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landmark window questions
2:38 PM 02/06/2012
We are replacing our original windows on langmark building. They are in very bad condition and need to be done. I feel sad to get rid of the old windows and want to make sure we do the right thing. We can do a brick to brick or replacement winndows. The brick to brick sound like the best option but I worry we will loose detail and the moldings etc will not be recreated to the way they were.
Also we do not really know who to go with. We have spoken to 4 companies and are waiting for quotes on price to come in. We are considering bay ridge, windows we are, S and E, and window fix. Any thoughts?I would fladly appreciate any comments or experiences.
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Brooklyn, NY
Brick to brick is the way to go provided that the new windows match the materials and profiles of the windows you are replacing. I have done this successfully on several landmarked properties. The landmarks drawings can be prepared by the vendor, if they offer that service, or by an independent architect like myself. I like Skyline windows in Manhattan. They do the Landmark window replacements for several builings in the Central Park Historic District.
4:17 PM 02/06/2012 | 1 Votes
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Bedford Stuyvesant, NY
Call the Landmarks Conservancy, they can give you a list of vendors. You can also call LPC before your start the work. Also, check LPC's Rowhouse Manual. Good information on replacing windows. Its the Central Park West Historic District, but I know what you meant edkopel.
11:31 AM 02/07/2012 | 1 Votes
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Comments (1)
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Brooklyn, NY
I've yet to see a response on this web site that anyone has had their windows restored. It could be even more expensive than window replacement.
4:36 PM 02/07/2012
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Guest
I worked on a window restoration of one of the Carnegie NYPL's, and we restored the existing wood windows. They were in pretty bad shape. The bottom rails and sills were significantly rotted, and the operating hardware was rusted through. We used an injectable resin compound to stabilize and fill in the pockets of missing wood. The windows were then removed, scraped and painted in a shop, then re-installed with new internal chains and pulleys. It took longer to restore than replace them and it was messier, but not significantly more expensive.
5:45 PM 02/07/2012 | 0 Votes
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If we were able to restore would they be as efficient? Who could I contact for restoration as I have many references for window replacement but do not really know where to look for restoring them. About the glass. The parlor window has a bullet hole in it. Not sure what i would do with that.
8:39 PM 02/07/2012 | 0 Votes
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I looked into restoring our original single glazed weight & chain windows and found somebody on this sight who actually encouraged restoration over replacement. After discussing in great detail why I should and could do restoration with the old single glazed windows (along with a storm window since they are single glazed) it was clear that he seemed passionate and detail oriented to do such a job. For months I waited for him to come and give me a quote "when he was finished with current workload" and eventually he just backed out w/o even showing up to quote. From there I tried another reputable restorer and the cost to restore would have exceeded a quality replacement job. Very difficult to find someone who will do that well (depended on how old the windows are) w/o charging quite a lot. You have to keep in mind, old single glazed windows will not perform well like modern windows unless coupled with a storm window (you may already have one) In the end I decided to replace and get Marvin brick to brick for our landmark windows. I hired a contractor that seems very detail oriented and focused on insulating the window pocket well after emoving the old windows. We will be getting our first phase installed in a few weeks. After all the research I did on both options, I feel new is the way to go for operation & effiency.
10:10 AM 02/08/2012 | 1 Votes
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Prospect Heights, NY
I agree with xistent. In a perfect world, restoring the original windows sounds great. I guess I'd consider it if I lived in San Francisco or London where the weather is so temperate. But single glazed, weights and chains window will never be as efficient as new double glazed, gasketed windows. Also, many people (like us) are replacing ugly aluminum windows that have reached the end of their (short) life span. Our new windows allow much less heat transference than the aluminum ones and are fantastically draft proof. FWIW, I've heard that Kolbe is as good as Marvin and significantly less expensive -- they're less well known because they advertize less.
6:10 PM 02/08/2012 | 1 Votes
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