Don't toss those soulful old windows. Fix them.

"As the weights touch, they get a bit musical and there's a kind of harmonic ring in your wall. It's like the house is alive. But with soulful age come other sounds: rattles, wind whistling through gaps and a homeowner's curses because the blasted contraptions won't open and close properly."

"It's a terrible shame -- ripping out 100-year-old windows that need some attention, and replacing them with vinyls that last about 15 years. Besides a shorter life span, vinyl replacement windows often don't match older homes' historical features, and depending on the property or the neighborhood, historic guidelines might forbid them."

"Old wood windows can be tightened up so they seat and seal well; they can approach the efficiency of modern windows. Any cost savings is negligible on a power bill. New custom-milled sashes can be fitted with energy-efficient glass as a compromise solution."

Historic double-hung windows, featuring counterbalanced iron weights and rope-pulley systems, represent functional architectural elements that can be restored by specialized craftspeople. While these windows may develop issues like rattles and operational problems over time, master carpenters specialize in repairing rather than replacing them. Vinyl replacement windows, commonly chosen by homeowners, typically last only 15 years and often violate historic preservation guidelines. Energy efficiency concerns, frequently cited as replacement justification, are addressed through restoration: properly sealed wood windows can achieve efficiency comparable to modern alternatives with negligible power bill savings. Custom-milled sashes fitted with energy-efficient glass offer a compromise solution maintaining historical integrity.

Read at Los Angeles Times