Restoration + Rehab

Historic Windows Resource Page

Repairing and maintaining, rather than replacing, historic wood windows means long-term savings for the property owner and long-term benefit for the environment.

DIY Repair

An introduction to the basics of wood window repair that you can do yourself!

Related Links

• Learn the parts of a double-hung wood window. Window Diagrams (PDF 53kB)

• See a list of window repair tools you'll need on hand. Tool List (PDF 26kB)

• New Federal regulations on lead-based paint mitigation don't apply to homeowner diy repairs, nonetheless it is important to take the proper precautions when working with lead-based paint.

Lead Safe Practices (National Trust for Historic Preservation) Fact Sheet (PDF 791kB)

• This video is an introduction to repairs that a homeowner can do themselves. See more detailed videos of specific repair techniques:

• Kansas State Historical Society
• Historic HomeWorks
• Napa County Landmarks - 3 part slideshow about broken sash cords.

Energy Efficiency

In terms of embodied energy, original windows are considerably greener than “energy-efficient” vinyl replacements. And with proper maintenance, sealing, and storms, historic windows can provide the same efficiency as replacements, with a much smaller environmental impact overall.

• Original sash is the greener choice! Historic Windows and Energy Efficiency by Sarah Wolff tells all . . . (PreservationNC.org)

• Forty-one years to pay back replacement window costs? Historic Omaha’s simple return calculator for replacement windows (PDF 57 kB)

• "What Historic Windows Can't Replace" from the Journal of Preservation Technology (PDF 127 kB)

• The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training has published an energy-performance study on wooden windows (PDF 2.9 MB)

• What is the real cost of replacing windows? Read what the Newport Restoration Foundation discovered when they did the math.

• Read the New England Window Restoration Alliance's Top Ten Reasons to Restore or Repair Wood Windows.

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Some resources for keeping your original windows in good working order:

• Basic advice on maintaining windows from the National Park Service

• Old House Journal holds a Sash Window Clinic

• Several National Park Service briefs look at maintenance and repair of different historic window types:

• The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows
• The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows
• The Use of Awnings on Historic Buildings
• The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stained and Leaded Glass

•How to make protective coverings for stained glass (Traditional Building magazine)