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June 15, 2008

Landmark Windows - Costs?

Hello - I was wondering whether anyone has had any experience with replacing landmark windows. If so, what range of quotes did you get per floor of a brownstone - each floor having say 4-6 windows.

Recommendations on company who may have executed the job well, on time and at a reasonable price would be much appreciated.

We are in the brooklyn area.
Thank you in advance.

Comments

Landmark windows are not one particular style. It depends on your area of Brooklyn, which street, what the historical records show, etc...This is too vague of a question. What year was your building built? Is it brick or brownstone or limestone? Does it have wood trim or stone trim?

Posted by: guest at June 15, 2008 10:55 PM

Thanks for the response. It is a brownstone building located in Clinton Hill. I believe the house was built in the 1930's.

When You say historical records, what should we be looking for with regards to windows?

Posted by: guest at June 16, 2008 6:58 AM

I know someone who does windows on landmark buildings who I can highly recommend. The type of window, 6 over 6, 8 over 1, casement, too many types to mention, is essential to even being able to guesstimate.

I did Marvin windows-which is often done on landmarks.

The contractor was recommended to me, and I was extremely happy with the result.

If you want to call him, he'll save you some headaches-

917-584-7286 Andy

Posted by: guest at June 16, 2008 10:10 AM

Starting out, I used to do a lot of window submissions for Landmarks.

The real trick with replacing windows in a Landmark district is the brick mold. The brick mold is the piece of trim that abuts the masonry opening and covers the window frame. Look at its profile (if your trim is original; otherwise look at a tax lot photo, or perhaps under the aluminum panning that often covers the old frame when a house has suffered replacement aluminum windows) -- this is what Landmarks wants to see considered and replicated.

Of course, the replacement windows themselves should bear a family resemblance to the original windows. I say "family resemblance" because new insulated glass windows do not have the proportions and "feel" of old, single pane windows, especially if the old windows had mullions. Other historic districts where I do work often address this by mandating single paned glass and storm windows; aesthetically "nicer" but much more a PIA for the homeowner.

Marvins get a lot of press around here, but it's worth investigating other choices as well. I like a window without a vinyl jamb liner, and windows with real sash weights and pulleys are competitive with Marvins, although their installation (and measuring for replacement) is significantly harder. Anyway, it bears reminding that the LPC does not approve brands, but rather configurations and profiles that closely approximate the old character of your house.

Posted by: an architect in Brooklyn at June 16, 2008 11:20 AM

Good luck with your project.

As for the date of your house, I wouldn't be surprised if it is much older than the 1930s. In fact, most of the brownstone and brick rowhouse construction in Clinton Hill was finished by the 1880s (having started in earnest during the Civil War, a couple of decades after the first mansions started going up). What street are you on if I may ask?

The records you get from DOB are often incorrec with respect to the date.

Hope it goes smoothly.

Posted by: guest at June 16, 2008 1:14 PM

Heights Woodworking built 3 huge mahogany windows with weights for me. The price was about 8K.

Posted by: guest at June 16, 2008 3:00 PM

Heights Woodworking did 3 three bay windows for me for $10K.

They were efficient.

Posted by: guest at June 16, 2008 4:06 PM

If you are in a landmark district, you will have to file for a LPC permit. You can file this work yourself, have an archict do it, or have it filed by the installer. This involves photo documentation of existing conditions, an 1940 tax id photo and drawings.Contrary to 11:20am, you will have to submit the installers name and or window make. LPC knows and likes Marvin.
For reference one arched parlor window (96" tall x 36"wide) by Marvin will run you $2000 uninstalled. For a 3 storey house (2 basement, 2 parlor, 3 2nd floor), an approximate price is $20,000 installed.

Posted by: OTIS at June 16, 2008 10:51 PM

We took a slightly unique route with our windows, and it really paid off in terms of the finished product. We took pieces of the exterior trim off the house and brought them to a millwork shop. New blades were made from them. We had the millshop cut all the exterior trim done out of Mahogany (lasts much longer than pine). We ordered the actual windows sashes with ledges from Marvin (though I don't totally love the Marvin windows). We hired a carpenter to intall the trim and windows.

The end result is windows that look as they did when the house was built one hundred years ago. They are really nice looking because of that exterior trim. The price ended up being 18K for seven windows. This was slightly less expensive than Marvin quoted to do the whole window with the trim. (including installation through EzTilt) However, Marvin's trim was no where near as nice as the trim we had made!!!

Posted by: guest at June 17, 2008 10:40 AM

We used Heights Historic Window & door they did the Landmarks filing & were great to work with. They directed us to Dept. Of Records for photograph of facade & gave us several options full rip out inserts we didnt like this or Sash kits. These were much less expensive we went with a hybrid some ripouts & some Sash kits. Installers were so pleasant a young Polish gentleman & his 2 entusiastic assistants. They were neat tidy & used plastic, Air filters & Hepa vac's to clean up. We got there names on this site several months back.We priced them against some of the other people mentioned here & "Windows We Are" They were pretty competitive but much more helpful.I would need more information on the windows but ours were 1 over 1 Black exterior (they gave us a product with a 10 year warranty on the factory finish)one floor was 3-40" X 78" were close to $1100 supply & $750 or so I am not sure of exact number to isntall.We had 26 units total. Heights Woodworking makes the windows themselves not sure that there is a warranty on there product? We spoke with them but they did not have a great prodcut if memory serves me correctly

Posted by: guest at June 17, 2008 6:44 PM

wow - thank you so much for all the super smart and helpful comments. i may well be back for more wisdom.. soon

Posted by: mooncake at June 18, 2008 12:28 AM

Just had 2 new parlor floor clear-cedar frames and sashes with double insulated glass custom made. Since the lower sash weighs 40lbs, we chose to go the extra mile with weights. Beautiful job.

Mill Work Specialties
Prospect @ 4th Avenue
Cosmo Cotroneo 718-768-7112

Also set these windows on newly quarried Brownstone window ledges from Portland Brownstone Quarries in Connecticut
Mike Meehan 860-342-2920
This is the original quarry for much of the Boerum Hill brownstone. it has the mica flecks.

Posted by: baseballcard at June 23, 2008 12:38 PM

We used Landmark Restoration Services, Inc 917-214-8682
To restore some historic windows in Park Slope landmarked Brownstone.

We also had the rest of the windows replaced by the same company... They really take pride of what they do

Posted by: Alan at March 17, 2009 5:38 PM