The Never-Ending Pantry Windows
The pantry of the Cross House has two diamond-paned windows. This is the terrifying BEFORE image. Worry not, because all looks much better now! I promise!
The BEFORE. Eek! The fiberglass insulation? I stuffed that into a missing pane three years ago to keep freezing wind from blowing into the house. Remarkably though the wood bits are in fine condition. Which is amazing for 123-year-old wood sashes.
Step #1 in restoring each window is to remove the diamond glass panes. Not fun! It’s also vital to keep them in precise order so they fit back into place, as each pane is slightly different.
An advantage of living across the street from a car wash (Splash n Dash!) is that old windows can be cleaned in a dash! The old-growth wood is, thankfully, resistant to being damaged by the high pressure.
After the TEDIOUS re-glazing of 4,876 pieces of diamond-shaped panes, the sash is primed and then painted black. The paint is, without concern, slopped onto the glass. The end result is, well, a visual mess. But…not for long!
With a putty knife, and straight-edge razor, quick work is made of the sloppy paint. The putty knife is ON the glass a bit, so the paint edge is also on the glass, thus protecting the glazing.
And bit by bit mayhem is transformed into precision. Bit by never-ending never-ending never-ending bit. Luckily, the Cross House has only seven diamond-paned window sashes. I profoundly feel for any home owner with a houseful.
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I am so enjoying your process bit by bit. I love to see my inbox something from the Cross House and watch your dedicated work and the love that goes into it. Because when a person loves a home it shows in the little bits and details. I am watching and loving from afar.
Thank you, Mary!
What Mary said! It’s wonderful to see — and hear — how the Cross House is coming back to life, bit by bit.
Question: If every pane is a little bit different, how do you replace a pane, which you must have done on this window?
Also: I wonder if you’d consider doing a post on how the reglazing process happens? You’ve referred to it being tedious many times on this blog, but I don’t recall a post on how you actually make the magic happen.
LIKEWISE!!!
I agree with Barb-the re-glazing process intrigues me!
Tutorials please . We sorta get it but pics in progress, and a few wise words would be fab. Your are the wizard of the Cross House ! ! ! My house has NO special windows, Not one !! Im trying to figure out how to recreate what was never there. No houses on my street have stained glass windows. Sad ! ! We love your magic . . . And you inspire us, teach us, and all without any “homework” . And my thanks to B. Davis for her super grand gesture.
OK, I make a motion that Ross do a post on the techniques he uses to reglaze a window. Can I get a second? All in favor??
Wow, I feel for you there! Our house has 3-over-1 sashes on the second floor, and a single 9-lite sash in the dormer, and those tested my patience. You may have as many individual panes in just your diamond sashes than our entire house!
I really wish I would have thought of your razor-blade trick for the paint lines. I tediously taped off every pane. I will definitely try your approach next time!
A friend of mine buys and restores old houses…and he quite often enlists me as labor (which I don’t mind).
Several years ago he bought a house that had 6 sets of floor-to-ceiling double French doors that had been stored in the basement for a millennium.
I feel your pain…but it feels so good to see them back and looking beautiful!!
Very satisfying to see the progress and careful work.
Beautifully done.
I have returned to look at this post because I realised my good friend’s old house has windows on a west facing wall. Windows in a sorry state. I pray that I will not have to reglaze them, but I’ve come for your tutorials and tricks on window repair.
Thank you for this tip in cleaning up the diamond pane windows! I have been enjoying the blog so much, as my house is 1896 (and not nearly as fancy!)