Replacing Replacements

A few weeks ago we talked about repairing historic wood windows. The sad truth is that a lot of original windows have already been replaced. Why are replacement windows called replacements? Because they always need replacing! I know, it’s a groaner! It is true though!  Replacements cannot be repaired. For years I have seen historic property owners go before the Historic Resources Commission looking to replace the windows in their home that were replaced 20, sometimes even 10 or less years ago.

So, you’ve got replacement windows and now they need replacing. You like the historic character of your home and don’t want to ruin it with bargain basement white vinyl windows that will require the window opening to be filed in with plywood or dimensional lumber. Don’t roll your eyes. We see it all the time, even when the homeowner spends thousands upon thousands of doing all sorts of beautiful restoration work on the interior.

What are your options, what should you look for? That’s the topic of today’s Technical Tuesday!

What to look for
Good quality materials

If you go with wood windows, avoid finger joints, get them factory finished for the best possible coating. Get the highest quality hard wood you can afford.

Here is where aluminum clad is not actually a bad thing. Wood windows are no longer made out of dense old growth wood. This being the case, they do not weather as well as historic windows do. Aluminum cladding on the exterior will extend the life of the window a bit longer.

Size does matter

Most historic windows are not the same size as a standard window is today. Be careful in measuring the opening of the entire window. You want the slenderest frame around the window you can to allow maximum amount of glass. This is not just around the framing. Different companies have different thicknesses to the stiles, rails, and muntins. You want a thin muntin profile (unless you have documentation that your windows had chunky muntins, hey, anything is possible.) Same with the stiles and rails.

Depending on how your windows were replaced, the pockets may still remain with the stops, or they may not. If they do, you can remove the stops and use a sash kit to have the most slender frame possible. If the pockets, weights, basically all of it, were removed, you can recess a window unit with a frame within the area where the pockets were so that the actual sash is in the same spot where they were historically, hiding the chunkiness of the frame.

It’s all in the details

Do take into consideration the style of your home when choosing a muntin pattern for your home. Most Italianate windows were two over two, two tall panes per sash with a slender muntin down the center. Greek Revivals, Federal, more vernacular architecture, and even some very early Victorian styles had six over six. Eight over eight or nine over nine were fairly rare. Craftsman and early 20th century styles often had three over one with three vertical panes in the top sash over one large pane in the bottom. Mid century sometimes had two over one where the top muntin was horizontal. Don’t be tempted to overly Victorianize your house. Ornate Victorian windows with small muntins surrounding one big pane are beautiful as are diamond paned or modified diamond pane windows. It is tempting to plop some in and make your house a higher style home than it was or make it look Victorian when it wasn't. This drastically alters the character of your home and takes away some of the authenticity. I entreat you, please don’t do it.

Also look at the muntins. I always recommend muntins applied to the interior and exterior of the sash, a simulated divided light. This gives the appearance of a traditional window with actual small panes (true divided light) without actually having small panes.

Options to think about

Sash Kits

Marvin: https://www.marvin.com/products/collections/signature/ultimate/tilt-pac-double-hung-sash-replacement-system

Andersen calls them conversion kits: https://parts.andersenwindows.com/items_w_dh_con.html

Framed replacements

Marvin https://www.marvin.com/products/collections/signature/ultimate
I typically recommend the signature ultimate windows

Pella https://www.pella.com/ideas/windows/double-hung/#reservetraditional
I recommend the traditional reserve or architect series

Replace in kind with traditionally made wood windows hung with weights

If your windows were carefully replaced, you still have the pockets, pullies, stops, etc. you can have sash made custom to fit your opening. We do have contractors who can make you sash and install them. I find this method can be a good fit when you have a very unique window opening or it is the only replacement window you have. Contact us for contractors or to discuss this option if you have questions.