Your Place: Getting old windows fixed the right way

The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

Q: Our house has lots of older windows that shake when the wind blows.

The windows have ropes and pulleys. The glass also is coming out of the window frames in a lot of cases.

We have an older house and do not want to replace the windows with modern stuff, because it never looks very good, and historic-looking replacements cost so much money and there are a lot of windows in our house.

We are just looking for a professional who might repair the mechanisms and replace the glass.

Any ideas?

A: I spent 14 years in a past life trying to repair old windows – 31, to be exact – so I think a carpenter experienced in dealing with older houses would be your best bet.

In many areas in which older houses are the rule, there are nonprofit groups that provide information on old-house products and services that would be useful to you.

In addition, there are bulletin boards in hardware stores and some home centers with business cards of repair people able to do the work.

It won’t come cheap – with an older house, nothing ever does – but the right carpenter or restoration contractor can take your windows back to their glorious past.

You could do the job yourself, with a little guidance. (Those same old-house groups often sponsor seminars in repairs.)

The windows’ ropes should be changed to chains, which will last longer. Plus, it’s not as easy to find replacement rope as it is chain.

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(Contact Alan J. Heavens at aheavensphillynews.com or write him at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Box 8263, Philadelphia PA 19101. Volume prohibits individual replies.)

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