[MassHistPres] Lead Paint and Historic Windows

[james hadley]

You might benefit from this excerpt from this 2006 aticle by Donovan Rypkema in "Forum:"
 
Over a year ago in Boulder, [Colorado], a homeowner in a local historic
            district applied to paint his window sash and trim, and approval was
            given the same day. Two weeks later, the landmarks commission learned
            that the historic windows had all been removed – a clear violation of the
            local ordinance – and had been replaced with new windows. This was done by
            a contractor who claims to specialize in "ecologically sound methods"
            and bills himself as "Boulder's greenest contractor."
            The landmarks commission sent a letter directing that the original
            windows be retained and their condition documented. The contractor
            responded saying that the greater energy efficiency of the new windows
            should outweigh the regulations that apply to houses within the historic
            district. A subsequent commission hearing upheld the staff position and
            a city council hearing supported the commission's ruling.

            Here's the next chapter –  a reporter for the local alternative newspaper
            decided to take matters into his own hands. He went to the house, picked
            up the historic windows, took a sledgehammer to them, hauled them to the
            dump, and arranged to have a bulldozer run over them.

The issue arouses passions, for sure.
James W. Hadley AIA
Chair, Orleans Historical Commission 



Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:26:19 -0400
From: tbtpbbarber at gmail.com
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Lead Paint and Historic Windows

On the issue of vinyl replacement window in an historic setting is appalling to me. There is a host of information out there trying to discourage such practices. 
I restore historic window for a living and I can give you a dozen reasons to keep your original windows.
I don't know the dimensions of your windows but for the quoted cost of vinyl replacements I can offer a complete restoration of the original windows for Iess money.
Lead paint is stripped from the sashes and stops. Old glazing is removed. Sashes are repaired with epoxy if needed. New weatherstripping installed. Sashes painted with high quality paint. Newly restored sashes installed and lead paint issue with the windows resolved.  They are also more weathertight.
I strongly encourage you to do some research and don't succumb to commercial pressure.
Once your original window are gone they are gone for good.
Sincerely,
Thomas Barber




Thomas Barber
187 Ocean St.
Lynn, MA  01902


tbtpbbarber at gmail.com


617-784-1201


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