Windows

While it can be a significant upfront cost, investing in high-quality windows offers long-term benefits that make them a smart choice for homeowners. Ahead, we share why upgrading them could be money well spent.

The renovation of our Glen Ridge, NJ project house must meet strict historic criteria, which includes using all-wood windows on the street-facing side of the house. To keep things consistent, the builder/architect chose to install the same windows throughout. But these windows don’t include a nailing flange—and so require special installation procedures to keep them water and air-tight. General contractor Zack Dettmore shows Kevin O’Connor how these windows work.

Kevin O’Connor, Tom Silva, and one of the framers frame the rough opening for windows in the Glen Ridge project house laundry room. They explain to Kevin why they don’t need a header in this particular instance and why it’s such a pretty straightforward thing to do.

Carpenter Nathan Gilbert helps a pair of homeowners provide safe passage to the backyard for their children by replacing a double window with a sliding patio door and building a beautiful, low-maintenance deck.

Cracked double-pane windows harm your home's energy efficiency. Learn how to fix them with tips from Tom Silva and a window glass expert.

General contractor Tom Silva teams up with window restoration Alison Hardy to help a homeowner deal with repairing the original window in a Victorian home.

This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada build custom window boxes for a colorful touch of curb appeal.

Learn several budget-friendly, DIY ways to seal and insulate your existing windows and save energy without replacing them.

Read our step-by-step instructions on identifying and repairing rotting wood and learn how to keep your home’s wood components in top shape.

This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert explains a few features of Marvin’s Skycove window.

At the 2021 Modern Barnhouse, the design is starting to come to life. One of the key elements of this Scandinavian-inspired home is the windows, which will highlight the unique beauty of the property. See how Sierra Pacific Windows helped frame the entire end walls with windows to help bring the natural light directly into the space.

When it came to restoring our 1890 Shingle-style Cape Ann home to its former glory, both the designer and architect at SV Design knew that the windows were critical to the home’s architecture. Working with the homeowner’s vision to create a lighter and brighter space, they chose Marvin to bring the view of the outside in with new windows and doors, as well as retain the integrity of the home’s design, and provide the efficiency and technology to make the home comfortable.

In this special episode of Ask This Old House, Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor explain everything you need to know about using, installing, maintaining and repairing a window.