tales from Old Houses podcast. Stacy promotes window preservation has a strong DIY work ethic.
John Leeks’s Historic HomeWorks website is a resource for home owners and professionals to maintain historic buildings. I recommend the wood epoxy repair discussion and video. HistoricHomeWorks.com