I have an older home with nice wood trim. I want to replace my old single pain glass with new windows. I have gotten a couple of bids that would just replace the sash and leave the wood work inside and out. I have four questions. Is this a good way to go especially in terms of energy efficiency? If I go this route should I fill the voids where the sash weights were to insulate better? What is the best way to fill the voids? One of the windows had the wood on the inside painted over. I would like to strip it back to bare wood and varnish it. What is the best way to do this?
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Fitter
You'll get more but I'll start.
Is this a good way to go especially in terms of energy efficiency? Yes, if you do it right.
If I go this route should I fill the voids where the sash weights were to insulate better? What is the best way to fill the voids? Another yes, I just watched Tommy Silva(from TOH) do it and he suggested using low expanding foam, fills the void the best. Fiberglass battens have been used but you don't get a good even fill.
I would like to strip it back to bare wood and varnish it. What is the best way to do this? What do you have for wood, species? Need more info on this. If its real bad you may have to remove the trim, mark it all real well, and get it out of the house to strip it, don't know what your skills are so don't know if you can do it or if you should send it all out to a striper, my suggestion would be to send it all out, its not all that fun!
Doug
This may or may not be what you are looking for, but there are a few things I'll tell potential/current clients when asked the common window-replacement-for-energy-savings question.
Yes you will save energy with the type of replacement windows you mentioned and no, this may not get you the most bang for the buck. You may get 2 or 4 times the benefit from an equal investment in attic/floor/wall insulation. One fellow insulated the walls and attic and simply had good quality storm windows fitted for winter. I'm glad he kept and restored those great original windows.
Unfortunately, the type of replacement windows that retains the exsisting sill/etc. don't always look all that great when it's all said and done depending on how closely the windows fit the openings and how careful the installer is. A vinyl window will never look as good as the original. It just depends on how important looks are to you. As far as price goes, keeping the sash in place and having custom vinyl windows installed is about 1/3 the price of a full window/trim replacement. The advantage of a full replacement is that the unused sash voids can be filled with a wider window without having to change the framing.
Good luck whatever path you choose!
PS. I've heard that the paint stripper that is citrus based produces fewer fumes although we're usually more interested in speed of use and use the stuff that makes all sorts of fumes.
I happen to like old windows, and do a fair amount of repairs on them.
When I repair sash cords and put on new facings outside, I put about 1½" spray foam on the inside of the window pocket (around here, most of the older homes are easier to access from the outside). This does not interfere with the weights. Around the top, I spray in foam as well, and all the way down to the pulleys.
As I replace the old fascia with new, pre-primed wood cut to size, and primed on the cuts. before I install this trim, I caulk each mating surface with polyurethane and nail the pieces home.
While it's true that there can be some air infiltration by the weight pulleys, taking care to seal the sides of the window with draft proofing material (I use seals from Conservation Resource Technologies) will give you a very good seal, at a fraction of the cost of a new window.
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
If it were my house, I would repair and tighten the existing windows and buy some high quality storm windows. I believe they will last longer, look better, and the energy savings won't be that different if done properly. You can still seal the weight pocket if you keep weights or use one of the weight replacements.
I vote torwards new dual glazed sashes, parting beads, coards, and beez wax.
Goodnight.
Edited 8/15/2005 10:49 pm ET by TRIGGER
Your old windows with good storm windows, will be more energy efficient than new windows.
This is probably one of the ten most frequently asked questions on this forum. A search of the archives will turn up lots of info.
Thank You. I will look in the archive's.