Windows and storm sash
Sash cords, glazing, loose joints, a sill gone soft: most of what goes wrong with an old window has a repair. We tell you when a window is past one.
An old double-hung window is a small piece of joinery: two sash, a frame, and cords and weights hidden in the pockets on either side. We repair them one window at a time. The sash come out, go to our shop on Danforth Street, and come back reglazed, repainted and running free. Where a sash is past saving, we make a new one to match.
What we don't do
We don't install vinyl or aluminum replacement units, and we don't repair windows made in the last few decades; the maker is the better call.
What's included
New sash cords, and the weights checked and rehung
Glass reset in new glazing putty; broken panes replaced
Joints reglued and soft wood repaired or spliced
A sash that has been painted shut, freed
Weatherstripping, and a storm window if you want one
A matching new sash where the old one is past repair
Pricing
What changes the cost
We print no figures. These are the things that move the number.
How many windows, and on how many floors
A third-floor window on a ladder is a different day's work from one at ground level.
What shape the wood is in
Sound wood is a repair. Soft wood is a splice. Rot through the frame is a different job.
The glass
Original glass, with its waves, can be reset. Replacing it is a choice, not a requirement.
The paint
Many layers on an old sash have to come off by the right method, and that takes longer.
Storm windows
Interior or exterior, wood or aluminum. They're priced apart from the repair.
The work, in order
How the work goes
Step 1: A note on every window
On the house visit we write down each window's condition: wood, glass, cords, paint, frame. You keep the notes whether or not you hire us.
Step 2: Your choice, in writing
The estimate gives repair, replacement or a mix, window by window, and says what each leaves out.
Step 3: Sash out, one window at a time
A protective panel fills each opening while its sash is in the shop, so the house stays closed up.
Step 4: Shop work
Glass out, wood repaired, joints glued, sash reglazed and painted.
Step 5: Back in, running
New cords, weatherstripping, hardware. Every sash opens and closes by hand before we leave.
Step 6: Walk-through
We go window by window with you and hand over the notes with any touch-ups.
Permits and rules
Historic districts
In a Portland historic district, or on a landmark, a change to an exterior window can need the city's review first. Repairing in kind often doesn't; replacing often does. We help you find out what applies at your address.
Houses built before 1978
The EPA's rule for older houses covers window replacement every time, and repair when it disturbs more than a small area. It shapes how we set up the room, not whether we can do the work.
Storm windows
A new storm window on a historic-district house can need review too. We check before we order one.
Questions about this work
Will my windows stop rattling?
A rattle is usually a loose stop, a worn cord or tired weatherstripping. Those are repairs, and the notes from the house visit say which one yours is.
Can you make old windows as tight as new ones?
Not quite. A repaired sash with weatherstripping and a good storm window closes the gaps that cause most drafts, but a new insulated unit still seals tighter. The comparison on our home page sets out where each one wins.
Do you ever replace a window?
Yes, when repair isn't the honest answer. We make a new wood sash or window to match the old profiles. We don't install vinyl.
My windows were painted before 1978. Does that change anything?
It changes how we work, not whether we can. We seal off the work area, keep dust down and clean up with a HEPA vacuum and wet wipes. The credentials page says what we hold.
Tell us about the house
A house visit is the first step. We write down what we see before we talk about a price.