I am in the process of refinishing a house full of single pane double hung windows. A few question before I start.
In taking the sashes out I noticed that part of the inside track & sides of the sashes are not painted.
Is that the rule I should follow in repainting?
Removing the sash weights, some ropes are broken; some just have yrs of paint on them and don’t work, some windows don’t even have counterweights, ect…
What are my options for replacement other than a spring loaded tape counterweight? I have seen a spring metal clip slid in the tracks, opinions on that??
Best way to insulate the empty weight pocket? I am thinking of shooting foam into the pocket with a relief hole for it to expand out of.
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Replies
1. Unfinished sides: DO NOT PAINT. Use paste wax on unfinished surfaces.
2. Spring tape: DO NOT USE. They are junk, you will not be happy. You should replace the ropes with chain (it'll cost you $4.00 per window for chain versus $.40 per window for rope). You'll never worry about it again.
3. Since your primaries are single-pane, you should add removeable wood single-pane storm sashes with good weatherstripping and good caulking around the trim and you'll eliminate any air infiltration through your sash weight pockets.
If you can't live with restoring your windows back to their originally built condition (counterweights with chain, wood storm sashes, etc.), then you need to seriously consider replacement window inserts. If you try to go with a "retrofit" solution such as spring tape or other sash weight replacements, you will spend lots of money and make yourself miserable, AND they won't work well.
Ask me how I know all of this...
Some pics attached:
If you need sashes built, take a look at Adams Architectural (Google them). I had them do some work for me, and they are wonderful people to work with and reasonably priced.
The pics show my storm sashes. And just so you know, we restored them and weatherstripped them well. They sealed out air so well that we were able to completely remove the primary sashes for stripping and restoration over winter months and never noticed any difference in the comfort level of the house.
Very good advice from Mr. Rasher.
The house I'm inhabiting temporarily, my parents' home, used to have single pane double hung windows.
I was the first person to scrape, sand, re-glaze and repaint them all, back in '61. By the time I'd done them all, using hand tools, I was a competent refinisher of windows. I averaged about five-six hours per unit, exteriors only.
Since then, those windows were refinished several times. The older the wood became, the drier it got, making adhesion of both paint and glazing compound less than optimal.
So, having gained other skills, carpentry in particular, when I returned here I opted for double pane vinyl replacement units.
I spent about one hour per unit, installing them. Dead simple really.
Serious reduction in ambiant outside noise as well as heat loss/gain. Zero maintenance.
http://www.milgard.com is the window I used here. They've been in place for more than ten years with no problems.
Amen to that.
Restoring original windows = Low money, Many time
Replacement windows = Many money, Low time
Hybrid solution (spring tape) = Many money, Many time, Low results
Well, this is a dession that I will have to make. I have a couple doz. window in a brick 2 story, all in bad shape. Some have wood storms, some have alu. storm, and some have no storm. I was going to refinish and install new al storms. Storm would cost about $110.00 ea.
Maybe I should check out a vinyal replacement window. The norm in size is a 28"x62" double hung.
I have emailed for some quotes, waiting for replies. Can anyone tell me what kinda $$$ would I be talking for a window of that size. ?????
If you can live with the look of vinyl replacement windows, then that's going to be your best bet, cost and timewise. I can honestly say that if I had to do all 24 of my windows again, I would happily finance the $800/window average for quality clad wood Marvin replacements. My restored originals, while nice, is a task I will NEVER EVER do again.I would add, though, that I installed quality aluminum storms on a rental house I own (caulked and sealed) and they work very well. $110.00 per window sounds about right. I'd guess they are as effective as my wood storm sashes.
Can anyone tell me what kinda $$$ would I be talking for a window of that size. ?????
I used Milgard's web site's http://www.milgard.com dealer locater and made a list of all their dealers in my area.
I then visited one of the nearby dealers and looked at the sample windows. I also asked for and picked up a brochure which described how to calculate dimensions for their replacement windows.
I measured all the openings, without removing the sash. I made a list of all the windows and their dimensions, then called several Milgard dealers to see if they wanted to bid on my order. I faxed my list to each of those who were interested, three in all. I received their bids in a few days.
I chose single hung units for most of the previous double hung openings. They were less expensive than the double hungs, more secure and, of course, better sealed. I also replaced two large double hungs with fixed units. All of them have internal grids, to replicate the original four pane sash.
It's been ten years since I used that method to purchase the windows for this house so I can't estimate what yours would cost but these were very reasonable then, about $200/unit for 3'X4' single hungs.
As a carpenter, I'm not happy to see vinyl and other synthetic materials replacing wood for finish work but, as someone who has spent many hours doing maintenace of exterior woodwork, I'm ready to compromise.
I'll spend my time and money on interior woodwork, where I can enjoy it and where it is protected from the elements.
Well put regarding interior woodwork. Take the money you save on vinyl windows, put it into some good looking and period correct window coverings (roller shades from blindsgalore.com and drapes from jcpenny.com) and you'll never ever see the vinyl windows again anyway, so who cares?It takes a very special kind of insanity to correctly restore original windows and do the job right. Life is too short.
Thanks for those tips and links.
It takes a very special kind of insanity to correctly restore original windows and do the job right. Life is too short.
Have you met our resident expert on that subject? I must admit, he does exhibit some behavior that would qualify him, under your definition.
Edited 5/26/2009 7:00 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Re:
I have emailed for some quotes, waiting for replies. Can anyone tell me what kinda $$$ would I be talking for a window of that size. ?????
Can't say for sure, but I suspect that my supplier in Chicago would be about $200 ea, with low e and argon.
I can second (fifth) the other comments about the value of replacement windows compared with trying to rebuild the original windows. Don't forget this years 30 % tax credit for this purchase.
Good luck.