Restoring the Beauty of Original Windows
Of all the Elements of the Room, the Window is Most Marvelous
Of all the elements of a room, the window is the most marvelous…
What slice of the sun does your building have?
What slice of the sun enters your room?
What range of mood does the light offer: from morning to night, from day to day, from season to season, and all through the years?“
– Louis I. Kahn, “The Room, the Street and Human Agreement”
Windows are Most Marvelous
Because windows are translucent and nature is beautiful, any window that affords a view of the natural world–even if it is nothing more than sunlight–is marvelous!
And original windows, windows that were made a hundred years ago, are doubly so. How so? Because they were built in a time when quality craftsmanship was readily available and the built environment still sustained the imprint of the human hand and heart.
But Efficiency and Precision Have Replaced Beauty and Craftsmanship
Unfortunately we have forgotten what is possible, given skill, patience, and care. We see thick layers of poorly applied paint and think only of replacement.
But our artisans have the skill and experience necessary to distinguish between superficial and structural damage. We know we can restore windows many homeowners presume are too far gone!
While these windows are door-length, these doors-functioning as windows were a common choice in vintage high-rise condominiums because they afford an abundance of light without taking up a lot of space.
We Restore Windows Using the Industry’s Finest Materials
Here’s our perspective. Window restoration is so labor intensive that it doesn’t make sense to use anything but the highest quality paint on the market. That’s why we use Fine Paints of Europe linseed-oil based long oil primer and finish paint on the windows we restore. Not only is this paint highly compatible with our linseed oil-based Sarco Putty, the only glazing compound window putty worthy of use in a restoration context. This paint also produces the rich, creamy finish you see here.
When a clear coat finish is specified, we choose one that is appropriate for the age of the building. Typically, we prefer time-honored linseed oil-based or tung oil finishes.
Quality Materials Coupled with Journeyman-level Skill
It takes a skilled craftsperson to apply this paint correctly. The paint has to be laid down smoothly, joining the glass to the frame without painting on the glass, as is seen in this picture. In truth, though, we paint a thirty-second of an inch beyond the glaze line so as to ensure the glaze has been sealed in paint. Not only does this lengthen the life of the glaze, but it also contributes to the insulation value of the window.
Bedding the Glass
Proper bedding of the glass contributes greatly to the ability to achieve precision in joining the glass with the window frame without an unseemly gap appearing between the glass and the frame.
Bedding the glass is equally important when the interior surface is stained and varnished. But to achieve a seamless appearance, the glaze has to be tinted to match the color of the interior wood, as can be seen in this photo.
In both cases, whether the interior surface is painted or clear-finished, it is covered with a finish, thus producing a the clean lines you see here, in both the painted window above and the clear-finished window pictured here.
We Use Wood Bleach to Reverse Damage from Moisture and Sunlight
Different considerations come into play when maximizing the aesthetics of a clear or stained finish. In particular, wood bleach can be used to reverse damage from exposure to sunlight and moisture. The sash displayed on the left has been treated with wood bleach. The sash on the right is from the same project but has not yet been bleached. Bleaching does not always achieve as dramatic a transformation as seen here. Most often, though, it reverses enough damage to have been worth doing.
A Variety of Period Finishes are Available to Enhance the Appearance of Original Windows
Using high quality, period appropriate varnish contributes to the aesthetic richness of a natural or stained finish. A tung oil varnish was used to finish this set of casement windows, giving it a soft glow similar to a traditional oil-and-wax finish. We offer a wide range of period-appropriate clear finishes to choose from.
The client was so delighted with this finish that she used it to finish all the wood in her residence, including the floors. Visitors, she said, keep commenting in what good condition her “original finishes” had been sustained.
Consider, this Vintage Bungalow Kitchen Project
As can be seen in this photo, the kitchen (along with the entire bungalow!) has sustained a significant degree of architectural integrity. And the client was eager to maintain and enhance it. So, when we restored the windows one of which is pictured below, we did not strip out the original shellac finish. Instead, we used appropriate solvents to remove just the top layers of dirty shellac, then revitalized the finish with additional fresh coats. This is a typical approach we take with clear finishes, especially original finishes, that are in good shape. A quick cleaning with an appropriate solvent followed by one or two coats of fresh varnish is all that is needed to revitalize the finish!
Here is what the client had to say about this aspect of the restoration process:
“…we decided not to fully strip the window finish but instead to do a partial stripping of the finish with the application of more shellac so that its appearance continued to match that of the casings (which still have their original finish). (Oak Brothers) …restored the finish while keeping the original look. It takes experience to know how much or how little to do.”
-David McCammond-Watts (Oak Park)
Hardware, When Not Slathered in Paint, Becomes Jewelry
Hardware is like the jewelry of the window. A few, well-chosen pieces make all the difference. As was the case with this original sash lock, we refurbish existing hardware and offer period appropriate replacement hardware when necessary.
Why Would Anyone Paint This?
What an amazing transformation can be made by the simple act of removing misapplied paint from hinges, pulleys, sash locks and other hardware! Windows literally snap to attention when its jewelry has been refurbished.
Aesthetic Restoration & Architectural Integrity Working Hand In Hand
Aesthetic restoration goes hand-in-hand with the preservation of architectural integrity. We integrate these aspects of restoration not only by encouraging restoration rather than replacement of original windows, but also by attending to the finishes we use, encouraging clients to consider period painted finishes. Do you want beautiful architectural elements that feel and look timeless? We can help achieve this goal by recommending and applying the highest quality finishes that are appropriate to the age of the element
What Our Client Michael Says…
“What truly sets Oak Brothers apart is their respect for the historical integrity of older homes. Rather than pushing for modern replacements, Jeff worked tirelessly to maintain the original charm of our windows while ensuring they were fully functional and energy-efficient. The results are stunning – our windows look better than they have in decades, and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
-Michael Cassidy Evanston