 |  | | Spring Balances Bounce Back Cords, weights, and pulleys have been holding sash open for well over 150 years and are still at work in thousands of old-house windows. All the while, manufacturers have tried to match their effectiveness with systems promoted as smaller, simpler, or cheaper, but only one came close: the sash-spring counterbalance. Often installed as original equipment, spring balances are worth knowing about because these clever devices are not only historically appropriate for retrofitting old windows, but they’re also practical for solving some common, modern old-house problems. Read the whole story. 
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| The Ins and Outs of Insulated Windows For over a generation, window manufacturers have been on a quest to improve energy efficiency. Windows represent large insulation voids in a house, and while much heat often moves through the roof and via air leakage at sash seals and trim, expanses of glass can be a significant path. Because the high-tech mechanics and materials behind these improvements can be radically different than the design and construction of traditional windows, understanding the options that manufacturers offer, and what their impact can be on an old house, can help guide anyone considering new windows for historically appropriate replacements or additions. Read the whole story.   Up on the Roof"Whether I retire to bed early or late," wrote Thomas Jefferson, "I rise with the sun." Jefferson did get up at dawn each day because his bedroom at Monticello had a skylight in the center of the ceiling. In fact, the use of natural light pervades this famous house. In the late 18th century, Jefferson was one of the first architects in this country to incorporate skylights—a total of 13—into his home. Skylights have been added to residential rooftops ever since for light, ventilation, and even roof access in case of chimney fires. We’ll look at three centuries of America’s historic skylights and what you need to know about historically appropriate types when planning to introduce one to your old-house roof. Read the whole story. Fine Points on Pocket-Door Hardware Pocket doors separate the parlors and dining rooms of thousands of row houses, and top-hung rollers are the hardware that brought these doors to new levels of performance and popularity in the late 19th century. Taking a closer look at one of the most common hangers—the single iron-bar track type—helps explain why. Read the whole story.
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For more information on sponsoring an issue of the Old-House Savvy e-newsletter or other newsletters published by Restore Media, contact Greg Greene at ggreene@restoremedia.com. © Copyright 2006. Restore Media, LLC. All rights reserved. | ||||||||
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