Just to keep the reader up to date, I was able to resolve the difficulty that I encountered with my windows.
I had a problem: what do you do when you have modern windows installed in an historic home? Let’s face it. The average ignorant homeowner is not going to know that putting inappropriate windows will guarantee they will be replaced in 15-20 years! Light tropical woods or plastic windows either disintegrate or reduce the property values of your historic property.
I had a light-tropical wood window in the loft that disintegrated. I had a window in my attic that was basically an old window stuck sideways to fit the space and loaded with air gaps and the mullions disintegrated. I had a patio with double panes of glass that were filled with streaks and a greenhouse window that fried plants and also had double panes of glass filled with streaks and water runs.
The attic window was a cinch, I sent it to B&R Glass and they restored the mullions beautifully. Then I added strips of cedar to the edges of the window so it would fit snugly in the space and then surrounded the area with insulation. My attic is now a pleasant place and the cold is now outside.
The loft window had disintegrated and water was running down the inside of the wall down to the first floor. I demolished the window and put plastic around to stop the water filtration. Eastern Lumber handles Bosco that produces a fine wood window (quality wood, not something you would see at Home Depot or Lowes!). I had Les Page, a homerepair contractor of Amesbury install the window and it is absolutely beautiful. It even has built-in storms!
The patio will be replaced with wood french doors and the greenhouse will be replaced with another Bosco wood window.
The only negative is that Bosco uses a plastic runner to allow the wood windows to go up and down. This is common and I see it all around Newburyport being used by those who care for their historic homes. I would prefer the window slide up and down like the old windows. Historic homeowners who are very serious will travel to Todd Farm or a wholesaler in old windows and try to match the dimensions. They do this because it allows the replacement windows to blend in with the rest.
It is a time-consuming process and that is why the historic preservationists across the country stress to not remove historic windows.
Regardless of these product-driven ‘experts’; old windows are designed to last for a century or more while the new windows are only warranted for 20-25 years. But then, planned obsolences guarantees them more money in the future.
That’s why they love to say, "You don’t want those oooolllllddd windows do you?" Putting an extra stess on the old and insinuating their worthlessness.
Historic homeowners need to learn to not heed the siren song and do the right thing for their own salvation.
-P. Preservationist
Brick and Tree 