Some details as to which models and options you are looking at would be helpful.

I'll try and dig them out. That was part of my problem lol. I was getting overwhelmed trying to figure out the differences between them :(

sivyaleah, Please please please post this note on the forums at oldhouseweb.com. There are homeowners over there who restore original wood windows and can walk you through steps as well as save you lots of $$$.

I would not take the word of your contractor - 99% of contractors don't know anything about restoration. And unless your architect is an old home specialist, I'd research further.

Here's a Mass window restoration company, and she travels, as well.
http://www.heartwoodrestoration.com/
At least give her a call and get additional info.

Here is a link that might be useful: window restoration

Hi Patser.

Actually - my contractor specializes in restoration of old buildings. The company I used to work for did many projects with NYC Housing Preservation and Development - and has dealt with repairing and replacing more windows that one could count.

I trust his judgement completely when it comes to this. He was out at my house a few weeks ago for the home inspection, because he didn't want to take the inspector's word for what he found. The inspector also recommended complete replacement, as there is water damage (and past insect damage) to many of them from gutters which have not been maintained for many years (the house, has been sitting empty for a long time).

We've lived in a Queen Anne, a 1905 4 square and now a 1919 bungalow and we've done restoration on all. We've also been very active in historic preservation in each community.

I've never seen vinyl or aluminum windows that look "right" on old homes. If it was me, I'd restore sills and broken glass where possible, thereby saving money for new wood windows on those that actually are in the worst shape.

We took out vinyl windows in our current home and went with wooden Marvin Ultimate Double hung windows. The vinyl looked horrible, especially from outside.

You are lucky that you have an architect and contractor that are sympathetic. I'd just encourage you to consider each window separately AND get the input of someone who does actually work in window restoration.

For something as expensive and irreversible as windows, I'm glad you are waiting. I think you'll be happy you did.

Now, back to those doors....what's going on with them?

Any chance you can post a picture of your new/old house?

I can post a picture! I'm heading out for the day, but once I'm back I'll try and figure it out :)

The doors need replacement too. Sadly, the last owner put an ugly door on the front of the house, with a fake "stained glass" storm door. Ugh, awful. I don't even want a storm door. I'm looking at Jeld-Wyn's line of Arts and Crafts doors - in wood.

Also, I am adding a sliding glass door to the kitchen, as there is no access to the back yard area at all. It's a corner lot, and there are 2 doors to each side of the house, but no convenient way to get into the Kitchen from the detached garage. That part of the Kitchen, used to be the back porch - previous Owners enclosed it ages ago (good for me as it added much needed square footage to the Kitchen).

Those two doors on the side of the house? One leads to a portico (Possibly once a car port?) and the door is French door, paned glass. We need to find something more appropriate and more secure but good looking since it can be seen from the living room.

We think this door was actually one of the doors from upstairs which lead to the balcony shared by two of the bedrooms (they closed off one entrance, which we are going to open up again). It needs repair; which we'll be doing. So does it match, in the other bedroom.

The other side door leading to the basement and Kitchen, is a mangled mess - and; get this - is basically a door for "inside" the house! Apparently easy to break into, the lock is just a basic bathroom/bedroom type of lock. Unbelievable. We just need a decent serviceable, safe door there.

I bought a Craftsman with similar issues. Some of the windows I am planning on restoring myself, but the south side windows were shot. I went with Marvin wood/aluminum clad and love them. Here are some photos of the before and afters. The first is the removed windows- unfortunately the photos don't show the holes in the wood! Imagine the drafts I felt. The new windows look great, fit in well with the house's age and style and I love how they operate. No more drafts! They were expensive - over $800 each for the double hungs, but I think they were worth it.