Wood windows should be restored and repaired once every fifty years.
If you have wood windows on your home, they should be restored and repaired at least once every fifty years. Unfortunately, since a home normally changes hands several times over a fifty year period, many homeowners wait too long to have their wood windows repaired and restored. Luckily, old windows can be repaired and kept for hundreds of years without problem. How can you tackle this simple construction project and extend the life of your wood windows?
Repairing Old Wood Windows
Older wood windows are made with high-quality wood that isn’t available as easily on the market today, so it is worth trying to save what you can. Here are some of the steps you should take to complete the process.
- Remove the sash from the window by cutting the paint line at the point where the frame and the window stop meet
- Remove the parting bead that separates the top and bottom sashes (this step might be a bit tricky)
- Separate the paint seal on the top sash and remove it
- Remove paint from the inside running surfaces of your wood window, any metal pulleys, or any other areas it shouldn’t be
- Check the entire area in and around your wood windows for signs of wood rot
- Strip the wood window sash down to bare wood and treat it like a new product by sanding, priming, painting, and reglazing
- Clean the old glass
- Repair minor rot, if necessary
- Change up the weather seals on your old wood windows to bring them into this century
- Restring the sashes on your windows
- Replace the stops
- Replace your wood windows!
Keeping the original wood windows on your home is a great way to add major character to your home and keep history alive.
Hire a Wonderful Craftsman for Your Interior Design and Architectural Millwork
Mahogany Inc. is a general contractor that specializes in quality construction for residential and commercial projects. We have the expertise and experience to tackle whatever your custom woodwork job is (and acquire those hard to find woods you might want to use!). If you are looking for work that will set your living room, kitchen, or business apart, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 727-0334. To see examples of our wonderful work and see what our customers have to say, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.