Riegel Restoration
Window Restoration
Repair. Don't replace.
Why Restore?
If you own a well maintained older home, one built in the early 1900s’, 1800s’ or even earlier, congratulations, you own a real gem. If your home still has its original windows and doors you have a true classic home with a lot of history that has stood the test of time.
Your home was well built by true craftsman using old growth lumber. That wood cannot be replaced today. Old growth wood was harvested from trees that may have been hundreds of years old and were selected by nature to be the best. Old growth wood resists rot and insect damage, making it far superior to modern wood. That is why the old wooden windows in your home have stood the test of time and are still in use.
Modern lumber is made from trees that were selected by foresters for rapid growth and quick harvest. To reduce cost some modern wood is even a composite of many pieces of low grade wood glued together to appear as a single piece of good wood.
Like all things however, your old wood windows will require periodic maintenance. You may now be faced with that situation and are wondering what to do. Today you have the option of replacing your classic old-growth, craftsmen built windows with modern plastic windows built by machines. That may look like an attractive option, but you should give it a great deal of thought before deciding.
Your original windows have been in service for decades, maybe even centuries. They can be made to look and work like new again. Modern plastic or wooden windows can be expected to be used for 20 years or so before they will need work. Occasionally the seal on a double-pane window leaks and moisture will get in between the panes, resulting in a foggy appearance or water actually building up inside. That can be very expensive, difficult or even impossible to repair.
Your existing wooden windows were designed and built to be repairable. Modern plastic or wood windows are marketed as "maintenance free". Maintenance free means they cannot be repaired. Once they fail, or if the glass should break, your only option will be a total window replacement.
Perhaps even more important though is the fact that preserving your original windows also preserves the historic character of your classic home. Those original windows were hand crafted specifically for your home. They will have glass in them that was manufactured using techniques that have been lost to history. That old glass alone adds to the character of your home and should be treated as a valuable asset. If your home is in an historic district, modern replacement windows may not even be permitted.
Now you may be thinking of energy efficiency. Modern windows are marketed as being energy efficient. However tests show that a properly maintained historic wood window fitted with a storm window can be every bit as energy efficient as a modern double pane window. You may already have storm windows as most historic houses have had them. If not, we can suggest a few options that can add this feature.
Adding a well-fitted storm window to each of your windows will do these three things:
- Reduce heat loss from your window.
- Stop air infiltration through your window.
- Protect your primary window sash from the weather.
Example of a 13 year old modern sash with Insulated glass that has failed. The only fix for this is to replace the entire window.