My home, which is located in Northern New Jersey, was built in the 1940’s with wooden windows. I really like the look of the windows and other than the springs they are not in bad shape. I would prefer to restore them to their original state rather than replacing them with vinyl windows. Unfortunately I have not had any luck finding someone who does such work but was hoping someone might have a company or repairman they could refer.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Replies
I am making some new storm windows right now to match existing...70 year old windows.
Any good woodworker in your area should be able to handle the project...try asking at a
speciality wood dealer, lumber yard or community college(industrial woodworking) for a
referall.
That said , the guy who chased me down has been trying for 4 years to get someone to do it
with a few false starts...a bit harder than it looks...
good luck...BTW...I think you're in the wrong folder
silver
Edited 5/5/2005 9:22 pm ET by silver
Silver,
This is the first time I am using this. What folder do you suggest?
Chris
Welcome Chris,
Try general discussion...I would try over at knots as well...woodworkers mostly over there...
silver
I don't know about a specific referal for local workmen...but if you are looking for assorted parts availability, try Blaine Hardware by googling...it is probably http://www.blaine.com but i'm not for sure.
I'm assuming from your note that the only thing that needs repair/replacement is the spring balance! Plus cleaning, reglaze as needed and painting. The latter three things are often done by a competent painter.
Sounds as though you do not want to do it yourself?
.................Iron Helix
thanks for the info.
I have been doing the painting myself but replacing of the springs has proven much more difficult. I purchased 20 springs from Blaine but I can't seem to get them to work. I can't get them to provide any tension. So the windows I have repainted are useless because without the springs I can't open them. At this point I am very close to replacement windows.
Depending on the spring balance set up you may have to "load" them when you install. To "Load' means that you must tighten/twist/ratchet some part of the assembly to give it the ability to counter balance the sash weight.
By all means call Blaine for some help....they were always helpful for my problems with their products.
Patience and perserverance...............Iron Helix
There is a tool that you wind-up the springs with to set tension. I did this in the 80's, I think tool came with springs, but maybe I had to order it.
There's a guy here in Maine who restores wood windows--he steams them to loosen any paint and glazing compound, repairs any problem areas, and reinstalls them good as new. That information probably doesn't help you, other than to let you know that there are people out there who do that kind of work.
Mike
I can sympathise with your problem.I couldn't find anyone to repair my wood windows either. I ended up replacing them with vinyl. Then a couple of months later.... Now I know someone in the area who restores old houses. Useful.Of course, this won't help you much directly since I am in Southern Ontario.Hang in there.
Any area with older housing stock is going to have a shop that can make and/or repair old windows and sash. Talk to the special-order people at the lumberyards near you and ask who they know, and look in the phone book under windows and see if anyone advertises custom wood windows.
These guys are in Newark:
http://www.oldfashionedwindows.com
Thanks. I will give them a call.