My 1930’s rowhouse has the original doors and windows. They all have decent metal weatherstripping, but there is no entry storm door and the storms on the windows are leaky to the point of uselessness.
I’m looking for some high quality replacement storms in custom sizes. I would prefer full panel storms with swappable screens for the best seal in winter.
Does such a thing exist? I’m pretty sure that I can’t get them from any of the big suppliers, and am wondering if there is a specialty shop that does such work, or if I should just get the glass made and make my own sash and mounting system.
Replies
You're right; you won't find commercial suppliers for those. I used to live in one of those old rowhouses and know exactly the kind of windows you're talking about.
Best answer: Make 'em yourself; if you've got a decent router and table it's pretty straightforward. I wrote an article for the mag about how to make them a couple of years ago; take a look in the FHB archives for it.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
foolish men call Justice....
One thing about swappable glass and screens is safe storage for whatever's not up.Hard to believe there's not someone in NYC that would make them.http://www.tvwsolar.com
I went down to the lobby
To make a small call out.
A pretty dancing girl was there,
And she began to shout,
"Go on back to see the gypsy.
He can move you from the rear,
Drive you from your fear,
Bring you through the mirror.
He did it in Las Vegas,
And he can do it here."
Me too. But I've been to the usual suspects, and struck out, as well as having my home yard make a bunch of calls and they came up empty.
Thanks--I printed your article and it is very helpful, especially about adding rubber to the sash to get a better seal. The mention of a piece of PVC pipe for the sash weight so you can insulate (foam) in the cavity was particularly thought provoking. My exterior casing is in poor condition, so removing, insulating, and resealing would be helpful, and I can rebuild in a way that the storms mount to easily.
Hmmm. Thanks for the compliments but I don't remember anything about PVC pipe for sash weight channels in that article. You sure it was my article you found? 'Building a Divided Lite Storm Sash' was the published title, IIRC.
Edit to add: Here's the opening spread of the article.
View Image
As for hanging the sashes, those old row house storms/screens were originally hung on flat hooks screwed to the exterior trim, and pulled in tight against the a stop rabbet in the casing with standard hook-and-eye sets. That's the method I detailed in my article; among other things it enables the storms and screens to be installed from inside the house--no ladder work.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
Edited 1/3/2009 11:08 pm ET by Dinosaur
Give these two web sites a look. http://www.windowsaver.com and www.invisiblestorms.com