Homeowners recently said that the set of storm windows I built and installed on their brick Victorian have made their house noticably more comfortable. They say their furnace is running less. The storms made a bigger difference than they expected.
This is encouraging me to suggest repairing old windows and adding storms rather than replacing them.
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Replies
Nice work.
What is that reflective black colored sealent around the perimeter of the storm glass there?
sobriety is the root cause of dementia.
I used a black "lifetime" 100% silicone sealant on both sides of the glass. It is fairly glossey.The frames are 5/4 pine with weather stripping on the inside and plastic chair leg "feet" (little plastic disks w/ nail) to maintain a dry air space between the storm and sill.
Edited 4/24/2005 9:48 pm ET by basswood
Seeing that looks like a single hung do they plan on removing the storms in summer?
sobriety is the root cause of dementia.
I think they plan to remove storms in spring, and put them back up in fall.They have a set of screens. I suspect that a few storms will stay in all year.The hardware on these storms also allows you to push out the bottom of the storm, for some ventilation, without taking them down (only a good idea if the bugs aren't bag).
Edited 4/25/2005 7:48 am ET by basswood
The hardware on these storms also allows you to push out the bottom of the storm, for some ventilation, without taking them down (only a good idea if the bugs aren't bag).
Sounds like you need to add another item to your offerings. Inside screens. The ones I've made were half-sized, slid on runners each side of the window. One runner needs to be shorter than the other to balance the screen (up) so the window(s) can be opened. PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Great idea, except that I can never get away from that house as it is <g>. Always another small project...Actually I will suggest it.
Va- you got a pic of those screens by any chance?
sobriety is the root cause of dementia.
Sorry, the only place I made them for, cameras weren't/aren't allowed. More than a few very private people around here. These folks weren't famous (outside of horse circles), only wealthy. Not that the screens were much of a deal, other than the copper screening, which is easy to work with but not a stock item for anybody (pricey). Had to buy a whole roll.
Think simple rectangular screen frame. I like blind mortise and tenon. Dado each side to fit a molding attached to each side of the window frame. I copied the rest of the house with a tee shaped molding. The reason for one molding to be a few inches higher is to support the screen frame when it's resting on top of the opposite molding, during the opening of the window. Then you slide it back down to the sill. Worked amazingly well.
Is that any clearer? I can scribble you something and scan it if necessary.
House dated to 18th cent, but I don't think what I was working on was anywhere near that old. PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Thanks
sobriety is the root cause of dementia.
Very timely! I want to do something similar soon.
What is the best way to copy the arch of an existing window? Is there a formula to get from 'arch' to radius? Or is it easier to just tape up some paper or cardboard and trace the arch?
I had the good fortune of having old storms to copy. The bottoms of the old storms were rotten, even so, with some measurements, I had plenty to go on.I used a piece of string and a sharpie marker to determine the radius. I marked the center vertical line on the glass. Then I held one end of the string on the upper left corner of the storm frame and the other end of the string on the center line. Then I experimented with different radiuses until the length of string held on the center line scribed out an arch just like the old frame.I hope that made sense. My storms were made with an approx. radius of 16". I compared my radius with all of the old storms and the old brick arches. I cut the arches out of 5/4" x 6" clear pine stock. My first arch was cut with a jigsaw (I don't have a band saw) and fine tuned with a belt sander. This prototype was used as a pattern. I cut the other arches with a router and a pattern forming bit, making two passes to remove the full thickness. The frames were joined with pocket hole screws (galvanized) and titebond 3.
My one actually arched window does not have a storm, but it just dawned on me that I could copy the arch from the window and add the extra width of the frame that the storm will attach to.What I want to do is come up with a way to attach the storm frame to the window frame that seals well, but is still removable when it is time to paint the window frames. One of the things I hate most about triple track storms is that the get caulked in and it is usually not possible to remove and reuse them. So I'm thinking about using the threaded brass inserts in the window frame, putting some type of compression gasket for a seal on the storm frame, and screw the storm frame to the window frame. Then I'll have removable storms from the inside that fit into a groove in the storm frame, again with some form of compression weather strip. In the summer, put in full length screens to replace the storm windows, and the windows can be used the way they were intended - open at the top and bottom.I would prefer having stainless steel threaded inserts and machine screws, but so far I've only seen brass.Any ideas on a good source for window weatherstripping, and what type will work the best?
Google for "stainless steel threaded inserts" returns 357 hits. McFeely's has them in three sizes. They ain't cheap.http://www.mcfeelys.com/subcat.asp?subcat=20.15.3
just wanted to get on board w/ my compliments
like the tilt out element
looks like your homeowner painter did you justice but ya the hardware should take a backseat to your fine work
what is the concrete looking "trim" around the window / seems like that should get painted out w/ the hardwarethe observation that those shutters are hung incorrectly
is it not that we are all used to looking at faux shutters and these are hung correctly? think how they will look when they are closed
Any ideas on a good source for window weatherstripping, and what type will work the best?
By far the best I've found came from Resource Conservation Technology http://www.conservationtechnology.com/ Not much of a website, but their techs are great when you call.
Their EPDM window weatherstripping is very forgiving, comes in 2 thicknesses. I've used a couple miles of it. Including weatherstripping large translucent panels I'm currently installing.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Thanks for link. EPDM was definitely what I was thinking about in general. I'll look at McFeeleys again too, I didn't seem them before.
Bryan,
Adams Architectural make old fashion wood storm/screen combo units. The screen is permanently attached to the outside of the wood frame. The glass storm inserts can be installed and removed from inside the house.
I have 30 of these storms to paint and install. I'm trying to find the right compressible gasket to seal them around the edges. Looking for some type of foam rubber that will not degrade over time.
Anyways check out http://www.adamsarch.comMike K
Amateur Home Remodeler in Aurora, Illinois
I know some others who have used Adams, but they don't quite have what I want, and they are a bit expensive. I'm working on a design that looks like the original storm screens and windows, but will change from the inside. Plus I want the frame to be removable, so that the actual window frame can be painted! That's what frustrates me about storm windows now. And I want to put a spline in the storm frame and the storm window to get a good seal without caulk.
Yeah, Adams is expensive. However I talked to them and they came down in price by 20% fairly easily.I would be interested in getting more info on how to install a spline to seal the storms. I'm assuming you would use a router to cut into the wood and then insert some sort of soft rubber piece?Mike K
Amateur Home Remodeler in Aurora, Illinois
Once I work out more of a sketch I'll post it for comments. I'll probably have my local millwork guy make a knife and run it. So yeah, I'm thinking a grove with a bulb and a spline, but I'm not positive. I'm going to try and use the glass from my triple track windows.
I'm assuming you would use a router to cut into the wood and then insert some sort of soft rubber piece?
http://www.conservationtechnology.com/ again. This time you'd want the insert door sweep, also EPDM. Ask for the catalog, it's amazing the variety of gaskets they offer. PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Nice work, but for gods sake paint the clips so they dont show. BTW you should tell the home owner that their nice/real shutters are on backwards.
Thanks. I'm not the painter on this project. I usually just stick to carpentry.This time I built the frames, the HO primed and painted, the glass shop glazed 'em, I caulked, weatherstripped and installed. My part is done.
I find that very interesting. I love the more authentic look as opposed to sticking something aluminum on an old house like that.
A guy I have known for a few years feels the same. Enough so he started a business doing nothing more than making reproduction storms akin to that. Patented the hardware, the system, etc. Kind of neat. Outside it looks old, inside you have a moveable screen. But anyway. Not a sales pitch.
Mostly just wanted to comment that its refreshing to see people take the time to stick with what was rather than what's easy.
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
I appreciate your comments.I enjoyed working on these storm windows and restringing the sash weights and generally tuning up the old windows."Mostly just wanted to comment that its refreshing to see people take the time to stick with what was rather than what's easy."I'd have to say that though fixing up the old windows and building new storms is not easy, it has to be cheaper and about as easy as removing and replacing arched custom windows into brick openings.Sometimes the best choice is actually cheaper and easier. A win-win deal for everyone.
RW,
Is this the guy in OK or NE?Mike K
Amateur Home Remodeler in Aurora, Illinois