de95's Profile
Author's Posts
October 12, 2009
New Double Glass in Old Windows?
Does anyone know if it's possible to replace an old single-paned glass window in a brownstone with new double-paned glass that would provide better insulation? These are floor-to-ceiling parlor floor windows, with four panes per window, but very thin glass. Is it possible to make them more energy-efficient, and if so, any recommendations for who can do this?
Thanks.
September 25, 2009
Loud Noise From HPD Building
HPD owns a building where on 516 Bergen Street which has an incredibly loud, buzzing HVAC unit on the roof of an extension behind the building. We live behind it and it's incredibly annoying to listen to all day, to the point where we either can't have our windows open or have to drown out the sound with fans. We asked HPD to fix the problem b/c it was above the legal noise limit and it built a metal casement around the unit, which brought it just under the city noise code, but it's still making a loud buzzing sound starting at 7 AM every day. Any ideas for how to get HPD to do more to make its unit quieter? Does anyone know if there is effective soundproofing that can be used to block the sound from a large commercial outdoor HVAC unit? Would appreciate any suggestions.
Author's Comments
Right. I know I can replace the window, but I was hoping it would be less expensive to just replace the glass, if possible, since the wood part of the window itself seems to be okay. Is it possible to just replace the glass but keep the old window?
Posted by: de95 at October 12, 2009 12:57 PM in response to New Double Glass in Old Windows?
And, any ideas for how to get HPD -- which is a city agency, after all, responsible for Housing Preservation and Development -- to take this problem seriously?
It's kind of ironic that the agency responsible for improving housing conditions in the city is making the neighborhood intolerable for the people who live on the block behind its own building.
Posted by: de95 at September 27, 2009 1:11 PM in response to Loud Noise From HPD Building
Given all the weird irregularities in the filing and permits here, and the strange coincidence of the permit issued on the same day as the landmarking, I'm wondering if there wasn't some sort of an extra "payment" made to someone at the DOB to push this through. Any ideas for how to find out?
Posted by: de95 at September 24, 2009 3:27 PM in response to A Curb Cut on Landmarked St. Marks Avenue? Really?
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
I know that building. It's always struck me as a poorly run facility with shifty employees more interested in wolf whistling local young women than getting on with their work. That aside, you should of course call 311. But also try contacting PHNDC, the local Prospect Heights civic organisation, via their website at phndc.org. I believe they are pretty well connected with city agencies and local pols. Can't hurt to ask for their help.
Posted by: grand army at September 27, 2009 9:22 PM in response to Loud Noise From HPD Building
they could put a stockade fence$$$(no wood FDNY)around it and wrap the compressors with noise reduction blankets$$$ for the style compressor(s)in the open section.believe it or not when the cooling runs the condenser fans actually transmit the compressor harmonics up into the air.this add on stuff willn't eliminate the unit noise only dampen it how much...is a crap shoot.
Posted by: biggles at September 27, 2009 9:27 PM in response to Loud Noise From HPD Building
I doubt it would be cost-effective. Double-glazed windows have to have a really airtight seal between the two pieces or else moisture collects in the space. I've never seen mass-produced units of those kinds of panes - tolerances would have to be so specific.
Posted by: Arkady at October 12, 2009 1:12 PM in response to New Double Glass in Old Windows?
Storm windows. Storms plus proper weather stripping and maintenance of your windows (glazing putty intact, cracks filled, etc) should be nearly as good as double-paned windows according to the research I've done.
Posted by: BHS at October 12, 2009 2:13 PM in response to New Double Glass in Old Windows?
Have a fine carpenter rout out the windows so they accept 3/8" old wavy glass which is available as salvage, or 1/4" store plate glass, or if you prefer, the double glazed.
Posted by: outerboro at October 12, 2009 2:20 PM in response to New Double Glass in Old Windows?
We did exactly that. When we renovated our brownstone, we decided not to replace the windows, but instead to restore them. Our windows were in pretty bad shape, but the cost to restore them was similar to replacing them with high end Marvins, and we much preferred to have beautifully restored original windows than to replace them with generic new Marvins.
Regarding the glass, we replaced the single pane glass with double pane glass. The double pane glass was purchased from a manufacturer of Insulated Glass Units (IGUs), so they came fully prepared - low E gas, UV protection, warranty, etc. We even had some of the IGUs made with laminated glass to make them impact resistant so we wouldn't have to put iron bars in front of our windows. My contractor “simply” installed the IGUs in the existing window frame. This involved custom woodwork for each sash.
It is important to note that double insulated glass is much heavier than single pane glass, so we had to change the counter-weights and weight pockets. That took some real calculations, but was straight forward. We also had to change all the hardware (chains, pulleys, latches, etc) to accommodate the heavier sashes and reduced space for the latches.
At the same time also we had the entire windows restored: all the moldings around the windows were removed, the sashes and frames were restored, the IGUs were installed, insulation was put in all around the windows, and we added interlocking bronze weather stripping on all sides of each sash.
We now have beautifully restored original windows that we adore, and which are wonderfully insulated.
Posted by: HappyDaddy at October 12, 2009 2:31 PM in response to New Double Glass in Old Windows?
I can vouch for HappyDaddy's windows, as I have seen them in person and they work well. I can't overemphasize the importance of weather stripping as he mentioned. In a brownstone window more heat loss occurs due to convection not conduction or radiation. An insulated glass unit will help more with preventing heat gain and reducing sound transmission. FWIW the further apart the two panes of glass are, the more efficient the unit becomes, that is why storm windows are good- basically it is a 4" thick insulated glass unit.
Posted by: southslope at October 12, 2009 4:34 PM in response to New Double Glass in Old Windows?
Happy Daddy and the last guy are right! Especially with the full height parlour floor windows, you want to keep the weights. Any good finish carpenter should be able to do this
Posted by: PAL at October 12, 2009 5:14 PM in response to New Double Glass in Old Windows?
Just curious HD - how much did one window cost? It sounds like a wonderful solution.
Posted by: Arkady at October 12, 2009 5:31 PM in response to New Double Glass in Old Windows?
Happy Daddy - Who did you use to restore? It seems like every place I call in Brooklyn wants me to replace rather than restore.
Posted by: keep at October 13, 2009 3:06 PM in response to New Double Glass in Old Windows?
Happy Daddy and everyone else who's done this -- please do tell us who did this for you, as most people have told me the same thing they told keep -- replace with new windows. I'd love to keep the old ones, though, if it's not more expensive to do that. But want to make sure I'm using someone who knows what they're doing.
Posted by: de95 at October 13, 2009 10:32 PM in response to New Double Glass in Old Windows?