Restoring Period Windows
Koontz - I agree with Jodi that installing new, retrofit windows would be a mistake for her friend's older home. And I appreciate Jodi's advice that her friend should look for someone to restore the windows. I would suggest a second option.
I used to own a Taylor Wheeler-built house a bit farther south than Jodi's friend. My partner and I restored those windows and I was thrilled with the results. We replaced wood where it was rotted, used an epoxy patch system where we could, replaced broken glass, replaced all the sash cords, stripped paint off the runners and re-waxed them and replaced the hardware. At then end of the project, my partner's Dad showed up with new wooden screens that he had built, and the correct hanger method for them. Though I loved that the windows operated again, the screens actually completed the process and I was snobbishly proud to have one of the few houses on the block whose windows looked the way they should. (So don't forget the screens!).
If I were undertaking the same project today-I would replace the glass with dual-glazed glass.
Now here's the rub-older homes often have glass in them that has this cool rippling effect when you view it. The ripple is a result of impurities in the production, but what was a mistake back then has become a much sought after item now.
In my 1930's Taylor Wheeler, I didn't have any rippled glass-the glass at my place had probably been replaced in the intervening years, because the twin house next door, (literally a twin house-same pad, same builder, reversed floor plan), did have some windows with rippled glass.
So in my place, I would choose to completely rebuild the windows and use dual-glazed glass. But I would not put in new windows from a window company. I would look for a carpenter/glazer who could build to my specifications. I loved the double hung windows I had that operate on a counter-balance. New windows don't operate that way, and I hate them. I don't care that they are weather-stripped up the wazoo, I've never seen them work as well as counter-balanced windows; and the larger the window, the less likely it will work well unless it's counter-balanced.
Now if you do have rippled glass, and you want to preserve it, you need to restore what exists, and if you choose new windows-at least save that glass, as there are alot of us who will pay dearly to have it....
P.S.-Because of the way dual glazed panes are installed, window installers always say you have to order the entire window. This doesn't make sense to me, as panes get broken in dual-glazed and they can be replaced---it makes sense that you might be able to route-out the existing window frame so it would be a little less deep, and install a pre-made dual-glass panel. I just ran across an old friend who does windows, I'll check with him.
I used to own a Taylor Wheeler-built house a bit farther south than Jodi's friend. My partner and I restored those windows and I was thrilled with the results. We replaced wood where it was rotted, used an epoxy patch system where we could, replaced broken glass, replaced all the sash cords, stripped paint off the runners and re-waxed them and replaced the hardware. At then end of the project, my partner's Dad showed up with new wooden screens that he had built, and the correct hanger method for them. Though I loved that the windows operated again, the screens actually completed the process and I was snobbishly proud to have one of the few houses on the block whose windows looked the way they should. (So don't forget the screens!).
If I were undertaking the same project today-I would replace the glass with dual-glazed glass.
Now here's the rub-older homes often have glass in them that has this cool rippling effect when you view it. The ripple is a result of impurities in the production, but what was a mistake back then has become a much sought after item now.
In my 1930's Taylor Wheeler, I didn't have any rippled glass-the glass at my place had probably been replaced in the intervening years, because the twin house next door, (literally a twin house-same pad, same builder, reversed floor plan), did have some windows with rippled glass.
So in my place, I would choose to completely rebuild the windows and use dual-glazed glass. But I would not put in new windows from a window company. I would look for a carpenter/glazer who could build to my specifications. I loved the double hung windows I had that operate on a counter-balance. New windows don't operate that way, and I hate them. I don't care that they are weather-stripped up the wazoo, I've never seen them work as well as counter-balanced windows; and the larger the window, the less likely it will work well unless it's counter-balanced.
Now if you do have rippled glass, and you want to preserve it, you need to restore what exists, and if you choose new windows-at least save that glass, as there are alot of us who will pay dearly to have it....
P.S.-Because of the way dual glazed panes are installed, window installers always say you have to order the entire window. This doesn't make sense to me, as panes get broken in dual-glazed and they can be replaced---it makes sense that you might be able to route-out the existing window frame so it would be a little less deep, and install a pre-made dual-glass panel. I just ran across an old friend who does windows, I'll check with him.
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