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Needs_o2
| | Posted on Sunday, October 17, 2010 - 07:29 pm: | 
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Court,
At some point you'll get so many opinions on this that it may actually make it harder for you, but I had to chime in since I've been swinging a hammer with my dad from the age of 8. I've been working in the construction and glazing fields from 19 on, and have built 2 new homes with our own blood and sweat that both have Anderson double hungs and sliding patio doors. They are spectacular, especially from an engineering standpoint. They have great joinery, quality control, and weather stripping. Their weather stripping is extremely soft, flexible, durable, and well thought out. We live just across the street from the first house we built, and the exterior of the windows on that house (built 13 years ago) look great. We live at 9000' and the sun exposure up here is intense as well as 300+ days of it. So, I think you know where I stand, but maybe more importantly is where you buy them. I've yet to hear of any good experiences when people go thru big box stores for contracted work! Good luck on your project and have a nice warm winter. |
Niceguyeddy
| | Posted on Sunday, October 17, 2010 - 08:05 pm: |
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To answer the double hung question...very handy if you have small children. Open the tops for circulation; ever hear about a kid falling through the top end of a window?
Edit: I did have to make my own stools for the standard Andersen Windows to match the original style, I did not with Renewal.
(Message edited by niceguyeddy on October 17, 2010) |
Bluzm2
| | Posted on Monday, October 18, 2010 - 11:52 pm: |
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Anderson's are good windows. I put them in my old house.
Plus, they are made right her in good old Minnesota! Bayport to be exact.
Court, those windows are GREAT!
It would really be a shame to not include them in the new windows. Not cheap though.. |
Ourdee
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - 11:25 am: |
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Court,
Now you have clarified for me why it is going to cost so much. 100+ year old stained glass is priceless to me. If you have peace of mind with the contractor's handling of the preservation of the stained glass and the cost is not breaking your budget, I say go for it.
I got my wife into doing stained glass so that I could learn it and have the tools available. My last house had a rear door with stained glass panels that the original owner's wife had made. When I put new doors on the house I saved the glass panels out of the old door. I used to hang out with the lady that made the windows and help her with some of her outdoor projects as she lived next door to the house till she passed. I will put them in a rear door on one of my houses at a future date. I get a lot of pleasure out of working on stained glass projects with my wife.
The church building where I attend was purchased from another denomination and was built about 1880. It has huge stained glass windows that are insured for a million. They are done in the same manner as your windows. The bigger the window the looser the panes get over time. Your windows are wonderful. Protect them. |
Fahren
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - 08:51 pm: |
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Court, my .2 worth - another architect's opinion: Marvins are excellent, as are Kolbe and Loewen and the higher end Andersens (everyone makes lower end units/product lines, like Integrity by Marvin, 200 series by Andersen, etc). The 366 glass will give you extra protection against UV fading of interior fabrics, furniture, etc. It's an extra step above regular Low-E argon-filled units, but if sun fade is a concern, it's worth it.
All those companies also make sash replacement kits that go into your old openings, without ripping out interior or exterior trim. Depends how far you want to go with things, really.
Now, here is my take as an historic architect and preservationist:
Old windows can often be restored for far less than replacing. For a house with character, the new windows will look nothing like the old. Is there "wavy" glass in the old sashes, like the porch ones? You can get "restoration glass" in new, but another upcharge there. Especially for those porch windows (wavy) and the stained glass, I would consider restoration and then opting for an interior "energy panel" winter storm, or an exterior storm panel - there are some that are approved by historic districts, so as you can imagine, they are pretty innocuous.
Look at what you are going to spend for window upgrades, vs. cost of restoration with some other energy saving work, and compare that to what you think your energy savings would be over a reasonable period. Factor in the character appeal of the original windows, and make a decision.
Contractors can be divided into 2 types: those who do new construction and those who work on existing structures. Of the latter, there are those who can sympathize with old houses and who like to preserve and restore, and those who lean toward window replacement, new siding and trims, etc. I prefer to work with builders who love the craft of an old house and who know how to deal wit hold details to preserve them, and thus preserve the house's character. Some people will value the new, energy efficient window over an old house with true character, others will opt for the real deal every time - depends on the market in your area.
Those windows have been there for 100 years now, and could be for another 100 if cared for properly. No one will ever say that about a new Andersen or Marvin, and once the old are replaced, they are gone forever.
Not like I'm biased or anything 
I also pass through NYC regularly, and would be happy to visit and check out the house face-to-face. |
Bluzm2
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - 11:14 pm: |
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Fahren
That is the best advice of all... |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 09:03 am: |
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>>>That is the best advice of all...
My wife agrees as well. I **think** I know what I want but I'm not sure I am communicating it properly to the window folks or the Architect.
If you are passing through NYC we'd love to have to take a look at the place and get your thoughts.
We've got a "big plan" for the next year that includes all the windows, a complete kitchen replacement, an addition to the house with a balcony/room overlooking Manhattan, new floors, replacing porches and so forth. We're ready to go and have done the roof, gutters, down spouts and are getting the required survey for the Historical Preservation District next week.
There are some fabulous homes in this area and my wife redid this house when she bought it years ago. It's time to freshen it up but we want to keep the character. It was built in 1908 and has fabulous character in addition to a bit of a story. |
Lemonchili_x1
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 09:50 am: |
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Renovating huh? You know, I'm pretty handy with a paintbrush, I can lug stuff upstairs, lug stuff downstairs... I don't eat much or take up much space... just sayin'... |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 11:28 am: |
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>>>Old windows can often be restored for far less than replacing
I think that Sash Replacement Kit is perhaps what I am looking for. Everything in these windows is in sound condition except the sashes and glass. I see no need to tear out the existing woodwork. All we are wanting to do is to:
- Make the windows fully operational
- Improve the thermal qualities of the glass
There is some work that will need to be done on the outside to spruce the looks up as well. Someone, at one time, put some cheesy looking storm windows on that need to go.
We're also wanting to retain the historical character of the house.
One of the things that really appeals to me for those porch windows are the Andersen Art Glass series.
It would be cool to replace something like these:
With something like this . . .
This is what I have been quoted:
I **think** this is much more than I am wanting.
ALL I **think** I want to do is simply remove a stationary panel with the windows in it, have an identical one built with thermal glass and replace it. I don't need it to open, no mechanisms, no trim or anything . . . . "I think". |
Kim_g
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 11:28 am: |
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A story? |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 12:12 pm: |
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>>>>A story?
Oh yeahhhhhhh . . . the house made the entire front page of the local paper in 1966 when CBS aired a show "Eye on New York" which featured a story about the house.
I'd tell ya . . . but . . well . . .
 |
Kim_g
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 12:17 pm: |
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Very cool! Have you been able to get your hands on a copy of the paper and the show? Thanks for sharing. |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 12:22 pm: |
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Yep . . . . part of the reason we don't want to do a major renovation and convert it to a "modern" looking place . . |
Fung
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 07:23 pm: |
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we do alot of these. They are nice.
http://www.marvin.com/?page=Tilt_Pac_Double_Hung |
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