This Workshop Threw Misconceptions About Replacing Historic Windows — Right Out The Window

If eyes are the windows to the soul, then windows are eyes to the soul of a house — especially historic windows. They are the first things that offer us a glimpse into the history of a home. They are the singular feature that continually draws comment — the thing that makes us stop and admire a house.

For example, no one would seriously consider removing an enormous arched stained glass window, a Gothic Revival with panes cut into diamond shapes, or a Queen Anne leaded-an-beveled stunner.

So why do people consider removing the most typical, classic, double-hung, single pane historic windows from their homes? Why is it even an option to take windows with an unmatched depth of character, built by a craftsman, and have served a home for 75 to 100 years and toss them into a landfill?

It’s a lack of knowledge, misunderstanding value, and simply not knowing better. I get it because I live in Hollywood Heights, a conservation district that embraces its history and showcases it every year in a home tour. When I considered investing in new windows for my 1927 home, it seemed overwhelming and expensive so I kept putting it off.

Then I started to write this column every week, met my local neighborhood preservation architects, and realized when I got around to this project I better do it correctly.

Last week, I took it as a sign when an email from Preservation Dallas hit my inbox. It read:

Hands-On Learning

I am not a DIY girl by any stretch of the imagination. I think I have a hammer somewhere and maybe a screwdriver. So I was sure I’d glue my fingers together, break something, or generally make a fool of myself. I’m relieved to say I did none of those things and learned just how shockingly easy it is to repair a historic window.

“You need a hammer and a pry bar,” historic preservationist Ron Siebler said. “Those are the only tools you need. People have never done it, so they are intimidated, but it’s not rocket science, and I know because I’ve built rockets! It’s very simple.”

“There are very few windows that cannot be fully and completely and successfully restored.”

Ron Siebler

After the morning lecture, which included the terminology we’d need to understand the anatomy of a window, the afternoon session was hands-on.

We divided into three groups and hit the ground running. My first station was learning how to fill in missing wood on a window. It was super simple. Then on to what I thought would be really intimidating, replacing the rope in the pulley system of the window. Nothing could have been easier. Loop the rope through and tie a double knot at the end. Even I can tie a double knot!

Glass cutting was next. OK, I did goof that up, but no blood was shed. I let the big orange ruler slip, but it was still easy.

Excuses, Excuses

So what other nonsense do we hear about why you should replace and not repair historic windows?

There are two big things — energy efficiency and cost. Let’s blow the preconceived ideas of historic windows not being energy efficient and costing more to fix right out of the proverbial window.

A report created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation Green Lab, funded by The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, reported some key findings that will make you think twice about considering replacement windows.

• Retrofit measures can achieve performance results comparable to new replacement windows.

• Almost every retrofit option offers a better return on investment than replacement windows.

• For all climates, the cost analysis shows that new, high-performance windows are by far the most costly measure, averaging approximately $30,000 for materials, installation, and general construction commonly required for an existing home.

• Findings from this study demonstrate that upgrading windows (specifically older, single-pane models) with high-performance enhancements can result in substantial energy savings across a variety of climate zones. Selecting options that retain and retrofit existing windows is the most cost-effective way to achieve these energy savings and lower a home’s carbon footprint. 

“Window companies try to sell you energy savings,” Siebler said. “That’s bunk. On old wood windows, most of the energy loss is wind infiltration. That is remedied by restoring the window.”

It’s very easy to get your head turned by the sales pitches put out by the marketing departments of all these national and international window companies. Remember, these folks have a product to sell, and they do an excellent job of it.

Scott Sidler is the founder and president of Austin Home Restorations in Orlando, Florida. His TheCraftsmanBlog.com offers excellent tutorials and information to help homeowners care for, restore, and understand their historic homes. He also dishes the dirt on the window industry.

The replacement window industry has done extensive testing and knows the facts about their products. They know that the windows they are selling are engineered with obsolescence in mind. They can market them as energy-saving because initially, they save energy over a neglected, un-weather stripped original window even though, cradle to grave, they use way more energy.

In fairness, almost anything would save lots of energy compared to a beat-up neglected old window (even an $8 sheet of plywood would!), so it’s not a high bar to beat. What they won’t tell you is that a restored and weather-stripped window will save more net energy than a new replacement window.

They promise you their product has a “lifetime warranty,” which it does, but only on “non-glass materials.” They don’t tell you about the ten or 20-yr warranty on the glass. That is buried in the fine print, which only dorks like me dig up and share with smart readers like you.

A warranty is only as good as the weakest link, and their lifetime warranties don’t stand up to scrutiny because they are technically only 10 to 20-yr warranties, due to the fact that if the glass fails, then the only solution is to replace the whole unit.

Siebler reminded us that restoration and repair work is local. It’s not a national business. If you don’t repair and restore yourself, you hire a local craftsman in your community. “It’s a local business without big budgets to offset advertising that national companies can do.”

https://vimeo.com/703429606

I called my neighbor, the award-winning architect Norman Alston, for his take on the window debate.

“Saving historic windows is the fundamental preservation battle that gets fought almost every day,” Alston said. “It’s the original battle, and it’s a ludicrous problem. It should not be an argument, but it’s weighted on the side of national window companies because of their visibility. It makes no sense to replace historic windows. To take plastic windows and replace original longleaf yellow pine and cypress windows that have been in place for over 70 years. Why? You cannot even get original longleaf yellow pine anymore. So it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison. Historic windows are far superior to any new window. The bottom line is your original windows are better made and easier to repair than a replacement window.”

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Realtor Bess Dickson attended the workshop and brought it home with some keen observations.

“This was like spending a day in an episode of This Old House. The work was much more approachable than I expected. The biggest tool you need is time. You cannot buy windows like this.” She also gave us a reality check. If you are even thinking about ordering new plastic windows, be prepared for a very long wait. It’s about 40 weeks for delivery now, and that timeline is not guaranteed. It will not take you over five months to restore and repair your historic windows.

If you are absolutely set on having a brand new window, there is a local solution. Brent Hull at Hull Millwork builds windows the way they used to be built, and they will last you another 100 years.

Dallas is fortunate to have so many people dedicated to preservation and talented craftsmen at our fingertips. If you are the least bit handy, you can easily restore your own windows. Here’s a list of folks that can help you preserve your historic windows, and if you are not pressed for time, Siebler will be offering another workshop in the fall.

RESOURCES

Siebler Historic Preservation and Remodeling: Ron Siebler http://siebler.com

Hullworks: Brent Hull https://hullworks.com/windows/

Leeds Clark Historic Preservation and Consulting: Tommy Clark https://www.leedsclark.com