Did anyone try those stick-on films that mimic distortion, or is that just a gimmick?
I've worked with those films a couple of times, and honestly, they're not quite the same as real wavy glass. Up close, you can usually spot the difference, especially in certain lighting. If you're aiming for authenticity, there are actually some specialty glass shops that can source reproduction cylinder or mouth-blown glass—pricey, but the look is spot-on. The films are decent if you just want a hint of distortion without a big investment, but I wouldn't call them a true replacement.
- Agree, the films just can’t match the depth or character of real old glass.
- In historic districts, I’ve seen inspectors spot the difference right away—especially when the sun hits at an angle.
- For folks who want energy efficiency and that antique look, there are insulated units with real mouth-blown glass, but they’re not cheap and lead times can be rough.
- Quick tip: Sometimes you can salvage old sash and just reglaze with reproduction glass instead of full replacement. It’s a bit more labor but keeps the original frames, which helps with authenticity.
- If cost’s a big factor, the films are fine from a distance, just don’t expect to fool anyone up close.
That’s spot on about films—they just don’t have the same vibe as actual old glass, especially when light hits them at the wrong angle. I’ve had clients try to sneak by with film in historic homes, and yeah, inspectors picked up on it right away. Salvaging old sash and reglazing is a great call if you’re up for the extra work. The feel of a real wood frame can make a huge difference. I know the insulated units with mouth-blown glass are pricey, but for folks who want both efficiency and that wavy look, sometimes it’s worth the wait (and the bill). You can really tell the difference once it’s in place.
Yeah, I tried the film route in my 1920s bungalow—looked okay until the sun hit it just right, then it was like, “Surprise! I’m plastic.” Ended up biting the bullet and having a couple sashes rebuilt with salvaged glass. Not cheap, and it took forever, but honestly, you’d never know they weren’t original unless you got up real close. Still can’t believe how much warmer the living room feels now. Wouldn’t want to do every window that way, but for the main rooms, totally worth it.
I get why you went with salvaged glass, but I’m not totally convinced it’s the only way to keep that old house vibe. I’ve seen some of the newer wood windows with simulated divided lights, and honestly, from the street—or even just hanging out in the room—they look pretty legit. Maybe not 100% perfect up close, but for me the tradeoff is worth it for the energy efficiency (and not having to hunt down old glass that fits).
I actually tried a combo in my place—main windows are original, just weatherstripped and repainted, and then I put in new wood windows in the back where guests never go. It’s not seamless if you really study it, but it saved a ton of money and my heating bill isn’t so scary now.
Guess it depends how picky you are about matching every detail. Personally, I’d rather have something that works and doesn’t break the bank, even if it’s not 100% original.
That’s a pretty practical approach, honestly. I’m always curious—did you notice much difference in sound or draftiness between your old and new windows? I get the appeal of salvaged glass, but sometimes you’ve gotta weigh the hassle against comfort and cost. Your mix-and-match solution sounds like it hits a nice middle ground.
I totally get where you’re coming from about the hassle vs. comfort thing. When we swapped out the original 1930s windows in our place, I was really torn. The old wavy glass looked amazing, but man, those drafts in January... not so much. We went with some new double-hung ones that are styled to look old (the kind with the divided lites and all that), but they’re modern on the inside.
The difference was wild. Before, you could literally feel a breeze if you stood next to the window on a windy day—even with weatherstripping. After the new ones went in, it was just... quiet. No more rattling panes or that weird whistling noise when it got stormy. The heating bill dropped a bit too, which honestly surprised me since I was mostly focused on aesthetics.
I’ll admit, I did miss the character of the old glass for a while. There’s just something about those little imperfections you can’t fake. But not waking up to frozen condensation on the inside of my windows made up for it pretty quick. I did keep a couple of the old sashes and turned them into picture frames, so at least they didn’t end up in a landfill.
Mixing salvaged glass with new frames sounds like a cool compromise if you’ve got the patience for it. I just wasn’t up for that level of DIY, especially after seeing how much work even the “easy” install took. Sometimes you’ve gotta pick your battles, right? For me, energy efficiency won out in the end, but I get why people want to hang onto the original look as much as possible.