I wonder why you want to replace the windows. I don't see anything in your photos that indicates the windows need replacing.

Judging by the storm window hangers in one photo your house is a few years old; probably at least 50. New aluminum clad windows would not be in keeping with the style of the house.

I'd scrape and patch and paint. Even if there are multiple layers of paint you can do a little scraping and these windows will look better than anything you will buy today.

If you are worried about energy efficiency, you can get some storm windows or even spend a little time making the existing double hung windows more weather tight. It takes a long, LONG time to recover the cost of new windows in fuel savings.

An excellent book on maintaining old windows is 'Working Windows' by Terry Meany. You can get it at several on-line booksellers.

I agree. As I looked at the pictures, I thought that your windows look better than the ones I've been stripping and reglazing. I'd love to have those storm windows. Restoring those windows will take more time than skill, but the result will look better than any vinyl replacement window. Your muntin profile gives the windows a dimension that will be difficult, if not impossible, to find in a vinyl replacement window. The tape between the glass or a removeable grill will never look the same. Easy doesn't mean better.

I know this will be a minority opinion. I also suggest you give very serious thought to keeping those windows. You can also add an insulation strip to the inside of that great storm window to decrease any air infiltration.

Please price a wooden replacement window, installation, and new storms. Compare that to the cost of restoring your windows. An energy audit will help you determine where you have heat loss in your home. It is incorrectly assumed that simply replacing windows is the answer to energy conservation in older homes.

Debbie
(If i can do a window, anyone can.)

Im not replacing them for the energy savings, I just want to be able to open them. I have seriously debated restoring them and just don't have the time. This window is not as bad as some of the others. Also on the front of the house and one side, the last owners replaced a set of 4 and 2 sets of 3 of these mulled together with an aluminum sliding picture window. I will try to get some more photos, and the house was build in the early 30's.

Sounds like you have a real dilemma. There is a contributor named "paint guy" who offers some great advice about windows. I hope he sees your post and is able to help you. Please let us know how it works out.

Is the house masonry (2 layer brick walls) or veneer (1 layer of brick with internal framing)?
You wil have very hard time finding anyone who will replace windows in a masonry house with anything but smaller windows set into the existing frames. The sashes are stripped out and new windows installed into the wood left behind.
If the house is brick veneer you can find a few installers who will do the job by removing the entire existing window.

The windows are actually in pretty good shape and do not need much work.

I have a 50 year old brick vaneer home and we replaced all 27 windows in our home with Weld-Jen double hung vinyl windows. All windows were custom made to fit the openings perfectly and no bricks were ever bothered. The interior sills were left alone and the windows fit like they had always been there. In main areas we have wood tone interiors which looks for the world like real wood. The windows tilt in for easy cleaning which can be a real plus if you have a two story house. All of the windows are low e thermopane windows and they have cut our utilities about 40%. You can also have muttons between the panes if you like that style. Suggest you obtain some bids from local window companies.

Well, since you are determined to replace...

You can probably use either type of window, though to be honest, it's always harder than window companies describe. I just put in a couple of Marvin Infinity windows (fiberglass insert replacements) in our 50 yr old house, and I must say, they look a h*ll of a lot better than the original wooden junk with aluminum triple-track storms. And they work.

The standard advice for which type to use is to look at the frame condition. If they are rotted, or out of square, they should come out, and new construction windows go in. A pressure treated frame can be built inside the opening if it is a masonry house. If they're not, you can use inserts, which are available in wood and fiberglass, too.

The outsides were originally wood, and then sometime later someone added aluminum casing to them. This is what you'll probably have to do also. You can hire someone to do this for you, or the window company can do it, or you can get the tools & materials to do it yourself. The caulking is fairly standard stuff that is usually paintable.

I don't know if in the end this will be much quicker then restoring the old ones, but you'd probably like everything to match. Either way, you're looking at a good bit of $$$. I'd probably hire this job out to a company that makes the window style you like. Or do a couple a year, like I am!

"A pressure treated frame can be built inside the opening if it is a masonry house. "

Or you can anchor te windows nto the masonry using tapcons and not loose the opening size (1.5 inches each way).
Lining the opening with wood os a shortcut used when the installer does not know how to anchor to masonry.

Well here is an update, I thought I could try to "restore" them, so I started with the screens and the storm windows, got a heat gun and started striping paint, thatÂs a freaking job there. The storm window and screen I got done look great but it takes an enormous amount of time. Also the parts that needed to be replaced are unavailable at any lumber yards around here things like shoe molding to hold the glass in the storm window, or my brick molding that is rotted out. So im just going to replace them one at a time, does anyone know where I can get the colored aluminum to pan/flash around the outside of the window? All the old houses I have looked at with replaced windows seem to have the old wood brick mold and sill/stools covered with this. Home stores sell replacement windows but not the stuff to install themÂ..

There are several companies out there who make custom size replacement windows. Personally I would not look to one of the big box stores for a solution.

You are going to have to decide where your budget is taking you. Wood, wood clad, glazing, etc, along with the quality of product you are willing to invest in.

I would be looking at both functionality and energy efficiency. Installation procedure is going to depend on manufacturer, and the construction of your home, which is not visible in your photos. You may be best served by using a manufacturer who provides a turn key solution.

Paul

I have replaced 17 windows in my 60 year old double brick house. I used vinyl replacement windows. They look great and they work. One window had a rotted frame. I built a new frame and sill with material you can purchase from any lumber yard.(not home store). I had one sill that was rotted which I repaired with a two part epoxy. It was a lot less work than stripping, painting and reglazing.

I have a 1927 built double brick Tudor. The metal casements are single paned with no low e. The original owner put in Pella pull down screens (most of which are gone or in a sad state). These casements are only about 1.25 to 1.50 thick so they fit well between the exterior brick row lock beneath the window and the edge of the interior window jams and stool. Problem is, modern windows are much thicker than these old casements (because they are thermo paned) and won't fit in the same place. If your window jambs and stool are deep enough, you could use that as your "new construction" opening for the new windows which you may very well need.