Builder's Booksource

Koontz - I am excited to tell you I am headed up to Berkeley this weekend for a seminar and more importantly, to investigate a shop called Builders Booksource-an entire book store dedicated to builders, (in the broad category). I've heard about it for years, but it's hard getting out of town and though I check out their website, there's nothing like being in a place like that-or so I hope! Expect to be found among the stacks there all day Saturday! I'll give you a report!

Windows: To Retrofit or Not to...

Fitzpatrick-Peg, I’ve read the data on the energy savings of retrofitting windows, but as with anything these days, you have to look at who sponsored the studies—a utility company or the window manufacturing industry?

I know only from my own experience of moving from a 1920 Tudor bungalow with original wood double-hung single-panes to a 1990 Tasteless tract house with dual-glazed aluminum windows (I did not marry “up” so to speak). There is a difference in the amount of power I’m using. The houses are near the same square footage and my utility bills are nearly the same, with this caveat: since I now work at home, I run the A/C and heat all the time in the new house. So the savings seem considerable.

As I designer, most of my clients have replaced windows for aesthetic and functional reasons, with the added bonus of the energy savings. There are times when you will damage the resale value of your home by replacing the windows, like the befuddled owners of the craftsman bungalow Peg worked on last year.

I recently received a call from our fabulous blog mistress, Suzi Arnold of think inkless http://www.thinkinkless.com/. Suzi is the lucky owner of a 1940’s bungalow in our historic Fresno High District and she inquired about replacing her windows because of a problem with heat during our famous 110-plus degree summers, which last from May to October. The windows are steel-framed with retractable roller-mechanism screens. They are collectable, and to replace them would seriously devalue the architecture and monetary value of the house. She figured this, but wanted a second-opinion from us. I of course said keep them, and restore them—but who to use?

We’ll be in touch with a window preservation specialist soon, and bring you our on-line interview. In the meantime, Suzi’s going to invest in some period-specific awnings before August.

So the answer to whether to retrofit or not is not simple, but always keep the architectural integrity of your home in the forefront. As you will see, there are other remedies for heat loss/transfer.

Koontz - So someone needs to tell me if all this window retrofitting is worth the money.

I've looked up reports, and they deal with factors that only an engineer would understand. Theoretically, there's a difference. Do clients' ever realize that difference in heating/cooling issues, (and bills), and/or in noise reduction?

I certainly get the change in ease of operation-but am unconvinced of other benefits. Someone tell me I'm being old-fashioned...is it really worth it???