My neighbor asked me to take a look at her windows because she doesn’t know how to proceed with her house fix up problem. She recently had her house painted and the painters took off the triple track storms which are now unable to be replaced since the frames are all twisted and were not high quality to begin with. They did not paint the windows since they said they needed to be replaced. I inspected the windows yesterday and found that the putty is in very bad shape – curled and peeling. It is all removable with a fingernail. However, the windows which are six over six for the most part are in quite good condition and really provide great character for her late nineteenth century carriage house. There is no rot and all the joints seem sound. I suggested that she just have all the putty redone and the windows primed and repainted. She wants to know since she will then need new storm windows and has somewhat of a limited budget for this project, shouldn’t she just get new windows instead? What do you think? I did read that recent article in FHB about restoring rather than replacing your nice old sturdy windows.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Join some of the most experienced and recognized building professionals for two days of presentations, panel discussions, networking, and more.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
With windows, like real estate, the three most important things are location, location, and location. What's yours?
Windows
We are in Yonkers, NY.
Are you going to do the work?
or is she at the mercy of god knows who?
Windows
i wasn't planning to. I am just her neighbor and consultant.
Gee, what does a "window
Gee, what does a "window consultant" charge these days? ;)
Good neighbors are hard to find.
Personally I would refurbish over replacements. Good replacements cost bigger money, which she evidently doesn't have an excess of.
You probably could give her a hand on the storms-find some good quality ones and see what that would cost her. They don't "seal" the space, but do cut down on the weather getting at the newly glazed sash and cut down the wind. Might be a worthwhile option.
Best of luck.
windows
Thanks. That is what I was thinking. I guess I may have to help her with the storms although I wasn't planning to come out of retirement (eye surgeon) to do that. However, I have done my own on two occasions and as long as one measures properly and checks for square, it isn't really that difficult. I guess i really am a good neighbor.
Good luck to you.
On the positive side, there will be no line for you waiting to get through the pearly gates.
What I find is as important as the measuring and squaring of storm units is keeping the middle the same dimension as the top/bottom. Keeps them working a whole lot better.
I'd reglaze, paint and add the new storms. I have seen studies sshowing that an old one with decent seals, plus a combination storm unit can be nearly as effective as a new insulated glass window.
And many of the new ones will not last as long as what she has will.
And many of the new ones will not last as long as what she has will.
The important thing is to come up with a solution that lasts longer than she does.
I have seen studies sshowing that an old one with decent seals, plus a combination storm unit can be nearly as effective as a new insulated glass window.
Done my own study of that, and renew with good storms is MORE effective if in the shade or on the north face.
I've replaced a number of my 1970 'thermopane' windows with fixed glass and removeable interior 2nd panes, work great, 6 years on a couple of them and no fogging.
My vote is for redo what is there. If the aluminum storms that were replaced are not broken, no reason they cannot be re-used unless multi-section or broken.