How can an Arts & Crafts homeowner on a limited budget, who is also energy conscious, decide between efficiency in replacing windows, roof, et al vs. perserving the historic aspect of the home? The topic by Shari got me thinking, as we will have to replace windows and roofing in the next 1-3 years, how to find a middle road, if there is one.

The home we own has some of its original windows, and some weere replaced with vinyl (not by us). Is there a source for period-design windows that are also energy efficient? This question also applies to roofing for us.

Helpful advice is appreciated. Thank you!

Carlbc,

Here is what we've decided to do in our home. Our house had all of the original windows when we bought it, which was fortunate I guess, no vinyl. So I decided to restore all of the windows in the "public" areas where the woodwork was unpainted and the windows could be seen from the street. I know that there are places to get replacement windows that are true to the period, and the face of the house is definitely where they should be installed or restoration should be done. Period style wood screens and storm windows can be made for these areas. The old style storm windows will make these as efficient as any new double paned window.

In the areas where the woodwork had been painted, I replaced only the sashes of the double hung windows, with double paned wood replacements. For the basement windows, we replaced the awning windows with double paned fiberglass replacements - because they can be painted, where vinyl can't be.

If you don't want to go to the expense of replacing perfectly good vinyl windows, why not work the white color into your scheme? One of the most beautiful houses in our neighborhood has had the windows replaced with vinyl and it doesn't really stand out all that much. (See pic)

As for the roof, there are laminate shingles that approximate the look of shakes. I've gotten estimates for regular shingles and for the fancier ones and the laminate 50 year shingles run about 2k more than the others. I've been told by the roofers that they do not weigh much more than the others so that is not a worry.

Lauren

As source for period appropriate windows that are energy conscious look at Adams Architectural in Eldridge Iowa. www.adamsarch.com
Besides wooden replacements for double hungs, they will also build wooden storms and screens. I have the huge advantage of being only an hour away, but I believe their prices are very reasonable.

True story: Our upstairs was an unfinished attic, (1200 sq ft.) for 78 years before we turned it into three bedrooms, sitting room, laundry and bath. There were double hung windows on three sides, these windows were sitting in exposed frame walls and had NO finish on them whatsoever, just raw wood. Add to that the fact that as the unheated attic there were screens only on the exterior, never storms through typical Iowa winters of snow and ice. The exterior sides of the windows had been painted a grand total of two times. I cleaned them, reputtied the glass then stained and varnished the interior side and painted the exteriors. I challenge any modern window maker to show me their best product that could stand up to 75+ years of complete neglect.

We added a gable on the back of the house during this project and used Adams to make windows that matched the others, the new ones don't have pulleys and weights but are completely made of wood and since I took one window to them exactly match the profile on the muntins. Adams made wooden storms and screens for all eight of our upstairs windows. Here is the new window from the interior side:


And from the exterior:


I will say that as good as they are I would never replace a working original window with a new one. From an energy saving/cost conscious point of view reglazing original windows and replacing aluminum storms with wood will hugely improve the energy efficiency at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Where did I read that the length of time to recoup the cost of replacing windows in terms of energy savings is nearly 100 years?

Repairing old double hung windows or wooden storms and screens can be time intensive but isn't difficult from a skill point of view. I like that fact that when a rope breaks on a window I can replace it. When a vinyl window fails, your only option is to rip the whole thing out and get a new one.

Anyone with old windows needs Working Windows by Terence Meany the best how to I've run across.

This ended up WAY longer than I expected.

Okay, here I am still having lots of angst over my windows. I have been convinced to restore rather than replace my old double hung sahses, as they are ALL stained, very pretty, and varnished windows, so trying to match them with anything else would be really hard. They are somewhat drafty, as to be expected. So I am having my painter starat slowly to replace the sashes, he suggest chain for durability. Now here's the next question. I do have aluminum storms on every window, they appear to work okay, go up and down, fit the frame, etc. But! many of them have the little clips that depress in, then letting the wondow disenage to go up and down, broken off, so I have to use a screwdriver, pliers, anything, to get them to work. I took them out, all the ones I needed to repair, and now can't find anyplace that has these old clips, apparently they are not made anymore, to fix them. So I went and looked at new storms, which , I think, are aluminum, and would cos t me about 2 grand for 8 windows, on top of the money I need to spend to re-hang.

Does anyone know where I can get these old clips, or, should I just get new storm windows, and you are suggesting now wooden ones, which I am not familiar with. Oh ugh, old houses, and in a down market...

thanks-Shari

Shari,
We have another discussion about this subject with some links.

House Restoration and Interior Storm Windows

Lauren

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! Here's hoping I can find a happy medium between energy efficiency, period authenticity and price!