HISTORIC WOOD WINDOWS 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 growthdense and durable wood that is now scarce. Even high- quality new wood windows, except for mahogany, wont last as long as historic wood windows.

Replacement Windows: Longevity Replacement wood windows Poor quality of wood rots in Floridas climate Vinyl, metal, metal clad Generally a 20 year max. life for replacement windows Not repairable (No Maintenance=Cant 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 dont 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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