Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 7, 1993 TAG: 9303090318
SECTION: BETTER HOMES PAGE: BH-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOANNE ANDERSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
MAKE SURE YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY: CLEAN WINDOWS
Windows can bestow as much character and charm on a house as any other architectural feature. Inside and out, they have style, shape, color and function. With a little care and no errant baseballs, windows will last for years; serving their dual purpose of keeping the outside out and providing a view to the outdoors.One of the first exterior spring jobs is cleaning the windows. Any commercial glass cleaner or a 4-to-1 water-vinegar mixture works well. Some people insist that using the vinegar mixture and rubbing the glass with newspaper yields the least amount of streaking. While cleaning the windows outside, check for loose paint around the window, any cracks or holes in the lower sill and deteriorating putty between panes of glass.
Paint should be gently scraped off, the surface sanded, primed and re-painted to match. The bottom sill is installed at a slant to direct moisture away from the window. If there is damage to a wooden sill, it must be fixed to prevent rotting. A wood preservative should be applied first; a couple of days later, some boiled linseed oil can be applied and allowed to dry. Then cracks can be filled with putty, and when that dries in two to three days, the entire sill is ready to be primed and painted. Loose putty between window panes should be scraped away and replaced. Putty does not hold the glass in the window frame; it creates a watertight seal between pieces of glass. So get rid of the old stuff, clean the area, and apply new glazing compound.
One of the neatest things about spring is (finally!) opening windows so warm fresh air can come in and household air can circulate. Storm windows and weatherstripping must be removed or slid out of place, while screens come down to deter birds and airborne insects from entering the house.
A possible obstacle here is sticky windows or broken screens. Paint and dirt are the most common culprits in casement and double hung windows inhibiting easy window function. Gently clean and scrape any channels until windows move smoothly. Then sand, paint if necessary, and rub with paraffin for continued smooth opening.
Screen holes may be repaired by pushing the wires back into line and dabbing with clear glue or installing a small patch. Screen materials are not very expensive, but screens "can be tricky to replace," says Bobby Nash of True Value Hardware. "It requires careful work following instructions in a home improvement book. Also, aluminum screening is recommended over fiberglass as the latter tends to stretch." Techniques may vary depending on the type of frame: aluminum, wood or fiberglass.
For windows that wind out, debris may need to be brushed away on the outside to allow the window to swing out. Mechanisms may creak for a few drops of household oil.
If you are considering replacing or installing a window, style, size and location must be addressed. Style of window could be a bay, bow, dormer, picture, casement, stained glass or greenhouse window to name a few. The size of the proposed window may be already determined by the location and whether it is a replacement window or a new window where there hasn't been one.
The south side of a house is desirable for windows because they allow sunshine and daylight all day year-round and additional warmth in the winter. West is least appealing; it is characterized by extra cold in the morning and extra hot in the afternoon. North is the choice among artists and craftsmen for its consistently diffused light and no extremes; naturally, it is the coolest in winter. East facing windows permit direct morning sun and light all day.
Set-up windows, or complete units that can be purchased ready-made, come complete with frame, glass, weatherstripping and mechanical pieces all assembled. Double-glazed glass is highly favored, because the two layers of glass have an insulating air space between them and can reduce heat loss by as much as 50 percent.
Ceiling windows or skylights have become immensely popular in the last decade. Roanoke architect Jack Weatherby of Cox and Associates advises that, "It doesn't pay to install a cheap skylight."
Of the flat, bubble or pyramid, and Velux (skylight that opens), Weatherby says several considerations are in order. "The glass comes in clear and tinted; tinted being the more common choice to soften direct sunlight. Also, skylights should be insulated and double-glazed with a channel to collect condensation and transfer it outside."