Should I fix my original windows or replace them?

Question

I have the original windows in a 1934 Foursquare. The need some tlc but have that nice original character. I also have storms on the exterior. I have a total of 22 very large windows.

Is it cost effective to replace them or just fix them up?

I do live in New England but I am looking at approximately 10k to replace and that is the low end.

What do you think?

Answer 1

This is always a hard decision. Your old windows have details that would be difficult or costly to replicate, but new windows would have more energy-efficient glazing and weatherstripping.  As the cost of heating goes up, it takes you less time to recoup the cost of new windows in energy savings.

However, if your windows are in good shape there are various steps you can take to make them more energy efficient. Often it's more cost-effective to upgrade windows than to replace them. Another advantage is that upgrading windows is something you can do as you have time and money, one window at a time if necessary.

Here's another argument for saving old windows:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/...

Also, check out the link below regarding techniques for improving the energy efficiency of windows. The same source will lead you to info about how to choose new windows if that's the approach you choose.

Answer 2

That's alot of money.  I am sure that since they are the original windows they aren't very efficent.  In the long run it would probroly be more cost effective to replace the windows.  Maybe you could repalce the front windows or the most damaged windows first then replae the others in a year or so.

Good luck!

Answer 3

If that $10K includes install, even for low grade vinyl windows, that sounds like a steal.

The nice thing about modern retrofit windows is they're fast and easy to install; a two-man team can do your entire house in two days.  And even the cheapest windows will almost certainly be more energy efficient than your existing (single paned?) wood framed.  But, to my eye, they don't look a nice - at least not the vinyl windows that I assume you're looking at at $500/ea

If you do the labor yourself, you can fix up the existing windows for about $50 in materials.  But it will probably take you 1/2 to 2 days per window (fixing broken sash weights, scraping, painting and recaulking), depending on how badly weathered the exteriors are.  In the process, you'll realize some limited increase in energy efficiency by eliminating air leaks around the frames.  You could reglaze the existing windows with double-pane glass, bringing them on par with new windows - but if you've got a lot of multi-pane windows, that's not going to be cheap - probably about as much as installing new low-end windows.

Replacing the windows with a high-end window that truly looks like a replacement for the existing windows (Anderson, etc) will maintain the look of the house, but at a price of one- to several thousand dollars per window.  

Answer 4

I would repair windows if I could. Replacing is not only costly but also time consuming and you need to finish the entire window in a day. For 22 windows you will need a drum of elbow grease. There should be good ways to repair them that are less effort and less expensive and it will have more character.