You’d think with how much we talk about the benefits of energy-efficient replacement windows for Minnesota homeowners in areas like the Twin Cities and the southern communities of Savage, Lakeville, and Farmington, that storm windows wouldn’t be something we promote.
But for many homes around our area, modern storm windows can be a great solution to making their homes more comfortable while cutting heating and cooling bills. So of course the question arises, “Why not just replace my old windows?”
For many of our clients, that’s exactly what we recommend. But for others, it’s not the right window solution. Why? Because a lot of older and historic homes – built between the 1890s and the 1940s- have beautiful wood windows that are still in great shape, although they aren’t very energy efficient because they’re made with single pane glass and they might not fit snug in their openings anymore.
For older and historic homes with original wood windows, we recommend storm windows such as the ones we install from Mon-Ray.
When we come across these genuine wood windows, usually made from quarter-sawn oak or cedar, we know that nothing on the market today can match their beauty. Even well-made modern wood windows don’t compare, although they can come close.
Some of these homes get extra protection in the winter with older wood storm windows, which does cut down on air leakage and provides a bit more insulation. We’ve seen homes in areas like Summit Hill in St. Paul and the historic district in Stillwater that have those types of storm windows.
But those old cumbersome storms are a pain in the neck. They have to be put up every fall and taken down every spring and put into storage since they can’t be opened to allow air flow into the house. And because they’re wood, they require lots of maintenance like repainting and re-caulking. They’re heavy, they are awkward to work with, and you need a ladder, which can make them hazardous to your health! And all that up and down sometimes results in breakage, so that means glass replacement as well.
We have a better storm window solution.
The storms we install from Mon-Ray are designed to be kept up year round. Their frames are very thin, so they don’t obscure the view, and they can be installed on either the inside or outside.
These windows have been installed on thousands of historic buildings across the country, including schools and hospitals. In fact, Harvard University chose Mon-Ray storm windows to protect their historic buildings. And we have installed them on historic homes across Minnesota as well.
In addition to adding a protective, insulating layer to your windows, Mon-Ray storms also deliver an added benefit – reduced noise from the outside, because these are acoustic storm windows. So you get more energy efficiency and a quieter home.
If you’ve got older wood windows you’d like to preserve, why not contact us to see about having Mon-Ray storm windows installed? We are a licensed Minnesota home remodeling contractor, and we work in the greater Minneapolis and St. Paul metro area.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.