Historic Wood Windows Combine Authentic Construction With New TechnologyDetail Oriented

Finding the right windows is one of the challenges Mason Hearn faces when he takes on a historical renovation project. The owner of HomeMasons in Richmond, Va., says that just a few years ago it was difficult to find a window manufacturer that got all the details correct.

Most companies, for example, used vinyl jambliners to seal the sash to the frame of wood windows, leaving the plastic exposed on the interior and exterior. "It does not look anything like an old window," Hearn says.

He'd tell clients they would just have to tolerate the vinyl because it was the only way to get an energy-efficient window; older windows with all-wood jambs were drafty, he notes.

Now several firms offer energy-efficient wood jambliners that replicate the window's old-fashioned appearance. "Manufacturers are finding that it is important to old-house customers," he says. Some little details still differentiate new windows, but, he says, "they're getting much closer these days."

The details necessary for historically accurate windows can range greatly depending on the home's location, time period, and architectural style. These include all-wood construction, mortise-and-tenon joints, true divided lites, intricate trim and profiles, and traditional hardware.

As owners of historic homes upgrade their windows for improved energy efficiency, durability, and ease of operation, they favor manufacturers that incorporate new technology into traditional styles. "What we're finding is most people like the look of a traditional window, but no one wants to live with the energy performance of single pane," says Jay Libby, advance design manager at Andersen Windows.

But he says it is possible to design windows with Old World ambience and modern features. Adjusting the depth of the sash and frame, for example, can make a window with an insulated glass unit look like a single-pane window, so that it has the appearance of an antique window while retaining modern energy efficiency. Manufacturers say that other contemporary components, such as counter balances and weather stripping, allow windows to operate easily and last longer without changing their exterior appearance.