Replacement Windows for Historic Homes

Historic homes need replacement windows in San Jose, CA, but homeowners will need to take great care in preserving the historical authenticity of their homes when they replace the windows. While this may seem like a daunting prospect, there are many window replacement selections that can keep the home’s historical integrity and look amazing when the installation is finished.

One of the first things that homeowners of historic homes wonder is whether they should try to repair the existing windows or get replacement windows. Most of the windows in historic homes are very old. As a result, it may be impossible to find parts for repair, even if the windows aren’t very difficult to open and close, don’t have cracked or broken panes, don’t have significant gaps between the house and the window frames, and don’t have peeling paint.

Additionally, historic homes are often built with large rooms, high ceilings, and wood floors, all of which make them naturally warmer in the summer and colder in the winter. Since, old windows are not energy efficient, your energy bills to heat and cool your home are likely much higher than they would be with new energy efficient replacement windows.

Replacement windows are an excellent way to address all these issues and give your home a makeover, while still adhering to historical society rules and regulations.

For homes in historic districts or towns, laws exist that require homeowners to keep their historic homes in certain conditions, including house colors, upgrades that are historically accurate for the period in which the homes were built, and authenticity with the homes’ original material and architectural structure.

Since many historic homes were built during eras when plastic and composite materials were not even thought of yet, these materials cannot be used in the replacement windows. Additionally, the replacement windows must look the same as the original windows (this means they most likely would have a 12 over 12 or 6 over 6 pane pattern).

Replacement windows in historical houses are likely to be much different than replacement windows for non-historical homes. Although you can get all the great advances in replacement windows technology, the replacement windows have to be replicated for the period in which the homes were built.

Historical homes have wood window frames and wood panes. Replacement windows can be constructed with solid wood to duplicate the pane pattern without having individual panes. The types of wood used include pine, douglas fir, or mahogany, which is then stained to match the color requirements of the historical society. Additionally, hardware that matches the rest of the hardware in the home is added to the replacement window to ensure authenticity.

Good replacement window options for historic homes can include low-emissivity (Low-E) glass, double or triple pane glass, and wood frame and sash protection coatings that will significantly improve the energy efficiency of your home and protect the replacement windows’ integrity for the life of the windows, while giving your home a fresh – but authentic – look that will enhance its intrinsic beauty and character.

To learn more about historic home replacement windows in San Jose, CA, you can speak with our knowledgeable staff at California Custom Creations. You can contact us at (408) 316-6293 to make an appointment for a free in-home consultation.