HISTORIC WOODWINDOWS

Repair vs. Replace

Windows Need Work?

Assess overall condition Painted shut Weights dropped Ropes frayed/ stuck Broken glass Glazing chipped, broken Sash or frame rotted/

termite damaged

The Dilemma: Repair vs. Replace

Historic Wood Windows vs. Modern Replacement Windows: The Issues

Aesthetics/ Historic Integrity

Longevity/ Maintenance

Energy Savings

Environment

Economics

Historic Wood Windows: Aesthetics

Appropriate for home style Retain historic integrity/

original fabric of your home Custom shapes and styles

difficult/expensive to replace Appropriate historic profile

“Historic wood windows are an important part of what gives your older building

its character.”

Replacement Windows: Aesthetics

Style/ configuration/ shape/ size Inaccurate historic profile

(muntins, frame) Inappropriate installation details

(sills, mullions, casings) Bright white….

Historic Wood Windows: Longevity Your wood windows already have a

75+year track record of service Infinitely repairable with standard tools Made of old growth lumber

“If your wood windows are 60 years old or older, chances are that the wood they are made of is old growth—dense and durable wood that is now scarce. Even high-quality new wood windows, except for mahogany, won’t last as long as historic wood windows.”

Replacement Windows: Longevity

Replacement wood windows Poor quality of wood rots in Florida’s

climate Vinyl , metal, metal clad Generally a 20 year max. life for

replacement windows Not repairable (No Maintenance=Can’t be

Maintained) Springs give way, seals break, glass clouds Replacement windows are called

“replacement” for a reason. Manufacturers often offer lifetime warrantees for their windows. What they don’t make clear is that 30% of the time, a replacement window will be replaced within 10 years.

Historic Wood Windows vs. Replacement Windows: Energy Savings Studies have demonstrated that a historic wood window,

properly maintained, weather-stripped and with a storm window, can be just as energy efficient as a new window

Windows contribute only 10-12% of overall infiltration to the building envelope. Much more infiltration occurs at roof eaves, foundations and even through wall receptacles, dryer and plumbing vents and fireplaces.

According to studies, it can take 240 years to recoup enough money in energy savings to pay back the cost of installing replacement windows

Opening your windows during temperate months in Florida (and turning off your AC) provides better energy savings

More cost effective energy savings ideas include awnings, shutters, window treatments… plus insulation, caulk/seal, solar attic fans…

Historic Wood Windows: Environmental Issues

Embodied energy=energy to produce existing windows

Lead concerns with rehab of wood windows

Replacement Windows: Environmental Issues

Energy required to construct new windows Replacement windows that contain vinyl or PVC

are toxic to produce and create toxic by-products Each year, Americans demolish 200,000 buildings.

That is 124 million tons of debris, or enough waste to construct a wall 30 feet high and 30 feet thick around the entire U.S. coastline. Every window that goes into the dump is adding to this problem.

Aluminum, vinyl and glass are among the greediest materials in terms of energy consumption and resource depletion

Historic Wood Windows: Economics

Cost to replace vs. repair

Life cycle cost Maintenance vs.

future replacement Return on

investment Energy Resale value of

home

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