Working Windows: A Guide to the Repair and Restoration of Wood Windows

by Terry Meany

Book Overview

This definitive book covers the operation, care, repair, and restoration of all kinds of wood windows, along with chapters on weather-stripping, repainting, and refinishing. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592287085
• ISBN13: 9781592287086
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Lyons Press
• Length: 233 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Got Wood Windows?? Then this book is a lifesaver !

Several months ago we bought a 1910 two story with THIRTY double hung windows in it. None were working, all were painted shut inside and out AND to add insult to injury were also NAILED shut. WOW. I started working on them without any reference material and somewhat into the project discovered this book. It was a lifesaver. If you have an old house and want to keep the windows it came with, then this book is for you. If you want to know WHY you should keep your wooden windows instead of replacing them (which I think is a crime) with newer windows, read this book. If you want to know how all the several different types of these windows work and all the little tricks that will save you hours of work and days of indigestion as you start to work on them, read this book. It is also full of sources for antique replacement hardware which alone justifys the price since invariably these old windows are missing locks or other hardware or have a bad pulley or two. This book has helped me in a hundred ways in my project to rebuild these windows. I refer to it constantly. EVERYTHING is covered, even how to make screens for them. There were no questions I had about wooden windows that weren't answered in it. So get one and read it BEFORE you make any decision on rebulding or refurbishing your windows or replacing them, it is well written and humorous. You won't be sorry you did. Now for a couple of tips not in the book. First, very old window pane glazing assumes the consistency of concrete. Since I needed a way to remove the glass from the windows ( a must in rebuliding and refinishing the frames) without breaking it since it is the crinkly imperfect glass that is period to and a part of the windows and no longer available, I discovered that if you paint the glazing heavily with STRIP EZE and let it sit for 30 minutes it will softten the glazing and make it easy to remove. The mothods for removing glazing mentioned in the book do work but the risk of breaking a pane or two is higher. Second, infinite PATIENCE is required and will be rewarded when you work on these windows. Do not try to rush through the process. Do one window at a time, the book will tell you how to OPEN all the windows, but just take one at a time apart. Rushing will cause more problems than you are correcting. And lastly, when using DAP 33 glazing, follow the directions on the back of the can EXACTLY. You are creating big problems for later if you don't. I allow my reglazed windows to "cure" in the sun for two weeks before I begin painting and sealing them. Anyway, buy this book before you make any decisions on replacing or repairing your old windows. You won't be sorry you did and if you have the time, save the old windows, they are really are works of art and in the case of double hung windows, highly functional.

This book is the bible of wooden window repair!

The revised and updated edition of Working Windows probably has twice the information of the original book, which was already the best book on the subject. And yet the price is still the same! I've repaired lots of windows, so I'm hardly a novice, but I still picked up a lot of tips and tricks and things I didn't know. And it's lovely that someone still wants to write about how to repair one of the eminently repairable things in a world in which most things are no longer repairable but merely disposable. In a way it's a sad commentary on our society that everything is thrown away rather than repaired, though many modern products aren't even repairable (like the replacement windows so many people have been talked into- when their rather short lifespan is over, they'll just go to the landfill). The author's writing style is humorous, which I enjoyed, because I see no reason why providing information precludes it from being entertaining (if you prefer that, the National Park Service has a nice, dry, boring article on the repair of historic windows which is widely available). And he explains things clearly enough that even someone who isn't very "handy" could still manage to repair a window. Anyone with wooden windows could benefit from having (and using) a copy of this book.

Answers I couldn't find elsewhere

I've been annoyed for years by books on doors and windows that were pretty much exclusively about NEW doors and windows. Old windows? Can't fix 'em with a touch of paint? Chuck 'em. This book takes a serious look inside of old windows, though it's probably most useful for houses 1890-1940. (My house is 1929, and the windows matched his directions perfectly.) While my windows were straightforward, and this book gave me the courage to take them apart, I also enjoyed the discussions of more difficult cases and how to cope with them. I'm actually happy this book didn't spend time on other options for old windows - how to replace them is outside the scope of the book, though the author certainly says there are times it's appropriate. It's good to find a book which explains one set of things and explains it well instead of trying to explain every possibility - especially when window replacement is covered in seemingly infinite depth in every other book on this subject.

Great primer for restoring gorgeous old windows

A great primer that convinced us to restore our classic six light double-hung windows instead of replacing them. So why would someone want to restore old windows instead of just replacing them? A) They're gorgeous, practical works of art...the eyes of the house. Our windows are "six-light prairie style, double hung" windows. They're one of the typical syles for bungalows in the Midwest, and are a big part of what make our house the thing we love.B) When restored properly, they will be weathertight as well as beautiful. (They are NOT maintenance free, however. If you are looking for maintenance free, restoration may not be for you.)C) It will cost us less to restore these windows than to replace them with a vinyl clad wood window. This is based on the number of windows we have and the shape that they are in.If those benefits are interesting to you, you need this book. Meany has written a fun book useful for the do-it-yourself'er as well as those wanting to learn about how window restoration works. With years of experience, Terence brings wisdom and humor (and some nice diagrams) to his writing. He gives beginners a realistic preview of what you're likely to encounter. Those with experience might find the book a bit basic but will appreciate the breadth of his experience and his recommendations on how to handle a few unusual challenges.This winter, we have toasty warm, restored and WORKING windows :)

Excellent Guide for DIY

I have recently purchased an older home that has a number of double-hung windows that need sash cords replaced and some minor repairs. I had never worked with wooden windows before and was at a loss for knowing where to start or what to do. This book was invaluable. I am half way through all the windows and without 'Working Windows' I would still be lost. The style of writing is fun and informative. The book contains general information through specific product recommendations.