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I enjoy restoring old windows and it makes me think of this a lot. It’s also refreshing to work on something “real” rather than a simulation of something. Simul

I enjoy restoring old windows and it makes me think of this a lot. It’s also refreshing to work on something “real” rather than a simulation of something. Simulated muntins (called grills now), simulated weight box moulding, etc. It’s sad the window industry decided to treat windows like a regular disposable appliance with a 10-20 year life. But that’s how it goes.

lotsofpulp 4y ago
Is it possible to restore multiple pane windows?
- ghaff 4y ago
  Sure. You can replace broken window panes (essentially cut out old caulk) and presumably any rotted wood as well. (As sibling notes though, newer cheaper windows may not be worth trying to repair.)
- nemo44x 4y ago
  Sure but it's probably cheaper in many cases to toss them and get a new cheap window. A lot of windows today are made of vinyl and they're absolute garbage. A higher end window from Marvin like their ultimate line. But even then I'm not sure. The spring based systems with proprietary parts will make it hard in the future when those parts aren't available anymore. It's hard to beat a rope, pulley, and weight for longevity.
  - Joker_vD 4y ago
    > It's hard to beat a rope, pulley, and weight for longevity. What about a butterfly hinge?
  - lotsofpulp 4y ago
    Interesting. I neglected to mention it, but I was actually thinking about the difficulty of replacing the inert gas as the reason servicing multiple pane windows would be difficult, but I forgot there are non inert gas filled multiple pane windows too.
    - nemo44x 4y ago
      Ahh yeah, argon filled windows. I think those leak about 1% of their argon each year so eventually it's all gone anyways. The efficiency thing is always interesting to me. The way I see it, quality weather stripping (integrated if possible) and storm windows should get you pretty close to a modern windows. I figure you'll never make back the savings with new windows VS old windows that have been updated to be more efficient. Especially since the majority of your energy bill is not due to heat/AC leaving through your windows.
dylan604 4y ago
If only a mere 10-20 year life was considered disposable. It's more like 12-18 months if you're lucky
- nemo44x 4y ago
  Yeah some of the really cheap vinyl windows just fall apart. Should be illegal to manufacture such badly designed things that just end up as waste in a couple years. That's the problem with a lot of housing today - so many corners have been cut and things have been so optimized that we are left with badly constructed dwellings where everything will have to be replaced within 20 years. Old houses are great because they were completely overbuilt and used materials that we can't really get today like old growth wood which will last hundreds of years if maintained. Of course, a lot of these homes are full of bad things too like leaded paint and asbestos, but we can abate all that if needed. But yeah, you look at old windows and it's crazy how they built these things to last. Mortis and tennon joints in the rails and stiles, muntins that are joined, etc. With a little TLC they are pretty easy to restore and make good as new and as efficient as a modern window.
  - dylan604 4y ago
    About a year ago, I had a disagreement with an individual. They thought that I was in desperate need of a can of Green Giant Sweet Peas, so they delivered them through a window in the front of my house. This is a late 70s built house from the notriously bad developer Fox&Jacobs. The corners cut in this place are ridiculous. I knew the windows were thin/cheap, but watching the replacement of the broken panel in the single pane window showed exactly how cheap they were/are.
yojo 4y ago
Where were you a month ago when I was stripping a dozen of these things?! But seriously, I’m glad someone likes the job. The glazing is fun for me. Scraping a hundred years of paint off of molding with every possible radius… not so much.
- nemo44x 4y ago
  Honestly it’s worth the money to take them to a dip and strip shop. They’ll get them back to you pristine and ready for repairs/sanding. The downside is it’s not cheap. I pay around $60 per typical home sized sash. Saves me hours though. Also if the old window has lead paint layers, I don’t like to scrape on my property.

lotsofpulp 4y ago

Is it possible to restore multiple pane windows?

ghaff 4y ago
Sure. You can replace broken window panes (essentially cut out old caulk) and presumably any rotted wood as well. (As sibling notes though, newer cheaper windows may not be worth trying to repair.)
nemo44x 4y ago
Sure but it's probably cheaper in many cases to toss them and get a new cheap window. A lot of windows today are made of vinyl and they're absolute garbage. A higher end window from Marvin like their ultimate line. But even then I'm not sure. The spring based systems with proprietary parts will make it hard in the future when those parts aren't available anymore. It's hard to beat a rope, pulley, and weight for longevity.
- Joker_vD 4y ago
  > It's hard to beat a rope, pulley, and weight for longevity. What about a butterfly hinge?
- lotsofpulp 4y ago
  Interesting. I neglected to mention it, but I was actually thinking about the difficulty of replacing the inert gas as the reason servicing multiple pane windows would be difficult, but I forgot there are non inert gas filled multiple pane windows too.
  - nemo44x 4y ago
    Ahh yeah, argon filled windows. I think those leak about 1% of their argon each year so eventually it's all gone anyways. The efficiency thing is always interesting to me. The way I see it, quality weather stripping (integrated if possible) and storm windows should get you pretty close to a modern windows. I figure you'll never make back the savings with new windows VS old windows that have been updated to be more efficient. Especially since the majority of your energy bill is not due to heat/AC leaving through your windows.

dylan604 4y ago

If only a mere 10-20 year life was considered disposable. It's more like 12-18 months if you're lucky

nemo44x 4y ago
Yeah some of the really cheap vinyl windows just fall apart. Should be illegal to manufacture such badly designed things that just end up as waste in a couple years. That's the problem with a lot of housing today - so many corners have been cut and things have been so optimized that we are left with badly constructed dwellings where everything will have to be replaced within 20 years. Old houses are great because they were completely overbuilt and used materials that we can't really get today like old growth wood which will last hundreds of years if maintained. Of course, a lot of these homes are full of bad things too like leaded paint and asbestos, but we can abate all that if needed. But yeah, you look at old windows and it's crazy how they built these things to last. Mortis and tennon joints in the rails and stiles, muntins that are joined, etc. With a little TLC they are pretty easy to restore and make good as new and as efficient as a modern window.
- dylan604 4y ago
  About a year ago, I had a disagreement with an individual. They thought that I was in desperate need of a can of Green Giant Sweet Peas, so they delivered them through a window in the front of my house. This is a late 70s built house from the notriously bad developer Fox&Jacobs. The corners cut in this place are ridiculous. I knew the windows were thin/cheap, but watching the replacement of the broken panel in the single pane window showed exactly how cheap they were/are.

yojo 4y ago

Where were you a month ago when I was stripping a dozen of these things?! But seriously, I’m glad someone likes the job. The glazing is fun for me. Scraping a hundred years of paint off of molding with every possible radius… not so much.

nemo44x 4y ago
Honestly it’s worth the money to take them to a dip and strip shop. They’ll get them back to you pristine and ready for repairs/sanding. The downside is it’s not cheap. I pay around $60 per typical home sized sash. Saves me hours though. Also if the old window has lead paint layers, I don’t like to scrape on my property.