Why
should I choose wooden windows?
Traditional wooden windows are usually the
right choice for an older home. They provide
much of the visual interest, as well as a
sense of warmth, beauty and quality for any
home. Wood is one of the best insulators,
far better than aluminum or vinyl. Wooden
windows provide lasting quality for your home. |
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Don't
wooden windows require a lot more maintenance
than vinyl or aluminum windows?
Wooden windows do require maintenance, as
do vinyl and aluminum windows, but the beauty
of wood windows is that they can be maintained
to last for centuries. They can be simply
and economically repaired. Vinyl and aluminum
windows are difficult to repair and are usually
replaced (at greater cost). It is almost always
more feasible to retain and repair wooden
windows than to replace them with metal examples
or plastic alternatives. Studies in Great
Britain have shown that replacement of original
features with inappropriate modern substitutes
can reduce the value of the house. |
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Aren't
double (or triple) glazed windows more thermally
efficient than old fashioned single glazed
windows?
Well, maybe. You have to be careful that
you are comparing apples to apples. A traditional
single glazed movable sash has a lower R-value
than double glazed insulated glass BUT that
same traditional single glazed sash with a
storm window has a greater thermal efficiency
than the double glazed insulated glass. This
is because the optimum spacing between sheets
of glass is 3/4" to 3". A well made
storm window over a single glazed window will
reduce window heat losses by over 50%. To
quote B.C. Hydro: " It should be noted
that properly installed storm windows are
more thermally efficient than many sealed
double-glazed windows and as storm windows
are usually less expensive than replacement
windows, they probably constitute the best
investment value for retrofit applications." |
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Do
your windows and door prices include hardware?
Windows include specific solid brass hardware.
Bronze weather stripping is included on casement
windows and doors. Pre-hung door units include
hinges and head and foot bolts if appropriate. |
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Do
you use putty or wood stops in your windows?
Putty on single glazed units; wooden stops
on thermal glazed units. |
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Doesn't
putty deteriorate and need replacement?
Typically putty will outlast wooden stops.
However, thermal units can be prone to failure
and the wooden stops facilitate replacement
of the thermal units. |
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What
type of lift system do you use for your double
hung window units?
Counter weights with pulleys. The sash can
be hung on chains, ropes or spiral balances.
(These are built as traditional double hung
windows.) |
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Do
your prices include painting or staining?
All products except mouldings are available
primed or natural. Your painter will do the
finish paint or stain. |
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Do
your prices include installation?
Most pricing is freight on board Vintage Woodworks
Inc.. However we do install storm windows
in the greater Victoria area. Commercial window
work, which usually involve larger brick buildings,
is price according to the client requirements.
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