| Author | Message | ||
     virgilian Citizen Username: Virgilian Post Number: 190 Registered: 7-2001 |
They sure were stock items. Mine work perfectly, are 90 years old. The upper sashes, the lower sashes, all glide flawlessly. A suburban dream. If the aluminum 3-track storms protect original glazing underneath I'm all for them. They can protect the original windows. The Marvins are fine, I think. You know Marvin makes single glazed windows still, and you can have them make wood storms. I think Pella is stepping up to the plate with better windows than what they used to have, but I don't really follow their products. Andersen may be also, I don't know. But why rip out what works after 90 years? If it doesn't work, why not try fixing it? Patience: these are old houses. You'd look better with shiny white dentures but don't you kind of like your old yellowed teeth? | ||
| gj1 Citizen Username: Gj1 Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2003 |
JGTierney touched on a good point. I've talked to more than one person who said they were replacing their windows because they were painted shut. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think people no longer realize that things can be repaired. If it doesn't work, replace it. That's how things are made these days. Wood windows, unlike vinyl windows, are very repairable. I'm in the process of getting all my double hungs working again...one at a time. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 1957 Registered: 5-2001 |
Bob- I'm curious about removing the aluminum tracks. That is what we have now & I would love to get rid of it. The only problem I can see with the interior thermal panes that Barb posted about earlier is that, even with the two-part pane, I don't see how screen windows come in. Do you have screen windows & where are they without the frame? | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 4275 Registered: 5-2001 |
We have standard triple track, including screen, storm windows. We had the sash painted when the house was done and the storm sash and screen was taken out to do this. The difference in look was very noticeable. I would not leave old windows exposed to the elements as they will deteriorate rather quickly. This is one of the attractions of modern double glazed windows with aluminum or vinyl cladding. You don't need the storms. I admit that on an addition we have Anderson windows. They came with a screen that fits on the outside of double hung windows and on the inside of casement windows. I hate the simulated divided light grills, especially from the outside. | ||
| newtoallthis Citizen Username: Newtoallthis Post Number: 84 Registered: 2-2003 |
Is there a book with information on how to fix old wooden windows? I need to replace weights, etc, but have no experience at all. | ||
| Richard O'Connor Citizen Username: Roconn Post Number: 93 Registered: 6-2001  |
newtoall .... if you google search it online I'm sure you'll find the answer but I'd also check out www.homehandyman.com as they offer a wealth of instructions on these kinds of things. Tom Silva also just gave a lesson on "Ask this old house" on how to fix a doublehung. Richard (ROC) --Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.-- --AIM: ROConn | ||
| JGTierney Citizen Username: Jtg7448 Post Number: 126 Registered: 6-2003 |
This may be the article that goes along with what Richard mentioned: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/knowhow/exteriors/article/0,16417,202300,00.html | ||
| Barb Citizen Username: Flannery Post Number: 69 Registered: 8-2002 |
Newtoallthis, I'm in the midst of repairing mine now. It's not that difficult, but takes a little effort and willingness to get grubby. Private line me if you want a demostration some day. It's really inexpensive and very rewarding to do it yourself. | ||
| gj1 Citizen Username: Gj1 Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2003 |
Renovating Old Houses by George Nash is a great book and includes detailed info on repairing double-hung windows along with a wealth of other information. | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 1692 Registered: 1-2003  |
How close do you have to get to a house to notice that it has the politically incorrect type of window? Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| susan1014 Citizen Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 73 Registered: 3-2002 |
With all of this discussion of window repair, no one has discussed lead abatement. We need to do something about our windows for heating reasons. I'd be happy to consider keeping them with better storms and various fixes, but also have to think about lead abatement...I'm currently afraid to use my windows any more than absolutely needed because of lead dust issues. I've got a pre-schooler, and am not going to wet mop every time I open the window to make sure that the dust is abated. Any thoughts on what it takes to keep the original windows and improve the lead abatement of my house? (without a huge investment that will not be reflected in my property value!) | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 1694 Registered: 1-2003 |
I don't know what you can do in the winter. In the warm weather, I suggest you do the scraping and painting yourself. You just need a dust mask. And get your kid away while you do this. We did this in some rooms this past summer. It was a lot of work, but we learned that it doesn't take any rocket science to do. Just a bunch of elbow grease. In the meantime, yeah, maybe you do need to wet mop after using the windows, but you won't need to open the windows for a while in this weather. Maybe you should just open the doors for a half hour every week to make sure the air is changed. Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| Fotboat Citizen Username: Fotboat Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2003 |
Has any one ever tried the Window grille kits they sell, to attach to the inside at out side of single pane windows? http://amscousa.com/Window%20Grille%20Kit.htm & newpanes.com | ||
| virgilian Citizen Username: Virgilian Post Number: 197 Registered: 7-2001 |
Fot: Wow. That's really abominable. | ||
| virgilian Citizen Username: Virgilian Post Number: 198 Registered: 7-2001 |
Tom Reingold: PC Windows! Funny. | ||
| virgilian Citizen Username: Virgilian Post Number: 199 Registered: 7-2001 |
bobk- I have some neighbors who painted their aluminum storm windows, they look pretty good now. Aluminum holds paint better than people think, maybe even better if it's old with pitting from age? | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 1696 Registered: 1-2003 |
Glad you liked my pun, but what about answering my question? I walked by sportsnut's house last night, while walking the dog. Very tasteful looking house. I don't have a trained eye, though, and it was fairly dark, and I guess I don't know how to notice the wrong kind of window. Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| sportsnut Citizen Username: Sportsnut Post Number: 839 Registered: 10-2001 |
Tom are you spying on us?  To be honest that's a great point. I've lived here for four years now and I can honestly say that I've never seen a house and commented, "My lord those are ugly windows." | ||
| Richard O'Connor Citizen Username: Roconn Post Number: 98 Registered: 6-2001 |
Sports .... I have to say the same ... even the one I cited in my neighborhood where they 'seem' wrong to me (they have diagonal muntions and mullions) don't look bad ... I mean...at street distance can you really tell they're not 'real windows'?  Richard (ROC) --Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.-- --AIM: ROConn | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 1697 Registered: 1-2003 |
sportsnut, my normal route with Red (the greyhound) is up our block. I only observed your house from the sidewalk. Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing |
