Answers to Your Toughest Bungalow Questions: Winter 2003


Q: Does anyone in the Bungalow Club have special knowledge of bungalow windows? I want to replace a few single windows and add a bay window. Several companies have given me estimates but none really blend with the old windows. I want to keep everything in harmony with the original but with modern double-glazed windows. What do you advise?

A: Windows are tough. Modern windows don't match the originals, and in many cases, are inferior to the originals, despite salesmen's claims.

Are your original windows truly beyond saving? Or do they just need maintenance--reglazing, painting, weatherstripping, etc. We advocate saving the original features of old homes as they are difficult to replace with something that matches the fit, materials and overall "feel" of the original.

The City of Milwaukee published a fine book several years ago titled As Good As New: A Guide to Rehabilitating the Exterior of Your Old Milwaukee Home. In the chapter on windows, author Paul Jakubovich writes, "Historically, windows were an important component of the design of a house, and much attention was paid to their size, configuration, and detailing by architects and builders."

If air leaks and maintenance are the issues, paying someone to work on them will usually be cheaper than replacements and will preserve the home's integrity. Even if portions of the wood have begun to rot, the window can often be repaired.

Jakubovich writes, "Replacement parts for century-old wooden window systems including pulleys, counterweights and sash cords, are still available today. Modern windows units, on the other hand, often require the manufacturer's specific replacement parts which may not be available in the future as designs change and companies go out of business."

If they absolutely must be replaced, seek out a reputable company that makes wood double-hung windows that will look fairly close to the originals.

The trick is getting the "divided lights" right--the upper sash of bungalow windows were often divided into several panes with vertical muntins separating them. Twin Cities bungalows often have a three-over-one configuration--three panes separated by muntins in the upper sash; one large pane in the lower sash.

Most replacement windows don't have these, or if they do, they are aluminum strips sealed between two panes of glass or are separate pieces that snap onto the inside of the window. As you've discovered, neither option looks authentic, especially from the exterior.

High-quality replacement windows will give you the option of adding muntins. You can get true divided lights which means that the upper sash of your window consists of several separate panes with wood muntins between them. You can also get "simulated divided lights" in which muntins are permanently bonded to the glass, inside and out.

Don't forget to use high-quality wood storm windows, too. Those aluminum combination types are inefficient and an eyesore.

Again, the best option is to save the original windows. Most of us never consider this option because we are bombarded with advertising from replacement window companies and are exhausted by the thought of doing the repair and maintenance ourselves. The public has come to believe that the only option for windows in need of maintenance is replacement.

Despite what some replacement window companies will tell you, most window-related heat loss is not through the glass. Most loss occurs in air leaks around or between the sashes. A well-sealed single-pane window, paired with a tight (and preferably original) wood storm window, actually has a higher "R-value" than a new, double-paned window alone.

Those who do decide to repair their original windows, however, face an additional challenge--finding someone to do it. Reputable workers can be difficult to find, but they're out there. Some of them advertise in this newsletter. If readers know of good window craftspeople, let us know, and we'll publish their names in the next newsletter.
Finally, we're concerned about your plan to add a bay window as bungalows did not have them. Bay windows became popular well after the bungalow era and installing one in your bungalow will scream "modern remodel."

You can order a copy of As Good As New: A Guide to Rehabilitating the Exterior of Your Old Milwaukee Home online for $15 plus shipping at www.mkedcd.org/planning/hpc/plghbk.html.

Another excellent book is Working Windows, A Guide to the Repair and Restoration of Wood Windows by Terence Meany. Also look for About Your House by public television's Bob Yapp. This book is currently out of print, but used copies are available online at Amazon.com and other booksellers.