Is Restoration Right for Your Old Windows?
In many older homes windows were custom made of hardwoods. Hardwoods such as oak, redwood, and maple are all woods which, with proper care, can last hundreds of years. However, as the years go by older windows can become hard to open, rattle and drafty. The easy solution may be to replace the windows with new insulated windows. Expect to pay an average of $500-$1,000 per window for replacements placed inside existing and structurally intact window frames. Vinyl is less expensive, wood more expensive. Double and triple-glazed windows, or those filled with argon gas, increase energy savings but bump the cost to the higher end of the scale.
Affordable vinyl windows come in standard sizes which may mean losing window size in order to fit today’s standard sizes. With the less expensive vinyl windows, the vinyl may last a lifetime but chances are that the insulated gas component will not. This means ~ 20 years latter you will be replacing the windows again.
However, replacement windows are not your only choice. Consider taking the green approach — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Older windows can be restored by simply refinishing the paint and replacing or repairing the pulley system which can make your window work like new.
Your old windows efficiency can be increased to achieve similar energy ratings to new insulated windows by installing an energy efficient storm window and proper weather stripping . Check out the Energy Miser Storm Window by The Burch Company.
http://www.burchcompany.com/.