Replace vs. Restore: The Great Window Debate
Deciding what to do with windows in disrepair isn't easy. This insight on the pros and cons of window replacement or restoration can help
In general, it’s preferable to retain old windows and fix them up for energy efficiency — it prevents material from entering landfills, can save money and preserves a certain charm that new windows may not have. But there are cons too.
Pros: On the House in Progress blog, homeowner Aaron (a pseudonym) does a cost-benefit analysis of replacing versus restoring his windows. He calculates that replacing his windows would have cost him $16,000, and he would recoup his investment in energy savings after 30 years. Restoring his windows cost him about $8,800, and he will recoup his investment in energy savings in 16 years.
Cons: But the hidden costs are time and energy. If Aaron had paid someone to restore his windows, it may have cost more than it would have cost to replace them.
Which window is right for you? Read on and weigh the two sides to see if salvaged or new windows are the best choice for your home.
Make old windows new again with the right window treatments
Pros: On the House in Progress blog, homeowner Aaron (a pseudonym) does a cost-benefit analysis of replacing versus restoring his windows. He calculates that replacing his windows would have cost him $16,000, and he would recoup his investment in energy savings after 30 years. Restoring his windows cost him about $8,800, and he will recoup his investment in energy savings in 16 years.
Cons: But the hidden costs are time and energy. If Aaron had paid someone to restore his windows, it may have cost more than it would have cost to replace them.
Which window is right for you? Read on and weigh the two sides to see if salvaged or new windows are the best choice for your home.
Make old windows new again with the right window treatments
Jared Edwards of Smith Edwards Architects told a reporter for The New York Times that there were only two reasons to replace windows: for more light or to eliminate window maintenance.
Window cleaners make spring cleaning easier
Window cleaners make spring cleaning easier
Rotted frames, deteriorated sashes and leaking air can generally be fixed in window restoration — even a rotting window isn't necessarily too far gone for restoration.
But sometimes a house's windows are really beyond repair, especially if restoring them wouldn't preserve any sort of historic element to the building. If your windows are 30 years old (or younger), restoring them won't make much sense, aesthetically or historically.
Photo by tuppus via Flickr Creative Commons
Photo by tuppus via Flickr Creative Commons
If your house is in a historic district, like this Brooklyn brownstone, check if you're allowed to replace your windows. Restoring may be your only option.
If you have the option to replace, adding modern windows to a historic home can be a nice way to bring the modern aesthetic in. This bumped-out window was added to a West Philadelphia kitchen by Hanson General Contracting for a more contemporary look and a little extra space.
Request a quote from a local window dealer
Request a quote from a local window dealer
Sometimes new windows can have a historic feel. In this 1907 house, Schwartz and Architecture installed new windows in a fourth-floor dormer expansion yet retained the traditional aesthetic of the house.
Tell us: Are you going to replace or restore your windows, and why?
More:
Energy-Efficient Windows: Understand the Parts
Energy-Efficient Windows: Decipher the Ratings
Update Historic Windows for Charm and Efficiency
Tell us: Are you going to replace or restore your windows, and why?
More:
Energy-Efficient Windows: Understand the Parts
Energy-Efficient Windows: Decipher the Ratings
Update Historic Windows for Charm and Efficiency
The aesthetic pleasure gained from restoring — and even salvaging — windows is a clear reason for using old windows.