Im renovating a flat in a house built in 1900.
One thing Im in doubt about is retaining old wooden windowsils - one one hand I like them and know solid wood cleans up nicely, one the other I wonder id there are any long-term issues associated with with leaving the old stuff in. They are not particularly rotted. The walls are very thich - around 16'' or brick, hardly a crack.
bump?
What country is that? Germany?
My advice is to swap the windows.
These seem to be really fricking old, they're probably badly insulated and are going to let moisture in, look at the wallpaper peeling off and what seem to be mould stains. Just buy new ones, your heating bill is going to thank you.
>Germany?
>My advice is to swap the windows.
Latvia (but building tech is exact same)
Yea, im ripping the windows themself out 100% - the question is about the windowsils to. Rip or keep?
I saw so many similar looking interiors in Russia it made me think you're in Ryazan or something.
If the wood isn't harmed by moisture and mold - just polish it then varnish it (or paint it). I would recommend you to renovate them. But that's up to you, of course. Making commie windows look new will take some time. But they were making them rather sturdy - lots of similar-aged windows are still doing fine throughout post-soviet world. CHИПы пoдpaзyмeвaли зaзopы для вeнтиляции дaжe, хoтя люди дyмaли чтo этo yбoгиe щeли чepeз кoтopыe идёт cквoзняк.
>im ripping the windows themself out 100% - the question is about the windowsils to. Rip or keep?
Based on this post and the pics you've shown of interior views, you clearly don't know what a window sill is.
Hint: the sill is an integral part of the windows you say you going to "rip out 100%", and will be an integral part of any window you install in its place.
Everyone knew exactly what he was referring to you pedantic shithead. I find it unsurprising that you didn't tell us what the proper term would be, because you are not smart. You might know a lot, but you are stupid nonetheless.
>These seem to be really fricking old, they're probably badly insulated and are going to let moisture in, look at the wallpaper peeling off and what seem to be mould stains. Just buy new ones, your heating bill is going to thank you.
i don't think you pass this class in building science 101.
moisture comes from the inside from cooking, bathing and breathing, these windows leaking will bring cold dry air inside, but you're right the heating bill will be lower.
but op could get problems when he puts new tight windows in without insulating the walls.
right now the window pane is the coldest spot in this wall and water will condense here, (often there is a weep hole to let it flow outside.) if op replaces them the water will now condensate in the walls leading to mold and peeling wallpaper.
if you rip it out rip it out, back to hole made from bricks and install a modern tested together system, window, sill etc.
But think of restoring them, they look much nicer than a flat plastic or aluminum window. think of installing a second window inside, the walls appear to be thick enough, the air space between both windows works as a insulator.
Houses in the winter are extremely dry because as air warms it's capacity to hold water increases.
Ergo when hot air becomes cold like in a cold house in the summer moisture problem.
Also you're plain stupid, It's called rain omni genius. It tends to get things wet, especially big still things.
that's what i said.
warm air holding more water cool off when it touches the window so the air gets cooler and the moisture condenses at the window.
if you replace the window and the wall is colder than the new 3 pane window water condenses at the wall.
>It's called rain omni genius. It tends to get things wet, especially big still things.
whatever a big still thing is? a house since they don't usually speak?
hot air does not condensate as rapidly when cooled after being heated in the first place.
A big still thing is literally any object that is large and doesn't move jack ass.
Water problems are caused by rain and rain leakages. Not fricking air condensation.
>Water problems are caused by rain and rain leakages. Not fricking air condensation.
10000% WRONG in the case of single glazed windows, dickbreath zoomer moron.
>Condensation on single pane glass windows can be an annoying problem that can lead to mould growth and damage to the window frames.
https://learnglassblowing.com/preventing-and-stopping-condensation-on-single-pane-glass-windows-causes-consequences-and-prevention/
>...condensation is a potential issue because it could result in dangerous and destructive mold and mildew growth, and constantly exposing a wooden window frame to water can cause it to blister, crack, and warp. The moisture can also spread to the wall surrounding the window, leaving unsightly water stains and eventually causing the drywall to disintegrate.
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/windows/22812558/preventing-condensation-on-windows
Theres all kinds of materials and systems that will allow you to restore the existing frames and wearherproofing. Even if you have all new sash custom made with insulated glazing, it will cost orders of magnitude less that entirely replacing those windows with new ones of the same design, which will have to be custom made.
The small amount of deterioration seen is nothing for windows that age, and doesn't necessarily indicate leaks at all; single glazed windows sweat in winter when the inner surface is warm and often shows water damage around the bottoms of the sash, trim, sills, window seats, etc. from where it drips down and pools.
Keep them. if it gets cold where you are, you can use the shrink wrap window glazing in the winter.
Keep them
Get shrink wrap like
said.
Get the large sheets meant for sliding glass doors. The instructions say to just tape them up and not heatshrink them, but instead cut them to size and apply them as you would regular window heatshrink: The plastic is twice the thickness, and holds-up much better.
Let some other damn fool waste his time and money with such renovations.
> now you will have a wall mold problem.
Precisely. Insulate the walls from the inside, like a styrofoam sleeve inside a metal cup. The metal cup provides rigidity; the styrofoam provides a high R-value and a vapor barrier.
Renovate the windows, as desired, as others have suggested: strip, seal, paint.
What kind of problems are you concerned that leaving them will cause? If you clean them up well and weatherproof the windows properly I don't think you'd have any issues.
>I wonder id there are any long-term issues associated with with leaving the old stuff in. They are not particularly rotted
If you can swap the windows without removing the sills why mess with them. If you have to remove them and they are ok then put them back in. I'm not aware of any issues with old wood that is not rotted.
looks like shit
worse than mine from 1991 did
Yes it's better than anything you'll find nowadays
op, ripping those out would be incredible stupid
I would refinish the sills in place.
Replacing a 4/4 chunk of wood like that would cost a fortune
I want single-pane wood windows and I will research my ass off to find good ones.