While old houses can be a sound investment, historical doors and windows may not always serve their purpose as effectively as new constructions. Doors and windows are built to keep out the weather, rodents and insects. But ordinary cracks on window sills and door frames may not be good indicator of how deep the rot has gone. Old houses of Victorian construction, for example, are made of solid pine that can last for decades. What you see on the surface may not have traveled deeper into the fine quality wood. So how do you tell if you need to repair or replace your 100-year old door?
Fortunately, there are a number of excellent clues that can help you determine whether you need a quick fix or an entirely new door. Here, we list 5 of them.
1. Light beams are easily visible entering through your historical windows or doors:
If light beams can enter closed doors and blinded windows, then there’s a definite problem with the window casing or the door frame or threshold. If you can see light enter your room through the window or door outlines, then that means that dust and bugs can also enter through those same cracks. This means that your doors and windows are not doing the job they were meant to do properly. Gaps in the framing can usually not be repaired with the degree of accuracy needed to keep out undesirable draft and insects. Hence, this is the first sign that your door or window needs replacing.
2. You can feel heat and cold through closed millwork doors and windows:
Insulation is one of the most important function of a window or door. If you feel hotter or colder in one room in comparison to the other, then replacing the window or door can help the temperature return to normal. Remember that heating systems consume more energy when doors and windows are faulty. You can easily recover the cost of replacing your historical doors or windows by the amount of energy costs you save over the long run.
3. You can see water condensing between multiple window panes:
Windows often have multiple panes to create a layer of thin air as an insulator between outside heat and temperature and the inside air. If you can see water droplets forming regularly on the inside pane, this means that cracks have developed on the outside pane. This is a good to replace your window with a new one.
4. Windows or doors that are difficult to open or close:
Not being able to unlock, open, or close your doors and windows during an emergency can be very dangerous during fires, floods, or earthquakes. Loose window panes are an invitation to thieves and animals. Hence, get your unsafe doors and windows replaced as soon as possible.
5. Your doors or windows do not match the rest of the decor:
Old houses seldom pass on to you in the same state they were in when they were built. Alterations or repairs done by previous owners during lean times may not match the rest of the interior design scheme. Replacing a historical window or door in line with the current scheme can raise the value of your home by a notch.
Are you looking to get a new door or window for your aged home? Explore new doors and windows with this comprehensive catalog today.