Drew/Bock Syllabus 8/7/12
Course: Historic Windows Workshop #12FHPW1 Credit: 1 CEU
Meetings: Thursday Oct. 4 and Tuesday Oct. 9, 7-9PM; Saturday, Oct 6, 9AM-4PM,
Instructor: Gordon Bock ; PH: 301-565-0538 (Maryland)
Course Description: Windows are not only important architectural elements – literally the “eyes” of buildings large and small – in historic structures they are also valuable character-defining features worth retaining. Because traditional windows are built to be maintained, they can have very “green” service lives of a century and more once their construction and some basic upkeep techniques are understood.
The first evening session of this course will review though PowerPoint examples the 300-year architectural history of residential wood windows in America, arming attendees with a background in the stylistic vocabulary of windows as well as methods of construction, including historic widow glass. The second evening will expand into a look at steel casement windows, and then address how traditional windows stack up in the tug-of-war over energy efficiency and sustainable building practices that have come to the fore again in the 21st century.
The all-day Saturday session will be devoted to hands-on demonstrations and explorations of sash window maintenance and repair techniques with actual window parts and tools. After demonstrations and lunch, the class will break into groups to practice the use of epoxies, putty, pane replacement, and glass repair on actual sashes in the classroom.
NOTE: Attendees are asked to bring the following tools: 1) new 1” putty knife and 2) shop apron or smock.
Course Basic Outline:
Thursday Evening: Origins of leaded, glazed windows; evolution of sash windows; history and manufacture of window glass; survey of historic window styles and types; typical sash window construction; sash balance systems and hardware.
Saturday: Operation and disassembly of typical sash window; replacing sashes and weight system components; making wood sash window parts – historic and repair techniques; sash repairs with wood and epoxies; replacing glass and reglazing with putty; glass cutting; paint maintenance.
Tuesday Evening: Steel window history, design, and construction in America; maintenance and repair of steel windows. Sash windows and energy efficiency: ideas and techniques for improvements with storm windows, weatherstrips, reducing drafts, payback versus other options; new national window rehabilitation standards.
Supplementary Reading:
National Park Service Preservation Brief # 9: The Repair of Historic Windows (www.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief09.htm)
National Park Service Preservation Brief # 13: The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows (www.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief13.htm)
Save America’s Windows (John Leeke, publisher); www.historichomeworks.com
Caring for Your Historic House (Harry Abrams, publisher); Chapter on windows