To Marvin’s credit, the new sashes are well made and have been very easy to install. The problem is that they just don’t look right on the old house. My old windows were single pane on the bottom sash and triple pane on the upper. The replacements are all single pane. In the beginning I tried the accessory grids that are available with these windows but the grids didn’t stay put and sometimes were destroyed when the lower sash caught on them as the sash was being raised. Also, the new sashes have to be stained and painted.

If I were to start over again, I’d look for exceptionally high-quality outer storm windows (insulated if available) and restore the old sashes. I would think that $200.00 (about the cost of a Tilt-Pac) could buy a pretty good storm window and yield about the same fuel savings as the new insulated windows.

I’m just sounding off here. Every time I look out the window, I’m reminded of my poor judgement in this project.

My carpenter will be here today and I'll ask him if he has any ideas for giving your windows a more true divided light look. I'm sure lots of others will offer good suggestions as well.

I just bought top of the line Larson storm windows for my screen porch which are more sturdy and much less drafty for around $100 ea. (large 64" x 38" ones). The ones w/ low e glass wouldve been another 100 or so more... Draftiness in old house can also be addressed by sealing up the channels around the window, and also (most importantly) sealing the openings into the attic to stop the updraft or chimney effect which actually will pull cold air in thru the windows.

Someone advised me early on to never throw anything away which comes from your house, if possible store it somewhere for future owner. I wish I wouldve done that myself-- I sold off some glass from overhead light fixtures (the fixtures themselves were long gone and I figured the shades were therefore useless. WRONG! Recently found out that lamp restorers can rebuild a light fixture to fit the shade, for not a lot of money. Damn.... it wouldve been really neat and it wouldve semi-matched another fixutre which I already had.

Try this one instead:

Where do you get "new" wooden storms?

Coyle Lumber has a decent website and might be worth taking a look at. They do lots of custom moldings and make replacement doors and windows to match originals that may be beyond repair. They are near Carlisle, PA, but I think they ship lots of places.

With that in mind, would anyone who has either copied or originally built such frames be able to post or send a few photos? I have particularly large windows (~3' x 5 1/2') so I'm curious about type of stock and joinery.

Thanks.

GH

Would you be able to post a phone number for the Glennvile PA wood working guys?

Thank you!

Not affiliated yad yada yada...

in general,its just not worth it. Much cheaper to do new storm except for the windows that are rotted!
(often bathroom)

will post the article if I can find it again.

You said this month's copy of This Old House magazine has an article about kits for weatherizing old windows?

Do you mean the September 2005 issue? I can't seem to find anything like that?

Could you confirm the magazine name and date, and/or point me to an article name or page? Apologies if the article is in front of my nose and I'm somehow missing it.

Steckjam, if you find any sources for good storm windows in the Midwest, I'm all ears.

Thanks so much. Great topic.

We looked at several quality brands (Pella, Marvin, a few others) and chose Springhouse. The main reason is that our house is a small farmhouse, definitely not a grand building. We found that the scale of most new windows was off; they were too bulky. And the muntins that divide the panes of glass were too thick and flat in comparison to historic windows, or even our 1960's replacements. We also had trouble with getting smaller windows replaced, and some brands could only fit a casement style in their place - definitely not the original look of the home. Springhouse windows were nicely proportioned with less stumpy muntins, and they could replace all double hung windows with double hung. We definitely like how they look, function, and are easy to clean. I know this sounds like a commercial, but I am just a satisfied customer.

If I had had original windows, I would have done all I could to keep them. Those wooden storms sound great!

Tina