Why Restoration Makes Sense...
Wood Window And Door Background
Historic wood windows and doors were made from old growth woods over 200 years old that have growth rings of 5-8 per inch. This makes the wood extremely stable and durable. These wood windows were intended to be maintained in order to prolong longevity. With routine maintenance, old growth wood windows and doors can last well over 100 years. Original wood windows in the majority of homes I visit are in this range or older. Even these original historic wood windows, if still in good enough condition to be salvaged, can be fully restored in structure and functionality. And in combination with a new proper fit, the highest quality weather stripping, and sometimes a glass upgrade, they can rival the energy efficiency of new wood windows and doors made today.
Wood windows and doors were designed as part of the original structure. They are just as much a part of the original look, design, and historic period of the time as the surrounding neighborhood and community. Replacing original wood windows or doors with fiberglass, vinyl, or aluminum takes away from the historic beauty of the home and neighborhood's original aesthetic.
The best way to protect the investment in your home and keep your family warm in the winter and cool in the summer is to restore or replace old drafty wood windows to make them more energy efficient.
Reasons to Restore Original Wood Windows & Doors
YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC LOOK OF YOUR HOME AND DESIRE TO HAVE FULLY FUNCTIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENT WOOD WINDOWS AND DOORS.
Your original wood windows and doors are part of the history of your house. They are amazing pieces of art. Great consideration was taken in their function and design. They can expanded and contract with the seasons rattling to no end. Restoration allows for weatherstripping to re-fit and seal snug. Old houses move and shift over time and frequently the gaps that open result in more drafts. They are also often sealed/painted shut for decades. Time to open up and let the house breath again.
YOU VALUE GOOD MATERIALS. Antique wood windows are constructed of old growth timber. The wood is denser and more weather resistant than today’s tree farmed hardwoods. Delicate profiles are possible because of the density of the wood. The reason these windows are still around, even with years of neglect, is because the wood is of extremely high density requiring no cladding or additional materials besides paint to give them weather resistance. Original wood windows are usually quite beautiful, graceful, and strong.
YOU LOVE WITH THE CHARACTER AND LOOK OF ANTIQUE WAVY GLASS. Even the antique glass in windows tells a story. It may be roundel or cylinder glass, each indicating a certain era of manufacturing. Old glass has varieties of color and texture that are a delight to the eye.
YOU WANT YOUR WOOD WINDOWS AND DOORS TO LAST YOUR LIFETIME. Chances are your windows have done their job for 80 plus years already. Whenever possible it is a far better investment to repair a proven performer than to sink money into a new non-wood window with a 20 year warranty at best. For example, a cheap vinyl product can begin to crack microscopically from expansion and contraction within a year after installation from elemental exposure alone. These small cracks only get bigger and bigger over the years. With proper maintenance your original historic windows would last at least another decade or two after a full restoration.
YOU WANT TO AVOID NON-WOOD PRODUCTS. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has become one of the greatest concerns in the building industry. The production creates an environmental nightmare as the gas it emits over time is of alarming concern. If a house with vinyl windows catches fire the extra PVC burned in combination with other possible existing PVC related products in the home would release large amounts of toxic dioxin. If you are concerned about lead, please understand that it is used as a stabilizer in the manufacturing of PVC. If you are concerned about our planet’s health you should read up on efforts to reduce the use of vinyl.
YOU WANT MORE LIGHT. Vinyl and aluminum replacement windows are just a smaller box set into the original jamb and sill window box opening. The new sash becomes smaller than the original. Your view is slightly diminished and not as much light is provided.
WINDOWS ARE A FUNCTIONAL PART OF YOUR HOUSE. Weights and pulleys are the best balance system invented. There is a prevalent myth that a lot of cold air comes in through the weight pocket. If there is cold air in the weight pocket it’s generally because there is a gap between the outside trim of the house and the siding. It may also indicate a poor seal at the floor joists. Attics are another huge area of concern for energy transfer. Replacing easily serviceable weights and pulleys with vinyl jamb liners or invisible balance systems means installing a system that claims a maximum life span of 10-20 years but generally fails in 6-7. It is a joy to open and close windows easily with two crazy fingers when windows are restored and weatherstripped to work the way they were originally designed to.
THE GREENEST BUILDING IS ONE THAT IS ALREADY BUILT. Replacing windows does help a home save energy. But when evaluated from the perspective of the entire process including production, shipping, installation, and the removal process, replacing windows consumes more resources and energy than not. In the words of Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, “We can’t build our way out of the global warming crisis. We have to conserve our way out. That means we have to make better, wiser use of what we have already built.” Repair and restoration work is done by local craftspeople paying local taxes like me. We are conscious about maintaining a low loss standard in the shop. Restoring windows is the best use of existing materials and the best way to support the local economy.
Historic wood windows and doors were made from old growth woods over 200 years old that have growth rings of 5-8 per inch. This makes the wood extremely stable and durable. These wood windows were intended to be maintained in order to prolong longevity. With routine maintenance, old growth wood windows and doors can last well over 100 years. Original wood windows in the majority of homes I visit are in this range or older. Even these original historic wood windows, if still in good enough condition to be salvaged, can be fully restored in structure and functionality. And in combination with a new proper fit, the highest quality weather stripping, and sometimes a glass upgrade, they can rival the energy efficiency of new wood windows and doors made today.
Wood windows and doors were designed as part of the original structure. They are just as much a part of the original look, design, and historic period of the time as the surrounding neighborhood and community. Replacing original wood windows or doors with fiberglass, vinyl, or aluminum takes away from the historic beauty of the home and neighborhood's original aesthetic.
The best way to protect the investment in your home and keep your family warm in the winter and cool in the summer is to restore or replace old drafty wood windows to make them more energy efficient.
Reasons to Restore Original Wood Windows & Doors
YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC LOOK OF YOUR HOME AND DESIRE TO HAVE FULLY FUNCTIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENT WOOD WINDOWS AND DOORS.
Your original wood windows and doors are part of the history of your house. They are amazing pieces of art. Great consideration was taken in their function and design. They can expanded and contract with the seasons rattling to no end. Restoration allows for weatherstripping to re-fit and seal snug. Old houses move and shift over time and frequently the gaps that open result in more drafts. They are also often sealed/painted shut for decades. Time to open up and let the house breath again.
YOU VALUE GOOD MATERIALS. Antique wood windows are constructed of old growth timber. The wood is denser and more weather resistant than today’s tree farmed hardwoods. Delicate profiles are possible because of the density of the wood. The reason these windows are still around, even with years of neglect, is because the wood is of extremely high density requiring no cladding or additional materials besides paint to give them weather resistance. Original wood windows are usually quite beautiful, graceful, and strong.
YOU LOVE WITH THE CHARACTER AND LOOK OF ANTIQUE WAVY GLASS. Even the antique glass in windows tells a story. It may be roundel or cylinder glass, each indicating a certain era of manufacturing. Old glass has varieties of color and texture that are a delight to the eye.
YOU WANT YOUR WOOD WINDOWS AND DOORS TO LAST YOUR LIFETIME. Chances are your windows have done their job for 80 plus years already. Whenever possible it is a far better investment to repair a proven performer than to sink money into a new non-wood window with a 20 year warranty at best. For example, a cheap vinyl product can begin to crack microscopically from expansion and contraction within a year after installation from elemental exposure alone. These small cracks only get bigger and bigger over the years. With proper maintenance your original historic windows would last at least another decade or two after a full restoration.
YOU WANT TO AVOID NON-WOOD PRODUCTS. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has become one of the greatest concerns in the building industry. The production creates an environmental nightmare as the gas it emits over time is of alarming concern. If a house with vinyl windows catches fire the extra PVC burned in combination with other possible existing PVC related products in the home would release large amounts of toxic dioxin. If you are concerned about lead, please understand that it is used as a stabilizer in the manufacturing of PVC. If you are concerned about our planet’s health you should read up on efforts to reduce the use of vinyl.
YOU WANT MORE LIGHT. Vinyl and aluminum replacement windows are just a smaller box set into the original jamb and sill window box opening. The new sash becomes smaller than the original. Your view is slightly diminished and not as much light is provided.
WINDOWS ARE A FUNCTIONAL PART OF YOUR HOUSE. Weights and pulleys are the best balance system invented. There is a prevalent myth that a lot of cold air comes in through the weight pocket. If there is cold air in the weight pocket it’s generally because there is a gap between the outside trim of the house and the siding. It may also indicate a poor seal at the floor joists. Attics are another huge area of concern for energy transfer. Replacing easily serviceable weights and pulleys with vinyl jamb liners or invisible balance systems means installing a system that claims a maximum life span of 10-20 years but generally fails in 6-7. It is a joy to open and close windows easily with two crazy fingers when windows are restored and weatherstripped to work the way they were originally designed to.
THE GREENEST BUILDING IS ONE THAT IS ALREADY BUILT. Replacing windows does help a home save energy. But when evaluated from the perspective of the entire process including production, shipping, installation, and the removal process, replacing windows consumes more resources and energy than not. In the words of Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, “We can’t build our way out of the global warming crisis. We have to conserve our way out. That means we have to make better, wiser use of what we have already built.” Repair and restoration work is done by local craftspeople paying local taxes like me. We are conscious about maintaining a low loss standard in the shop. Restoring windows is the best use of existing materials and the best way to support the local economy.
