Top 10 Reasons to Restore your Historic Doors and Windows

When it comes to historic doors and windows, preservation and restoration is usually your best bet. There is nothing like having original doors and windows in a space to make it stand out. Below you will find the top ten reasons to restore instead of replace your historic doors and windows.

 

With restored historic windows, you can expect:

 

1. To keep the same architectural look of the building without sacrificing light or energy savings.

 

2. The wood used for windows prior to WWII was of a better quality than the wood used after.

 

3. The old growth wood is less likely to be damaged by insects or water, and the sap that is present in the wood  is more toxic to insects than in new growth wood.

 

4. Many times, wood used to frame the older windows was dipped in a borate solution, which protected it from  mildew and insects as well.

 

5. Restored wooden windows paired with high quality storm windows on the exterior of the building will create a better insulated structure. This setup will thermally do better than new double glazed metal windows. This is  partially because wood has a better insulating value than metal.

 

 

Restored historic doors have many of the same positives mentioned above for restored windows, but with a  few other added benefits as well.

 

1. Original historic doors were built with old growth wood that was built to last.

 

2. These heavy duty doors can be great at keeping out drafts and protecting the building from water and  insects.

 

3. As historic buildings settle, however, doors can sometimes shift and leave gaps around the frame. In this  instance, the cost of restoration for the existing historic door can be very similar to the real cost of a  replacement metal door, after taking shipping, material and installation costs into account. If you utilize local  craftsman or even complete the work yourself, you can save money restoring your door instead of replacing  it outright.

 

4. Restoration of a piece such as a historic door is also better for the environment because the greenest door is the one already built. This just means that you will not need to utilize more resources, such as the  manufacturing of a brand new door, materials, shipping, etc. to replace your door.

 

5. Keeping your restored historic door is also a great way to ensure architectural integrity of your building.

 

To learn more about historic restoration, visit Think Window Pro. Be sure to check out their historic home window & door restoration page.