Window Standards Collaborative

“Last October, trades experts, window wrights and preservation educators created this collaborative todevelop standards for the repair, restoration and weatherization of historic windows. The windowreplacement industry spends millions of dollars a year to convince architects, specifiers, contractors,homeowners and developers to replace rather than restore. In the past, this has put the preservationindustry in a non-competitive position that has needlessly trashed millions of old and historic windows.”

• Aug. 15, 2011 Press Release following their 1st “Window Preservation & Performance Summit”

Download (PDF, 114.67KB)

Pictures worth a thousand words… This annotated visual presentation by the National Trust helps illustrate the issue at hand.

Download (PDF, 5.77MB)

Old Windows Find a Following

New York Times Article — July 27, 2011

Repair or Replace Old Windows?

Don’t know if it’s getting old that I post about replacement windows but it has become epidemic.

Serving on the “Landmarks Commission” in my commmunity we’ve seen a doubling of COA’s (certificate of appropriateness) this last year over the year prior for taking out repairable windows for “replacement” windows.

By the time a homeowner has made the decision to replace their windows, submitted their COA and come to the commission their minds are already set and they’ve resigned themselves that they’re going to be spending all that money to replace their windows. After all, the window manufacturers, retailers and installers have all made very compelling arguments for why they should do so. And to boot there are “home energy” subsidy/incentives.

It’s “Green” and saves energy so I’ll save money in the long run on heating expense right? It’ll increase my homes value, right? I’ll bite the bullet and spend the money. It must be the right thing to do. Right?

Well without the benefit of knowing that there are lower-cost alternatives and what the down side is for taking out their repairable, “green-er” and potentially equally efficient windows (combined with sound storm windows) they’re making the best decision they can. And therein lies the challenge. There is very little counterbalance to the prevailing marketing message that replacement windows are the best choice. Consumers simply don’t know what the down-side is, what there options are or how to decide.

• There is a new website, savethewindow.org recently launched by the National Trust for Historic Preservation that attempts to set the record straight on what the hidden costs are of “replacement windows”. They do a great job of telling the story. They’ve also produced a nice little video.

• This is the single most compelling outline for how to decide… Should I, or should I not replace my windows. “Repair or Replace Old Windows – A visual look at the Impacts” (It’s a PDF download)

I would though like to add a couple points and observations of my own though. Note, I’ve completely ripped off the pics from the NT’s document “Repair or Replace Old Windows” above to illustrate my own points. So photo credits to them.

• It’s going to impact my homes resale value.

If you have a distinctive, well maintained older home you’re not going to out-new the new construction on the edges of town. I propose that you’re better off playing to the strength of your home and that is the period charm and character of your old house… and that includes your windows. Chances are a new buyer, if they’re interested in “Old Houses” likely have an appreciation for the character original windows add. Clunky, replacement windows can actually diminish the character of your distinctive old house and, I propose, impact your homes marketability.

• I’m increasing the resale value of my home right?

Often times not. You’ll find that you can’t afford to replace distinctive, high quality windows with anything like what was there originally. It’s just too @%#$ expensive to try and replicate with new windows.

As a result what happens is they swap in down-graded approximations. Add one more nail to the coffin of what had once been a distinctive old house with charm to one that has been denuded and reduced to remudeled ordinaryness.

Old house enthusiasts who can already discern and appreciation the aesthetic of original period windows are likely not interested in rip-n-replace in the first place. It’s more likely that those who don’t see or value the aesthetic of original windows that are quickest to pull them out. These folks are likely better persuaded by the pragmatic economics of replacements.

Actually this is the easier point to make. There is a growing number of independent, 3rd party evaluations on the actual energy savings and cost savings of repaired original windows with a storm over replacement windows. Many of these studies are coming from the utility companies themselves who are debunking the replacement window cost savings smoke-n-mirrors. I’ve blogged on this elsewhere but these citations have expanded since this post.

This Old House: Beloit Among Best Old House Neighborhoods

Yes, that’s right. We’ve been noticed.

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This Old House in association with Preservation Directory has selected Beloit Wisconsin to be among the 2010 Best Old House Neighborhoods in the US.

…what we looked for was simple: oft-overlooked neighborhoods populated by people who share an appreciation of finely crafted homes that have plenty of past and lots of future.  ~ This Old House

From the state of Wisconsin, Beloit was the one chosen.

This is fantastic news and some measure of validation. There are many in and around Beloit’s Historic Districts that have stated that the revitalization of Beloit has been a bit of an open secret that many outside of town don’t seem to recognize or give credit for. Beloit took its lumps as did many commercial river towns across the U.S. But that was years ago and it has since slowly, grudgingly been undergoing a bit of a renaissance. If you’ve not been to Beloit, its downtown, its renewed riverfront AND historic districts for a while you probably have missed it.

Beloit’s historic districts set the standard though the close-by vintage neighborhoods likewise maintain much of their original charm and character. The fact that there is a first rate college as a neighbor and a thriving downtown both within a short walking distance are significant assets. Historic District residents enjoy proximity to all there is to do in town. You can walk to restaurants, live entertainment, shopping, community events, the many cultural offerings the college makes available to the community and on and on and on. There is a growing and diverse arts and entertainment community. It’s all just a short walk away.

In fact as it happens BIFF, the Beloit International Film Festival, now in its fifth year and gaining national attention is this weekend. Five of the seven venues are downtown and within walking distance.

For those who may have grown up in auto-centric suburbia, they may not appreciate what it affords residents. Pedestrian centric, old-house living in vintage neighborhoods close to a thriving down town offers a quality of life many have not had the opportunity to experience. Historic communities provide a sort of intangible rootedness not found in sprawling suburban planned developments where the closest point of “community” lies many miles away. Retail consists mostly of generic strip malls with interchangeable brands and people you don’t know.

And Beloit has an intriguing history and ancient history. It is filled with colorful characters and events that have shaped not just the community but can be seen rippled across our nation’s history. It’s kinda’ cool living someplace where interesting things have happened. There are stories here. Further, Beloit provides the richness of diversity missing in more homogeneous communities. And for those who appreciate diversity it is a welcomed difference, particularly for our children.

Neighborhood living with neighbors you actually know is a good option not found just anywhere. Speaking for one, having moved here from a broadly diverse college town with a rich cultural and arts community we were hoping to find some of the same here. Indeed this has been the case.

If you’ve an appreciation for distinctive vintage homes within a stable and welcoming vintage neighborhood of like minded old-house lovers you may want to consider Beloit. It’s a good place to make your home.

Thank you This Old House and Preservation Directory.

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The Beloit Daily News Coverage of This Old House designation.

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WIFR News Coverage of This Old House designation.

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We didn’t make it into the magazine however. Oh well. Read about it here.

On a personal note… I’ve been a huge fan of This Old House and have enjoyed the TV show virtually since its inception in the late 70′s with Bob Villa & Norm. This Old House is a big part of why I love old houses today.

Thanks to Marge F. and Sandy K. for their help with this.

Hey Beloit, what do you think of this? Comment below.

Historic Preservation Creates Jobs in WI

I received the following from Bob Yapp, preservation consultant, director of the Belvedere School in Hannibal MO.

Our colleague, Donovan Rypkema put the attached analysis of jobs created by the “stimulus” package as compared to the jobs created by “Save America’s Treasures”. As many of you know, the Obama administration is seeking to eliminate this highly successful federal grant program.

Not only do they want to eliminate SAT but all of the tax breaks for homeowner energy efficiency are patently anti-preservation. Ripping out original windows and replacing them with less energy efficient windows with an average lifespan of 15 years could ruin our historic housing in a big way. In all of the federal programs not one cent has gone to heritage or preservation. Most of the other European countries as well as Australia have put stimulus money into these areas and are creating more jobs for less money.

Donovan’s chart is breathtaking. It demonstrates that preservation doesn’t cost–it pays!

~Bob Yapp, founder/director The Belevedere School, Hannibal MO.

Click above for the full report. It would seem to indicate that in WI historic preservation funded projects have cost $19K/full-time job created vs $286K/full-time job created resulting from the Stimulus Plan.

Stimulus Expenditure by state and jobs by state from White House website, as of February 10, 2010 update. Accessed 2/11/10. The last page of the report breaks out how analysis conducted.

Honestly I’d not heard of Donovan Rypkema before so found this…

LOL,    A little impassioned and provocative but consider the points he’s trying to make.

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How to Camouflage Inappropriate Replacement Windows on Your Historic Home

I stumbled upon this article written by a Historic Preservation Consultant doing business down in Florida and found it interesting. Given the fact that so much irreversible replacement of original windows has taken place, what is a current homeowner to do to try and mediate what a prior owner had done with the homes windows?

I think it reflects the interests of a growing minority of the home buying market who seek out and choose distinctive old and historic homes and neighborhoods in which to live. They love the old house but what did they do with the windows? Frustrated over what a prior owner did with lowest possible cost rip-n-replace remodeling (or flipping) they’re looking for options.

An interesting read and a cleaver suggestion.

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How to Camouflage Inappropriate Replacement Windows on Your Historic Home

By Jo-Anne Peck

A recent forum post on an old house restoration and renovation website asked what they could do to hide the bright white vinyl replacement windows that the previous owners had installed. They didn’t have the money to replace the windows, and the windows were still working fine, but were glaringly inappropriate for their historic home. For situations like this, an affordable solution is to install traditional wood window screens over the windows.

Wood window screens can be built by homeowners with some woodworking skills or hired out for a reasonable cost from a local carpenter. They are historically appropriate on most home styles since they were commonly added even to the earliest homes by later homeowners. The best woods for screen longevity are cedar, cypress, or mahogany, although other woods can be used if primed and painted thoroughly. Paintable water repellent preservatives applied before priming are also useful for extending the life of the newly built screens. Screen frames are typically 1-1/2″ to 2″ wide and corners can be joined by screws, L-brackets, pegs or historically appropriate bridle joints for more accomplished woodworkers. Screening is applied after painting by stapling to the frame, then the edges are covered by screen molding, which is a narrow rounded trim piece.

When trying to hide inappropriate non-historic windows, full height screens are recommended set flush with the exterior casing or within the brickmold trim. Using charcoal or other dark color screening helps mute the bright white of the vinyl windows behind the screen. Painting the screens a contrasting accent color also draws attention away from the windows behind and adds an attractive element to your home. Forest green, black, deep brown and burgundy were common screen accent colors. Install the screens with stainless face-mounted hangers and your replacement windows will no longer detract from the historic appearance of your home.

Ms. Peck is a Historic Preservation Consultant with over 12 years experience working with historic Florida homes. She is President of Preservation Resource, Inc., a preservation design-consulting company which offers a specialized line of traditional products for historic homes at http://www.HistoricShed.com including traditional wood window screens.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jo-Anne_Peck

http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Camouflage-Inappropriate-Replacement-Windows-on-Your-Historic-Home&id=2323259

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How could I do this?

There are those that are happy to build wood screens and storms for you like the company above. It’s also a service some enterprising local woodworker/contractor could learn and make available to a regional market.

Making Wood Storm Windows – The Belvedere School

Windows into Beloit

Like a person’s eyes being likened to the window into the soul, a home’s windows have been described as reflecting the soul of a home.

Often it is a homes windows that define and distinguish its character. Removing original windows that define a home and give it character for single light replacement windows leaves a home with the all too familiar blank, vacant stare. Bit by bit distinctive homes are being denuded of their character and reduced to irreversible blandness.

See the BRAND NEW Beloit NPA Gallery.

You’ll see the new category page in the top navigation.

You’ll see that in too many instances it is the few remaining original windows that convey the dignity the now humbled home once had.

Windows that are of considerably higher quality made of tight grain old-growth wood, that could be repaired are removed and replaced with windows that typically have a useful life of ~10 years before they fail and need to be replaced again.  By this time the purchaser is typically gone.

At that point they would be replaced yet again. Repair is not an option. Recurring revenue for the replacement window industry explains the marketing efforts.

Yes, the warranty states 10-20 yrs. Manufacturers know that the average stay in a home is less then 10 years. The average in Rock Co. is ~5 yrs.

This is why the same windows installed in a commercial building do not carry the same guarantee. That’s because commercial owners on average retain ownership longer then households.

Do you have drafty windows? Consider repair.

1. The repair will last as long or longer.
2. Repair is dramatically less expensive then replacement. Don’t be fooled by energy savings payback – your break even is further out then the expected life of the window.
3. Repair is green. Why send windows that can be repaired to the land fill?
4. Double pane insulation? Very little of a windows thermal loss is a result of radiation through the glass. Heat rises. It is mostly a function of air infiltration due to air leaks at the joints and seems. It is drafty. Repairing an old window so that it is no longer drafty is very do-able and relatively inexpensive. A window salesperson  will not tell you that. The incremental heat savings resulting from radiation is the least part of the equation.
5. But they tilt in for cleaning. OK, check mate. But ask your neighbor who has this feature when the last time they actually did this.
6. Additionally, more and more buyers of distinctive old homes recognize and value the character and integrity of original windows. It’s almost always cost prohibitive to return to the quality and character of window that was removed by a prior owner. Once they’re gone there’s virtually no going back.

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There’s a lot of money to be made by manufacturers, retailers and installers convincing historic home owners with repairable windows that they need to buy new replacement grade windows that in time need to be purchased yet again. Don’t get snookered.

Cash For Caulkers

So, ok. We’ve been through the Cash for Clunkers program. Stay tuned for…

Cash For Caulkers

Or… leveraging economic stimulus funding for old house home owners.

I received the following from Adrian Fine who is a director at the Center for State and Local Policy at the National Trust. It would seem that historic home owners may be misinformed about ineligibility of storm windows for tax credit. Not surprisingly, it is usually a window replacement contractor who tells them this.

So here’s the deal….
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Question: Do storm windows/doors qualify for the $1,500 tax credit.
Answer: YES!

Despite some confusion and misleading information, storm windows and doors do qualify for the tax credit. This chart from the U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and Energy Star clearly lists storm windows/doors as eligible products for the tax credit.

Question: Are all storm windows/doors eligible?
Answer: NO.

As stated earlier, the 2009/2010 provisions established a higher standard than in 2007 and all eligible storm windows/doors (purchased from June 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010) must have a U-value of 0.30 or lower and solar heat gain coefficient of 0.30 or lower. Here’s where the main problem lies regarding questions on eligibility. While it is common for new windows to offer specific qualifications regarding performance, it is a difficult to assess for storm windows/doors. Measuring the U-value and solar heat gain of storm windows/doors depends on the performance of the existing window in combination with a storm window, which will always be a case-by-case basis. This can only be tested after storm windows/doors are installed and will vary greatly from building to building.

While some storm window/door manufacturers are marketing their products in conjunction with the tax credit, others are not because the performance standard is difficult to substantiate for all cases. Some are listing classes of exterior windows (single pane, clear glass, double pane, low-E coating, etc.) that a product may be combined with to be eligible in specific climate zones (for a map, go to http://resourcecenter.pnl.gov/cocoon/morf/ResourceCenter/dbimages/full/973.jpg).

Question: What do I need to claim the tax credit?
Answer: Manufacturer’s Certification Statement

A Manufacturer’s Certification Statement is a signed statement from the manufacturer certifying that the product or component qualifies for the tax credit. Taxpayers must keep a copy of the certification statement for their records, but do not have to submit a copy with their tax return. Some manufacturers are providing these Certificates on their website. Other manufacturers are not, taking a more conservation approach and not issuing these certificates since it’s difficult to substantiate on a case-by-case basis. Though there are others, two storm window/door manufacturers that do provide certificates are Gorell  (http://www.gorell.com/pages/energy_tax_incentive_act.htm) and Kaufmann (http://www.kaufmannwindow.com/2009energytaxcredit.htm).

As always, please check with your tax advisor for advice.

**Also, for more information on the stimulus funding, and constantly-expanding case studies, check out the Perfect Storm webpage(s) on PreservationNation

–Adrian
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For more information visit the National Trust website > The Perfect Storm

Or contact Adrian directly at: Adrian_Fine@nthp.org

Beloit’s Historic Rasey House & River Stone Construction

Beloit’s Historic Rasey House

& River Stone Construction

Rasey House: 517 Prospect St. Beloit WI 53511

It’s likely most folks know about Beloit’s historic Rasey House and have visited at one time or another. We finally stopped in for the first time during the Beloit Heritage Days just passed and had a wonderful time talking with the volunteers. It’s an amazing house and and a very special and integral piece of Beloit history. It seems so many of these historic home’s residents and the historic structures themselves factor into the stories of other’s lives and events.

I love good stories. Rasey House has lots.

Its a fascinating piece of local history not simply from the standpoint of historic architecture but also the lives of the figures who made Rasey their home and the intertwining of these stories with other lives and events.

The stories around this relatively unique building construction are very interesting. As you likely know historic river stone constructed buildings are increasing rare as more are being demolished passively due to neglect or intentionally as they’re considered to be in the way of the current purpose.

Rasey house itself on more then one occasion had been threatened with demolition. It’s sad to think if those efforts had been successful. The home, for years now has been lovingly maintained by the Beloit Chapter of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution.

I think Beloit is a better place because Rasey House has survived and the DAR’s stewardship. It is a significant part of what makes Beloit distinctive, anchored and, well… non-generic. It’s part of Beloit’s identity.

The expression is “death by a thousand cuts” meaning that a major single blow did not fell the victim but rather it was little bit by little bit. The single impact of any one or even several events did not cause the demise however, over time, the cumulative result is none the less the same. I understand that at one time Beloit was distinct in the region for the number of river stone building in town. Over thirty as I recall. We are now down to three. It’s too bad.

Beloit’s Rasey Home came to mind as a friend of mine from another historic community, Elgin IL just posted some wonderful pictures of a river stone constructed home in their community. It’s very cool. You can see it here. Love the original rough hewn timber framing and while not original to the house it sports a very early radiator that’s kinda cool.

As long as we’re at it. I understand there are efforts to try and save another Beloit river stone home over on St. Lawrence. Not sure of current status.

View Larger Map

Need Wooden Storm Window Help?

Wooden Storm Windows

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The seasonal chore of taking down wooden storm windows and swapping them with the screens in the Spring then reversing the process in the Fall was part of a discussion the other day.

Though these “old fashion” storms perform better and hold up longer then contemporary double-hung replacements perhaps you’d rather not deal with them any more.

An option to discarding your homes original and functional storms and buying new, lesser quality and not inexpensive storms is getting someone else to take care of this chore for you. We’re fortunate to have a campus right next door. One quick email elicited several students within hours willing to unburden you of this task.

If interested in having someone else do this for you let me know.

rick(at)BeloitNPA(dot)org

Another Downtown Beloit Facade Facelift

Work has begun on yet another downtown Beloit facade. Have you seen it?

It’s exciting to see the ongoing renovation of downtown Beloit. The Zilley building circa 1912 is just the latest in a series.

The Downtown Beloit Association (DBA) offers design assistance, as well as facade and sign grant programs to encourage successful, historically sensitive design. (italics ours)

From the DBA “News on the Street” – fall 2008

Does anybody know anything about the history of the Zilley building or who the Zilley’s were? Curious.

For more information on these grant programs, please contact Kathleen Braatz – kathleen (at) downtownbeloit (dot) com

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