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(1) I live in a 1930s home with beautiful double hung windows. Most of the windows have been painted shut and neglected. As I re-work the windows I would like to replace the weight balances with spring balances. Is this possible? Can anybody suggest a product?
(2) I am building a small porch/landing at the back door of my house. I would like to reproduce an old porch with a painted T&G floor. I live in Southern Ontario, Canada and I would like to know what material I should use for the decking. Also what thickness and joist spacing I should use.
Thank you.
Bill
Replies
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Hi Bill - welcome to Breaktime. I too live in a 1930's house with double-hung, pocket/weight windows (cottage sash 6/1).
There are some practical reasons to replace weights with balances, but is it worth it? I don't plan to replace mine. If you must, there is a company called The Pullman Company that makes sash balances and has for many years. They have even been persuaded on occasion to make 'custom' parts for very old windows but they'll tell you that they don't.
What bothers you about weights? If put in first class condition they work great. You can use chain if you don't like the idea of cord wearing out. If you want to improve insulation, you can pull casings, install a pvc pipe for the weights to run in (they won't 'bump' then) and insulate to some degree around the pipe.
As for the decking 4/4 t&g fir is typical here, SYP if you can get it up there. Search the archives here, there are a number of posts on porch decking, emphasizing important points like butt-priming, etc. Keep in mind that if not covered by a roof this decking will take a hell of a beating.
Jeff
*What he said. Jeff
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Bill: Did the same project on my circa 1930 home.(decals in the weight pockets showed the windows to be Anderson)I removed the exterior casings(which needed work anyway)and removed only the outside wieght for the upper sash and installed a Pullman spring balance. I then cut strips of 2" foam insulation and wedged them into the space formerly occupied by the weight, caulking any gaps. This provides good insulation and stopped the tremendous air infiltration I was getting out of the pulley for the lower sash. The foam insulation does not interfere with the operation of the lower sash weight. I then replaced the rope for the lower sash with brass chain used with toilet flushing levers...it looks good. The reason I didn't replace both weights with the spring balances was one of aesthetics;they use a flat steel tape like in a tape measure which, to my eye, is ugly. Since the upper sash is almost always closed, the tape is not visable. Not a difficult project, although time consuming. Let us know what you do.
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(1) I live in a 1930s home with beautiful double hung windows. Most of the windows have been painted shut and neglected. As I re-work the windows I would like to replace the weight balances with spring balances. Is this possible? Can anybody suggest a product?
(2) I am building a small porch/landing at the back door of my house. I would like to reproduce an old porch with a painted T&G floor. I live in Southern Ontario, Canada and I would like to know what material I should use for the decking. Also what thickness and joist spacing I should use.
Thank you.
Bill