Improve the performance of Victorian era windows

Comment by Red Queen on May 27, 2009 at 6:02pm

I feel your pain, Phil...I have an 1870's Victorian. Presently it has the original windows, and some of the original wood storms, but also many old aluminum storms that are not only falling apart, they're just plain ugly, too. I found several of the original wood storms and screens in the basement (which need work), but there are also many missing. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get custom storms and screens? Is it worth it to restore the old ones and have new ones made to match? Or go with something different like the metal ones that you used, Susan? Thanks - and good luck with your project, Phil.

Comment by Jan on May 27, 2009 at 10:00pm

I have an 1846 Greek Revival with old windows. I hated the aluminum storms so much that I had them all removed. I decided that I had to do something(s) to counter that decision----I bought window quilts and kept my temp at 60-62 all winter. I have to admit that I don't like heat so it really doesn't bother me at all. I do have 2 Great Pyrenees dogs that like to sleep with me, too. : ) I live in S. Central PA so our winters aren't real mild, but the highest natural gas bill I had was $280. Not bad. I also take advantage of budget billing.
Jan

Comment by Phil on May 28, 2009 at 8:41am

I have struggled with these issues too. At least some storms are key to energy cost controls, draft reduction and being able to keep living spaces warm. Here is what I have learned over the years:

1. I actually don't mind aluminum storms, especially if they are painted to match the windows. My house has a mix of original wooden storms, aluminum storms and windows without storms, plus modern windows in an addition. The wooden ones are clearly superior, but when you look at the house, the mix of storms does not jump out because all windows are painted the same, esp. asymmetric houses such as mine. Adams architectural in Iowa will custom make and ship storms (including combined storm/screens). Also, I have found that it is now difficult to buy aluminum ones, because so many people are just throwing away their windows and putting in plastic ones -so sad. I have called a few lumber yards who take my measurements for AL windows, and then call back to say that they no longer carry them but didn't know because no one is asking for them.

2. I currently have no storms on all of my fixed-sash windows (stained and leaded glass windows and other unusual windows with a single sash). Storms really alter the exterior look of such windows, and I am not sure that I lose a lot of heat through them.

3. All windows look better without screens in them, and I have learned that we open the same windows over and over and 90% are never opened, and thus don't need screens in them. This observation means that one doesn't have to constantly be swapping between storms and screens twice a year. I never remove my wooden storms.

4. Painting windows with wooden storms is a gigantic task, because each window needs to be painted and its storm needs to be removed and painted inside and out.

5. Finally, our addition has top of the line Marvin ultimate double hung wood windows. I stained them to match the wood trim, and they look pretty good. But, without storm windows, I am not sure how well the exterior paint will hold on them, so I will probably eventually storm those windows too with wooden storms. These windows will not outlast our regular windows. They rely on vacuum seals that will fail, bits of foam rubber that will eventually crack and fall out and tip sash locks that will surely fail. In some ways I wish that instead I had old fashioned windows custom milled and installed with traditional sash weights. Then those windows would last with the house.

Comment by Phil Robarts on May 31, 2009 at 7:30pm

Phil, I'm getting the picture that these old windows are beautiful from both outside and inside, right? And storm windows are not beautiful, most folks agree. Once you've taken the other excellent suggestions about rehabbing and tightening up the old windows, would you consider window treatments? Curtains, shades and movable insulating panels don't compromise the beauty of the house's exterior, and they go a long way toward "turning a window into a wall," as I like to put it. Even if you need the incoming daylight, you can at least apply the coverings at night. My Civil War era farmhouse is more modest than your Victorian, but we make liberal use of window coverings to tighten up a post-and-beam envelope that needs all the energy help we can give it.

Comment by Susan on June 1, 2009 at 8:16am

Yes, I used new aluminum storms and I still have my original sash windows with the original glass. I did not tackle stripping paint off the exterior of the sash windows yet. I just painted them dark green to match the new storms and will leave the window restoration job for another year since I am currently working on getting the cedar lap siding and cedar shingles on the house. When I started replacing storms three years ago the price of new wooden storms was out of my reach. I bought all my metal storms from Western Window in Berea, Ohio. Each one was custom made since they are all different widths. It took about seven weeks for them to make my storms. The first floor windows are longer than the second floor windows. I bought a few at a time, of course, due to my budget. None of them cost more than $175 each. I do not know if Western Window will ship storms anywhere. Luckily I own a high top conversion van and I am able to bring home most everything I buy instead of having to have it delivered. A few of the aluminum storms on my house were fairly new so I took them down, removed the windows and spray painted the frame and windows on both sides to match the new storms and put them back up. Turns out they match the new green storms fairly well and from the ground nobody can tell the difference. It was a real challenge last fall to put up the new storms on our staircase windows. They are narrow and long with three windows all side by side. I ended up putting these on the house on a windy day since I was running out of time on the lift bucket I rented. I almost dropped them getting them out of the lift bucket and onto the house. In the living room and parlor I made velvet drapes with heavy lining and heavy bullion fringe and have swags and jabots at the top that are very heavy and hang on wooden rods. I also have lace panels and blinds on these windows. My parlor windows are in the tower of the house and they face the western side where all the bad weather hits the house. Here in Lorain we have had some pretty bad winters since we sit on the edge of Lake Erie. Using foam weatherstripping inside the jams really cut down on the drafts. With the window treatments I used,and the new storms we are now able to set the thermostat at 68 degrees and not freeze to death while watching tv at night. It did help a great deal to have the furnaces replaced with high efficiency ones. Our most expensive heat bill this past winter was $371. Greatly reduced from the heat bill of $925 last January. We also have thick aubusson style wool area rugs and do not have wall to wall carpeting. There is no subfloor between our basement and the first floor. Just the oak floors over the joists and as yet I have not insulated the basement ceiling. Another project for another year.

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