[MassHistPres] Cost-Conscious Historical Renovations?

[jade]

as a founding member of the new england window restoration alliance, i would like to make you aware that we are ready, willing and able to attend historic commission meetings to educate the board, homeowners and building managers about the benefits of window restoration over replacement...we offer these 1-2 hours sessions at no cost, though we do ask to be reimbursed for travel or overnight accomodations  when applicable...

we are a very dedicated and personable bunch and share our knowledge and experience in an easy to understand show-and-tell format...

please visit our (very modest) website www.windowrestorationne.org ...feel free to download our 'ten top reasons' (created by alison hardy of window woman of new england) and make copies (....you may also contact any member to retrieve old wood sash  as we harvest and reuse the old glass...i also suggest to homeowners who choose to replace their old windows to store the windows in an attic or barn for future generations to re-install.....

it's always sad to hear about homeowners who buy into the marketing of vinyl window lobbyists...restoration is a tedious time consuming effort  and hence a financial investment but, with proper maintence, old growth wood windows will last another 100 years...my pricing is often much lower than some of the well known window manufacturers.

after receiving a postcard from nstar about rebates for new windows, i contacted them to see what kind of rebate they offered folks who choose to restore and add a storm...after numerous transfers and new phone numbers, i fell into a void......

http://coloradoenergy.org/procorner/stuff/r-values.htm
http://www.acereport.org/pvc2.html
http://forums.kitchensolutions.ca/showthread.php?t=186
http://www.kilianhardware.com/sprinbronwea.html
www.newenglandstorms.com
www.spencerworks.com

time to get back into the shop...

jade mortimer
heartwood building & restoration
hawley, ma


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Wendy Bawabe 
  To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu 
  Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 9:47 AM
  Subject: [MassHistPres] Cost-Conscious Historical Renovations?


  As a member of the Norwell Historical Commission, I'm frustrated that our town has NO local historical districts to oversee and regulate renovations of historic homes.  We are working on creating local historic districts, but in the meantime I need to find contractors/consultants who can suggest cost-effective options for historical renovations.

  An antique home owner in the center of our town recently told me that she is replacing all 33 of her (antique, wavy-glass) windows with vinyl windows!  She said that she couldn't afford to replace with wood windows (cost = $70K, she said), her current windows are lead painted, and her heating bills were astronomical.  Unfortunately it's too late for me to make suggestions to THIS homeowner (the work begins in 2 days), but in the future I'd like to be able to suggest alternatives.

  Does anyone know of an historical consulting/contracting firm that advises homeowners in cost-effective (but historically correct) renovations?  It seems like all the historically-minded contractors are very expensive.  Are historic homes only for rich people or can the Average Jane renovate within a budget?

  I'd love suggestions,

  Wendy Bawabe
  Norwell Historical Commission


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