Winchester, MA Residence
Allied Window and Beacon Hill Restoration have collaborated on numerous historic house projects and museums over the years and have established a reputation as a team willing to tackle the most challenging of situations. Inherent with all our historic house restorations, is the fact that each and every window opening has its own particular issues. This Victorian home, with its typical host of different window types, presented an additional challenge for both Beacon Hill Restoration and Allied Window, as we worked through the best possible campaign to breathe new life into the original window fabric and protect the clients investment with a storm panel that offered optimal performance while highlighting its nineteenth century fenestration.
All the bowed windows had wood frames built out to accept a standard non-curved triple track storm panel, but unfortunately were grooved into the wood sills where moisture was allowed to migrate for decades and promote deterioration. This is a typical scenario, as most storm window contractors do not want to address the bowed window challenge and liability. Beacon Hill Restoration completely restored all the window components, replaced missing elements in-kind and with accurate field measurements and accompanied photos, worked closely with the Allied Window team to produce bowed, custom colored storm panels and screens to match the primary sash. As the storm panels are nested in between the eastern style casing, and not on the surface, they virtually disappear and accentuate the curved features of the Victorian turrets.
Other criteria specified for this project were noise reduction and UV protection. As Allied Window offers several glazing options, many of the bowed storm panels were glazed with ¼” laminated glass with vented frames for the fixed, bowed, stained glass windows. All the custom shaped fixed panels for the stained-glass windows were provided with Allied’s custom venting system.
As several of the windows needed integral sliding screens, Allied provided their Historic One Lite Operable system with its permanent screen and inside removable lower unit. They too are nested and not surface mounted, so there is continuity with adjacent models throughout the façade.
Allied’s storm windows are specifically designed for historic structures as an “invisible” storm window, and therefore most historic organizations are not only familiar with the product, but often specify their use. As we are located on or near the Atlantic Ocean, we often have to provide marine glazing and special finishes such as “Coraflon” architectural coatings that will stand up to the brutal weather and salt conditions. Additionally, Allied Window can custom match any historic color with a sample, which is usually requested by most of our clients.
Beacon Hill Restoration’s highly skilled craftsmen, trained specifically in the disciplines and ethics of historic preservation, dovetails nicely with the same attention to detail that Allied Window provides with all its endeavors.
