How to Restore Antique Windows | This Old House

Kevin O'Connor watches a master carpenter starting the process of restoring the original windows.

 

At the Charleston project, all thirty-six of the original double hung windows need to be restored. Kevin O'Connor watches as Master Carpenter Jared Lee begins the slow process by removing the bad glazing and broken glass.

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How to Restore Antique Windows | This Old House

[bgymr]

I've kept my original single pane windows, and they are really wavy. It definetly adds flavor to the house. Living in PA the first year in our house our heating bills were outrageous. And we couldn't get warm no matter how high the heat was. When the wind blew, it would move our hair while sitting on the couch. It's a feature of these old windows :)

Through some research, I found a solution. They call them indoor storm windows. Essentially make a wooden frame to fit the inside of your whole window. Put a clear plastic around it that shrinks, it's sold at stores as a "window insulation kit". That then shirnks onto the frame, and you wrap the frame in some weather stripping so it fits into the frame of the window. In essence, it becomes a tripple pane window. Works amazing.

[davidnord]

one problem with his window repair... you need to brush the muttons with linseed oil.because if you dont the wood sucks out all the oils in the putty and it will all fall out within a year.. been there done it...theres your tip from a 40 year painter...

[elizabethetienne]

What is the name of the U.V Window film?

[sportster]

He didn’t bed the glass first. A bead of putty before you put the glass in acts as a seal and prevents the glass from cracking.

[VERAMusic]

3:41 "The most we can do under this, is pretty restrictive situaDADA DADA DADA

[michaelmase]

So many things wrong here:

1 - When you take the time to restore a window, do the entire thing.
2 - The sash should've been oiled or primed before glazing
3 - The glass should've been back bedded with glazing
4 - Don't use DAP 33, it's horrible

[Cal-jammer]

What a couple of Rookie’s. Who installs glass without bedding it first? And on top of everything else he’s using DAP!

[shannataylor]

We have 500 panes and are reglazing now. The French windows have a 1/4 round trim on the exterior side of the French window. It has a groove cut out on the under side. Many are broken. When I replace them how do I buy regular trim and adapt or is there a product for this?

[samsngdevice]

ic you use a propane torch on the putty it releases like magic.

[oskarbjornstad]

The guy with the hair is like a used car salesman

[Anonymous-itjw]

Using a Fiskars Paper Trimmer is very helpful in cutting the film, and getting straight lines and square corners. You can cut the film pieces very slightly oversized for windows that are not perfect rectangles, and then trim them in place with a razor-edge craft or utility knife, such as made by X-Acto, Fiskars and Offa, or a regular, very sharp utility knife, such as those like the Gerber, which use a single-edge razor blade for fine cutting. The Fiskars trimmers are lightweight, portable, usually come with an extra double edged cutter, and are available online from the usual sources, or from art supply stores, craft stores like Hobby Lobby, or suppliers to those who make scrapbooks. I have several models and have cut window film with them, as well as trimming hundreds of photographs, particularly when framing them.

[charmberry]

What are the wood things called that separate each square??

[ptbfrch]

Where's the restoration piece? I just see some glazing. *confused*

[elizabethetienne]

Does anyone know a video that shows us how to make a vintage-looking/reproduction window (with muttons on inside and out) for a very old home with many missing vintage windows?

[gwmkiwi]

I have never seen anyone install a new glass pane that way

[Brian-Burke]

How would they be able to keep any of the old glazing and why would they? It's rock hard and brittle. What am I missing?

[agb]

I agree with Kurt. This was a disgrace. Just enough info to be damaging without the tips and tricks to make it a success. How about bedding the glass in glazing? What about the glazier points being a hazard when removing the glazing (good way to crack the glass if you don’t locate them). Eesh- not even sure the point of sanding the top of the muntins or, really the point of this video. Restoring old windows is an art and a process - neither of which were adequately addressed by this video IMO.

[redbank]

Sorry guy’s but that is the worst attempt at restoring old windows I’ve ever seen. I’m an amateur, but I can get glass out of a frame without breaking it. He should’ve put some putty (that’s what I still call it) on the frame before installing the glass. It holds the glass far better.

[degenwow]

I love this series where the guy steals the whole Old House show.

[ForeverMan]

2:20 that doesn't look right, too much of that white thingy that I dont know the name of