This Book is a Treasure
I finally got around to putting this book to use on my 100 year old Victorian and I cannot overstate how valuable it has been to me. It's like having somone next to you that knows what they are doing. Every situation I have encountered is covered in this book!
A phenomenal book, for the right consumer
This is one of my favorite books in my DIY collection, which is considerable. But it's not for everyone, as you might guess by reading the few negative reviews that people have posted. This is the book for an intelligent person who likes to fix things, but just hasn't had a previous opportunity to acquaint himself (or herself) with the facts of wood windows. It is densely packed with useful advice about every phase of window repair and restoration, including a lot of information about specific name-brand products (strippers, hardeners, fillers, glazing compound, thinners, paints), which is a big help on your visit to the shelves of the average DIY superstore. There are pages devoted to painting skills - the relative advantages of latex vs. oil-based paints, proper painting techniques and brush care. If you grew up around the trades you probably sucked in this stuff with your daddy's second-hand cigarette smoke, but if you are a self-taught DIYer, you are bound to discover a lot of things you've been doing wrong. As one detractor wrote in his review, this book is one man's opinion about window repair. That's absolutely true, but Terry Meany (who is this person "Jamie Shaw" that Amazon lists as the author?) is really up-front about these being his opinions and explains why he holds them. So it's easy to work from Meany's suggestions and your own experience to your own set of informed opinions. The book is also written in an engaging, articulate fashion. From this book I learned the word "solipsism," how it applies to restoring woodwork, and the connections between divorce and paint removal. It's an unusual DIY book that can provide that sort of information. Armed with this book I was able to dismantle and restore a set of rotted leaded glass casement windows I would never have dreamed of tackling had Terry Meany not given me the courage. Next project is all the broke sash cords...
Got Wood Windows?? Then this book is a lifesaver !
Several months ago we bought a 1910 two story with THIRTY double hung windows in it. None were working, all were painted shut inside and out AND to add insult to injury were also NAILED shut. WOW. I started working on them without any reference material and somewhat into the project discovered this book. It was a lifesaver. If you have an old house and want to keep the windows it came with, then this book is for you. If you want to know WHY you should keep your wooden windows instead of replacing them (which I think is a crime) with newer windows, read this book. If you want to know how all the several different types of these windows work and all the little tricks that will save you hours of work and days of indigestion as you start to work on them, read this book. It is also full of sources for antique replacement hardware which alone justifys the price since invariably these old windows are missing locks or other hardware or have a bad pulley or two. This book has helped me in a hundred ways in my project to rebuild these windows. I refer to it constantly. EVERYTHING is covered, even how to make screens for them. There were no questions I had about wooden windows that weren't answered in it. So get one and read it BEFORE you make any decision on rebulding or refurbishing your windows or replacing them, it is well written and humorous. You won't be sorry you did. Now for a couple of tips not in the book. First, very old window pane glazing assumes the consistency of concrete. Since I needed a way to remove the glass from the windows ( a must in rebuliding and refinishing the frames) without breaking it since it is the crinkly imperfect glass that is period to and a part of the windows and no longer available, I discovered that if you paint the glazing heavily with STRIP EZE and let it sit for 30 minutes it will softten the glazing and make it easy to remove. The mothods for removing glazing mentioned in the book do work but the risk of breaking a pane or two is higher. Second, infinite PATIENCE is required and will be rewarded when you work on these windows. Do not try to rush through the process. Do one window at a time, the book will tell you how to OPEN all the windows, but just take one at a time apart. Rushing will cause more problems than you are correcting. And lastly, when using DAP 33 glazing, follow the directions on the back of the can EXACTLY. You are creating big problems for later if you don't. I allow my reglazed windows to "cure" in the sun for two weeks before I begin painting and sealing them. Anyway, buy this book before you make any decisions on replacing or repairing your old windows. You won't be sorry you did and if you have the time, save the old windows, they are really are works of art and in the case of double hung windows, highly functional.
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