[MassHistPres] replacement windows

[jade at heartwoodrestoration.com]

I would like to nominate ELIZABETH WARE as WINDOW RESTORATION  
SPOKESPERSON of 2018!!

jade Mortimer
heartwood window restoration
po box 114   1605 Mohawk trail
charlemont, ma  01339
413-625-8680

Quoting Elizabeth Ware <eware at dracutma.gov>:

> I am very confused about window replacement policies and am equally  
> as distressed as Dennis about historic communities wanting to allow  
> replacement windows.
>
> I am presently grappling with this issue on a municipal building (a  
> 1900  former four room schoolhouse, with original chalkboards still  
> on the walls!), which is to be sold to a non-profit to convert to  
> affordable housing.  A $200k  grant of CPA funds from the Dracut CPC  
> is being used to rehabilitate the exterior to Secretary of the  
> Interior’s Standards with a preservation restriction on the  
> exterior.  The windows are in good condition but do have lead paint.
>
> Will replacement windows be allowed?  Since there is this debate, I  
> contacted MHC about the window issue.  A long time staff person at  
> MHC stated that unless the windows are non-functioning and in  
> extremely poor condition, the existing windows should be restored  
> and reused.  Only in extreme instances where the windows cannot be  
> restored, should replacement windows be used and ONLY IF they are  
> exact duplicates of the original window.  We know that the “original  
> window” is likely not original to the building but certainly older  
> and with more character than a new replacement window.  Most  
> recently MHC allowed a group to have new single pane windows made to  
> replace existing and poorly deteriorated windows on a farm building.  
>  In this instance, the new windows apparently are being fabricated  
> to the exact measurements and mullion characteristics of the  
> existing windows.
>
> Based on MHC stance, I see no replacement windows in the Dracut  
> School house rehabilitation project.
>
> On a more personal note, I live in a Victorian Italianate house in  
> Newburyport. The house was in poor condition when I bought it but  
> the “bones” were there.  Windows were original and  in good  
> condition, with some windows having some broken glass and painted  
> OPEN! Over time I’ve reglazed the offending windows and replaced the  
> old aluminum storm windows with a better storm (from Harvey  
> Industries).  The storm doors were in poor condition and were  
> replaced with custom storm doors.  I could add an interior storm to  
> the windows but after making these baseline improvements, the energy  
> efficiency of my house was greatly improved for a house that has  
> such a great volume.
>
> As an aside, it was not uncommon to have window sales people call to  
> solicit for new windows for my house.  When I explained the type of  
> house and the fact that the windows were 42 inches by 96 inches on  
> the first floor and 42 inches and 84 inches on the second floor, the  
> salesman usually hung up!  If I had the opportunity to speak fully  
> with the salesperson, I would say that repaired original single pane  
> windows with true divided lights and a good storm window are an  
> extremely efficient combination in attaining energy efficiency.
>
> Today I went by a former school building in Beverly, MA. where the  
> windows were replaced in concert with the building being converted  
> to residential condos.  The windows look awful- they are not true  
> divided light and just strips of something to mock window mullions.   
>  It changed the entire look of this 1920s former school.
>
> On a final note, I believe that we should all be following MHC’s  
> stance that if the windows are restorable, they should be reglazed  
> and reused, either with a good exterior or interior storm. (My  
> preference is exterior storms to protect the single pane windows.)   
> The look and feel of the property are retained, as well as close to   
> the original fabric of the building as possible.
>
> My two cents,
>
> Betsy Ware
>
> Director of Community Development
> Town of Dracut, MA.
> Telephone: 978-453-4557
>
> From: MassHistPres [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On  
> Behalf Of heartwood
> Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 7:55 PM
> To: Garrett Laws <copperandslate at gmail.com>; Nancy Dole  
> <nlouisedole at gmail.com>
> Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] replacement windows
>
> I am in agreement with the feedback that has been offered thus far...
> we in the window restoration trade have our work cut out for us as we
> are not equipped with deep pockets for marketing our superior product
> and counter the hyperbole of the window replacement salesman...
>
> at one ‘historic’ trade show years ago, pella windows was set up next to
> my booth...they had a full sized sample window on one side of their area
> and a sign that stated ‘you will never see finger jointed wood in  
> our product’ on
> the other...and there it was, clear as a knot, a finger jointed  
> frame clad with polyvinyl
> chloride (vinyl)!  sure, once the window was installed the homeowner couldn’t
> ‘see’ the finger jointed wood but it was there...we’ve all seen the  
> foggy double pane
> glass in newer windows, where wonderful old wood windows once graced the
> building not 25 years prior...
>
> windows are such an essential character of an old home...they exist  
> for generations
> with grace and utility...keep your business local and hire a  
> craftsperson who can make
> your windows energy efficient and ready for another century of use  
> with not so regular
> maintenance...
>
> nancy, I understand this can be a challenging position for historic  
> commissions when a
> homeowner has drunk the replacement kool-aid...we need to continue  
> educating folks
> about the long term costs of replacement windows...
>
> https://www.forthepeople.com/class-action-lawyers/pella-windows-lawsuit/
> https://www.bobvila.com/posts/21056-rotting-mw-windows?page=1
> https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2010/03/22/daily46.html
>
> jade mortimer
> heartwood window restoration
> po box 114 1605 mohawk trail
> charlemont, ma 01339
> 413-625-8680
>
> From: Garrett Laws<mailto:copperandslate at gmail.com>
> Sent: Friday, March 16, 2018 5:57 PM
> To: Nancy Dole<mailto:nlouisedole at gmail.com>
> Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] replacement windows
>
> Nancy,
>
> This is an age old problem and I’d say a large issue (not always  
> addressed) is that manufacturers regularly change their model  
> numbers etc. The other pressing issue is that there’s a larger lobby  
> for the replacement window industry than the rebuild and add storms...
>
> If the windows are built from old growth lumber, the house will  
> never get that back again.
>
> Distributing a “list” of approved manufacturers is essentially  
> rubber stamping the potential removal of all historic windows in the  
> town, I’d be very careful with that approach.
>
> Garrett Laws
> Copper & Slate Co
> Waltham, ma
>
> On Thursday, March 15, 2018, Nancy Dole  
> <nlouisedole at gmail.com<mailto:nlouisedole at gmail.com>> wrote:
> We need to provide owners with a list of replacement windows that we  
> would consider suitable.
>
> Plymouth HDC has a list, which I have. They have a list of  
> acceptable windows for properties they feel have great historic  
> significance, and another list for properties that they think do not  
> have historic significance.
>
> Could anyone forward me a list if your district has one, or tell me  
> what you have approved?
>
> People in our district are more and more often requesting permission  
> to replace existing wooden windows with aluminum clad or vinyl  
> windows that are energy efficient. We are deciding as they come to  
> us on a case by case basis, and its difficult for everyone involved.  
> The applicant has no idea what we will accept, our only guideline is  
> we prefer wooden windows and repairing existing windows. But that is  
> not what  need to know, since for the most part they want to switch  
> to modern materials etc. they do not want the wood windows.
>
> Other owners are not aware we might ok alum clad etc, and so they  
> don't apply for them. We need to address this in a responsible way.
>
> Thanks,
> Nancy Dole
> WTHDC
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Cheers,
> Garrett Laws
>
> The Copper & Slate Company, Inc.
> Fine Roofing and Exterior Finish Carpentry
> 238 Calvary Street,
> Waltham, MA 02453
> Office: (781) 893-1916
> LEAD FREE SINCE 2008
>
> Work we do:
>
> https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP25cjZU2PWmMSCvOwtzV-eNvpIKsod3KMlgk-lQjkxQX0vvAtOaHR-cPAJhjBJIA?key=X1ZWZENYQV9XdHlydjZwZWZYdlZnVEVTSkdmQk5B
>
> https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNIUYHEIsrRiwNl4Qyoi1ClcAix-J_fcjxkUBoNdC2JLVesjq--Apn8RfkLoH2TPA?key=cXNLN2tRbDJDYVhCeGd0UmxDS01ZdlplSUhIdHhR
> https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOvDwOwOK9RTEX0AH18Y4--r3jmEP23luuSsboZQTay1hWl2DYvkPlXirhc6uOryg?key=X3BXeDVuY3hXaVZvLUE0YkxDTjhBc0s0VjhFZzhB
>
> Where we've worked over the years:
> http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=206210316541901083869.00049065ef8543e1ef9c3&ll=42.40115,-71.126862&spn=0.125241,0.289421&t=h&z=12
>
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