As a Minnesota replacement window and door company that specializes in solutions for older and historic homes, we realize that the reason people are attracted to these houses is often in the details as well as the craftsmanship. You’ve probably seen many of the ones we’re talking about as you’ve driven down Summit Avenue in St. Paul or Lowry Hill in Minneapolis. You can even find them scattered around the state in areas like the older parts of Stillwater and Faribault. Preservation of those old homes is key, and that’s why there are entities like Historic Districts established to see that they are kept in as close to the original as possible.
One reason is that the lumber used in constructing these gems is simply not available any longer. Another is that often architectural components were hand-made or custom crafted, which makes replacing them with anything close to the original almost impossible. So because of that, when we’re working with historic home owners, we do our best to help them preserve the original windows and doors whenever possible.
But a common drawback to these houses is that they are drafty, and the windows and doors usually leak air. High heating and cooling bills are common, and it’s often uncomfortable indoors without the furnace or air conditioning turned way up. Why? The windows only have single pane glass, a very poor insulator. Plus those wood frames have shrunken as the lumber has aged, meaning they are often very loose in the openings, (The same is true for door frames.)
But we’re here to tell you that the answer is usually NOT tearing out those old windows and putting in new ones. Our solution? Most often it’s protecting those original windows and adding an extra layer of insulation with acoustic storm windows from Mon-Ray. These windows have been approved for use in historic renovation and preservation projects all across the country.
But at times keeping those old windows intact isn’t feasible. And so we offer the next best thing: replacement windows that replicate the look of the original windows but provide modern energy efficient window technology, including double or even triple pane glass.
What’s the best solution for your older home? We have no hard and fast answer – the best thing we can recommend is to contact us for a free evaluation of your current windows. We can then make suggestions, and if your home is in an area controlled by historic district requirements, we’ll work with that entity to make sure your new windows comply.
Window Outfitters, Inc. is THE replacement window and door company for the greater Minneapolis and St. Paul metro area. We specialize in window and exterior door solutions for historic homes.
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.
