I just completed a project doing some restoration work on beautiful old home in our area. The building has been designated a historical landmark, so some of the work was a lot different than what I am used to doing. The idea of all the work was to keep it true to original architecture to the greatest extent possible. You do not realize how much some of the things that have changed until you try a project like this.
The most interesting part of the entire job was getting the windows turned into something reasonably efficient without completely changing the character of the home by taking out these huge beautiful windows and replacing them with the more cost effective and energy efficient custom vinyl windows. These windows all had something I had nearly forgotten existed anymore – window weights. For those of you not familiar, it is a weighted rope and pulley system made so that larger heavy windows can be opened easily by hand and stay opened and shut by way of having weights the same weight as the window to counter balance the window thus holding it in the correct position.
While finding window weights was still manageable by searching around antique stores and old places for the nose round original weights, many of the window ropes and pulleys needed to repair the original sash style windows needed to be replaced. Taking apart the windows and doing this was a throwback to many years ago. It is hard to imagine the amount of thought and engineering that went into designing this style of window.
While I am very happy with my more modern triple pane glasa windows and vinyl, I must say there was a touch of nostalgia in repairing the intricate engineering marvel of the old sash windows. While I cannot argue the old windows were better in any way, they certainly were interesting and I appreciated the chance to work on them. It was in some ways nice to know a few buildings are being preserved with that type of construction intact on them.
9 comments so far
dbray45
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157 posts in 2279 days
posted 11-10-2014 07:07 PM
I am very familiar with the weighted sashes. They we simple, the windows could be disassembled and repaired, life was simpler in those days.
-- Love woodworking and fixing most anything
MelBrandle
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24 posts in 2040 days
posted 12-12-2014 03:27 AM
Wow I can’t imagine the amount of work that needs to go into sourcing for materials and thinks to keep the building as authentic as possible. Hopefully the stuff isn’t too deeply buried in storage rooms of your suppliers for you to finish the job!
-- Mel Brandle, https://www.supereasystorage.com.au/locations/adelaide/
AbbyWhite
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1 post in 1874 days
posted 05-27-2015 08:00 AM
Great idea. I love some old fashion style vinyl windows as well as designing the whole house like this. Looking forward to do something like that with my villa when my husband has the time for it. Furthermore, combining modern triple pane glass windows in such style is really touching.
rheajonesy
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5 posts in 1453 days
posted 08-10-2016 11:35 AM
The house sounds delightful. It is fascinating to hear how you managed to keep the house’s charm while tweaking it just a little. Client bookkeeping solutions. And the windows, I didn’t even know they existed.
arianapham
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33 posts in 429 days
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ati
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ati
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ati
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94 posts in 16 days
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