Which Windows Work Best For Older, Historic Homes?
Should You Replace the Windows on Your Older Home
Depending on the age of your historic, old house it may be time to have the windows replaced. Older homes, and historic homes alike often have original windows, which are likely broken, malfunctioning, drafty, and not energy efficient. Simply by looking at your windows, you should be able to see visible signs that they could be replaced. Check for gaps in the seal, cracks, leaking, moisture buildup, frame warping, and any other noticeable sign of wear.
Having a professional come and inspect your windows will give you a clearer answer as to whether it’s time to think about replacement windows. If you know the windows in your historic building are over two decades old we would recommend having them replaced. New, strong windows increase curb appeal, and property value, and make homes safer. Don’t hesitate to contact McCloud Windows to learn more about options for replacing the windows in your historic property.
Requirements & Guidelines for Windows in Historic Homes
If you own a historic home, you’re most likely familiar with any guidelines your historic district may have, if any. The first step in navigating your historic house’s window replacement is learning what guidelines you must abide by. This may include things like requiring wood windows, maintaining authentic styles, or possibly even requiring you to repair older windows that have been in the house for decades. Some guidelines won’t allow modern materials, and require replacement windows to maintain the older historic design. Regardless of what the historical requirements are, you will have options to maintain the authentic styling of your historic house with new windows. Once you know what guidelines you must follow you can begin making decisions based on what is available.
Increasing Energy Efficiency in an Old House
One problem owners of historic homes often face is poor energy efficiency. An older home is likely to have worn, wood windows, which likely aren’t sealed very well. Homes that have not been updated may have old doors and little to no insulation behind each wall. A historic window like this can cause major drafts and have a noticeable impact on temperature and climate control. Older historic homes likely have old windows made of wood, but there are options for replacement windows that maintain the original styles but have frames made of vinyl or other more energy efficient.
In situations where homeowners of historic houses are able to update the windows, choosing something more energy efficient can save them money, and create a more comfortable indoor environment. Depending on the options available to you, you may be able to have energy-efficient vinyl windows replace the older, historic windows.
Benefits of Vinyl Windows for an Old Home
Vinyl windows are a great option for older homes where owners want to maintain a classic, historic style. Many historic properties were built after vinyl windows became popularized, and because of this wood windows were installed originally. There are some great bonuses to having wood windows, however, there are modern alternatives that have many more benefits. Having vinyl replacement windows installed in your historic home will require less maintenance from you. Vinyl replacement windows are considered one of the more durable materials and are much less likely to get damaged by natural elements.
A historic home won’t require frequent paint jobs with vinyl windows. Vinyl windows are one of the more energy-efficient options, which is a great bonus for older homes. Because vinyl windows are made of a synthetic material they are not susceptible to moisture buildup, pests, or typical natural erosion that you would find with wood frames. There are options to make vinyl windows look more classic, so don’t feel like you’re stuck with an outdated material as the only option for your historic home.
Are Wood Windows Necessary for a Historic Home
Part of what classifies homes as historic are their original or restored styles. From original doors to classic-looking window frames, historic properties remain authentic to their origin. While vinyl windows have been around for over seven decades, many older homes were built with wood windows. A window replacement can be done with wood window frames to maintain this classic, historic look. Wood windows are classic, and timeless, and will be considered the most authentic choice. There are, however, downsides to using wood as the replacement material. Wood isn’t considered the most durable option for a window replacement when compared to many modern materials. Wood can require more maintenance, like more regular painting, and may need to be resealed more frequently. Without regular upkeep, wood windows can become gradually less efficient over time as they may retain moisture, rot, and swell up. Because of this these windows are likely to be more difficult to open over time, and can even get stuck. There are other options that will allow you to maintain the same style, like vinyl-wood hybrid windows.
Choosing Replacement Window Materials
The material is one of the first things you decide when replacing windows in your historic home. Choosing the material will impact the visual look, durability, care and maintenance, lifespan, and price point.
Composite
Composite windows are made by combining thermoplastic materials with wood fibers. Composite windows will look closer to wood than other synthetic-based windows, and won’t require as much maintenance as a wood window. If you’re looking for a window other than wood or vinyl for your historic home, composite is a good alternative.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is one of the more expensive options for window frames. They are extremely durable, even more so than vinyl windows, and require very low maintenance efforts. Fiberglass windows have a very modern look to them making them one of the less popular options for historic homes.
Aluminum
Aluminum is one of the less popular options for historic homes. They are low maintenance, and extremely durable, but they have a distinct look to them. Because they are metal they also retain a lot of heat.
Vinyl
Vinyl windows are largely considered one of the best options for replacing windows in historic homes. These windows have great durability, are easy to maintain, can be extremely energy efficient, and are stylistically versatile.
Wood
As mentioned above, wood is a very popular option for historic properties. Wood is a classic, timeless material that is still used to this day despite high quality, and more efficient alternatives being available. If you want to keep the fully authentic style of your historic house, wood is a good option. However, consider updating your old home with a more modern window material, like vinyl, that can mimic a classic visual style.
Window Options to Maintain the Historic Design
Comparing the benefits between different window materials makes it obvious that vinyl is better nearly across the board. They will be more durable, and energy-efficient, retain functionality longer, and will require less maintenance than wooden windows. You don’t have to completely sacrifice the historic aesthetic simply because you’re choosing a more modern material. Vinyl windows can be designed to have a wood frame on the outside, and a vinyl frame on the inside in order to provide both the authentic classic style, as well as the added benefits from having vinyl windows.
You can also color-match vinyl to the existing windows to make the transition as smooth as possible, making sure they blend in with the historic design and don’t feel out of place. Speak with one of our window experts to learn more about the different options you can choose from to upgrade your old home without losing the historic style.