Doors and Windows - 100 year old windows.. Are they really tha bad?
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : 100 year old windows.. Are they really tha bad?
loreyna
12-13-05, 11:32 AM
How terrible is it to have the old century single pane wood sliding windows? I bought a farm house in Northern Ontario and it has all old windows.. I don't notice a draft when I stan near them.. Are they worth replacing if I don't feel an air leak? They have the storm window as well.. So there is like two windows.. I gues.. Any advice?
Edge
12-14-05, 07:48 AM
How terrible is it to have the old century single pane wood sliding windows? I bought a farm house in Northern Ontario and it has all old windows.. I don't notice a draft when I stan near them.. Are they worth replacing if I don't feel an air leak? They have the storm window as well.. So there is like two windows.. I gues.. Any advice?
My personal opinion - don't replace them! I live in a great 80-year-old house. One of the characteristics that makes so charming is its windows. I love looking out the wavy glass; looking at the house from the outside and seeing the way the light reflects in all different directions from the true divided lites; and just the overall look of a nice wooden sash window.
They may not be as energy efficient as newer windows, but I would gladly pay the extra heating / cooling costs to have the original aesthetics.
In your situation, since you have stoms also, you have even more protection from the elements in the winter. The only thing I would suggest you do is make sure you have appropriate weatherstripping installed to keep out any drafts for the times you don't have the storms installed.
Good luck with your house!
My personal opinion - don't replace them! I live in a great 80-year-old house. One of the characteristics that makes so charming is its windows. I love looking out the wavy glass; looking at the house from the outside and seeing the way the light reflects in all different directions from the true divided lites; and just the overall look of a nice wooden sash window.
They may not be as energy efficient as newer windows, but I would gladly pay the extra heating / cooling costs to have the original aesthetics.
In your situation, since you have stoms also, you have even more protection from the elements in the winter. The only thing I would suggest you do is make sure you have appropriate weatherstripping installed to keep out any drafts for the times you don't have the storms installed.
Good luck with your house!
loreyna
12-14-05, 12:01 PM
you are quite right. the windows are lovely. not only are they the original but they have the wood designs on them. I think I will consider it longer. there is no apparent draft coming in from them. thanks for the TLC because when it comes to renovating old houses sometimes you just get caught up and you forget the natural beauty of the house. thanks
zerokarasu
12-16-05, 08:25 AM
my house was built in 1909 and the previous owner had replaced all but one of the existing windows with an off-brand vinyl series. and no surprise, the one that wasn't replaced is the only one that functions properly. the lesson here: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.