Home » Renovation » Top Five Problems With Older Windows And Doors

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When carpenters build our homes, they nail down almost everything they construct so that it doesn’t move once it’s in place. Our windows and doors are the two big exceptions.

Photo by Jason Eppink

We open them, close them, crack them, slam them and do an assortment of other things to them that put them under stress. We humans may not even be their biggest threat. Mother Nature is busy pushing them around 24-7 – even when we’re out of town on vacation.

Let’s look at the most common ailments suffered by our windows and doors. Much of our discussion will focus on older wooden sash widows and wooden doors.

Painted Shut

If you live in an older home, complete with its original wooden sash windows, there’s a high probability that one or more of those windows – and most likely more – is painted shut. Some homeowners approach such windows with all kinds of cutting tools and do eventually make some progress. Sash windows can be disassembled, have their parts removed and then be properly stripped of paint. If you want to keep your old windows, this is the best way to get the job done as you will be able to rid those windows of multiple coats of paint.


Photo by Steve Snodgrass

Broken Counterweight System

Older, wooden, double hung windows will often refuse to stay open. That’s when homeowners start propping them up with books, sticks or whatever is handy. Again, these windows can be disassembled, fitted with replacements parts and reassembled, as this historic preservation article from NPR explains.


Photo by Niels Olson

Wood Rot

Exterior wooden doors and windows get pummeled with a lot of water through the years, making them one of the most common spots in a home to find dry rot. If an inspector pays a visit when you’re trying to finalize the sale of your home, he’ll go right to the windows and doors and identify areas of dry rot. Good paint, protection from the elements and repairing any signs of dry rot are your only options if you plan to stick with wood. Harvard Press has an excellent article that discusses this a little more in depth. Bob Vila has also shared some of his great expertise in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEbwOT_OAMU

Sagging and Damaged Screens

Window and door screens are always weak points; in older installations, it’s uncommon to find them all to be in good shape. Homeowners can replace screens themselves, but for the unenthusiastic-DIYer, it can be a tedious chore that delivers less than satisfactory results.

Photo by Jeff Samsonow

Drafts and Poor Insulating Properties

Older doors and windows were originally built to lower standards than today’s products. Weatherstripping – if there was any in the first place – is often missing or damaged. Repeated use causes windows to become loose within their casements, allowing cold air to flow into the home. Older doors are generally not well insulated. Old windows do not have the double or triple pane glass or the advanced glass and inert gases that give new windows vastly superior insulating properties.

Photo by Chris Darling

If you have wondered why most new construction and window replacement companies use vinyl windows, it is because they eliminate many of the problems on this list. They do not require painting, so paint buildup over the years is never a problem. Also, the materials can be more easily controlled during production, allowing for tighter tolerances and more precision engineering. Of course, vinyl virtually eliminates the threat of wood rot.

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Carrie Thompson works with Triple R Construction Inc and writes part time on a variety of subjects, including home improvement and home-making interests.

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