Just crying over the windows

[Lynners]

Our house has all of it's original windows, the exception being the weird small one in the upstairs hall, but it's still wood. At first I HATED them, and couldn't wait to rip them out and replace them. But then they grew on me, and I learned (from here, and GardenWeb). Now, when I sit in my living room at just the right time of day, it's beautiful how the sun comes through and leaves a rippled pattern on the wall from the wavy glass.

But my friends won't understand, so when we talk about home improvement and windows come up I just nod my head and smile. One day when mine are all restored and look a hundred and one times better than theirs, and last longer, maybe then I'll speak up. But right now to them (and to me, sometimes) having happy restored windows seems like a pipe dream. I don't mention it to my parents anymore, either, because they don't "get it".

[jade mortimer]

i used to have a couple of window replacement outfits that gave me the old sash they removed--i'd show up at the house (with tissue handy), load the sash with gorgeous glass in my truck and off i'd go...today, those contractors must keep a record of each sash removed and dispose of them as 'hazardous material' in a licensed dump...what a crime!! a year ago i met with the town manager to discuss restoration of the large 150 year old windows in the town hall the next town over...after a few conversations, it was clear they were going to replace rather than restore the most historically significant feature in the most historically significant building in town...i asked if i could have the old sash to use the glass...never heard back....yesterday i drove by and saw that they have installed industrial type metal double paned windows...tears...they look awful....worst part is, they trashed the old sash and the irreplaceble glass...i should send them to speak to the folks at the library where i just restored very large old sash on the first floor...10 years ago, the upstairs windows were replaced with industrial type metal windows--every single one has failed...the seal between the two panes of glass failed resulting in a fogged appearance...they are now accepting bids to replace those sash!!!

all we can do is spread the word cause we know better......

[lupinfarm]

Well I dont know yet whether the original window jambs in my house were ripped out when the POs put in the vinyl windows in the 90s but I will next summer when we start on the upstairs windows. Several of the windows are actually dangerous. A couple
of weeks ago I was sleeping, it was about 1am and I heard a loud crash. I got up and looked outside to check on the barn ( as
a large 15foot door was damaged during the summer tornado we had) I couldnt see anything as there was no moon that night so i went back to bed. The next morning I was busy getting my son off to the school bus at 7:00am. He was stalling so I went upstairs to get him up, it was freezing upstairs so I went into each room checking the windows and found that the one in the
back bedroom had fallen out into the room. The track the window sits in had cracked and the spring loaded clips on the top had broken off. I had to drive a screw through each hole into the jamb to hold the window in. I hate these vinyl windows
and want them gone.

[triguy128]

I keep the argument simple. New good quality replacement windows would cost me upwards of $40k. 39 storm windows cost me $5300... plus $100 or so worth of caulk. I estimate I have at least 80% of the energy savings as replacements. Case closed. I have over $34k to spend on other things.

I try to inform everyone that mentions replacement windows. I ask then first if they are before or after 1945. I remind them that most things building related constructed after 1945 tend to be much, much cheaper than prior.

[lupinfarm]

I agree.unfortunately the POs ripped out all but one of the original wooden windows and replaced them with 90s vinyls. I replaced two windows at the back and side with vinyl..emergency repairs as it was December and they just fell out one night during a storm. Replacing them was $800 a piece including labor. Replacing with wood sash windows would ( told by contractor) have cost double that. I would like to replace the others with wood, but need to convince my DH that wood is
better than vinyl. A hard sell since they are so expensive. He will say" Are they twice as good, since they will cost twice as much?"

[catya]

Ive been scouting around looking at houses a little bit - with some thoughts of selling and buying something smaller. Im SHOCKED at what's been done around here in the last 15-20 yrs since Ive last looked. It used to be quite easy to find places with original windows, siding, and other features, even old kitchen cabs. Not anymore. Everythings been encased in vinyl and remuddled beyond all recognition, due to the easy credit of the 90s-00s. I honestly consider the typical cheap replacement windows a liability - esthetically, functionally inferior and financially - having to replace in 20 yrs. When I say this to the realtors some get it but most look at me like I came from Mars. I want to say to them - get back to me in 20 years so I can say "I told you so."

The up side is you really appreciate your own place a lot more when you see what else is out there!

[lupinfarm]

Hi again Catya...yes I agree I am the victim of the 90s vinyl window craze and now left with the thought of having to replace all of them with wood. Wooden windows would come in at about $1600. per measuring 35inches by 52inches ---OUCH! So I will
have to hold up the bank to pay for them. Well that is what the bank is doing to me every month with the mortgage anyhow.
I wish that the POs had left the original windows but they didnt. I guess a vinyl window salesperson was coasting the "hood"
at the time. The story is that the husband got a veterans payout and they decided to "remuddle" the house.

[angolito]

i can still get as many old sash as i can load into my truck from our local second chance business. $5 apiece, and most with the victorian hardware on them. i'm actually heading down there tomorrow to get enough to build my greenhouse, made from salvaged EVERYTHING.

YAY for DAN"S NEW & USED!!!!!!!

[James]

Old window sashes having to go to landfills as hazardous waste? That's the EPA run amuck for you. I have no problem with there being an EPA, it serves a purpose. But lead paid IS NOT something thats dangerous enough for them to be able to tell people what they must do or not do with it. They need their wings clipped on this one, pronto.

[eperot]

Not to mention the old windows must be wrapped in heavy plastic sheeting and taped up before disposal into the landfill, which is usually already lined with a sealed, heavy rubber liner. It's totally overkill. Let's waste more petroleum products that will just sit around for eons.

Gosh, from reading all the posts of people with old houses and replacement windows, I really consider myself lucky to have all the originals. Even if they are in poor shape.