Let’s talk about one of my favorite topics in old homes…..windows (yes it’s true!). You know, those pre-1940s, double-hung, single-pane, wavy glass beauties.
My wife and I purchased a home with all original 1920s windows and when we wanted to make our home more energy efficient the first thing we did was to NOT replace our old windows with new ones & here’s why:
- You can restore & weatherstrip your old windows for a fraction of the cost of installing new windows.
- If you have decent storm windows + restored original windows, your windows will be nearly as efficient as new vinyl windows.
- It’s actually greener to keep your old windows! Much less landfill waste and it saves more net energy.
- Your windows will outlast any new window on the market if restored and maintained properly. You won’t need to replace your windows again in 10-15 years like you would with the cheaper vinyl windows.
- And, if you are trying to create a more energy-efficient home typically the best return on investment will be insulating your walls (most old homes have hardly anything – or nothing – inside their old plaster walls!) and then sealing and properly insulating your attic space. Proper insulation is key and will save you much more on heating and cooling costs vs pouring tens of thousands into all new windows. I would recommend getting an energy audit from Xcel’s Home Energy Squad. They will typically tell you to air seal and insulate your attic (and/or walls) first!
My go-to resource for window restoration is Hayes Window Restoration in Minneapolis. My wife and I have had them out for an estimate, and we will be restoring our main-level windows in the next few years (we opted to do new storms first!). They are an incredible company and do great work. And while we are on the topic of storm windows too, we opted for some very high-quality storms from a local company called Mon-Ray. We were very pleased with their work; the new storms are beautiful.
If you have questions about windows or general old home stuff, send me an email! I’m here to provide any insight that I can PLUS I just love talking about old houses.
PS, if you want to read even more on this topic, check out an in-depth article from the Preservation Foundation of North Carolina.