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The Daily Fix

Should Your Old Wood Windows Be Saved?

Maureen Friedman, FHB editorial admin

11 users recommend

Weighing cost and character. Don't jump to conclusions — repairing old windows often makes more economic sense than replacing them.

Photo: Tom O'Brien

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In a recent article “Should Your Old Wood Windows Be Saved?” (Fine Homebuilding #210, April/May 2010) we weighed the repair vs. replace options for old windows with cost, complexity, efficiency and preservation in mind. Almost immediately after this issue arrived in mailboxes and on newsstands, I was inundated with emails and telephone calls from representatives of historic preservation societies requesting permission to share this article with members and others interested in preserving the character of an antique home.

Share this article to save historic windows

I’m happy to report that this article is now available for viewing on our Web site and can be found at:

 http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/articles/should-your-old-wood-windows-be-saved.aspx?ac=ts&ra=fp

For all of you who have requested permission to share this article--and any others who would like to--please do post this link on your own Web site or include it in your newsletter. We’re delighted you’ve found the article to be such a valuable reference.

And for more on  window,  trimwork, and  paint and finishes restoration, please visit the How-To section of our Web site.

 Maureen

Repair and Renovation of Old Houses DVD-ROM
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Comments (2)

amazingrace writes: One of the projects that I enjoyed was to refurbish, instead of replacing, the old double hungs and casement windows. There are alot of homes in my area that the clients prefer to keep the oringinal windows. Since the project calls for 90% labor and 10% materail it was a win win situation. I would get my day and my client would get an operating window and screen for a faction of the cost of a new window. It was not as energy efficient, but it works. But, now with the New EPA rrp rules I do not think it is going to make "cents" to work on these old windows anymore.
Posted: 8:12 am on May 11th

mrsludge writes: I enjoyed seeing this article. I just went through the same process with three 60-year-old double hung windows. The Historic Homeworks forum was a great resource while doing the work. I used a wood prep recipe from there, as well as found the link to order 10-lb of the Sarco putty.

The one thing the article doesn't really address is that full-on rehabilitating wood windows takes a lot of time. As a weekend warrior, I realize that you can apply a factor of 3 or 4 to how long it would take a professional.

There are many steps to stripping, repairing/prepping, re-glazing, and painting. And it seemed like each one had a dry/cure wait afterward that pushed out when I could do the next step. So, there was a lot of wait time in between the work.

In the end, I'm basically where I wanted to be- weatherproof windows that are better air sealed than before. They should last until I decide to replace the siding, add insulation, and possibly replace the windows as a bigger job.

The last couple are in better shape, and I'm thinking about skipping the full-on refurbish to just take care of the sills and trim. They're in better shape, and I just don't think I can put in the time to completely strip and rebuild.
Posted: 2:59 pm on April 26th

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