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Interview with Patty Spencer of Fresh Air Sash Cord Repair

I recently interviewed Patty Spencer of Fresh Air - Sash Cord Repair regarding her expertise and passion for restoring old windows for energy efficiency, sustainability and restoration. Patty has a lot of insight into what a homeowner should be considering when taking on window restoration or maintenance.

1) How did you get started with restoring windows?

I started restoring windows shortly after my husband and I moved into our 1922 bungalow back in 1992. The bathroom window had broken sash cords and wouldn't stay open. We didn't have a bath fan, so there was no way to ventilate the room. I was between jobs at the time (I was working as a consulting engineer), so decided to try to fix it myself. I didn't know squat about window repair and went at it pretty blind. I ended up fixing it after many fits and starts. Before attempting other windows in the house, I did a little research and bought some appropriate tools. The next few years, I went back to engineering for awhile, then stopped to raise our two sons. They were still quite young when I started Fresh Air Sash Cord Repair in 1999.

2) What is the typical time for an ROI with window restoration?

I wouldn't characterize the ROI in terms of time. Instead, the return comes from a properly functioning, original double-hung window. There is a certain satisfaction around having an original piece of your old house come alive again. It can feel very frustrating when they don't work properly. Many people experience, for the first time, fresh airflow through their home. Adding weather stripping and a storm window, coupled with interior window coverings can greatly increase your comfort during the colder months. In fact, making those changes can increase the R-value of your old window to rival that of a new window. The old windows were made of old-growth Douglas fir or Cedar, both native trees to Oregon. The wood is tight grained and insect and weather resistant - and they have stood the test of time. With proper maintenance, these old windows will function for years to come.

3) What are some of the drawbacks and limitations with this kind of an endeavor?

Sometimes windows have deteriorated beyond reasonable repair, typically due to neglect. In those cases, I recommend new sash. There are companies in town that can replicate an old sash which can function on the pulley, cord and weight system. Occasionally, I will find a pair of windows with a light fixture mounted in between. This means there is electrical wiring running inside the weight pocket. Problems arise if/when the weights and sash cords get tangled in the wiring. I recommend moving the fixture and removing the wiring, leaving the window inoperable, or replacing the windows. I recently repaired a client's bathroom windows. A few months later, they decided to remodel and put a Jacuzzi tub under one of the windows. Building code required tempered glass in that window, which we were able to install so the client could keep his existing windows.

4) Are there any quick fixes which don’t cost a lot of money?

Proper maintenance is probably the best quick fix. Simple preventative maintenance measures can eliminate big problems down the road. Make sure the glazing is in place, sound, and painted. Make sure the sash and sills are well painted. But don't paint the sash cords or the tracks - use an oil-based product like Linseed Oil or Penetrol. Ensure your window locks are tight and function properly. Their purpose is to bring the meeting rails together, thereby reducing heat loss. Adding an exterior storm window will not only prolong the life of your original windows by protecting them from the elements, it will also add dead air space between the glass panes. Adding weather stripping, although not a quick fix, can decrease drafts and tighten up an original window and save energy. Other ideas on energy savings - Energy auditors routinely recommend energy saving measures such as lowering your thermostat one degree, insulating attics, unheated basements and walls, identifying and sealing leaky air ducts, installing a properly fitting fireplace damper, using CF bulbs, and when it’s time for new appliances, choose those Energy Star - rated. Rarely do they recommend window replacement. Interior thermal panes are another locally available option.

5) For those looking at buying a new home or renting, is there anything they should be looking for?

There needs to be at least one working window in each bedroom for egress in the event of fire. Sustainability and Preservation - I like to think of the whole picture, cradle to grave, when it comes to window restoration vs window replacement. Studies have shown that a single pane window, coupled with a well fitting storm window rivals new double-pane thermal replacement windows in terms of energy efficiency. But what is compelling to me is the idea of "embodied energy". Old windows, or any building component, has what's called "embodied energy", which is the energy it took to harvest raw materials (wood, glass), create the building component, transport the component and finally, install it. When we choose to restore a window, we are preserving that embodied energy and most likely, using local laborers to produce the work. Conversely, if we choose to replace that window, we are disposing of that embodied energy (which also uses energy), using more energy to harvest, produce and transport new window components. And the useful life of a typical replacement window is 20 years, plus or minus.

6) Any last thoughts you’d like to share?

The two most common problems people face with original double-hung windows is excess paint and broken sash cords. Windows with these problems are not beyond repair and can be made to function like I imagine they must have when the house was built. With a little TLC, we can imagine our Grandchildren looking through the wavy glass our Grandparents once gazed through.