Restore or Replace Old Windows?

Restore or replace old windows?

Date Published: Jun 16 2009

Tips to help you decide if restoration is right for your wooden windows.

Wooden windows built before World War II were typically custom-made for the house. Exchanging them with standard vinyl replacement windows can drastically affect the look of your home.
Excess paint and broken pulley systems are the most common problems with wooden windows, but they are easily fixed. Stripping and refinishing the wood, as well as replacing the rope in the pulley system with a chain, can make your window work like new.
Rotted wood doesn’t necessarily mean window death. Window restoration specialists can usually repair it using epoxy that can be sanded and painted to blend with the rest of the window.
Properly maintained wooden windows and storm windows work together like the two pieces of glass in a doublepaned window. Add weather stripping to wood windows and storm windows to achieve similar energy ratings to that of double-paned replacement windows.

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Consider restoring your wooden windows

Replacing double-hung wooden windows with newer vinyl windows may seem like an obvious choice, but it's not your only option.

Comments

Permalink Submitted by Hugo on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10

hello, my name is Hugo. i've been in the window business for over 15 years already. We manufacture vinyl windows for about one third of it's cost at a retail store.

Permalink Submitted by Edward Ganshirt on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10

I came across this article after I had my windows restored. I DO recommend that window restoration be considered. 1). develop a plan for what and why do you want to make changes to your windows. 2). what are your options? 3). what is the cost? 4). are your windows restorable? 5). Then do it! I was looking for energy efficiency with minimal visual changes to the style of the home. I got quotes at various levels $250 per window to replace pully/weights with springbalances and weatherstripping. $600 per window to do that plus double pane coated glass. $1800 to replace the entire window assembly from a well known name brand window company. I settled for the middle option and had my windows done by a company called Boston BI_Glass. They use a more up to date better quality window stripping material and a routing process that holds the glass more securely than the old fasioned glazing putty process used by the standard window restoration process. Also the Bi-Glass panes have a coated glass on the inner pane. The restoration done by Boston Bi-Glass is not elegible for the tax deduction but the savings is significantly greater than the deduction compared with new windows install cost. If I had new windows installed I would loose the storms. The net result would be 2 sheets of glass. With the Bi-Glass system I keep my storms and the end results is 3 sheets of glass between inside and outside. The end result is an equal to or better energy efficiency than a top of the line replacement window for a lot less cost.

Permalink Submitted by nancy on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10

who do i call for restoration of wooden windows?

Permalink Submitted by Susanna on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10

Please make this posting more prominent in your emails and on your website. This perspective on wood windows is often overlooked in mass marketing!

Permalink Submitted by Kay Whitley on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10

Would like to contact someone for window restoration. Saw your info on your website. Thanks.

Permalink Submitted by margaret murray on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10

A carpenter is going to add inside storm windows to my house. It is similar to his and he stated he saved one third on the fuel bill. I live in Vermont

Permalink Submitted by Sue on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10

I would like to contact someone besides Chosen Wood Windows for window restoration.

Permalink Submitted by Patricia Fitzgerald on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10

some historic designated neighborhoods require permits before window installation. This is to ensure the requirements to meet the historic preservation of the designated neighborhood. Window installers should be aware before working in a possibly designated historic district.

Permalink Submitted by Patricia Fitzgerald on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10

no, thanks

Permalink Submitted by Jim Dolan on Tue, 2012-02-07 14:10

Good advice, to maintain attractive older home restoration takes time but is best choice.

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