Historic Zoning Commission

Fourth and Gill H-1: Level II

11-J-13-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Major repair or replacement of materials or architectural elements.

Replace one original window on the 1st-level front of the house and two originals on the north side to match the existing 2/2 double-hung configuration, but with wooden simulated divided light windows.

Site Info

One-story frame with weatherboard wall covering. Front-gable roof with asphalt shingle roof covering, sawn wood bargeboard and corner brackets, sawn wood attic vent. Two-over-two double- hung windows. One-story full shed roofed porch with replacement details. Interior central stuccoed chimney. Stuccoed foundation. Rectangular shotgun plan. Gothic arched pediment at front window. (C)

1. The three windows proposed to be replaced are the original 2/2 double-hung windows.

2. The two windows on the north side of the house exhibit multiple layers of paint and caulking. There are some small gaps between the sashes and frames that may cause some degree of difficulty in operation.

3. The windows do not exhibit signs of rot that are readily visible.

4. The window in the front gable of the house is a replacement window.

5. Staff finds the following facts from The "Windows" issue of the National Alliance for Preservation Commissions' Alliance Review, Jan-Feb. 2012:

The best insulation on a small scale is dead air space. The extra dead air space created with a sealed storm window (typically about two inches, opposed to approximately 1/16 to 1/32 of an inch in insulating glass) means more insulation and increased energy efficiency.

Air infiltration is the principal cause of energy loss in a window; therefore, existing windows can be repaired to eliminate gaps in order to reduce air infiltration. Window retrofits can achieve comparable energy savings at a much lower cost.

In addition to weatherstripping and storm windows, caulking around the window trim will help reduce drafts. The installation of a double-glazed replacement window alone will not solve problems of air leakage in old wood-framed buildings. Moreover, most of the heat loss in a house occurs in areas other than windows; insulation in attics and between floors and weather stripping around doors can reduce energy loss.

In most cases, however, a well-maintained or fully restored, tight-fitting, properly functioning, weatherstripped wood window coupled with a high-quality storm window will have virtually the same insulating properties as a double-glazed replacement window.