What You Need To Know About Historic California Homes And Window Replacement

Do you have a historic home in California? Does your historic home have old, drafty wooden windows? Even though the windows add to the aesthetics, they may not truly combine form and function. Before you suffer through another cold night next to a drafty window, take a look at what you need to know about replacements and historic homes.

Is Your Home a Historic Home?

The answer to this question could dramatically change the way you renovate your home and your window replacement options. If you've always assumed your home is historic or you just think it is (or think it isn't), verify its status before you make any changes.

There are a few ways to verify historical home status in California. These include searches via the Office of Historic Preservation (this includes the National Register and California Register),a local planning department, local heritage/history commissions, or local/neighborhood preservation organizations.

Can You Choose Any Replacement Windows?

You've verified your home's historic status. Now what? Unlike other homes, historical structures need to follow a different type of California code. Along with all applicable local safety codes, you will also need to adhere to the California Historical Building Code(CHBC).

This code provides rules and regulations you must follow when making changes to a historical home in the state. These could include preservation, rehabilitation, or construction-related alterations. Replacement of the existing windows would fall under CHBC. This means your new windows would have to comply with this code's standards.

Instead of the wide array of options non-historical homeowners have, you may have a slimmer selection. But this doesn't mean you have to sacrifice energy efficiency, aesthetics, or quality. A window contractor that specializes in historical homes can help you to find the right replacements for your property.

Why Do Windows Matter?

Windows seem more like home accents than a major part of the structure to you. This makes it difficult to understand why you can't replace them with just any window.

Even though windows may not seem like a major part of the architecture, they are. Windows enhance the home's exterior, provide ventilation, let light in, and connect the natural outside world with the home's interior.

How Does History Affect Your Replacement Choice?

Windows are available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, materials, and styles. But not every window type is a historical quality option. Some windows have a modern look and will seem out of place in a period property.

Before you select are placement, talk to the contractor about the period style choices. These include the overall type(such as casement or picture), material makeup, and color palette. Older historic windows often have wooden-framed panes. This means you should avoid non-wood frame options, such as vinyl or fiberglass.

What Do You Need To Know About the Glass?

The frames and overall style may play into the historic aesthetic of your home. But the types of panes in there placement won't significantly affect the overall look or style.

Older glass is often poorly insulated. If the home still has its original windows or the existing ones are old replacements, it's likely you have inefficient single-pane glass. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, between 25 and 30 percent of home heat gains and losses comes from the windows. When you replace your historic home's windows, you can cut energy loss, increase home comfort, and decrease heating and cooling-related utility expenses with insulated glass.

Insulated windows are made from multiple panes of glass. These multi-pane windows sandwich gas between the glass. This creates a completely clear form of insulation.

Along with the frames and the glass, the window contractor can look for air leaks and seal the space. They can also suggest a glaze that can decrease UV light damage inside of your historic home, control the interior temperature, and reduce noise transmission.

Are you ready to replace the windows on your historic home? Contact Bob's Glass for more information.