- Totally relate to missing the old details—those quirks are part of the house’s charm.
- The noise reduction is a real game-changer though, especially on busy streets. I’ve seen people surprised by how much quieter their homes get, even without the “sound package” upgrades.
- Mixing original sashes with new windows is a smart compromise. I’ve found most guests don’t notice unless they’re really into old houses.
- Custom sizing is a pain—lead times and costs stack up fast, but comfort-wise, it’s tough to argue with warmer rooms and less draft.
- There’s always some nostalgia for old hardware, but the day-to-day benefits usually win out.
I get the appeal of quieter rooms, especially if you’re near a main road, but I still think there’s something to be said for original windows.
Tried that in my place, but honestly, the difference in look bugs me every time I walk past. The energy savings are nice, but matching the old profiles is way harder than the sales reps make it sound. Maybe I’m just picky, but I’d rather fix up the old ones and add storm windows—less landfill waste too.“Mixing original sashes with new windows is a smart compromise.”
“the difference in look bugs me every time I walk past”
I totally get that. I tried mixing new windows with my old sashes a few years back—thought I could live with it, but the mismatched profiles just stand out, especially when the light hits them weird. Did you find the sales reps glossed over the details? Mine kept saying “they’ll match perfectly,” but it was never quite right.
I’m curious, did you go with wood or vinyl for the new ones? I found the wood options still didn’t really nail that slim profile from the 1920s. Plus, the finish always seemed a little off.
As for storm windows, I’ve heard they can help with both noise and drafts, but do they actually make much difference for sound if you’re right by a busy street? I’ve only ever tried them for insulation. The landfill thing is a good point too—hard to justify tossing out solid old wood if it’s fixable.
Anyone else found a way to get modern efficiency without losing that old house charm?
- Totally agree about the sales reps—mine kept promising “historic match,” but when the windows showed up, the muntins were chunkier and the wood grain just looked off. It’s like they assume you won’t notice unless you’re obsessed with details (which, let’s be honest, most of us old house folks are).
- I went with wood too, thinking it’d blend in better than vinyl. Still not quite right. The finish was close but never that deep, slightly uneven look you get from 100-year-old paint.
- Tried interior storms for a while—helped with drafts a bit, but honestly didn’t do much for street noise. Maybe exterior storms would work better? I’m on a bus route and still hear everything.
- Totally hear you on tossing out solid old sashes. The landfill thing bugs me too. If your originals aren’t rotted out, sometimes just weatherstripping and adding storms gets you most of the way there for efficiency.
- It’s always a trade-off. I keep telling myself the quirks are part of the charm... even if they drive me nuts some days.
- Had the same issue with “historic match” promises.
Mine looked almost plastic-y, even though they swore it was real wood. Exterior storms helped a bit more with noise for me, but they’re kind of a pain to clean. Still, I’d rather keep my old sashes if I can—nothing else looks quite right.“the muntins were chunkier and the wood grain just looked off.”