We have a home that was built in the 1920s or 30s. The windows appear to have been neglected for a long long time. The putty around the window glass is peeling up, the paint on the sills is peeling, and the winter cold is causing tons of condensation to form between the inner windows and the storm windows. There is even mold growing on some of the storm window seals. They are so neglected that I don't know how to get started on this project. Thank you for taking the tinme to read my post. Hope to read your advice soon.

Lori Macdonald, December 2005

Inner windows and storm windows? do you mean shutters on the outside to cover the main glazed windows?.

First you should establish if you are in a property conservation area? if so you will have to contact planing department of you local council to find out what you can and can't do. DO NOT DO ANYTHING BEFOREHAND OR YOU MAY HAVE TO RIP IT OUT AGAIN. Also if you have a digital camera take pictures of the whole outside starting at the front then sides if detached finaly the rear. Keep them on record for reference. This may sound silly but it pays when arguing with the council.

But I'll assume you are not in a conservation area and can replace the windows with either wood or pvc.

Consider the following.

Do you want to keep the character of the property ie 20's 30's look?
If yes!
Are the windows structurally sound that re-puttying and painting will suffice.?
Are the windows really worth repairing? ie not much if any rot!
Would it pay to replace the windows with PVC double glazed units if you don't want to bother keeping the character of the property?
Do you think if you replaced the existing with the same type you would be capable of making them up on site using window sash style timber and glazing bars?
Or would it pay to have them made up and you fit?
All worth a thought.
How to reputty look up www.diyfixit.co.uk and select from the list on the top left. Quite interesting.
Materilas some oil based undercoat small 1inch brush & White spirit. Tub of putty. A large one if lots to do it works out cheaper. Some disposable surgical type gloves which you will need to mould the putty.
Some glazing brads [Square profile headless small nails to keep the glass in place. A small sheet of hardboard.

Now doing it.
Chase out carefully the remaining putty and take out the brad nails. If the glass is loose then as each one is removed replace with new one in new positiong. Place the brad against the glass pressing the point into the glazing bar and slide not hammer the hammer head down the glass onto the flat head of the brad tap until secure do same for each replacement.
Sliding the hammer head down the glass prevents any chance of hitting and breaking the glass.

Now your brads are in apply a coat of paint to the glazing bar making sure plenty gets in under the glass. Allow it to dry a bit while don the surgical gloves and you remove the putty from it's pot and roll it around in smallish lumps on a peice of hardboard mixing as much as possible of the linseed oil laying in the bottom of the pot into the putty. When ready mixed cut off a peice for the glazing bars you're working on and roll it into a sausage then apply it around the window pressing into the bar firmly. Then draw the putty knife around each pane as shown on www.diyfitit.co.uk under gereral building/glazing it's easier to see it than me explain it.
A my thanks to old Jim my BT collegue who was an ex builder aand a grade A+ with distinction plasterer who said to fill in a rotten bit of timber on you windows mix paint and putty together and it will never come out. The proprietry fillers start lifting.
Personally I doubt if another winter would make much difference so leave it until late Spring next year when the timber look and feels dry. Remember paint on damp wood and within a couple of months it will lift the paint off.

I'm a retired builder who's never had a complaint about my standard of work and am currently refurbishing two bathrooms in my property and I still search the sites for tips and tricks and am not a 'knowall' and still open to any suggestions.

bob, December 2005