Replacement window companies spend large amounts of money a year in advertising costs and have great control on the general public’s attitudes and beliefs surrounding windows. Unfortunately, the story that is being sold on old windows and even their own replacement products is not always accurate. Thankfully, the tide is turning nationally and abroad as trades professionals and old window owners are beginning to embrace the real story.
It is important to first understand what level of repairs you really need. An old window that is needing some maintenance may look worse than it really is. Old Window Revival endeavors to give every person an honest assessment of all the variables so that they can come to a balanced and informed decision.
Avg. cost of medium-range vinyl window with insulated glass + installation: $500
Avg. lifespan: 20yrs.
Avg. cost of medium-range modern wood window (jamb & sashes) with insulated glass + installation: $800
Avg. lifespan: 20yrs.
Avg. cost of new-built traditional wood window (jamb & sashes) +installation: $1000+
Avg. lifespan: Indefinite
Avg. cost of medium-range vinyl window with insulated glass + installation: $500
Avg. lifespan: 20yrs.
Avg. cost of medium-range modern wood window (jamb & sashes) with insulated glass + installation: $800
Avg. lifespan: 20yrs.
Avg. cost of new-built traditional wood window (jamb & sashes) +installation: $1200+
Avg. lifespan: Indefinite
Old windows have a very specific and very functional design which allows them to last for centuries if given basic attention and care – and even better, allow them to be as energy efficient as modern replacements. The truth is that if you have old windows you have a very valuable invention in your hands that is not replicated in any way by vinyl or composite window manufacturers today.
How double-insulated Vinyl windows deteriorate:
- Deterioration of the vinyl material itself (becoming brittle, warping, color fading/powdering)
- Deterioration of functionality (sash locks breaking, difficulty opening or closing sashes)
- Double insulated glass seals break causing the inert gas to leave the unit. Heavy condensation issues, mildew between glass panes, etc. are now very likely to occur.
How traditional wood windows deteriorate:
- Sacrificial glazing material (which allows water runoff, air-sealing, and a buffer between glass and wood) dries out and becomes loose over a 30yr. time frame. The glazing is intended to be re-applied every 30yrs. or so.
- Paint eventually fails just as it does on any other surface of your home, sometimes trapping water against the wood and causing rot if loose paint is not removed.
- If your window sashes are weighted, the ropes can deteriorate over time requiring new rope.
Vinyl is altogether inferior to wood. Contrary to the “maintenance free” doctrine pushed in the home improvement circles, every material requires maintenance. The problem with vinyl is that it simply cannot be maintained. It doesn’t rot like wood, but it still "rots" in its own way by becoming too soft in high temperatures or brittle over time. Even the color finish will fade and is nearly impossible to revive. With an old wood window, you can simply make a wood repair if needed. With a vinyl window, you have to start all over.
Because vinyl expands and contracts so much, the window actually causes strain to the double insulated glass units and breaks the seal which keeps them filled with an inert gas. It costs $150+ to replace a piece of double insulated glass in a replacement window, with about half of that cost from labor. If you had a piece of single pane glass break in an old window, it would cost about $20-$50 to repair, and about $3-$15 if you repair it yourself. Older windows were designed for maintenance to be easily achievable, low-cost, and the materials were time-tested to last for a very long time when given basic care.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF OLD VS. REPLACEMENT:
In 2012, the Federal Trades Commission warned fifteen replacement window manufacturers about their false window claims. A false claim that has been made is that a variety of replacements can provide a 35%-55% energy savings. In reality, windows are only 7%-12% of the entire energy footprint of the home. A study has shown that it takes an average of 41.5 years to recoup the cost of a replacement window with a U value of 0.58 through energy savings. But if the seal breaks on your double insulated glass in 20 years, you will never see the window paid off.
When endeavoring to improve the energy efficiency of your structure, your windows are probably the last place you need to look. Look in these places first:
- Make sure the floor of your attic is well insulated to prevent heat loss in the winter time.
- Sealing air leaks around the perimeter of your windows where the exterior wall cladding
meets the window casing/jamb
- Sealing around baseboards
- Sealing around ventilation points for heating and cooling systems
- Check that fireplace flues and dampers are in good condition and well-sealed in off-seasons, etc.
These common sites of air leakage can have a surprising impact on the energy efficiency of the structure, and usually provide much more improvement than a window that has become “drafty” through neglect. An energy audit can help you to determine the true energy state of your structure and how to get the most savings.
When it comes to improving the energy efficiency of windows, air leakage around the sashes or through deteriorated glazing can be remedied through weatherstripping, glazing repairs, and even storm windows. Glass in any type of window does not do a great job of insulating, so with windows the primary concern should always be air infiltration.
- U-Value of a Replacement Window: 0.58
- U-Value of a properly maintained window with weatherstripping: slightly higher than 0.58 (roughly $5 extra per year than a replacement)
- U-Value of a properly maintained window with weatherstripping and a storm window: 0.50
The evidence shows that a properly maintained old window with weatherstripping can come very close to the U-Value of a replacement window and if you add a storm window you can get a lower U-Value than a replacement window, and at a much lower cost. A basic storm window costs around $50 and can be paid back through energy savings within four years. Storm windows can also be a simple fix if you are wanting to improve the energy efficiency of your windows but can’t prioritize window repairs until a later date.
AESTHETICS OF OLD VS. REPLACEMENT:
Even if care is taken to match the proportions and number of glass sections with a replacement window, in most cases the replacements will not be harmonious with the rest of the structure. This is usually because the sections of glass (or “lites”) are not true divided in common replacements (usually one large piece of glass per sash with artificial muntins). Also, the rails and stiles of the sash lack the depth and detail of the originals, and the lines are too perfect. Wood has a “warmth” to the touch that you simply cannot feel with plastic, aluminum, or composite windows. Property value can sometimes be subjective, but windows are usually the most defining architectural element of a structure’s façade.
SOURCES:
“Testing the Energy Efficiency of Wood Windows in Cold Climates”, 1996, conducted by the State of Vermont and the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory.
“An Analysis of the Thermal Performance of Repaired and Replacement Windows”, Authors: Robert Score and Bradford S. Carpenter.
“Thermal Performance of Historic Windows," Author: Chris Wood.
NOTE: These claims are not meant to provide anyone with hard numbers for their window situation, but is merely a guide for making rough estimates. Energy audits and your own research can provide more detailed analyses.
© 2021 Nicholas Bogosian All Rights Reserved