This is My Window to the World
Aaron was working on the laundry chute this weekend, and I was on windows duty. Restoring windows duty.
I won't get into the restore vs. replace debate here. We're restoring. For us, it's less expensive because the current windows are in good shape. After we tighten them up, and get all of the storms repaired and put back, they will be extremely weather tight.
Upstairs, that meant repainting and weatherstripping the bathroom windows with spring bronze. We used primer on the outside for our future exterior paint job (to protect the wood) and used primer and white enamel on the inside to protect the wood against condensation and humidity.
(We're going to try to restore the stain and shellac of the other windows in the house.)
Finding a local supplier of spring bronze was not easy...the big boxes don't seem to carry it anymore. Thank goodness for small neighborhood hardware stores! They were able to get me rolls of spring bronze for (about) $6 per 17 feet. It will work but it isn't as tough as the old stuff I found in the basement. I wish I had 200 more feet of that!
I installed the older stuff with tiny bronze nails and the newer stuff with galvanized staples.
I was able to disassemble and reassemble the windows using my handy copy of Working Windows
And I began insulating the window wells with a combination of Great Stuff, Johns Manville AP™ Foil-Faced Polyisocyanurate Foam Sheathing and CW Venture Tape. A trick that I learned from Tom Silva on Ask This Old House, I confess. (Episode 119)
The work is slow and careful. Each day I have to settle into a groove and find my rhythm. Sometimes it's difficult to imagine getting beyond the windows...walking by the windows and just looking out of them instead of focusing ON them.
And on that day, I'll look down at my knuckles and there will be twenty-five scars from the scraper and the heat gun...one for each restored window. A map of the house's windows on my hands.
Aaron will be holding hands with the windows for the rest of our life together. A nice thought.
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Comments
What great windows! The windows we put in our house are nearly the same style as yours. But, while I'm in love with my windows, (Pella Prairie Series) I especially like the muntins in your original windows. The muntin pieces are much more delicate and actually quite beautiful!
Great choice to restore your windows!
Posted by: Jeff The Beast | April 25, 2005 10:52 PM
Beautiful windows- the time and effort will be well worth it. Every time you look out them you will appreciate their beauty, and cleaning them will seem like a breeze!
Posted by: Trissa | April 25, 2005 11:48 PM
It was a wise idea to keep the old windows. They are beautiful and unless you had new ones made exactly like that you would lose a lot in the look of the house.
The architect that made the restoration drawing for my house suggested replacing the windows. Granted my house started as a 1937 cottage and had different types of windows (did they pick whatever was available on sale at the time???), but it is much cheaper to restore them. As it is I am replacing then one by one one or two a year.
Bummer
Posted by: Ana | April 26, 2005 5:57 AM
It's amazing how well they made things back in the day. Now it's all vinyl with plenty of moving parts- pretty much non-repairable. I know new wood windows are available- just much more costly-we looked into it. I have the utmost admiration for your work on those windows. I know firsthand what cleaning off old wood involves and what you are doing is even more detailed and precise! Hats off to you truly.
Posted by: Jocelyn | April 26, 2005 8:05 AM
you are my window guru now. i'm sure the time, effort and tlc will pay off.
Posted by: irasali | April 26, 2005 1:25 PM
We spent months sanding, re-glazing, priming and painting storms and windows last summer, and they're starting to peel again this year. Sigh. At least the new sash cords are all functioning.
Please tell me more about the spring bronze and where you got it. We're in Berwyn.
Posted by: Coco | April 27, 2005 10:23 AM
y'all are always just ahead of us in your projects...it's very convenient for me so i hope it continues...i bought the window book you recommended and am going to see if i can hunt down episode 119 of TOH for that insulation tip (website synopsis didnt quite do it for me)...project restore windows 2005 starts for us as soon as the rain stops!
Posted by: merideth | April 29, 2005 2:48 PM
Supplier of Spring Bronze???
Your window project looks great. Can you tell me where you got your spring bronze or who manufactures it????
email me at frogit22@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Garry
Posted by: Garry | May 27, 2005 10:40 PM