Can You Help My Steel Casement Windows?
When the Cross House was converted into a motel in 1950 the basement was transformed into motel rooms.
Really.
Alternations included replacing wood windows with five steel casement windows. These are not obvious from the outside, as two are under porches, and two are behind limestone “lattice”. The fifth steel window, under the library, is visible.
These windows kinda charm me and I plan to retain them. I have already found identical replacements for the non-working crank levers. I need though to remove the sashes in order to restore them
But how?
This is the one visible steel window. It is missing all its glass. There is a Plexiglass panel behind.
The sashes have this kind of pivot up and down. But how do I remove the pin so I can take the sashes out????????
Bottom.
Two steel windows are hidden behind impressive limestone “lattices”. And their condition is…
…terrible. Even if I can figure out how to remove the sashes from the frames, HOW do I actually get these sashes out from the limestone lattice? Help!
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We rented a commercial building once that had windows very similar to these, and the pins did not come out. There were three screws attaching each hinge to the sash; you removed the screws from the outside while the window was closed, then opened the window to remove the sash from the outside. I see that your hinges have three indentations; could they counter-sunk screwheads, covered with layers of paint? Even if yours are that way, that won’t solve the issue of getting to them through the limestone lattice…
I can’t answer from my own experience, but my guess that the hinge was pegged with a rivet turned up this thread which seems logical – http://www.oldhouseweb.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12336. Are the openings in the lattice big enough to access the hinges to undo them, then could you pull the sash into the basement from inside?
“pull the sash into the basement from inside”
Ah. But of course! But of course!
You get a gold star today, oh wise one!
My only thought was that they must have installed the windows from the basement side (at least for the lattice window), because there is no way for them to have installed them through the lattice. But Meg got there first, and was more helpful.
I remember back in the late 70s early 80s some if not all of the stone lattice was removed.
I am uncertain what you are referring to.
The Cross House has two stone “lattices” at the bottom of the tower. Both are extant. There was never any additional stone lattice.
The wood lattice for the porches has mostly gone missing however.
Ask and you receive!
This house has a guardian angel. I hope you don’t mind being an angel’s tool, Ross.
My house’s snagged me and is shaking her head at my meager attempts with the house but shouting hallelujah with the yard.
It was the lattice at the bottom of the tower.Then I think sometime in the 90s the stones were put back. I could be wrong but I always remember thinking that it was sad that part of it was missing.
I wonder if any pictures show the missing lattice?
Ross, does the mortar on the lattice look different than the rest? I need my magnifying glass to search for clues!
Looks like paint stripper is the first step. They had to be installed with the house intact, so the process just needs to be reversed. The poor things sure are begging for some TLC!
It looks like the visible indentations on the window-side hinge are spot-welds, but you’d need to strip the paint to be certain. The hinge pins are most likely riveted over when manufactured, so that leaves countersunk screws securing the frame-side hinge to the frame as the only likely means of easy removal. That’s where I’d look next. If they are screws, I’d suggest stripping the paint on them, and using a hammer-operates impact screwdriver to get them free. You may need to soak them with penetrating oil (for a while first PB Blaster is my fave)
It’s also possible that the inner hinges are welded to the frame too. The whole thing may have been installed as one intact unit. If that’s the case, the easiest route may be to grind/drill the hinge pins out, and then use small round-head bolts and locknuts to reinstall them.