Why Window Restoration?
We Have & Want Windows, Glass & Frames
HRI inventories window sash by size, thickness and style. Introduce a historic window into your project instead of a new window.
HRI has a stockpile of vintage glass, from 18th century crown glass to various grades of 19th century cylinder/plate glass. Glass ranges in quality and size, so please contact us.
HRI will gladly save windows and window parts from the landfill.
Why We Advocate Restoring Old Windows
Reason 1: Historic sash are made for their historic frames. They fit, they have a repairable operating system and they are designed for the house.
Reason 2: The quality of the construction and the materials have proven themselves. If they still exist, then can still survive.
Reason 3: Retain the architectural integrity and original materials. Only an historic window can look like a historic window. Anything else is a reproduction.
Reason 4: Long term cost effectiveness. 30% of replacement windows are less than 10 years old.
Old window= 100-200 or more years
New Window= 10-25 or less years
A replacement window can only be replaced, not restored. With the cost of today's quality replacements at about $600.00 to purchase, and about $200 to install/paint, a new window can be about $800.00. Replacing a new window 4 times over 100 years can end up 3-4 times the cost of restoration.
Reason 5: It's all about air flow and heat loss. While new windows are calculated in the controlled envronments, they do not consider poor installation or progressive air and heat loss from failing replacement windows. The compatibility of R-Value, or the heat loss index, can be the same, although it is all based on how little or how much air get in. A new, double pane insulated glass replacement window can have an R-Value up to 3. A single pane historic window with a good storm window is an R-Value of 2. A R-Values table can be found at Colorado Energy's website.
Insulated walls have an R-Value of about 15, so a R-Value difference of 1 can be fairly insignificant. Another heat loss value system is U-Value, or the heat loss from an area of the window. If the replacement window does not fit well or is loose in the opening, then the R-value is reduced to a net zero.
Reason 6: Storm window wear versus new window. A window's exterior can fail from weathering in about 15-20 years. A storm window can wear out in the same amount of time. It can cost 5 times as much to replace a window than a storm window. Insulated glass seal fails in 10-15 years. Felt weatherstripping fails in about 15 years. There is no added protection from the weather. A historic window needs a storm window, and it is easier and cheaper to replace a storm window. The storm window saves time, energy and money. And it is recyclable.
Reason 7: The dreaded lead. A main concern for restoring or replacing the windows is the presence and spreading of airborne lead particles. According to the Department of Health, the means of reducing or eliminating lead content in the home is by making a house lead safe. For windows, the idea is to reduce the amount of airborne particles caused by friction points, and prevent impact on lead containing surfaces. HRI can make the historic window sash lead safe, operate smoothly while simultaneously increasing their efficiency.
The Window Restoration Shop
The Process
Historic windows are integral to a building's design integrity.
Historic windows can last for hundreds of years.
Historic windows can be energy efficient and functional.
Click here to see a sample window restoration specification.
In a controlled environment the product is neater and more time efficient.
