Caring for Old Wood Windows in Triangle Homes

Original wood windows are one of the defining features of older Triangle neighborhoods, from Oakwood and Boylan Heights in Raleigh to Trinity Park and Watts-Hillandale in Durham, central Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Many have lasted a century. They can last much longer with modest, regular care, and that care costs far less than replacement. Raleigh's historic design guidelines put it plainly: peeling paint, air leaks, sticking sashes and broken panes are repairable conditions that don't call for replacement.

How a double-hung window works

Most early Triangle houses have wooden double-hung windows: two sashes that slide past each other. Each sash holds glass set in glazing putty, sometimes divided by muntins. In many older windows, cords or chains run over pulleys to counterweights hidden in the frame, which is why the sash stays where you put it. Knowing the parts makes maintenance less mysterious.

A yearly routine

Spring, after pollen season:

• Wash glass and wipe tracks.
• Look at the putty on the outside. Cracked, missing or loose glazing lets water into the wood.
• Check the sills. Water should run off, not pond. Soft spots mean rot.
• Rinse and inspect storm windows, and make sure their weep holes are clear.

Fall, before heating season:

• Check weatherstripping and replace worn pieces.
• Make sure locks pull the meeting rails tight.
• Touch up paint on sills and lower sash rails, which take the most weather.
• Install or close storm panels.

Common repairs

• Broken sash cord. The sash won't stay up. Replacing cords is a straightforward job; the guidelines note that changing a sash cord is relatively simple.
• Sticking sash. Often from paint buildup. Carefully cut the paint seal, clean the track and, as the guidelines suggest, a light coat of paste wax helps the sash slide.
• Loose or missing putty. Remove failed glazing and reglaze, then prime and paint. The paint should lap slightly onto the glass to seal the joint.
• Broken pane. Replace the glass and reglaze. If you have wavy original glass, the guidelines recommend keeping it; salvage glass can sometimes match.
• Rotted sill or lower rail. Small areas can be consolidated with epoxy; larger ones can be patched or spliced with new wood. Replace only the deteriorated part, not the whole unit.

Make them efficient

The guidelines' sustainability chapter says that once windows are repaired and weathertight, adding storm windows can produce efficiency comparable to double glazing, at far less cost and without losing historic material. Good options:

• Exterior storms with narrow frames painted or enamel-finished to match the sash, with dividers aligned to the meeting rails.
• Interior storms that are tension-mounted with airtight gaskets.
• Weatherstripping at the meeting rails, jambs and sill.

Add attic and crawl-space insulation too. The guidelines note that insulating the attic and crawl space reduces energy costs more than insulating walls and is far less intrusive.

Lead safety

If your house was built before 1978, assume the window paint may contain lead. Friction surfaces like sashes and tracks generate dust as they rub. For your own work, use wet scraping, avoid power sanding and heat guns, and clean up thoroughly. If you hire someone, North Carolina's G.S. 130A-453.24 requires a certified renovation firm for paid renovation work in pre-1978 housing. See our lead-safe renovation guide.

A basic window kit

If you plan to do your own upkeep, a small kit covers most tasks: a stiff putty knife and a 5-in-1 tool, glazing putty or compound, glazier's points, exterior primer and paint, replacement sash cord, a utility knife for cutting paint seals, paste wax, a spray bottle for wet scraping, and plastic sheeting and a HEPA vacuum for cleanup. Work on one sash at a time, and take photos before you remove stops so you can put everything back the same way.

When to call a pro

• many windows with failed putty or rot;
• sashes painted shut throughout the house;
• second-story windows that need to be removed for repair;
• any work in a local historic district that changes materials or appearance, which may need a COA.

Look for window restoration specialists rather than replacement sales companies. In Raleigh's districts, see Oakwood windows. For when replacement does make sense, see our windows guide. Hillsborough's historic district has its own review; see Hillsborough.