Proven 6-step approach to treating historic windows

This course provides step-by-step prescriptive advice to architects, engineers, and contractors on when it makes sense to repair or rehabilitate existing windows, and when they should advise their building owner clients to consider replacement.

When planning treatment for windows on a historic structure, the first step in the decision process is to evaluate the architectural significance of the windows in terms of overall building appearance. If the windows are important to the historic character of the building, stock replacements that don’t consider the aesthetic integrity of the structure might negatively impact the building’s look—and diminish its value.

With that key decision in place, the course goes on to describe the planning and rehabilitation process, through to ongoing maintenance.

After reading this article, you should be able to:

Identify deterioration conditions at historic wood or steel windows in order to plan for appropriate treatment.
Evaluate repair and replacement options in terms of aesthetics, logistics, maintenance, and energy efficiency to develop a rehabilitation strategy that blends practical considerations with material and energy conservation.
Apply accepted practices for abatement of hazardous materials to the treatment of historic windows, to reduce exposure risk and protect the surrounding environment from the accidental release of toxic compounds.
Specify design options for windows classified as weathered, deteriorated, severely deteriorated, and life safety risk that improve thermal performance and safety without compromising historic character.

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