I have done wood-epoxy repairs like this that are still performing well after 37 years, but I have seen some wood-epoxy repairs that rotten out after just 10 or 20 years. 4. Historic windows are simple devices that are constructed of separate simple pieces. After removing any paint along the seam, the parting bead should be carefully pried out and worked free in the same manner as the interior stop. Repairing Old and Historic Windows explores these questions and provides detailed information on how to go about refurbishing windows within current preservation standards. We did some research and determined that the windows were probably made onsite by Shaker craftsmen in the late 18th or early 19th century for an earlier building, and then re-used in the Shaker horse barn in the late 19th century. 7 Terra-Cotta Brownstone Doors specializes in expertly crafted reproduction of historic doors, entryways and storefronts. After the proper curing times have elapsed for paint and putty, the sash will be ready for reinstallation. The ones which do are usually in buildings which have been abandoned for long periods or have totally lacked maintenance for years. If severe deterioration exists in these areas, it will usually be apparent on visual inspection, but other less severely deteriorated areas of the wood may be tested by two traditional methods using a small ice pick. Reading List 10. 20 Barns 21 Flat Plaster Repair Class I: Routine Maintenance 4. If the ring orientation is not matched the old wood and new wood will expand and shrink in different directions, potentially stressing the joint resulting in a loose or open joint. Step. 17 Architectural Character Most windows should not require the extensive repairs discussed in this section. The Restoration and Repair of Historic Stained and Leaded Glass. Replacing old wood screens A few tricks and some advice on making new wooden window screens; Repairing wood windows Our old windows had broken glass and crumbling putty. Preservation: Present Pathway to Fall River's Future. With sharp tools and practiced woodworking skills on a few dutchmen this task goes much faster than if using power chop saws and routers. Although such comparisons may focus on specific window types and their details, the ultimate determination of significance should be made within the context of the whole building, wherein the windows are one architectural element. All the remaining wood is sound. Such sash are available as exact custom reproductions, reasonable facsimiles (custom windows with similar profiles), and contemporary wooden sash which are similar in appearance. Epoxies for Wood Repairs in Historic Buildings. This historic double-hung window has many layers of paint, some cracked and missing putty, slight separation at the joints, broken sash cords, and one cracked pane. Moisture which becomes trapped between the layers of glazing can condense on the colder, outer prime window, potentially leading to deterioration. Ask that person to demonstrate their work in a preliminary project phase with mockups or sample work. 18 Rehabilitating Interiors First, is the labor and maintenance required on your old windows worthwhile? With the stop removed, the lower or interior sash may be withdrawn. Defects in Sash Windows c. Repairing Sash Windows d. Yorkshire Sliders e. Casements f. Glazing 6.2 Doors 7.0 INTERIORS 7.1 Staircases 7.2 Plaster 7.3 Floors 7.4 Timber Floors 8.0 FURTHER READING _____ PAGE 4 HOW TO REPAIR HISTORIC BUILDINGS This is a creative process that depends on knowledgeable and skilled workers. This is self-evident for ornamental windows, but it can be equally true for warehouses or factories where the windows may be the most dominant visual element of an otherwise plain building. First I treat the bare wood with an epoxy consolidant to act as a primer, then I apply a gap filling epoxy paste. It is necessary to remove the sash and/or the affected parts of the frame and have a carpenter or woodworking mill reproduce the damaged or missing parts. Additional repairs to the frame and sash may include consolidation or replacement of deteriorated wood. Enjoy your windows for years to come! Adding weather stripping and an interior or exterior storm window to a historic wood window in good repair will significantly improve its energy efficiency and the occupants’ comfort level without having to replace the entire unit. 7883). Some of the joints were filled with lead-paste. reflect period or regional styles or building practices, reflect changes to the building resulting from major periods or events, or. Call us 857-226-0007 to schedule an appointment and get free estimate. Following the relatively simple repairs, the window is weathertight, like new in appearance, and serviceable for many years to come.Photo: NPS files. Then the trend was to remove, trash, and replace windows, particularly wood-framed windows, with new vinyl, fiberglass, wood, or metal options rather than repairing existing windows. 42 Cast Stone Include the craftsperson in an early design phase of the project to help plan the work. Historic windows and doors can often be repaired or upgraded to improve energy efficiency and occupant satisfaction. I can chop out up to four mortises with a chisel and mallet in the time it would take to set up my mortising machine. Step 1. We provide custom entry door solutions from conception to installation for historic and designer homes and commercial landmark properties. The weight pocket is frequently accessible through a door on the face of the frame near the sill, but if no door exists, the trim on the interior face may be removed for access. Hardened putty in the rabbets may be softened by heating with a soldering iron at the point of removal. A craftsman uses his skill and knowledge of basic materials, wood and epoxy resin, to create something that did not exist before: an effective repair. fiberglass reinforcement rods in the sound wood to the right extending them through the void of missing wood to the end of the stile on the left. Much of the technical section presents repair techniques as an instructional guide for the do-it-yourselfer. A window which is repaired should be made as energy efficient as possible by the use of appropriate weatherstripping to reduce air infiltration. Step 7: A Type 1 weather proof epoxy adhesive is used. Morrison, Hugh. If you do have to replace your historic windows because they are past the point of rescue, many of the covenants state that they have to be replaced in kind, with all-wood, single pane windows. Remove Paint with Specialized Tool. It is a false economy not to get the best advice before having work carried out. Repair Class III: Splices and Parts Replacement. Regardless of the actual costs, or who performs the work, the evaluation process described earlier will provide the knowledge from which to specify an appropriate work program, establish the work element priorities, and identify the level of skill needed by the labor force. Epoxy patching compounds can be used to build up missing sections or decayed ends of members. waterproof with two or three applications of boiled linseed oil (applications every 24 hours). Written for homeowners, architects, builders, engineers, and preservationists, Repairing Old and Historic Windows is the complete and authoritative guide to window maintenance and repair. And you may even get a known result. Restoration $75-150 per window – Remove all old paint and putty, sand smooth, repair wood damage, prime, replace screening with new fiberglass screening, hand paint 2 coats inside and out Rebuild $125-225 per window – Build from rot resistant wood using mortise and tenon joinery, prime, screen with fiberglass screening, paint 2 coats, install on window The cost to repair each window drops dramatically once a glass professional is already on-site. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and the accompanying guidelines, call for respecting the significance of original materials and features, repairing and retaining them wherever possible, and when necessary, replacing them in kind. The motivation behind this trend was the vast improvement in the manufacturing techniques of mass-produced vinyl and fiberglass framed window options, resulting in lower prices passed on to the consumer. Download the PDF The windows on many historic buildings are an important aspect of the architectural character of those buildings. Local historical associations and state historic preservation offices may be good sources of information on products which have been used successfully in preservation projects. Detailed technical advice is provided on their maintenance, repair and thermal upgrading as well as on their restoration. Weatherstripping is a historic treatment, but old weatherstripping (felt) is not likely to perform very satisfactorily. The sash cords should be detached from the sides of the sash and their ends may be pinned with a nail or tied in a knot to prevent them from falling into the weight pocket. Step 5: The stile socket is shaped with traditional woodworking tools. 29 Slate Roofs 23 Ornamental Plaster Many illustrations are new and in color; Captions are simplified and some complex charts are omitted. Note that most of the points mentioned in Repair Class I are routine maintenance items and should be provided in a regular maintenance program for any building. After fungicidal and preservative treatment the windows may be stabilized, retained, and restored with every expectation for a long service life. Step 4: A square and bevel are used to layout the dutchman on the stile. It is possible, however, for the advanced do-it-yourselfer or craftsman with a table saw to duplicate moulding profiles using techniques discussed by Gordie Whittington in "Simplified Methods for Reproducing Wood Mouldings," Bulletin of the Association for Preservation Technology, Vol. That said, there are a few ways you can cut down on costs even more: Replace or repair multiple windows at once. This would result in a “locked joint” that could not be disassembled in the future. The correct approach to using interior storms is to create a seal on the interior storm while allowing some ventilation around the prime window. Even though it’s two centuries old, it was still good, so I reused it.The sash was primed, reglazed, painted and put back in the Shaker horse barn. Text: Kendall Holmes Photos: Deb Holmes. An overlay of aluminum foil on gypsum board or asbestos can protect the glass from such rapid temperature change. Assess Conditions (see top image) During the window conditions assessment, I noted this broken joint between the meeting rail and the stile of the upper sash and scheduled the sash to be pulled and taken to the shop for repair. This guide aims to give a historical context to non-galvanised (pre 1950) metal casement windows and the distinct development of material and form over the years, advice on a best practise maintenance routine, signs of deterioration to look out for and likely restoration and repair techniques when metal windows are in need of intervention. The pane is then pressed into place and the glazing points are pushed into the wood around the perimeter of the pane. Bad repair works can be difficult and expensive to undo. Repairing Weather Checks in a Wood Window Sill Historically, the first windows in early American houses were casement windows; that is, they were hinged at the side and opened outward. Chapters focus on window problems, … 2 Repointing Mortar Joints (www.nps.gov/nr/shpolist.htm), The book, Save America’s Windows, has a directory of hundreds of window specialists, some in every state. 34 Composition Ornament A little searching should locate a firm which will do the job, and at a reasonable price. There are several safe and effective techniques for removing paint from wood, depending on the amount of paint to be removed. On larger projects it presents the opportunity for time and money which might otherwise be spent on the removal and replacement of existing windows, to be spent on repairs, subsequently saving all or part of the material cost of new window units. Since excessive moisture is detrimental to the paint bond, areas of paint blistering, cracking, flaking, and peeling usually identify points of water penetration, moisture saturation, and potential deterioration. We believe that the repair and weatherization of existing wooden windows is more practical than most people realize, and that many windows are unfortunately replaced because of a lack of awareness of techniques for evaluation, repair, and weatherization. You can’t. This technique is especially useful for checking sills where visual access to the underside is restricted. Traditionally glue was not used in sash joints. Make a new mortise in the dutchman. Our wood storms are built with the same old-world craftsmanship as your existing windows. 37 Lead-Paint Hazards The addition of a storm window should reduce these figures to a range of 0.44 to 0.49. 33 Stained and Leaded Glass 3 Improving Energy Efficiency Many commercially available fungicides and wood preservatives are toxic, so it is extremely important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for application, and store all chemical materials away from children and animals. Maintaining sash windows is fairly straightforward: a competent joiner can be engaged to repair sash windows as necessary sashes can be removed from the window frame to replace broken or worn sash cords external window paint must be kept in good condition to protect joinery and putty from the elements When such a schedule is completed, it indicates the precise tasks to be performed in the repair of each unit and becomes a part of the specifications. 10 Paint Problems Historic six-over-six windows--preserved. Step 8. 25 Signage Cleaning old windows, struggling to open or close them, or looking for outdated parts may make you decide replacement will … The sash makers knew that the joints needed to flex and move a bit for long-term durability. Window openings can be covered with polyethylene sheets or plywood sheathing while the sash are out for repair. Once the evaluation of the windows is completed and the scope of the work is known, there may be a potential economy of scale. Pieces can be repaired or replaced, and then reassembled. Thus, an important element of a building's significance will have been preserved for the future. 19 Wooden Shingle Roofs Ferro, Maximillian. The technique is simply to jab the pick into a wetted wood surface at an angle and pry up a small section of the wood. Photo: NPS files. The laps are half the thickness of the stile and at least three times longer than the width of the stile. It is now hoping to raise $60,000 to repair the broken glass. Finding CraftspeopleWho and where are these creative craftspeople? In this case, the old original peg was made out of Locust wood. "Sealing Leaky Windows." Architectural or Historical Significance 2. Repairing traditional windows . Of course, this can work very well with a factory-made product, like a plastic window going into a new building. 15 Concrete 45 Wooden Porches 39 Controlling Unwanted Moisture There are companies which still manufacture high quality wooden sash which would duplicate most historic sash. sustainable but makes better economic sense, particularly when the use of shutters or secondary glazing to improve their thermal performance is taken into account. These design options paired with our dozens of grille, trim and interior finish options combine to create thousands of historic window styles guaranteed to fit the style of your historic home or business. 22 Stucco Window replacement costs are expensive. They are … Repairing Old and Historic Windows explores these questions and provides detailed information on how to go about refurbishing windows within current preservation standards. Fit the new stile onto the sash and fasten it at the mortise and tenon joints with wooden pegs. 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