Historic Window Repair

I haven’t seen a recent post on this. I hav original windows which are in rough shape. I am looking for a skilled handyman or other relevant person to make repairs. I am not ready for a full overhaul or the price tag that comes along with that. I am
Looking for someone who can breathe a few more years of life into the windows. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

MaconStreetMan

in Doors & Windows 4 years ago

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tag482 | 4 years ago

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Method Restoration just restored 13 of our original windows. So happy with the work.
https://www.methodrestoration.com/

andriywww1990 | 4 years ago

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the rail is beyond most people and the issue is, if that is rotted say in the joint, the sitles on the sash are probably bad as well. start messing wit a sash like that and it will all fall apart. this is why i do not get involved in these. there are window people around though.

with the sill, for some reason one of them rotted on our house and i think i know why. the had old metal windows here and one window must have developed 80 years of condensation and when we got here is was rotten. not the front of it, just against the window. when we changed the windows, i filled it with epoxy (git rot or wood epox or something) and it is fine.

MaconStreetMan | 4 years ago

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Thanks, this is very helpful. The windows work great in terms of gliding open and closed very easily. The most immediate issue is that one of the window needs new rails – the horizontal part of the window. The sills (the board at the bottom, upon which the closed window rests) are pretty rotten as well. Just addressing the rails would be what I am looking to do. If I could replace the sills, that would be a major bonus. I hope I am getting the terms right.

andriywww1990 | 4 years ago

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so this is my take on old windows. and we run into the same problems with old doors. there will be so much damage that you do not see that if someone begins working on these, they will begin falling apart. especially with sash or anything that moves.

you may be better able to pull some ideas from people, including from me (i have worked on windows), if you post photos and describe what the issues are. broken glass? missing glazing compound, broken sash rope or chain? maybe to someone who does this the windows are not as bad as you think. or maybe they are bad; if it is broken sash, that is beyond a handyman and my guess it they should be left alone and nailed shut or remade entirely.

somebody mentioned the book Working Windows, which is a good start for a homeowner. keep in mind, even if you read the book, there is no silver bullet for something that has to be replaced.

MaconStreetMan | 4 years ago

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Thanks, but the windows are in a rental unit and I don’t have the time to even attempt to do the job. I am hoping that someone with experience could do the job better and more quickly than I ever could. I think a carpenter or skilled handyman might be a good option. Any leads are welcome.

cate | 4 years ago

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Have you checked out the book “Working Windows”? Apparently the process is tedious and time consuming but doable by a non handy person. And the windows can last for hundreds of years. I haven’t tried it myself because, alas, our windows were replaced decades before we came on the scene.