Are these windows worth reusing?

[Lettusbee67]

We are replacing windows in a 1950 home. The existing windows are double hung, with aluminum jamb liner, true divided light.

Most of the windows coming out are in great shape. I would normally haul these to the landfill, but was just wondering if anybody thought these might be of interest to the restoration crowd. These are cool windows that are in good shape, but it's the 1950s, I'm not sure that's old enough to bother keeping.

And yes, they are coated with lead based paint.

[calvert]

They look fine and would certainly be useful to someone for a cabin or shed but I doubt that anyone will be all that interested in them. I find that the number of people who want to get involved with "old stuff" is shrinking by the day. Those that do want it are not really skilled enough to install it or don't want to pay a fair amount to deal with it. Couple that with the issue of dealing with lead paint liability and most people will just as likely be better off putting it in a dumpster.

I probably have 100 old sash I have taken out of projects that offer a wide range of styles from radius to elliptical to circular as well as the DH and casement styles and I think I may have installed for others or used myself...maybe three of those.

[tjbnwi1]

I feel like I'm suffering from déjà vu.

Tom

[Bill Robinson]

It would be a shame, a damn shame, to throw them away.
At the very minimum I would get themto the restore or something similar.

[calvert]

It would be a shame, a damn shame, to throw them away.
At the very minimum I would get themto the restore or something similar.

Bill, the re-store in our area won't even take any old materials unless you are talking NOS hardware or things of that nature, my last trip there I think I saw one old door and that was probably a 15 year old varnished interior passage door.

[Lettusbee67]

I feel like I'm suffering from déjà vu.

Tom

Didn't mean to make you suffer. We could talk about staining windows in place if you prefer. :)

[Lettusbee67]

It would be a shame, a damn shame, to throw them away.
At the very minimum I would get themto the restore or something similar.

I agree, I started thinking that after we had pulled them and put them in the dump trailer. That's why I thought I would check here and another forum, just to see if I was being a sentimental fool.

[newman]

does your garage need some extra light? :)

[Bill Robinson]

There are several salvage stores in New Orleans, any of which would take the windows.

However this is a city with a lot of older housing stock, much of it being torn down. Or was damaged in some storm.

With new building codes it is not as easy, like the "Easy Button" to use them in current construction.

Good wood windows are one of the last vestiges of the good way we used to do it and they are being thrown away for plastic and gimcracky windows.

Maybe Freecycle.

Or someone who wants to build a green house in their back yard.

[philthegreek]

Bill, what exactly is a gimcracky?

The ReStore here would not take them because of lead concerns.

Phil

[tjbnwi1]

Didn't mean to make you suffer. We could talk about staining windows in place if you prefer. :)

No suffering, just didn't think you wanted to read my suggestion again. All in good fun.

Tom

[calvert]

[QUOTE=philthegreek;682495]Bill, what exactly is a gimcracky?

gimcrack - definition of gimcrack by the Free Online Dictionary ...
www.thefreedictionary.com/gimcrackA cheap and showy object of little or no use; a gewgaw. adj. Cheap and tasteless; gaudy:

Thanks Bill for providing a learning experience!!!

My sentiment regarding the vast majority of vinyl windows exactly.

[HDietrich]

Post them for cheep or free on Craigslist and you'll have plenty of takers. I took out a whole house full of bad 25 year old vinyl replacement windows. I didn't want to haul them, so put them in the ally took a picture, posted on Craigslist and they were gone in a hour.