6 ms·

>These old windows are structurally superior and can be restored instead of replaced. How do they deal with the superior energy efficiency of new windows? Even

>These old windows are structurally superior and can be restored instead of replaced. How do they deal with the superior energy efficiency of new windows? Even basic vinyl windows are better in terms of energy transfer, unless they're replacing the window frame with more modern equipment (factory made vinyl/aluminum) while keeping the original windows.

sonar_un 3y ago
He made a video not too long ago about old-school windows and some of the ways that they can be still efficient and beautiful. But the kinds of projects that he works on are not really "passive house" type buildings. https://youtu.be/hLbTpa9uEoY https://youtu.be/hLbTpa9uEoY
- VHRanger 3y ago
  I mean, he puts vacuum-sealed glass on the performance version of the windows he makes. That's even better as a product than triple-glazed windows.
onlypassingthru 3y ago
It's a bit of a kludge but I've used exterior storm windows with old windows. It can make a big difference but doesn't compete with the efficiency of a modern vinyl argon filled double pane.
- VHRanger 3y ago
  It actually does if your seals are good. Argon sealed double panes aren't magical in terms of R-values.
anon291 3y ago
I live in a 100 year old home with old windows. Storm windows work. Also, the panes are fairly easy to replace and if you want to put the money into it, I believe they make a double paned product you can replace the panes with. Despite the large initial investment, it's overall cheaper because you never need to replace. We've actually had a few panes broken, and it's dirt cheap since normal glass is cheap, and the pane replacement is a DIY-doable project (remove glaze, remove plane, place new pane, reglaze).
bhickey 3y ago
When I renovated my old house I had the 1890s windows refurbished. To accomplish this, a carpenter cut the windows in half, replaced the glass with double pane glass and laminated it back together. I had new sash weights fabricated to compensate for the added weight. This was definitely more expensive than a rip and replace, but we were able to save about 90% of the original woodwork. Sills were replaced with synthetic because it was the best way to prevent water intrusion.
- VHRanger 3y ago
  Nowadays there's a vacuum sealed glass product called Pilkington Spacia that's the same thickness as a single pane, but has about the R-value of a triple pane window. You could replace the glass with it yourself if you order the correct sizes.
VHRanger 3y ago
Wood is a better insulator for the frame itself than either vynil or aluminum. For the glass itself, you update it to something better than a single pane. Or put a storm window as needed.
- nemo44x 3y ago
  Adding a storm window is better. You don't want to replace the old glass if possible as it's very aesthetically beautiful. Although energy efficiency in these homes have other problems. The walls are probably not insulated (and probably shouldn't be without a vapor barrier added outside beneath the siding - otherwise you will get lots of mold over time) and the weight box for the sash's are not insulated and can't be unless you want the window to no longer function, which may be OK as you can seal around it then.
  - VHRanger 3y ago
    I'm going through insulation woes with my 1870 house right now, and people drastically overestimate how their uninsulated walls are the issue. Your walls are most likely at least something like R-9 if not more depending on the old house you have. The actual issues, in order of importance, are: 1. Air sealing the house. So yes, replacing and repairing windows. Not because double pane is so much better, but because your windows and doors are leaking unconditioned air into the house. 2. Roof insulation 3. Basement/crawl space insulation. Yes, this is more important than walls 4. Now you think about the walls. As you said, depending on the climate, from outside in may be safer (which can also be true for roof and basement depending on materials)

sonar_un 3y ago

He made a video not too long ago about old-school windows and some of the ways that they can be still efficient and beautiful. But the kinds of projects that he works on are not really "passive house" type buildings. https://youtu.be/hLbTpa9uEoY https://youtu.be/hLbTpa9uEoY

VHRanger 3y ago
I mean, he puts vacuum-sealed glass on the performance version of the windows he makes. That's even better as a product than triple-glazed windows.

onlypassingthru 3y ago

It's a bit of a kludge but I've used exterior storm windows with old windows. It can make a big difference but doesn't compete with the efficiency of a modern vinyl argon filled double pane.

VHRanger 3y ago
It actually does if your seals are good. Argon sealed double panes aren't magical in terms of R-values.

anon291 3y ago

I live in a 100 year old home with old windows. Storm windows work. Also, the panes are fairly easy to replace and if you want to put the money into it, I believe they make a double paned product you can replace the panes with. Despite the large initial investment, it's overall cheaper because you never need to replace. We've actually had a few panes broken, and it's dirt cheap since normal glass is cheap, and the pane replacement is a DIY-doable project (remove glaze, remove plane, place new pane, reglaze).

bhickey 3y ago

When I renovated my old house I had the 1890s windows refurbished. To accomplish this, a carpenter cut the windows in half, replaced the glass with double pane glass and laminated it back together. I had new sash weights fabricated to compensate for the added weight. This was definitely more expensive than a rip and replace, but we were able to save about 90% of the original woodwork. Sills were replaced with synthetic because it was the best way to prevent water intrusion.

VHRanger 3y ago
Nowadays there's a vacuum sealed glass product called Pilkington Spacia that's the same thickness as a single pane, but has about the R-value of a triple pane window. You could replace the glass with it yourself if you order the correct sizes.

VHRanger 3y ago

Wood is a better insulator for the frame itself than either vynil or aluminum. For the glass itself, you update it to something better than a single pane. Or put a storm window as needed.

nemo44x 3y ago
Adding a storm window is better. You don't want to replace the old glass if possible as it's very aesthetically beautiful. Although energy efficiency in these homes have other problems. The walls are probably not insulated (and probably shouldn't be without a vapor barrier added outside beneath the siding - otherwise you will get lots of mold over time) and the weight box for the sash's are not insulated and can't be unless you want the window to no longer function, which may be OK as you can seal around it then.
- VHRanger 3y ago
  I'm going through insulation woes with my 1870 house right now, and people drastically overestimate how their uninsulated walls are the issue. Your walls are most likely at least something like R-9 if not more depending on the old house you have. The actual issues, in order of importance, are: 1. Air sealing the house. So yes, replacing and repairing windows. Not because double pane is so much better, but because your windows and doors are leaking unconditioned air into the house. 2. Roof insulation 3. Basement/crawl space insulation. Yes, this is more important than walls 4. Now you think about the walls. As you said, depending on the climate, from outside in may be safer (which can also be true for roof and basement depending on materials)