- I’ve tried saving old frames a couple times, but honestly, it’s hit or miss.
- If the wood is just a little soft, I’ll dig out the rot, hit it with wood hardener, and patch with epoxy—like you said, patience (and swearing) required.
- Once the frame starts crumbling or you see daylight through gaps, I don’t bother. Replacement is less hassle in the long run.
- Newer windows from the big stores look nice at first but I’ve had seals fail in five years—meanwhile, my 1940s sashes are still kicking after a little TLC.
- Glass is another story. If it’s wavy or has bubbles (the old stuff), I keep it for projects or donate to salvage shops. Modern glass? Usually just recycle unless someone wants it for greenhouse panels or something.
- Weatherstripping is cheap insurance. Even if you’re not restoring everything, adding that makes a huge difference in drafts.
- Not sure there’s a “right” answer but I’m always skeptical of miracle fixes. Sometimes you gotta know when to fold ‘em…
You nailed it with the patience and swearing bit—nothing like digging out that old rot to test your resolve. I’m with you, there’s a point where you just have to toss in the towel. I tried patching up a frame last winter and the thing basically turned to mulch in my hands. Sometimes old wood just isn’t worth the trouble.
Can’t argue about the new windows either. I put in a couple from one of the big box stores thinking I was set for life, but the seals went bad faster than I expected. Meanwhile, the original windows in my attic are still solid after a little love. Makes you wonder what they’re doing different now.
Funny you mention wavy glass—I’ve got a few panes stashed in my garage for “future projects” that may or may not ever happen. At least they look cool.
Weatherstripping is hands-down the best upgrade for the money. Even if you do nothing else, that’s worth it. No shame in knowing when to call it quits on a frame, either. Sometimes replacing is just less headache in the long run.
Weatherstripping is hands-down the best upgrade for the money. Even if you do nothing else, that’s worth it.
Couldn’t agree more about weatherstripping—such a small thing but it makes a huge difference. I’ve noticed with older frames, sometimes just sealing them up and adding a storm window gives you almost as much benefit as a full replacement, at least energy-wise. I get the temptation to ditch old wood when it’s falling apart, though. Ever tried reusing the wavy glass in a new sash, or is it mostly just garage art at this point? Curious if anyone’s actually managed to get a decent airtight fit with those old panes...
Tried reusing wavy glass once when I rebuilt a couple sashes in my 1920s place. It’s doable, but honestly, getting a tight seal is tricky. The old glass isn’t always perfectly flat, so you end up with tiny gaps even if you’re careful with the glazing putty. I used some modern weatherstripping and it helped, but it’s never as airtight as new stuff. Still, I like the look—there’s something about that old glass that just fits the house.
I’ve also kept a few busted frames out in the shed for projects, but most of them just collect dust. The storm window trick works well here in the Midwest winters, especially if you can get a decent fit. Full replacements are tempting when the rot gets bad, but for now, patching and sealing seems to do the job.
- Keeping the wavy glass is a solid move—adds so much character, even if it’s not perfect.
- Getting a tight seal with old glass can be frustrating. No real way around the slight gaps sometimes, especially with uneven panes.
- Weatherstripping’s a good workaround. Not flawless, but keeps drafts down enough for most folks.
- Storm windows are underrated in old homes, honestly. They make a big difference during Midwest winters and buy you time before full replacement.
- Rot’s always the tipping point. If you’re just patching for now, that’s totally valid... sometimes you can stretch original frames longer than people think.
Storm windows are underrated in old homes, honestly. They make a big difference during Midwest winters and buy you time before full replacement.
I’ll give you that—storm windows definitely helped us limp through a couple of brutal winters. Our place is an early ‘30s brick, and half the windows have that wavy glass everyone loves. I tried weatherstripping, but between the quirky frames and some panes that were just not square, there’s always a draft somewhere.
I’ve patched soft spots in the sills with epoxy more times than I can count. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just stubbornness keeping me from biting the bullet on full replacements. The rot hasn’t won yet, but one corner’s looking sketchy.
Curious if anyone’s actually gone for the full sash rebuild instead of replacement? I keep hearing it’s worth it for the character, but seems like a ton of work for maybe not much payoff. Anyone regret doing all that labor instead of just swapping in new?
I hear you on the wavy glass—ours has that too, and I get the appeal, but honestly the drafts just wear me down every winter. I actually went with full replacements in a few rooms after years of patching and fiddling with sashes. It’s not as pretty, but man, the comfort difference is wild. Part of me misses the old look, sure, but I don’t miss the ice on the inside or the relentless painting. Sometimes I think we over-romanticize the “character” when we’re the ones freezing.
Yeah, I totally get what you mean about the comfort difference. I used to patch up the old frames every year, but after a while it just felt like throwing money (and time) at a losing battle. Swapping out a few of the worst offenders made winter so much easier. Still, I do miss that wavy glass vibe—nothing else quite looks the same. I tried to salvage some panes for little projects, but honestly most of them just ended up in the garage collecting dust.
I totally relate to the whole “collecting dust in the garage” thing—mine are still leaning against the wall, waiting for inspiration to strike. Honestly, I was torn between just tossing them or trying to make something useful. Here’s what I ended up doing, step by step, in case it helps:
First, I cleaned up a couple of the better frames (lots of old paint and gunk). Then, I gave one a quick sand and tried using it as a rustic picture frame. Not gonna lie, it took way longer than I thought to get it looking halfway decent, but there’s something cool about seeing those wavy panes on the wall. For the rest, I started small—used a few glass pieces as makeshift plant trays. Not glamorous, but at least they’re not just sitting around.
It’s tough letting go of those old details, but honestly, comfort wins out for me too. Maybe down the line I’ll try something more ambitious with the leftovers... or just finally let them go. Either way, you’re not alone in missing that old glass vibe.
I hear you on the time sink—those old frames always look like a quick project until you’re halfway through scraping off mystery gunk from the 60s. I tried turning a couple into a headboard once, but after almost dropping a pane on my foot (and a lot of swearing), I gave up and just leaned them behind a bench for “decor.” My wife calls it “vintage clutter,” but hey, it’s better than the landfill.
I like the plant tray idea, though. Never thought about that. Anyone ever try making a cold frame for the garden with these? I keep thinking I’ll finally put my pile to use for seedlings, but then spring rolls around and I just buy plastic trays again. Curious if it’s worth the hassle or just another Pinterest fail waiting to happen...