All of this is a bit unfortunate, seeing as how even the newest of homes need to be made more energy-efficient. This is important for the environment, but it’s also important for the individuals involved. When it comes to solving the problems regarding windows on historic buildings, retrofitting might be the key to getting your cake and eating it too. With that in mind and without further ado, here are a couple of important things you need to know about retrofitting historic windows.
Starting considerations to make
Are they an important feature of the building? Just because the edifice has historical value, this doesn’t have to apply to the windows. While this is the most likely scenario, it’s worth checking out since it can save you a world of trouble. In some scenarios, the most important question worth asking is whether the replacement windows will fit the character of your property. This too is something that you can avoid.
Now, the main thing worth asking is the reason why you’re doing it. The fact that they’re historic also means that they’re old, and even the best (highest-quality) windows have their expiration date. Retrofitting once is a complex matter, but having to repeat this process in a couple of years can be even more inconvenient. So, the second question worth asking is how long are these replacement windows expected to last. After all, retrofitted windows have already (at least partially) withstood the test of time.
It's also vital that you consider potential alternatives. You see, your energy efficiency can be achieved in other ways. So, it might be a good idea to consider whether there are other ways for you to get the same effect. If not, it’s better to do it all at once (windows, doors, and exterior walls) at once. This way, you won’t have to do research and look for permits for each of the elements but, instead, be able to handle it all at once.
The ROI of retrofitting
A retrofit window installation is a scenario where you insert a new window sash into an existing frame. According to some estimates, the ROI of retrofitted windows can be higher than the purchase of new windows. Nonetheless, when it comes to historic buildings, a retrofit is often the only solution available. This way, the historic look of the building is preserved, and you get what you were looking for in the first place.
Both interior and exterior storm windows can drastically reduce potential heat loss, and the cost of installation is significantly lower than the installation of new windows. This would be the case even in a scenario where you didn’t have to undergo the trouble of getting all the permits.
Another thing worth noting is that some older windows have elements containing lead paint. Now, interior storm windows can reduce the potential exposure to this harmful element. While lead removal would be a far superior solution, it’s more than clear why this would be a problem from the standpoint of conserving historical authenticity.
The number of options
Retrofitting can mean a number of things. For instance, you can go with interior window panels, exterior storm windows, and even interior storm windows. According to specialists in energy efficient windows, the optimal solution would be to go for a combination of methods. What you’re looking for is the exterior storm window, interior storm panel, and an insulating shade.
While these shades, technically, change the appearance of the building’s exterior, they’re minimally invasive and incredibly easy to remove. Once removed, they’re not supposed to leave any mark on the building. Second, even historical buildings had shades, which is why it’s fairly easy to replicate this historical material with a new, superior alternative. You see, modern vinyl shades can be made to look exactly like wood.
The biggest challenge that you’ll face is whether to handle this project on your own or not. Sure, a new installation is a complex problem, and it’s quite obvious from the start that you need a professional for the job at hand. On the other hand, shade installation looks easy enough, but looks can be deceiving. In order to stay on the safe side, it’s always best to find a specialist.
Starting from the bottom
While a lot of people are primarily focused on making their homes more energy-efficient so that they can reduce their power bills, there are those who are more eco-minded. You see, refitting an old window is always a better way of saving CO2, seeing as how you eliminate the need for a new window being produced. Even with the greenest of practices, the materials and energy needed to produce a new window (even a green one) further contribute to pollution. By retrofitting, you can avoid all of this.
Keep in mind that, back in the day, mass production wasn’t yet that big of a thing, which is why windows were generally made out of sturdier (higher-quality materials). Sure, this doesn’t go for all the buildings from that era, but those that are still standing and protected as historic buildings usually belong to the higher tier of construction accomplishments of the time. This is yet another incentive for you to go for retrofitting rather than just outright replacing them.
Consider the climate
Every region has a different climate, and the amount of retrofitting needed might not be enough for your area. Now, keep in mind that while the climate changes do happen, the general climate was rather similar at the time of the home’s construction. This means that the original window choice was, at the time, deemed right for that area.
Also, remember that the landscape around you changes. At the time of the home’s construction, there may have been another building nearby providing shade. There also might have been a tree in place. The fact that the window position no longer fits the needs of your household doesn’t mean that the architect or the construction company back in the day didn’t know what they were doing. Things change.
Still, if the position or the orientation of the window is wrong, retrofitting is not an option (at least not one that can actually make a change). There are a lot of scenarios in which a replacement of a window is just an outright better choice. You need to learn how to recognize such a scenario.
In Conclusion
One of the key things about retrofitting is that it’s a better choice in a lot of scenarios, but it’s usually not the default choice of people doing the remodeling. Still, when it comes to historic buildings and historic windows, it’s probably the safest course of action, as well as one that preserves the value of the place the most. So, start by weighing all your options and make sure to check out how much you have to gain by retrofitting your historic windows before just outright replacing them.
The couple who bought it did their homework and re-did the home for their needs [ going by the Historic District guidelines].
They worked on it until the budget was too low, then one would return to work fulltime to re-build funds for the next stage. It took quite a while, but turned out gorgeous!
Now, there is one home in the district now who wants the lines re-drawn of the District -- it is too much of a bother to follow the guidelines!
The thing about that --- he can afford it !
People ............
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