Beginner to intermediate home improvement
September 6, 2023 9:35 AM Subscribe
Our house has a lot of old wooden double-hung windows. I want to restore them over the course of the next several years rather than replace them. But I don't have a ton of experience with woodworking tools beyond middle school shop class thirty years ago. What are smaller, useful things I can do to bring my skills up to par?
I am looking for useful things I can do that (a) aren't over-complicated and (b) introduce new tools that will have continued use for me, especially for updating the windows.
Ideally, these projects would represent real improvements to my house without being purely decorative (the last thing I want is yet another hobby I'll eventually go bored of). New bookshelves could be interesting; built-in bookshelves may be too complex to start?
The windows are generally in good shape. Many are stuck from paint either on the top sash or both; several will need new sash cord. None, at the moment, need new panes. All windows have screen/storm combos outside. Replacement is not an option, for several reasons.
(I'll need to take care given that the house is older than 1978, and I am aware of procedures I'll need to take on that front.)
I am looking for useful things I can do that (a) aren't over-complicated and (b) introduce new tools that will have continued use for me, especially for updating the windows.
Ideally, these projects would represent real improvements to my house without being purely decorative (the last thing I want is yet another hobby I'll eventually go bored of). New bookshelves could be interesting; built-in bookshelves may be too complex to start?
The windows are generally in good shape. Many are stuck from paint either on the top sash or both; several will need new sash cord. None, at the moment, need new panes. All windows have screen/storm combos outside. Replacement is not an option, for several reasons.
(I'll need to take care given that the house is older than 1978, and I am aware of procedures I'll need to take on that front.)
From a preservationist - thank you for restoring rather than replacing your wood windows!
Honestly, from what you say of the condition of your windows, you don't need many skills at all! I restored wood windows at field school and I'm not terribly handy. I'm sure there must be some Youtube videos where you can get an idea of what skills you might need.
Looks like you live in PA? Here in Michigan we have groups that hold wood window restoration workshops to teach you the skills (some have gone on to turn this into a job). I'm not sure if PA has any similar programs but your statewide nonprofit - Preservation Pennsylvania - would likely know. They also have a good brochure on wood window repair [And on preview, the Preservation Brief from the NPS that fogovonslack linked is great as well].
If you strike out with them, PM me and I can check with some of my colleagues to see if they have any contacts in your area or suggestions for resources.
posted by Preserver at 11:51 AM on September 6, 2023 [7 favorites]
Honestly, from what you say of the condition of your windows, you don't need many skills at all! I restored wood windows at field school and I'm not terribly handy. I'm sure there must be some Youtube videos where you can get an idea of what skills you might need.
Looks like you live in PA? Here in Michigan we have groups that hold wood window restoration workshops to teach you the skills (some have gone on to turn this into a job). I'm not sure if PA has any similar programs but your statewide nonprofit - Preservation Pennsylvania - would likely know. They also have a good brochure on wood window repair [And on preview, the Preservation Brief from the NPS that fogovonslack linked is great as well].
If you strike out with them, PM me and I can check with some of my colleagues to see if they have any contacts in your area or suggestions for resources.
posted by Preserver at 11:51 AM on September 6, 2023 [7 favorites]
The blog Door Sixteen has a bunch of posts about restoring old windows. She also posts other DIY projects they did around their old brownstone that may spark some ideas for other projects.
posted by bluloo at 1:00 PM on September 6, 2023
posted by bluloo at 1:00 PM on September 6, 2023
Blake Hill House on Instagram has TONS of resources on restoring old windows! She also offers online window consultations if you run into something tricky. I agree it sounds like your windows don't need much work - a little jealous over here with my deteriorating windows...
posted by foodmapper at 1:35 PM on September 6, 2023
posted by foodmapper at 1:35 PM on September 6, 2023
Meany’s Working Windows was strongly recommended to me.
I haven’t been brave enough to dig in though.
posted by clew at 5:13 PM on September 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
I haven’t been brave enough to dig in though.
posted by clew at 5:13 PM on September 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
I would just start on one window and learn as you go. It sounds like what they need mostly is disassembly, cleaning back to bare wood and re-finishing and assembly. Pick a small window where you can have it out of action for a while while you polish your skills and go from there.
posted by dg at 1:08 AM on September 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by dg at 1:08 AM on September 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
Came here to recomment Blake Hill House for windows as well, Stacy is wonderful. If you wanna do built in book shelves, a great hack is to start with prebuilt shelving units (usually use Billy from Ikea for this). Then, attach to the wall and trim them out to make them look more built in. There are tons of examples online of people doing this.
My approach to increasing my handiness is just a) trying to fix what invariably gets broken b) looking around the house and seeing what changes I want to make and figuring out how to make them happen. I watch a lot of YouTube vids for help.
posted by theRussian at 9:14 PM on September 7, 2023
My approach to increasing my handiness is just a) trying to fix what invariably gets broken b) looking around the house and seeing what changes I want to make and figuring out how to make them happen. I watch a lot of YouTube vids for help.
posted by theRussian at 9:14 PM on September 7, 2023
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posted by fogovonslack at 11:05 AM on September 6, 2023 [8 favorites]