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Vinyl windows, in more cases than not, are not allowed to be installed in houses located in neighborhoods with a historical preservation entity. Not only do they change the look of the house, alter a historical section of the home, they are also not the best windows to install in the first place for any home.
Vinyl Windows Usually Don’t Fit
As houses age they shift. Once perfectly squared windows are now slanted a little to the side and window spaces that used to be at one size have now shrunk or enlarged. The window frames in these homes though, have shifted with the home and are usually still a perfect fit. But, when they need to be repaired or replaced, it also means that the work has to be custom created to fit this unique window.
Because a historic window needs a custom fit, a prefabricated vinyl window will not be able to do the job.
Vinyl Windows Warp
When vinyl is exposed to the sun it gets soft and can warp. The warping can change the look of the vinyl windows to the point that they not only give the home a more modern look when installed, but they can also make the windows look worse than they did with the wood trim that just needed a coat of paint.
The materials that were originally used on the windows in a historic home withstand the heat and the sun better than more modern vinyl windows. And many of these historic windows have been around a very long time because of the materials they were originally made of, as compared to how long your vinyl windows will last if you use them as a replacement.
Don’t Go With Vinyl Windows Because of the Price
If you are looking at replacing the windows in your historic home, don’t be enticed by the low price the vinyl windows come with. Low price doesn’t have any bearing on quality and how long something will last. With vinyl, you may find yourself paying less at the beginning, but having to replace the vinyl windows sooner than you would with windows made of other materials.
In the long run, if you have to replace something that costs less more often than the more expensive product that lasts longer, it adds up to costing you more.
Don’t Forget About Your Historical Preservation Groups
Neighborhoods that have historical preservation groups have a say on what can and cannot be done with historical houses. And preservation groups are not like a neighborhood watch, they are legal entities that are created to protect historical neighborhoods and buildings with the full backing of local governments.
Any changes to a historical house have to be approved in advance by them, and vinyl windows are almost never approved. If you put in the vinyl windows without approval, the preservation group can make you remove them.
Renewal by Andersen has several great ideas for replacing windows in a historical home. Give us a call or schedule a free in-home consultation with a team member today!