What I Do

Do your windows have years of caked on paint? 

Historic Window Rescue will come to the rescue.

 
A mechanical makeover consists of: 

• Removing interior window stops
• Removing lower and upper sash from frame
• Removing parting bead and replacing it if necessary
• Opening pocket door to access weights or cut a new door if one was not originally constructed
• Removing all weights and replacing their ropes
• Squaring up sashes and making them function smoothly
• Lubricating pulleys to eliminate that annoying squeek.

Does your window frame look like termites have had their fill? I will rescue that frame for you. 

A frame restoration consists of:

• Scraping all pre-modern paint using lead safe practices and containment 
• Repairing rotting areas
• Replacing sections with high quality wood if necessary
• Sanding frame to prepare for primer 
• Priming frame with oil-based primer
• Sanding primed wood to prepare for new paint
• Painting frame in the color of your choice

Does your exterior window glazing putty fall out when you touch it? Does your sash show evidence of a termite party? Is your window sash beyond repair?  

A full sash restoration consists of:

• Scraping off most paint using lead safe practices and containment
• Removing old glazing putty and glass from sash
• Heating and removing paint from profiles 
• Repairing all rotted areas 
• If needed, I can create a replica of your existing sash pieces
• Sanding sash
• Priming sash using oil-based primer
• Reinserting glass and glazing with traditional linseed oil-based glazing putty
• Sanding primed wood to prepare for new paint
• Painting sash in the color of your choice
• Removing paint from existing locks and lifts
• Note: Paint should slightly overlap the glazing putty and adhere to the glass. This protects  against water intrusion. 

Are you handy but just clueless about old windows?

If you want to save your windows but cost is an issue, I can restore one window while you follow along on another.  After you learn, you can restore the rest of your windows on your own.  I will always be a phone call away if you run into problems and need advice. 

I will show you the tools that you need and the proper materials to use.  Many of these tools or traditional materials are not available at the big box stores.  My goal is to have you learn which materials to use that will prolong the lifetime of your windows.  I believe that spending a little bit more on high quality materials now will save you money in the long run because you will not need to repeat this process again in a few years.  Whoever is working on your window in the distant future will thank you for your consideration today.  

I want you to have the opportunity to save your windows rather than believing the myth that they need to be replaced with new "maintenance free" windows. By the way, those windows are maintenance free because you can't maintain them.  They are disposable. Once they fail, they are headed to the dump.